Marine

Merchant Marine

Currently growing at 5%, the domestic maritime sector is an offshoot of exploration and transportation activity in the energy sector and has been buoyed by the rapid expansion of trade and trans-shipment activity at the country’s three major non-energy cargo ports.

Opportunities in the sector include shipping agencies, crewing services, chandlery, piloting, vessel repair, storage and land transportation services.

Prospects for the sector are excellent given expected performance in the energy sector, growing non-energy cargo trade and the emerging tourism and leisure marine industry.

Human resource demands will be effectively met by T&T’s new world class maritime training facility at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Carnival

Carnival

An explosion of colour, music, revelry, and creativity, Trinidad's Carnival has spawned similar celebrations around the world; but nothing on earth can rival the abandon, euphoria and stunning spectacle of our festival.

With its massive masquerade bands, spectacular costumes, pulsating music and unparalleled stamina for partying, Trinidad's Carnival is often described as the greatest show on earth. It is a time for release and everyone is invited to join the party.

In 2012, the annual Carnival season climaxed on Monday, February 20 and Tuesday, February 21. Visit links at the bottom of this page for more information.

J'Ouvert

Each year at 4 am on Monday, Carnival begins under a cloak of darkness. Fuelled by exhilaration and the energetic rhythms of soca music, revellers take to the streets for the predawn party of J'Ouvert.

J'Ouvert (from the French 'jour ouvert' or 'day open') is almost ritualistic in its celebration of the darker elements of the island's folklore and history. Bathed in chocolate, mud, oil and paint, bands of revellers depict devils, demons, monsters and imps. Choose your medium of expression; J'Ouvert is a time for loosening of inhibitions.

Carnival Monday

Come daytime, the J'Ouvert revelry clears and massive costumed bands of "Pretty Mas" players flood the street with riotous colour. A cast of thousands take to the street "jumping up" and "wining" (gyrating of the hips) to the sound of soca blaring from speakers piled on music trucks. The excitement is at fever pitch, but Carnival Monday is only a "warm-up" for Carnival Tuesday.

Carnival Tuesday

Carnival Tuesday begins promptly at 8 a.m. Thousands of masqueraders are in full costume, ready and impatiently awaiting their chance to strut in front of the television cameras as bands cross the main judging points. Each band has its own historical, mythological or tropical concept with various sections depicting aspects of the main theme.

Bands are judged in three categories: small, medium and large and winners are announced after all the bands have crossed the stage. The Champion Band is crowned Masquerade Band of the Year.

Pre-Carnival Celebrations

Officially Carnival is the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday but celebrations begin right after Christmas.

From Boxing Day it is non-stop partying until Carnival Sunday.

It is during this post Christmas period that calypso tents open their doors to the public and cultural shows, from Limbo competitions to massive soca concerts, begin.

Radio stations begin to play the latest soca hits and many masquerade bands launch their new themes.

Steelbands begin intense preparations for Panorama, the annual competition for steel pan bands. Preliminary contests are hosted at panyards throughout the country during the six weeks leading up to Carnival. Panorama finals are the ultimate test of musical skill. Representing the best of the best, selected bands compete before judges and thousands of spectators the Saturday night before Carnival officially begins.

Origins of Carnival

Like the cosmopolitan mix of peoples and cultures that shaped the island, Trinidad's Carnival has many influences. The Spanish and English colonial powers, French planters, African slaves, Indian indentured labourers, and the many other ethnic groups that settled here have all left an indelible mark on the festival. In 1783 the French brought their culture, customs and Carnival, in the form of elaborate masquerade balls, to Trinidad along with African slaves. The period stretching between Christmas and the start of Lent was a time for feasting, fancy dress balls and celebration for both the French and British. Banned from the festivities, slaves in the barrack yards would hold their own celebrations mimicking their masters' behaviour while incorporating rituals and folklore. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival to the streets and, as each new immigrant population entered Trinidad, a new flavour was added to the festivities. Today, our diverse culture has influenced the music, food and traditions of Carnival.

To learn more about Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival and find information on shows, music, activities and events, see the links below.

Trinidad & Tobago Music
Local music, primarily Soca and Calypso play a key role in Carnival Celebrations. Sample some of the rhythmic, pulsating flavours of Carnival and other types of music from Trinidad and Tobago.

5 Things To Do When The Party Is Over
The music has slowed. The party is over. You want to go from the brisk to the serene. What to do? Here's our Top 5 list. 

Trinidad Event Calendar
Featuring all of the events for Carnival including Carnival dates for the next ten years!

Extempo Calypso
Wit, ingenuity and the ability to think quickly define extempo calypso.

National Carnival Commission 
The National Carnival Commission is responsible for the development, management and coordination of Carnival events in Trinidad and Tobago.

Pan Trinbago 
The world governing body for steelpan, Pan Trinbago organizes steelpan shows, competitions and festivals.

Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO)
TUCO is charged with the promotion and development of calypso, one of Trinidad and Tobago's many indigenous musical arts. The body also produces calypso shows and concerts.

The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS)

Music

Music & Entertainment

The local music and entertainment sector draws from T&T’s proud heritage of indigenous traditions (Carnival, Calypso, Soca and Chutney music) flavoured by cross fertilization with regional artistes.

New, powerful performers with international appeal have emerged, driving the development of sophisticated operations to meet the demands of wide audiences.

The industry generates TT$351.8 million annually and employs 10,854 people; Carnival is by far the largest revenue generator within the sector, exporting services to regional and diaspora carnivals in the United States, Canada, Europe and the UK.

Food

Food and Beverage

Trinidad & Tobago’s (T&T) Food and Beverage sector boasts global players with internationally recognised brands, and hundreds of smaller companies specialising in niche products.

The sector continues to experience solid levels of expansion, with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth averaging 8.1% (2002-2005) and exports exceeding TT$900 million.

Continued expansion of the local economy and excellent regional export prospects, supported by research, product development and strategic niche marketing initiatives, will continue to drive the sector on a sustained and progressive track.

Fishing

Fishing and Fish Processing

The fish and fish processing industry has a long and deep history in Trinidad and Tobago.

Given Trinidad and Tobago's strategic geographical location and the diverse nature of the fish resource, much potential remains for the development of the industry, particularly in offshore fleet.

The sector also benefits from an enterprising game fishing sector, which has the potential to develop even further, in line with anticipated increases in the tourism sector.

However, steps are being taken to firstly improve the regulatory and legislative environment of the industry, to ensure that the appropriate framework remains in place to facilitate the long-term and sustainable development of the industry.

Packaging

Plastics, Printing & Packaging

High quality printed products, technological applications and packaging fabrication and use, have made T&T the industry’s Caribbean leader, with penetration of extra-regional markets in Florida, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Some 140 printing firms, 50 packaging firms and two glass and can manufacturers export more than TT$300 million annually, and enjoy strategic linkages with the domestic food and beverage, tourism, agriculture, media and education sectors.

New initiatives to drive the sector’s development include promoting joint venture alliances with overseas partners, the development of strategic industry clusters, technological, operational and infrastructural upgrades and training, research and product development to enhance global competitiveness.

Film

The Film Industry

Geographic location, substantial production resources, a developed theatrical community, creative talent and experienced production crews make T&T an excellent centre for film production.

Products include feature films, documentaries, television dramas, sit-coms, entertainment programs, commercials, corporate productions, educational programs and music videos.

As of January 2005, the film industry consisted of 11 production companies; 33 companies offering production- support services; and six television stations, employing more than 80 persons.

Roughly 70 foreign film crews worked in T&T in 2005, generating revenues of TT$7 million.

New initiatives to facilitate foreign film crews are contributing significantly to the national economy.

T&T is the only Caribbean country offering cash rebates of up to 30% for on location filming.

Industrial

Industrial Estates

Our enterprise development thrust also encompasses the establishment of several industrial estates, strategically located throughout the country.

Our latest project is the development of an Eco-Industrial and Technology Park on 200 acres of land at Wallerfield, which will also serve as the campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Also to be located in the Park are high-value light manufacturing and knowledge-based industries as well as a business incubator. Excellent opportunities exist for investment in this Technology Park.

For more details please contact - Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Limited (eTecK)