Trinidad and Tobago continues to honour the contributions of its First Peoples.
In 2013, during the renovation of the Red House in Port of Spain, the bones of at least forty-seven adults and thirteen children were found, after which an official burial took place, and a memorial monument was established on site.
At the annual memorial service, the Chief of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, Ricardo Bharath Hernandez, shared details of this year’s tribute and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about indigenous heritage.
“We started this year with a two-day conference at the NALIS library in La Horquetta, Arima, where we went into discussion on the various concerns of First Peoples, not only in Trinidad but across the region, and how we can find a way to address these concerns.”
Mayor of Port of Spain, Chinua Alleyne, noted that the city recognises its responsibility to all, including the First Peoples, and emphasised the importance of the journey toward restoration.
“We have had the opportunity over the course of this term to meet with representatives of the First Peoples to work on certain plans and programmes to do our part, as the city of Port of Spain in contributing to this national effort.”
Member of Parliament for Arima, Pennelope Beckles, who has been associated with the Santa Rosa First Peoples for nearly three decades, praised ongoing efforts to educate the public on the true history of Trinidad and Tobago’s indigenous population.
“To acknowledge the work that Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez and the Santa Rosa First Peoples have been doing to bring awareness to Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the region and the world, about not just the Santa Rosa First Peoples, but about the indigenous people.”