Trinidad & Tobago High Commission, London

19/06/2026

18/06/2026

Barking & Dagenham Carnival 2026

🗓 Saturday 11 July 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Barking Park, Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8TA

Theme: “Birds of Paradise" inspired by movement, expression and cultural creativity across the borough.”

Join us as we celebrate a decade of carnival spirit with music, dance, and fun for all ages!

Enjoy a vibrant programme including:

- Carnival costume and dance
- Steel pan and African drumming workshops
- Tamboo Bamboo activities
- Carnival crafts and visual arts
- Music, performances, and family activities

17/06/2026

Trinidad and Tobago Diaspora in Scotland – Interest Survey for Glasgow Meeting 🇹🇹

The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London is exploring interest in hosting a mid-week national meeting and meet-and-greet in July in Glasgow, Scotland (10:00am–12:00pm) 📍

This session would provide an opportunity for members of the Trinidad and Tobago community in Scotland to connect, share updates, and engage with the High Commission.

Responses will assist the High Commission in ascertaining whether there is sufficient interest to proceed with the proposed event. ☺️

Please reply “Interested” if you would like to attend.

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

Adrian Cola Rienzi was a trade unionist, civil rights activist, politician, lawyer, and strong advocate of the rights of the working class. He was known for his early support of Afro-Indo unity, and for his defence of Indo-Trinidadian religious rights to cremation, the recognition of Muslim and Hindu marriages, and the establishment of non-Christian schools.

Upon his return to Trinidad in 1929 from studying Law in the UK, Rienzi worked with Captain Cipriani’s Trinidad Labour Party, eventually forming the Trinidad Citizens League (TCL) in December 1936. After the 1937 Oilfield Workers Strike and Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler’s arrest, Rienzi showed support by mediating the case, becoming his attorney and legal strategist for his campaign. In that same year, he was elected to the San Fernando Borough Council, and eventually, Mayor of San Fernando.

Rienzi made many contributions as Mayor, and also played an important role as a trade-unionist and legal advisor during the 1930s Labour Movement. In addition to his role as the first President of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Rienzi established what is known today as All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers’ Trade Union.

He was born Krishna Deonarine in South Trinidad. At a young age, he was elected President of the San Fernando branch of the Trinidad Workingmen’s Association, which later became known as the Trinidad Labour Party (TLP) under the leadership of Captain A. A. Cipriani.

As a law clerk at Hobsons Law Firm, he was introduced to the work of Cola di Rienzo, a 14th century Italian politician and activist. Inspired by Rienzo and Adrian Clarke—an English magistrate who became Rienzi’s mentor—he changed his name to Adrian Cola Rienzi as a young man in 1927 in order to avoid discrimination in the UK while studying law.

He passed away on July 21st 1972, and was posthumously awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2012.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

This photo of Adrian Cola Rienzi is courtesy of the Vanguard Newspaper, January 6th 1940. This newspaper is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago Newspaper Collection.

References: Jacobs, W. Richard. “The Politics of Protest in Trinidad: The Strikes and Disturbances of 1937.” Caribbean Studies, vol. 17, no. 1/2, 1977, pp. 5–54. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25612797.

Ryan, Selwyn D. “Race and Nationalism in Trinidad and Tobago: A Study of Decolonization In A Multiracial Society.” University of Toronto Press, 1972.

17/06/2026

In recognition of Labour Day this week, today we would like to feature the labour leader, Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler.

Born on January 21st, 1897 in Grenada, at age seventeen, he joined the first contingent of the British West India Regiment, and travelled to Egypt and Palestine to represent the British Empire in World War I. Following his return from the war, he formed the Grenada Representative Government Movement and the Grenada Union of Returned Soldiers.

In 1921, Butler moved to Trinidad, where the oil industry was booming. He worked as a pipe-fitter at the Roodal Oil fields. He also became actively involved in the Moravian Baptist Church, becoming the Church’s chief pastor by 1931.

Appalled by the low wages and poor working conditions he and his co-workers faced, Butler joined Captain Arthur Andrew Cirpriani’s Trinidad Labour Party (TLP) (formerly known as the Trinidad Workingmen’s Association (TWA)). In March 1935, Butler led a hunger march from the Apex oil belt to Port of Spain in protest of the injustices faced by workers nationwide. By 1936, Butler was a well-known activist with a reputation for defending the humanity of working class people in Trinidad and Tobago. He formed his own party, The British Empire Workers and Citizens Home Rule Party (BEWCHP), and held public meetings and sit-down strikes throughout the oil belt to continue mobilizing his peers.

On September 9th 1937, about three months after the June 19th riot, Butler surrendered to the police. He was tried and freed on the charges of sedition but was still jailed for two years for inciting riot. He was to be released from jail in May 1939, but instead he was rearrested and detained as a security risk under the defense regulations of World War II. He spent six years in detention on Nelson Island and was not released until the war was over in 1945.

Upon his release, Butler intensified his efforts for social justice and continued to organise labour strikes. In 1950, his party won a seat to represent St. Patrick West in the Legislative Council, on which he served for many years. During this time, Butler, along with others, fought to repeal the 1917 Shouters Prohibition Ordinance which made it illegal for Spiritual Baptists to participate in worship.

In 1970, Butler received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award, The Trinity Cross, for his contributions as a labour leader. In 1972, June 19th was declared an annual holiday by Act 19 of 1972 which honours the anniversary of the 1937 Oilfield Workers’ riots.

Butler passed away on Sunday 20th February 1977. He was honoured with a state funeral and later, buried in Fyzabad.

In 1988, the highway running from Mt. Hope to Chaguanas—formerly known as the Princess Margaret Highway—was renamed the Uriah Butler Highway in his memory.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo of Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler is from the National Archives Photo Collection. See more about and his role in the Oilfield Workers’ Riots of 1937:https://natt.gov.tt/sites/default/files/pdfs/ButlerRevisedBoards11June.pdf

References:
“The Challenge for Labour” by Tony Fraser: http://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.424898.3b73264b9f

17/06/2026

The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission will be closed to the public on Friday 19 June 2026 in commemoration of Labour Day. The normal operations of the Mission will resume on Monday 22 June 2026.

16/06/2026

🎶 TASPO at 75: Reflections and Innovations in Carnival Arts 🎶

Join the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Trinidad All Steel Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) and its historic visit to Britain in 1951.

📅 22–24 July 2026
📍 University of West London, South Ealing Campus
🎟️ Free admission (registration required)

The programme includes:
- TASPO commemorative events in Trinidad (7 June–6 July)
- A symbolic torch handover and Pan & Calypso concert in London (21 July)
- The 12th Pan/Carnival Arts Conference (22–24 July)
- A grand finale at the Southbank Centre featuring 25 steelbands (25–26 July)

Celebrate the legacy, culture, and innovation of steelpan and Carnival arts with artists, scholars, performers, and enthusiasts from across the community.

🔗 Register:
https://bit.ly/12thCarnivalArtsConference

📧 Register or enquire:
[email protected] | [email protected]

For further information and registration details, please visit the link above or contact the organisers directly.

15/06/2026

Shemaine Campbelle's heroic knock downs defending champions New Zealand to kickoff West Indies' campaign 🔥

15/06/2026

T&T National Darts Team duo James Walklin and Joshua Balfour celebrate their victory over Latvia at the BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany.