Trinidad & Tobago Chronology

Britain seized Trinidad from Spain in 1797 and Tobago from France in 1802. They were unified in 1888.

*  1956 Dr. Eric Williams founds PNM and wins general elections: main support from blacks. Indian population supports opposition.
*  1958 Joins West Indian Federation; leaves in 1961.
*  1962 Independence.
*  1970 Black Power demonstrations cause brief state of emergency.
*  1980 Tobago gets own House of Assembly; internal autonomy 1987.
*  1986 NAR coalition wins elections, but fails to halt economic decline.
*  1988 Baseo Panday dismissed from Cabinet; forms left-wing UNC.
*  1990 Premier taken hostage in failed fundamentalist coup.
*  1991  PNM elected back to power.