Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
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The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It is a corps that consists of a total of four battalions:
- 1st Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment: This is the regular infantry battalion.
- 2nd Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment: This is also a regular infantry battalion.
- Engineering Battalion: This provides engineering support.
- Service and Support Battalion: This provides logistic and administrative support.
The regiment has two primary roles:
- Maintaining the internal security of Trinidad and Tobago
- Assistance of local law enforcement
As one of the larger military forces in the region, the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is also one of the main units used in peacekeeping and humanitarian situations from the Caribbean region, most recently in Grenada after Hurricane Ivan.
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment also provides the bulk of the musicians assigned to the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra, the world's only military steel band.
[edit] History
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has its origins the late 19th century, though it was directly spawned from the break-up of the Federation of the West Indies in 1962. At that time, the two battalions of the West India Regiment were split and came under the control of the main nations formed by the split. The 1st Battalion became the 1st Battalion, Jamaica Regiment, while the 2nd Battalion was transferred to Trinidad and Tobago to become the 1st Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. A second battalion was raised in 1965, but was disbanded in 1972.
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has been involved in two significant actions. On April 21, 1970, 750 members of the regiment mutinied, under the leadership of Raffique Shah and Rex Lassalle. After a five-day stand-off, the mutineers surrendered. The leadership was court-martialed and Shah, Lasalle and others were jailed. On July 27, 1990, the Jamaat al Muslimeen, an islamist group with ties to Libya, attempted a coup d'état. They seized control of the Red House (the seat of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago) and held the Prime Minister and much of his Cabinet hostage. The Regiment surrounded the insurgents and were able to force them to surrender on August 1.
