National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago

15/09/2026

The President’s House is the ‘People’s House’ and a symbol of our 50years of nationhood.

Join us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our Republic on Sunday September 27, 2026, 6pm as we open the gates of The President’s Bandstand for an evening of music, rhythms and steel.

50 Years in Steel will feature the Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra with guest artistes, SUPERBLUE, Dr. Pelham Goddard, Natalie Yorke, KV Charles and Malcom Boyce performing the music that moved you for 50 years.

Bring your family, make the moments, let’s celebrate 50 years in Steel

Details: 🗓️ Sunday, Sept 27, 2026 | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 📍 The President’s Bandstand

11/09/2026

The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago extends condolences to the family, friends, and wider Islamic community on the passing of Dr. Mansoor Ibrahim. He was known as a Medical Doctor, a stalwart of Port of Spain, and held the position as the Head of the Anjuman Sunnat ul Jamaat Association Inc. (ASJA), from 1990 to 2000. Additionally, he lent his voice and leadership as a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), and was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Silver) in 1997 for Community Service.

Dr. Ibrahim grew up in East Port of Spain during the 1940s-50s, which in those days, had a growing Muslim community without a masjid. His father, Haji Mohamed Ibrahim, decided to provide the funding for what eventually became the Queen Street Jama Masjid, near to the family’s home. Dr. Ibrahim attended the Piccadilly Government Primary School and later won a scholarship to Queen’s Royal College, where he completed his Cambridge A Levels. In 1959, he moved to Scotland to study medicine, had the opportunity to meet the young Queen Elizabeth, and returned to Trinidad six years later as a qualified medical doctor.

As a doctor, he was known for his tireless commitment to Port of Spain’s underserved communities of Laventille, Belmont, and the surrounding areas, often journeying through narrow streets and hilly areas "behind the bridge" to deliver babies and perform home visits for vulnerable patients who could not reach his offices on Henry St. POS. He constantly stated that his religion taught him it does not matter which ethnic group or religious background one comes from, because everyone is equal.

Dr. Ibrahim was also an avid sportsman, who represented Trinidad and Tobago on the National Squash Rackets team, in addition to often playing cricket, and tennis. He continued to practice medicine for over 60 years while continuing his commitment to Islamic scholarship and outreach. He often held public lectures and seminars, developed mentorship initiatives for younger generations, and published educational materials while frequently emphasising interfaith harmony.

This photograph is courtesy of
Caribbean Muslims, https://www.caribbeanmuslims.com/mansoor-ibrahim-a-life-of-work-method-and-discipline/.

References: Dr. Amina Ibrahim-Ali, Alumni Relations. “To the University of St Andrews and Back... from behind the Bridge.” Alumni and Supporters, 3 July 2026, alumni.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2026/07/03/to-the-university-of-st-andrews-and-back-from-behind-the-bridge/.

10/09/2026

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 🪇 Trinidad and Tobago’s history with parang spans several centuries. It is believed to have first been brought here as a musical art form called “parranda” by the Spanish.

“Parranda” is a Spanish term that refers to a fete or party. In Trinidad, “parranda” was also once used to refer to small musical groups that went out at night to perform at celebrations and were usually accompanied by the sounds of string instruments.

“Parang” is derived from “parranda” and represents a mix of Spanish, French, Indigenous, Venezuelan, and African musical practices that have evolved into a distinctly Trinbagonian genre. As a result of these diverse cultural influences, there are many different kinds of parang songs today.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spaniards who came to Trinidad brought with them string instruments and religious music, which is the root of many parang songs.

With the arrival of the French after the 1783 Cedula of Population, another branch of parang developed in Trinidad called cantiques de noel, which were sung in French patois. These Christmas songs were brought to Trinidad and Tobago from the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, and include lyrics about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Today’s parang is also heavily influenced by Venezuelans who came to Trinidad. While migration from the South and Central American mainland to Trinidad has occurred for thousands of years, many migrants came in the 17th century to work on cocoa estates and were referred to as Cocoa Panyols.

They brought many of their cultural practices, including music called Parranda navideña or Christmas parang, which were only sung during the Christmas period, from mid-November to January 6th. Some examples are the serenal/aguinaldo, anunciación, the nacimiento and the popular rio manzanares, which celebrates the Manzanares River that flows from Venezuela into the Caribbean Sea.

There are also other modern variations within the parang genre like chutney and soca parang.

This photo shows Spanish-style string bands, circa 1960. It is from the publication, “Trinidad and Tobago August 31st 1962: Lithographs by Caribbean Printers Ltd.” (1962). This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Reference Collection.

References: Mavrogordato, Olga J. Voices in the Street. Paria Pub. Co., 1996.

Taylor, Daphne Pawan., and George Alexander. Thomas. Parang of Trinidad. National Cultural Council of Trinidad and Tobago, 1977.

08/09/2026

Check out this event by The National Trust of Trinidad & Tobago! 🇹🇹

FROM CHINA TO T&T, OUR HERITAGE STORY 🇨🇳✨🇹🇹

Step into a celebration of tradition, heritage, culture and cuisine as we journey through the rich story of Chinese heritage in Trinidad & Tobago. Join us for a day filled with cultural experiences, traditions and flavours that connect generations.

Mille Fleurs Heritage Building
Saturday 19th September 2026
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Cost:
• Adult Non-Member: $120
• Adult Member: $100
• 17 Years & Under: $50
Tickets available via: Island E Tickets | National Trust TT Website and Excellent Stores MovieTowne & Chaguanas.

Come experience the story. Celebrate the culture. Be part of our heritage.

03/09/2026

Born on August 22nd 1943, Adrian Camps-Campins was a well-known Trinidadian artist and community historian who used his talents to create bold, colourful, acrylic paintings that captured his love of Trinidad and Tobago’s history, art, and architecture.

Camps-Campins was born in St. Ann’s and attended St. Mary’s College. He began painting from a young age, inspired by his father’s use of watercolour, as well as Harry Bryden’s watercolour landscapes. By the mid-1960s, Camps-Campins began receiving commissions and his interest in T&T’s history could be seen in his work.

During the 1970s, he left his secure job in insurance and began recording the architectural landscape of Trinidad and Tobago through his art. From houses to parks to marketplaces and rum shops, Camps-Campins brought scenes of Trinidad and Tobago’s history to life on paper.

He is well-known for his paintings depicting the Lion House, the George Brown House, and “Christmas Meeting of the Trinidad Turf Club, Queen’s Park Savannah - 1912” (1975) which depicts horse racing in the Queen’s Park Savannah, against a backdrop of fifteen notable buildings in Port of Spain. His favourite piece, “The Polo Match” shows a polo game in the Savannah with the Magnificent Seven in the distance. These postcards of his folded out to reveal panels of historical information.

One of his most popular paintings was, “The Seventh Birthday Party of Clara Rosa De Lima” (1989), which was made into a UNICEF greeting card in 1993. His art has been exhibited worldwide, including London, Paris & Washington DC. His painting “The University of Woodford Square”, was selected in 2002 for a special $1.00 postage stamp for the 40th anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago’s Independence. In 2014, Camps-Campins received an honourary Doctor of Letters from the University of the West Indies.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo 1 shows “The Cricket Match, San Juan Estate, Gran Couva 1914” by Adrian Camps-Campins.
Photo 2 shows “The University of Woodford Square – 1956” (2002). These are both from the Adrian Camps-Campins Greeting Card Collection at the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago.
Photo 3 shows the late artist Adrian Camps-Campins.

References: https://sta.uwi.edu/uwitoday/archive/december_2014/article20.asp

01/09/2026

The National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago was delighted to assist and contribute records to this wonderful exhibition by The Office of the President of the Republic of T&T 🇹🇹

31/08/2026

Happy Independence Day Trinidad and Tobago! 🇹🇹

in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago became the fifth independent country in the Caribbean region—after Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica--and the second independent Commonwealth country in the Caribbean, after Jamaica.

Independence represented a new and exciting journey into uncharted waters—especially for those who had only known Trinidad and Tobago as a British colony.

That year, the Government Printing Office published a booklet called, “What Independence Means to You” that opens with this quote: “It is impossible to understand the full meaning of Independence, to appreciate the seriousness of this new status of ours, or to see clearly the road we must take in the future, if we do not pause or look back at the past and see the weary road that we have walked since our ancestors came to these shores.”

The end of the document reads: “For the first time, the people of Trinidad and Tobago have full power to shape their own destiny. The task which faces us is great. The contribution of each one of us is needed; it will be a contribution to the common good. It deserves our best efforts to weld this society into a nation. If we succeed the glory will belong to each one of us.”

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo shows independence greetings to the nation from the Trinidad Guardian Independence Supplement, published on August 26th 1962. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Newspaper Collection.

30/08/2026

Happy Anniversary to Angostura Bitters!

Angostura Bitters was first created in the town of Angostura, Venezuela in 1824, by founder Dr. Johann Siegert. He moved to Angostura from Germany in 1820 to serve as the Surgeon General of Simón Bolívar’s armies. By 1824, Siegert created a formula for aromatic bitters, which he used in his medical practice as a tincture for alleviating stomach ailments among soldiers.

During the 1870s, Siegert’s three sons migrated to Trinidad where they established Angostura Bitters as an essential ingredient in cocktails and food. In particular, Siegert’s son Don Carlos Siegert pioneered the brand, and expanded the company internationally.

The company was officially established as Angostura Bitters (Dr. J.G.B Siegert & Sons) Limited on August 30th 1921, after surviving a half century of war and conflict around the world. The company’s name was changed to Angostura Limited in 1992, and this month marks the fact that it has been over 100 years since it was established in Trinidad and Tobago.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

This photo showing an April 1901 advertisement for Angostura Bitters is courtesy of the book, “The New Illustrated Guide to Trinidad” by J. Paget, which is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Rare Books Collection.

References:

“Our Story.” Angostura, 12 Sept. 2018, angosturabitters.com/our-story/.

Paget, J. New Illustrated Guide to Trinidad. Government Printing Office, 1901. This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Rare Books Collection.

Doodnath, Alina. “Angostura Celebrates 195th Anniversary with Rum Day Specials: Loop Trinidad & Tobago.” Loop News, Loop News, 15 Aug. 2019.

29/08/2026

Happy 64th Independence, Trinidad and Tobago! 🇹🇹 More than just a national symbol on our Coat of Arms, the Scarlet Ibis is an indicator of our environmental health. that its red feathers come directly from a diet of wetland crustaceans? Protecting this National Bird means safeguarding the rich, coastal ecosystems that protect and sustain our nation.

The primary nesting ground of the Scarlet Ibis is the Caroni Swamp, a Ramsar site of international importance. The bird is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, so protecting its wetland habitat is essential for several reasons:

The presence and successful breeding of the Scarlet Ibis shows a thriving wetland. A decline in their numbers alerts scientists to water pollution, habitat destruction, or food chain disruptions. The mangrove forests where they nest protect our low-lying communities and coastlines from storm surges, shelter marine nurseries for local fish and crabs, and store four times more carbon than land rainforests, making ibis conservation a defense against flooding and climate change.

As an Environmentally Sensitive Species (ESS) under Trinidad and Tobago law (October 11th, 2018), the Scarlet Ibis depends on our collective stewardship to protect it. We can all contribute by respecting wildlife laws, reporting illegal poaching or habitat destruction, reducing single-use plastics that wash into waterways and destroy mangrove ecosystems, and by supporting local conservation initiatives and mangrove reforestation projects!

This photo is courtesy of the book, World Class Trinidad & Tobago: an Area of Abundance: Profiles of Performance by Elliot Bastien, and Sandra Bernard-Bastien. It is part of the National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago Reference Collection.