Tobago
| Jaunā Kurzeme New Courland | |
| Subdivision of | Latvia |
| Capital | Skarspils (Scarborough) |
| Important Cities | Charlotteville |
| Languages | |
| Official | Latvian Creole |
| Other | English |
| Prime minister | Vessel Birko |
| Area | 300 km² (116 sq. miles) |
| Population | |
| Establishment | 2004 |
Tobago is an island in the Carribean Sea and one of England's several overseas territories. For a short time in the aftermath of the Florida War in 2004, Tobago was controlled by Latvia.
Administration
Tobago was administered as an autonomous area of Courland from 31 March 2004 to 16 May 2006.
History
Tobago was discovered in 1498; the first European attempt to settle the island was undertaken by the English in 1616, but they were driven out by native Caribs. The Dutch West Indies Company in 1632 succeeded in establishing a permanent settlement. In 1652, another settlement was established by the Courlanders, both sides claiming the entire island. Courland conquered whole island with the help of the local Caribs in 1698. In exchange for Batavia's cooperation, Courland renounced its own claims to a colony near Dutch Guyana.
| County Tobago | |
| Subdivision of | England |
| County Seat | Scarborough |
| Other Towns | Charlotteville |
| Languages | |
| Official | English |
| Other | Pan-Caribbean Creole English, Latvian Creole |
| Council Chair | Hon. George F. Edwards |
| Area | 116 sq. miles |
| Population | 49,000 (2005) |
| Establishment | 1867 (crown colony) 1932 (English county) |
After Courland was occupied by Russia in 1867, Tobago was retaken by England. In 1880, Tobago, together with Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia, formed the Province
of the Windward Islands. In 1886 Tobago was separated from the Windwards, and in
1888 the island colony was merged with Trinidad.
In 1888 the colony of Tobago was heavily indebted to Trinidad, and there was no prospect of an economic recovery. Thus, the colony of Tobago was amalgamated to the crown colony of Trinidad, the new colony now being called Trinidad & Tobago. The seat of administration was Port of Spain (Trinidad). The democratic movement began in the 1920s with the formation of Trade Unions. A new constitution was passed, according to which a fragment of the assembly was elected; the franchise was tied to property and literacy qualifications which virtually excluded many inhabitants (descendants of slaves as well as Asian immigrants) from the democratic process. In 1929, property and literacy requirements were abandoned, thus integrating all inhabitants into the democratic process.
In 1932 Trinidad and Tobago were admitted to England as counties and strong educational and economic development prgrammes were instituted. The process of democratisation was interrupted in 1951, when the County was captured by Florida-Caribbea; for a decade following, dominion see-sawed between England and Florida-Caribbea, who at last seized the islands in 1963 from when the territories remained under Floridian rule until the Florida War in 2004.
After the war, which brought the government of Jaime Bush to an end, the island of Tobago was reclaimed by Latvia who landed a pre-planned government of occupation at Scarborough on 31 March, renaming the couty seat Skarspils. The Latvian claim was predicated on their historical colony in the island and the theory that "no other nation has stepped in to fill the power-vacuum". Latvia remained in control of these islands for the next month and a half while English and Latvian diplomats discussed the matter. Federated forces landed at Charlotteville and Speyside, quickly moving through the Tobago Forest Preserve national park. On the 23rd, County officials arrived at Roxbury to set up an interim government and continue to help the locals settle post-war affairs. By the 30th, Federated forces and the local militia had secured the island and surrounded Scarborough.
By 2006, talks between English crown envoys and government of occupation officials ended in stalemate. The Latvians continued to press their claim that the "Union" was now in effect and that the English are considered the invaders and occupiers. At last, on the 12th of May 2006, irate civilian militias from around the County rose up and marched on Scarborough, demanding that the Lativans leave peacefully. A Latvian cruise ship The Courland, filled with "colonists" was discovered and held at sea by Federated forces. On the 14th, citizens seized the radio station and post office. The next day, Federated forces entered Scarborough and seized the County offices. There, they captured the Latvian officials, various documents and bales of Tobagan "talers" (presumably the currency of the supposed Union), weapons stashes and some 250 remaining Latvian forces of occupation. Released from confinement, the County officials declared Tobago to be liberated from both Florida-Caribbea and Latvia all in one go.
On the 16th of May, the remaining Latvians were all airlifted out to the Courland and there released. County officials refused to press charges with the County magistracy, in stead opting as a sign of peace to release the officials, citing that undoubtedly they will be in enough trouble at home, and Latvia itself will have to pay reparations to England for the trouble caused. The Courland arrived home on 31 May.
Due to economic difficulties in the aftermath of the war, which the sparsely populated county could not afford, County Tobago was united with Trinidad on 25 March 2008, forming the county Trinidad and Tobago, and in June 2008 they became a condominium within England and the Caribbean League.
