Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation on August 31st 1962. This meant that we were now able to chart our own destiny. Though the Queen of England and the British Government still remained our Head of State, there were several things that came along with us now being independent:

National flag of Trinidad and Tobago

We got our own National Flag with the colours red, white and black which represent the earth, water and fire which embodies our past, present and future. We got our own National Anthem written by Mr. Patrick Castagne Our Coat of Arms which was designed by a team of artist which included Carlyle Chang and Carnival Designer George Bailey.
Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago

• Our National Flower the “Chaconia” also known as the “Wild Poinsettia”
  Chaconia

National Flower: The Double Chaconia

• Our National Birds: The Scarlet Ibis and the Cocrico
  Scarlet Ibis

National Bird: The Scarlet Ibis

National Bird: The Cocrico

• Our first Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams
• Our Governor General, Sir Solomon Hochoy
• Our Chief of Justice Sir Hugh Wooding T.C.
• Our National Guard Our National Birds: The Scarlet Ibis and the Cocrico
• Our Watch Words given to us by Dr. Eric Williams, “Discipline, Production and Tolerance.”
• We became part of the Commonwealth family.

With our independence, we were now able to appoint ambassadors and other elected officials to represent our country on an international level such as in forums and treaties. We were then able to join international organizations which gave Trinidad and Tobago equal rights as other countries on different world issues such as international trade and policies.

“Our National Flag belongs to all our citizens. Our National Coat of Arms, with our National Birds inscribed therein, is the sacred trust of our citizens. So it is today, please, I urge you, let it always be so. Let us always be able to say, with the Psalmist, behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”- Dr. Eric Williams 1962

Sources

“Birds of Tobago: Home and Garden 1.” ttnaturelink.com. The Trinidad and Tobago NatureLink, 2009. Web. 2013.

“Double Century Double Chaconia.” UWI Today, 6 May 2018, sta.uwi.edu/uwitoday/publications/May2018/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#1. Accessed 18 Nov. 2019.

Dr Eric Williams Independence Day speech. (2021). aspiringmindstandt. https://www.aspiringmindstandt.com/eric-williams

Ghouralal, D. (2021, September 23). T&T's independence vs Republic status explained | Loop Trinidad & Tobago. Loop News. https://tt.loopnews.com/content/tts-independence-vs-republic-status-explained

KnowledgeWalk Institute,. (2022, August 24). Independence in Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Elections.

Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM affairs. (n.d.). (2022, August 15) National flag. Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs. https://foreign.gov.tt/about/trinidad-tobago/national-symbols/national-flag/

National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of National Security, n.d. P

Ryan, S. D. (1988). Trinidad and Tobago: The independence experience, 1962-1987. Institute of Social and Economic Research the University of the West Indies St. Augustine.

Robinson, McLinton. Social Studies for Standards 4 and 5. Curepe, Trinidad: Robinson Publications, 2002. Print.

Williams, E. E. (1964). History of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. A&B Publishing Group Brooklyn New York 11238.