San Fernando Honors Indigenous Roots with Golden Statue

In the heart of San Fernando, the industrial capital of Trinidad and Tobago, stands a golden statue that’s hard to miss. This statue, steeped in cultural significance, honours the First Peoples of the region. Sculpted with strong features, a traditional headdress, and a warrior-like stance, the statue is not a depiction of a specific individual but a symbolic tribute to the Amerindian communities, namely the Kalinago and Nepuyo, who were the original inhabitants of the land. Despite the displacement that took place during European colonization, the First Peoples’ legacy remains significant, influencing island’s place names, agriculture, cuisine, and cultural identity. The statue, for both residents and visitors, is more than a mere landmark. It is a vivid recognition of San Fernando’s rich indigenous history and a show of respect to those who first claimed these lands as their own.