# Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations

Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Caracas and Venezuela has an embassy in Port of Spain.

## History

Both Trinidad and Tobago islands were originally settled by Indigenous people who came from the Orinoco basin. Trinidad was first settled by pre-agricultural Archaic people at least 7,000 years ago, making it the earliest settled part of the Caribbean. Banwari Trace in south-west Trinidad is the oldest attested archaeological site in the Caribbean, dating to about 5000 BC. At this time, Trinidad was still part of mainland actual Venezuela. Archaeological research of the site has also shed light on the patterns of migration of Archaic (pre-ceramic) peoples from mainland South America to the Lesser Antilles via Trinidad between 5000 and 2000 BCE. Several waves of migration occurred over the following centuries, which can be identified by differences in their archaeological remains. At the time of European contact after the Cristophorus Columbus third voyage in 1498, Trinidad was occupied by various Arawakan-speaking groups including the Nepoya and Suppoya, and Cariban-speaking groups such as the Yao, while Tobago was occupied by the Island Caribs and Galibi. Under Spanish rule, many Trinidad Amerindians died from new diseases introduced by the Spanish settlers and others were enslaved to harvest pearls at Cubagua island. To encourage the development of the lands the cocoa plantation economy was started in Trinidad. By 1720, most of the cacao plants died. Rumor has it there was a natural devastation of the existing Criollo trees on the island and so Forastero trees were planted. After cross-pollination with the few remaining Criollo trees, the Trinitario variety was born. Trinitario was known as “the world’s finest cocoa hybrid” bringing together the best of both worlds. However, throughout the 1700s, the Trinidadian cocoa plantations took huge hits which led to a near extinction of cocoa production on the island.
By 1772, the Spanish capital of St. Joseph de Oruna had a population of 326 Spaniards and 417 Amerindians. Yet the houses consisted of mud huts with thatch roofs. In general, lacking gold, the island was poor and undeveloped, inducing many to leave.
The community in Trinidad originated in the late seventeenth century as part of Captaincy General of Venezuela created by Charles III of Spain in 1777. In 1783 the Spanish Cedula of Population encouraged the migration of Catholic persons to Trinidad province and gave many incentives to lure settlers including exemption from taxes for ten years and land grants per the terms set out in the Cedula. The governor José María Chacón founded the city of San Fernando in 1784. He compelled the province's Cabildo (governing council) of San Jose de Oruňa to move to Port of Spain and he limited its powers to the municipality. The settlement of French Catholics on the island led to a rapid increase in the town's population and its geographical extension westwards. French planters of sugar cane with their slaves, free persons of color, and mulattos from neighboring islands of Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Dominica migrated to Trinidad during the French Revolution. These new immigrants establishing local communities of Blanchisseuse, Champs Fleurs, Cascade, Carenage and Laventille. Trinidad's population jumped from just under 1,400 in 1777 to over 15,000 by the end of 1789. In 1797 the governor Chacón surrendered Trinidad to a Royal Navy fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby. Sir Thomas Picton was the first governor of Trinidad as a British crown colony, with a French-speaking population of Catholic faith and Spanish laws.
After the Island fell under British control in 1797, Spanish-speaking Venezuelans continued to settle in Trinidad, usually in connection with the civil wars and revolutions which followed the Bolivarian revolution.
The rise of cocoa cultivation in Trinidad was largely achieved through the importation of Venezuelan peasant farmers. These farmers were employed to clear the forest and establish cocoa seedlings. After five to seven years, they were paid for each mature cocoa tree on the plot of land. Then, they moved on to a new plot of land, repeating this process. Families of Venezuelan born African and Amerindian descent are recorded in Trinidad as far back as 1841 within the Cocoa Estates Community. These migrants were part of the Cedula of Populations, and included workers attracted from Venezuela after the 1838 Abolition of Slavery, for labor within the cocoa industry. Migrants from Venezuela settled and intermarried, in particular in Diego Martin with Africans of Sierra Leonese descent, and with that community formed an integral part of the Estate Lands settlers in that Region. Among the larger families of their descendants, today are the Emmanuel, Herrera, Tardieu, George, Felix, Lara, Bermudez, Hospedales and Thomas families of Maraval, Paramin and Diego Martin. They became an integral part of the Cocoa Farms Estate owners and settled many of the lands and regions in Maraval, Paramin, St. Ann's, and Diego Martin. The name 'panyol' applicated to Venezuelan migrants and comes from the patois word for Spanish, espagnol, and the Spanish word español, and reflects the historical association between the group and the cultivation of cacao in Trinidad.
In 1859 the United Kingdom began a claim on the Patos island that Venezuela rejected arguing that it was not mentioned in the capitulation of 1797 nor in the Treaty of Amiens of 1802.
Since the middle of the 19th century, thousands of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as other inhabitants of the small islands of the Antilles, began to emigrate to Venezuela due to great economic prosperity that enjoyed at that time due the El Callao gold rush and by oil boom. They initially settled in cities in the Guyanese region and then expanded to other parts of Venezuela. Due to the great irregularity and illegality of the majority of Trinidadians residing in Venezuela, it was difficult to census or estimate their population.
The people of Trinidad were primarily known as English teachers, stevedores in harbors, watchmen, oil workers, artisanal miners (pork-knockers), musicians, ice cream sellers on the Venezuelans streets.
After Trinidad became a British colony in 1797 from Spain, the islands in the Gulf of Paria remained as disputed territories between Venezuela and British Trinidad and Tobago. In 1902 the United Kingdom raised its flag on the Patos island which provoked a strong protest from the Venezuelan government. In 1904 Venezuela included it as part of the Federal territory Colón. Negotiations for settling the border dispute and defining the maritime boundary between the two countries began in 1939 and were led by geologist Hans Kugler. Negotiations were influenced by considerations for placing anti-submarine devices between Venezuela and T&T territory as World War II was underway. As part of the negotiated agreement, Venezuela would cede Soldado Rock to T&T for Patos Island in the Dragon's Mouth, located 4 km east of the Venezuelan mainland. The agreements were formalized on February 26, 1942, in Caracas.
On 27 November 1961, the General Assembly of United Nations by Resolution 1654 (XVI), created a Special Committee of 17 member states (include Venezuela) to examine the application of the Declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and to make recommendations on how to better implement it
Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962. However, Elizabeth II remained head of state, represented locally by Governor-General Solomon Hochoy. Only two weeks after both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 September, 1962. Venezuela was the first Latin American nation to formaly diplomatic relations with an English speaking Caribbean Nation. Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a cordial and active relation. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1942 with the establishment of a Venezuelan Consulate in Port-of-Spain,
In 1970, after the expiration of the Mixed Commission established according to the Geneva Agreement, Presidents Rafael Caldera and Forbes Burnham signed the Port of Spain Protocol, which declared a 12-year moratorium on Venezuela's reclamation of Guayana Esequiba, with the purpose of allowing both governments to promote cooperation and understanding while the border claim was in abeyance. The protocol was formally signed in Port of Spain by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela Aristides Calvani, Guyana State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shridath Ramphal and British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Roland Hunte.
President Jaime Lusinchi of Venezuela became the first president of Venezuela to visit Trinidad and Tobago in 1986, despite both nations neighboring each other. An agreement was signed on technical, manufacturing, and fishing rights during his visit. Several Trinidadian Coast Guard members were taught Spanish to deal with future situations with Venezuelans. Despite signing fishing agreements, there were several Trinidadian ships seized by Venezuelans following the visit.
Due to the country's proximity to the coast of Venezuela, in 2004, the government appointed Spanish as the first foreign language, launched in March 2005. Currently, an estimated 5% of the country's inhabitants speak Spanish.
In recent years, Trinidad and Tobago has witnessed increased immigration from Venezuela, with an estimated 40,000 Venezuelans immigrating to the country by 2018. Relations have remained strained in recent years due to the pressure the large influx of Venezuelans places on healthcare and public services in the island nation. 16,500 Venezuelan refugees were granted temporary work visas and photo IDs for 6 months to a year.

## Trade

CARICOM-Venezuela agreement on trade and investment eliminates tariffs on certain goods between Trinidad and other Caribbean nations and Venezuela. This includes duty-free access on specific products and elimination of tariffs for certain exports to Venezuela.