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History and Migration | The West Indies | People and Culture

165th Anniversary of the Madeiran Portuguese in Trinidad & Tobago

CELEBRATING 165 YEARS IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: THE MADEIRAN PORTUGUESE

by Jo-Anne S. Ferreira
Coordinator and Guest Editor for the Guardian 165th Supplement

"E se mais mundo houvera, l� chegara,"�("And if there had been more of the world, they would have reached it")said Lu��z Vaz de Cam�es (Os Lus��adas VII, 14), writing about the 15th-century Portuguese explorers

As of 9 May 2011, Madeiran Portuguese and Madeiran descendants in Trinidad & Tobago can look back on 165 years of the Madeiran Portuguese presence in this country. We recognise this anniversary on 10 June, the "Day of Cam�es, Portugal and Portuguese Communities," a holiday in Portugal and recognised worldwide wherever Portuguese have settled.

I am pleased to have worked with the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian, and would like to publicly and especially thank Tracey Alonzo, and Lisa Jessamy and Cherry Antoine. It was a delight to coordinate a number of contributions, Trinidadian and Madeiran, each with their own unique and interesting perspective. Thank you to all our writers and supporters (see below) for their enthusiastic and timely responses.

The following contributors kindly responded to my invitations. We are particularly pleased to bring greetings from Dr Jo�o Alberto Jardim, President of (the Autonomous Region of) Madeira; from the Ambassador of Portugal, His Excellency M�rio A. Lino da Silva, based in Caracas; from Dr Luis Ritto, University professor in Brussels and former EU Ambassador, with an overview of Portuguese emigration to the Caribbean region; Dr F�tima Barros, Director of the Regional Archives of Madeira on doing genealogical research in Madeira and online; Dr Alberto Vieira, Director of the Centre for Studies of the History of the Atlantic (CEHA); Rev Jorge Gameiro of the Presbyterian Church of Madeira; and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Thomas E. Gullickson, based in Port-of-Spain. Luis Sid�nio de Castro of Madeira (cousin of the San Fernando Xaviers) was instrumental in contacting the office of the President of Madeira and Rev Gameiro. With the help of Dr David Rampersad, I was able to contact Her Excellency Ambassador Razia Ali and her staff who in turn kindly contacted His Excellency Ambassador da Silva in Caracas.

Our local contributors include Abbot John Pereira of Mt St Benedict, Rev Clifford Rawlins of the Church of Scotland (both clerics descended from Portuguese of Madeira writing about their respective denominations), G�rard A. Besson on Albert Gomes, J. Wayne Quintal on the San Fernando Portuguese, Roger A. Camacho, President of the Portuguese Association of Richmond Street, Janine Mendes-Franco on Bishop John Mendes, and myself writing on the cultural contributions of our Madeirans and descendants, with a timeline, a bookshelf and surnames of the Portuguese experience in Trinidad & Tobago. Herman Rodrigues Jnr and Angelo Bissessarsingh also kindly provided images of businesses, the latter from his Virtual Museum of Trinidad & Tobago.

My heartfelt thanks to all those who have contributed to recording and preserving our national heritage over the years: my parents and grandparents and family (the Tobago de Freitases and "Picton Street Ferreiras" and Sabino de Souzas), all forebears (including my maternal great-great-grandfather, editor Samuel Carter of Scarborough and San Fernando), the gracious time and help of all interviewees, Madeirans here and in Madeira, G�rard Besson, friends, colleagues and fellow Trinbagonians.

We invite you to read and enjoy this exciting compilation of perspectives by and about Portuguese and Portuguese descendants and friends. Parab�ns - congratulations, T&T!

Links to articles :

Barros, F�tima. The Regional Archives of Madeira and the 165th Anniversary Celebrations of the Arrival of the First Madeirans in Trinidad

Besson, G�rard A. Albert Gomes

Camacho, Roger A. Associa��o Portuguesa Primeiro de Dezembro

Fernandes, Joseph E. Fernandes Fine Wines and Spirits: A Century of Trinidadian Tradition

Ferreira, Jo-Anne S. Behind the Scenes: The Portuguese Cultural Contribution to Trinidad & Tobago

Ferreira, Jo-Anne S. Some Highlights of the Portuguese Experience in Trinidad & Tobago: A Timeline

Gameiro, Jorge. The "Bible Readers" of Madeira

Gullickson, Thomas E. Best Wishes to the Portuguese Community

Jardim, Alberto Jo�o Cardoso Gon�alves. Message from the President of the Regional Government of Madeira

Pereira, John. The Contribution of the Portuguese to the Roman Catholic Church in Trinidad & Tobago

Quintal, J. Wayne. The Early Portuguese Immigrants in the San Fernando Area: Another Ingredient in the Trini Pot