31/08/2025
Happy Independence day everyone! Take this time to reflect on the history of our Independence, what it means to us now as a people, and what we intend for it to mean to us in the future.
Here is an excerpt from an article in the Caribbean History Archives called Independence of Trinidad and Tobago - The Big Moment:
“On the night of 30th August, 1962, at the stroke of midnight, with an estimated 40,000 people present, I took up a position at the base of the flag staff on which the Trinidad and Tobago flag was to be raised. A petty officer of the Coast Guard was given the signal honour. I, however, noticed that the officer was unsteady and swaying, and realised that his nerves had gotten the better of him. I kept telling him, “Swallow your saliva, man, swallow your saliva.” He tried manfully, but just at the moment the British flag was lowered, he collapsed. I caught him in the crook of my left arm and with my right, pushed another Coast Guard man in position, telling him “pull the flag,” which he did. And so, Trinidad and Tobago became the 15th nation of the British Commonwealth.”
(Eustace Bernard, at the time of Independence Deputy Commissioner of Police who was in charge of policing at the Independence ceremony. Excerpt from: “Against the Odds”)
Have a look at the full article here:
https://caribbeanhistoryarchives.blogspot.com/search?q=independence+day+in+Trinidad
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