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.
Major conflicts in 2002. The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment has been involved in two major conflicts. • 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 (
see Black Power Revolution). • 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. :
See: Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt International missions • 1983 to 1984 - Trinidad and Tobago contributed troops to the peacekeeping mission after the
United States' invasion of
Grenada (
Operation Urgent Fury). The Trinidad and Tobago Government opposed the military intervention by the United States and did not participate in the invasion. However T&T deployed troops to assist in peacekeeping after the combat mission was completed. • 1993 to 1996 - The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment contributed troops to the
United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in
Haiti (
UNMIH) as part of a
CARICOM contingent. • 2004 to 2005 - After the mass destruction dealt to Grenada by
Hurricane Ivan, the Regiment was sent immediately after to help assist the Grenadian government in security, aid distribution and rebuilding of the country.
Other incidents • On 26 April 1988 - A bush fire near Camp Omega, a military compound in Chaguaramas which was used for ammunition storage and infantry training, killed two soldiers and four firefighters when the fire spread to one of the buildings housing the ammunition. ==Organisation==