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ARIMA is my hometown.

Follow the link to the government site to read about Arima through the eyes of Michael Anthony. The link also provides a list of towns and villages that could be of interest to you. You may discover fascinating historical facts and cultural insights that enrich your understanding of this vibrant region. Additionally, the site features resources that offer further exploration of local events and attractions.

Here is the link: Arima: Town & Villages

The Amerindians who lived on our islands named many of the towns and villages on Trinidad and Tobago maps. Arima, meaning “water,’ is one such example. Founded by Capuchin monks in 1757, it is one of the earliest settlements on the island. Situated in the idyllic foothills of the Northern Range, it served as a meeting point for neighboring estates and, for the most part, led a quiet, sleepy life. Nothing remains the same, and during that turbulent period of the region's history, change was on its way.

Its calm reverie was broken in the 1780s, when the Mission of Arima, as it was known, was used by Governor Jose Maria Chacon as a transfer point for all the Amerindians from the neighboring districts, allowing distribution of the arable land to newly arrived French planters under the Cedula.

This continued until 1828, when Arima was no longer preserved as a mission. By the 1870s, a radical transformation took place with the rapid spread of the cocoa industry. Planters began to clamor for a more efficient system of transportation in the Port of Spain. Arima, historically the hub for the outlying districts, saw the inauguration of the first railway line in Trinidad for both passengers and freight.

Today, the town of Arima has retained some of its original flavors as the hub via which people from the North and East coasts traverse to do their shopping or travel into the capital. Arima’s economy has changed from an agricultural base to an industrial one, with the establishment of factories and housing estates along the outskirts of town. Much of the Amerindian population still resides in the area, although it is difficult to find anyone of pure blood today. The feast of Santa Rosa, in which descendants of the Carib tribe parade in full regalia, is still celebrated on the streets of the town, and on this special occasion, a new Carib  Queen is selected.

Source: http://www.visittnt.com/