trinidad and tobago carnival By annacharlottewatts Jan 1, 1797 Trinidad caputured by British. Aug 1, 1838 Slavery abolished, indentured workers brought in from India to work on sugar cane plantations. Jan 1, 1881 Canboulay Riot Jan 1, 1889 Trinidad and Tobago established as a singular colony. Jan 1, 1956 Carnival Development Commission established. Jan 1, 1962 Gained independance from Britian. Jan 1, 1970 Government declares state of emergency after Black Power protests.