Eternal Spirit Deliverance Center

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is actually a group of islands in the southern Caribbean lying seven miles northeast of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. The country covers an area of 1,979 square miles (slightly smaller that Delaware, USA) and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago plus 21 smaller islands. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller in area (6% of the total area) and in population (4% of the population.)

CLIMATE AND LAND

Trinidad has a tropical climate consisting of two seasons – the sunny season and the rainy season (June to December.) The average annual temperature on Trinidad is 78 degrees F (28 degrees Celsius). The average annual rainfall is about 80 inches. Trinidad is outside the usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms.

The terrain of Trinidad is mostly plains with some hills and low mountains. A mountain range extends east and west across the northern area, and hills rise in the central and southern sections. The valleys are fertile and produce sugarcane as the major crop with some cocoa, coffee, coconuts, and citrus fruit. The Pitch Lake which is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt is located on the southwestern coast. The country’s climate and striking scenery have made it a popular tourist destination.

HISTORY

First colonized by Spain, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands’ sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil in Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from British rule in 1962.

ECONOMY

The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas and has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Tourism is growing although it is not nearly as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Economic growth in 2006 reached 12.6% as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas remained high. In spite of the relative wealth of Trinidad, most of the population remains very poor and are therefore frustrated. Violent crime continues to rise as a result.

PEOPLE

The population of Trinidad is 1,056,608 (July, 2007, est). Most of our people are of black African ancestry (40%) or of East Indian origin (40%). People of mixed European, Syrian, Lebanese, and Chinese origins make up the rest of the population.

English is the country’s official language. Most of the poorer people speak Trinidad English, a form of standard English with French and Spanish influences. About 95% of the people can read and write.

A major problem for the people of Trinidad and Tobago is the aids and HIV epidemic. It was estimated in 2003 that 29,000 people (3.2%) were infected with the virus.

RELIGION

Trinidad and Tobago is not only multi-cultural, it is also multi-religious. The latest estimates (2000) indicate that 26% of the population are Roman Catholic, 22.5% are Hindu, and 5.8% are Muslim. A small number of individuals participate in traditional Caribbean religions with African roots, such as Shouter Baptists (5.4%) and the Orisha (0.1%), Jehovah’s Witness, atheists, Bahai’s, Buddhists, and Jews.

While a significant percent (25%) claim to be protestant (in some form), they practice religions that are far removed from what one would expect. In short, these religions have been greatly changed to conform to local cultural preferences. Informed observers believe that Full Gospel Christians account for less than 7% of the population.

In the Freeport area, where the church is located, the total population is estimated to be roughly 40,000 people with a high percentage of locals being Hindu (60%) who engage extensively in idol worship. Muslims account for another 10% or so of the population in the Freeport area. The Christian component in Freeport is believed to be less than 10% as compared to the national average, but this population is growing slowly.

Government officials generally take care not to favor any one religion publicly. The result is most national gatherings open with prayers from each of the major religious groups (Hindu, Muslim and pseudo Christian). The government has set aside public holidays for every religion. Trinidad and Tobago presently has a total of 15 public holidays. These include: New Year’s Day, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day, Corpus Christi, Indian Arrival Day, Labor Day, Emancipation Day, Independence Day, Republic Day, Divali, Eid Ul Fitr, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.