Mariano Browne
Simply stated, a prosperous nation is one with a vibrant economy and a population which is growing moderately or at a replacement rate. CSO’s population statistics and actuarial calculations suggest that T&T's population has reached its maximum and has already started to age. An ageing population is more difficult to manage as it requires higher social service expenditures with the tax burden falling on a declining working population. Many countries manage this phenomenon by allowing immigration under controlled conditions or an immigration policy.
Population migration is as old as civilization itself. Archaeological and genealogy studies show that migration began with the movement of Homo erectus out of Africa across Eurasia approximately 1.75 million years ago. The Bible chronicles the migration of Abraham from Babylon to the “promised land” creating Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim faith in the process. The Human Genome Project has proven that all humans are 99.5 per cent alike. In that sense, we are all cousins, and that half per cent accounts for all the racial differences in the world.
The reality is that migration has been responsible for the growth of many countries in the world. Indeed, conscious immigration policy has been responsible for the growth of the “New World”, the Americas, the Caribbean, New Zealand and Australia in particular. Despite the continuing arguments about immigration in the USA, immigration remains a cornerstone of its population policy and the main reason for its continued dynamism. The evidence suggests that the immigrant populations not only change the population dynamics, but they add to the economy’s dynamism (22 Nov McKinsey The economic State of Latinos: Determined to Thrive).
Trinidad developed because of a deliberate immigration policy up to 1960 which accounts for the diversity of Trinidad’s population (much less so in the case of Tobago). In 1777 the population of Trinidad was approximately 1,400 people. The Cedula of the population in 1783 laid the basis of population and economic growth by offering land allotments to Catholics from other territories who were prepared to swear loyalty to the Spanish Crown and bring their slaves with them. The offer was also available to free people of colour who received half as much as white settlers. By 1797 when the British captured Trinidad the population was greater than 15,000. Tobago was ceded to the British in 1814 and was merged with Trinidad in 1888.
Slavery in Trinidad lasted from the Cedula in 1783 to abolition in 1834. Although the slave trade was abolished in 1807, captured “slavers” were routed to Trinidad to meet the demand for labour. However, Trinidad remained underdeveloped and underpopulated which accounts for the waves of indentured immigration starting with Chinese in 1806 and continuing with Portuguese and East Indian indentureship which continued from 1845 to 1917. In the 20th century, there were smaller immigration waves from Europe, the Middle East and China, as a result of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire and the world wars. Hence, the presence of a Syrian-Lebanese community, and a small Jewish community that developed parts of Petit Valley and Diego Martin.
Since Trinidad was a part of the British Empire, there was free movement between the islands accounting for immigrants from other Caribbean territories (Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent) attracted by the growth opportunities. There was always a trickle of migrant Venezuelan labour hence the term “Cocoa paignol”. By 1851 the population had grown to 82,978; 126,692 in 1871; 218,381 in 1891; 333,552 in 1911; and 834,350 in 1960. This phenomenal rate of growth was only possible because of immigration.
There has always been emigration from T&T notably to metropolitan countries. T&T experienced three waves of emigration since Independence, a brain drain which led to the loss of many of its best-trained nationals, including university graduates, post-1962, 1970 and 1990. This was not only a brain drain but caused a monumental social and cultural transplantation. The rise of “Caribbean” Carnivals in London, New York, Toronto, Boston and Miami evidence this. Wendell Samuel of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in looking at Caribbean remittances noted that T&T is the only country to have experienced net population loss whilst simultaneously “absorbing a significant number of migrants from other Caribbean islands.” He estimates the outward emigration from T&T during this period amounted to some 300,000 people.
The arguments against immigration are that it places pressure on the provision of social services (education, health care, housing) and creates competition for jobs thereby affecting wages rates and immigrants do not contribute to development. An ageing population will drive up costs and increase the burden on a smaller population. Migrants also bring distinct cultural habits and religions which may cause friction. But immigrants tend to be younger, have more diverse skill sets and are more inclined to take the risks necessary to switch to new economic activities and increase the national savings rate when they settle in. Internationally the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of immigration.
The country faces a dilemma. It needs economic growth if it is to maintain the standard of living which is incompatible with an ageing population. Growth and development can only come from developing people. What it needs now is a structured immigration policy informed by a manpower plan, which the country has never had.