Beginning with
the Native Amerindians they have named the village "Anaparima",
which in their dialect means a single hill. This hill is in the
San Fernando Hill which is rich in display of, fauna and a place
of quiet enjoyment.
To the Amerindians
it was not only their home but a spiritual reservation. Sir Walter
Raleigh was attracted by the beauty of the hill while sailing along
the Gulf of Paria in 1595. He had stopped to visit the natives and
natural beauty of the hill. After Raleigh left, nothing changed.
The natives continued their simple way of living until the arrival
of the Capuchin monks from Spain. They came to Savanna Grande and
founded the Mission at the foothills of the Naparima Hill and a
hut and dedicated it to the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.
Anaparima continued
to be a small fishing village until 1786 when a parcel of land was
granted by Governor Maria Cuacon to Isidore. Vialva to lay out 78
lots around Plaza de San Carlos (Now Kings Warf) as the nucleus
of a town.
Vialva did
otherwise. He sold the lands to a Frenchman named Jean Jaillet and
San Fernando's first attempt to build a town was aborted by the
dishonesty of Isidore Angered by this, Chacon waited until 1792
to established a town. He had in mind to build one at La Brea to
facilitate the development of commerce and the exploitation of pitch,
but he gave up the idea and built up one in San Fernando comprising
of 11 acres on which there were 70 housed, a wooden Catholic Church,
a rest home for travelers and a detachment of 50 soldiers. Chacon
called it San Fernando de Naparima in honor of the infant Prince
Ferdinand VII of Spain.
The center
of the town was Plaza de San Carlos from that point ran streets.
St Vincent, Chacon, Penitence and Quenca Street. Of this early town
there is no trace because fire completely destroyed it in 1818.
During that
time sugar was the main crop of the Naparimas. French immigrants
either owned large plantations or managed their for absent landlords.
During the period, two Martiuquians, Francis Cazabon and Rose Cabazoninee
Debonne arrived in Trinidad. Rose gave birth to a son called Jean
Michael at Corint estate in 1813. Jean Michael later became the
great painter of the Caribbean after studying art in France.
In those days
San Fernando was linked to Port-of-Spain by the sea. Merchants were
anxious to develop trade between San Fernando and the French Islands
of Martinique and Guadeloupe. In response to this, Governor Sir
Ralph Woodford granted to the town a loan of $40,000.00 in 1817
to erect a jetty at King's Wharf. Although it was built in 1817,
it was not until 1837 that it was declared a port of call.
Making use
of this port were several steamships which used to transport goods
and passengers from port-of-Spain and San Fernando. The first was
the SS Woodford. It made its first voyage in 1818. They were also
the "Paria" and the Lady McLeod.
The Lady McLeod
made history when its captain David Bryce made a device for franking
goods transported on to the ship. This device was fashioned onto
a postage stamp. The first issued in the British Commonwealth. It
is called the Lady McLeod steamer sank off the coast of Vistabella
in 1854, but its larger brass bell which was located on the steamer's
deck was recovered. It is now placed in the foyer of the of the
San Fernando City Hall.
San Fernando
has been recognized for its diversity in religion. During the 1840
to 1900 many religious bodies came to San Fernando. They include
the Anglicans, Methodist, Hindus, Moslems, Protestants, and Presbyterians.
In 1845 hundreds
of East Indians indentured workers came to San Fernando from different
parts of India to work on sugarcane estates in and around San Fernando.
In 1867, Rev George Lambert of the United Presbyterian Church started
its operations at Cipero Street. This was the nucleus of the Presbyterian
missions of which Rev. John Morton, and Dr. Kenny Grant were early
pioneers.
As early as
1856 Rev. William Gable, a Baptist Minister, after taking charge
of the southern districts, moved the mission from Princess Town
to San Fernando and built a house and church on Harris Promenade.
The site of the church is now occupied by the National Insurance
Offices. In the forecourt of the building is a stone monument called
"Soteria" which was erected in 1991 to mark the 40th year
of liberation of the Shouter Baptists.
From this mixture
of people came many note worthy citizens including Francis Cabazon,
who was as early as 1845 made representations to have San Fernando
became a borough.
On October
18th, 1845 San Fernando became a borough. The inaugural meeting
was held on February 16th 1846 and in 1853, Dr Robert Johnstone
was elected first mayor of the Borough.
Party politics
took control of the council's deliberation in 1959 when the council
was controlled by the members of the Peoples' National Movement.
They were defeated however in 1986 by the National Alliance for
Reconstruction (NAR). It was during the National Alliance of Reconstruction
term of office that a motion was debated and approved to change
San Fernando to a City. The planned date was October 18th 1988,
but due to constitutional difficulties it was postponed to November
18th1988.
The people
who have lived in the City have varied backgrounds. They are descendants
of the global world. Many are young while others are not so young.
Regardless of their ethnic background or ages they live harmoniously
together. Not many of them are descendants of the original settlers.
Those living
in the City came in search of many things such as oil, highland,
health and riches. Some found what they sought and others did not.
Yet all have found an incomparable place which to live, to search
and explore. And many have found riches other than those sought
and have stayed to become rich in living.
