Official and private events have been planned to celebrate TT's 60 years of independence.
Central Government has organised celebratory events, while the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has its own activities planned to mark the occasion.
Politically, economically, structurally and socially, there have been many changes since TT raised its own flag on August 31, 1962.
And still, there are many in Tobago who wish to see even greater changes on all fronts, arguing that Tobago's true potential can only be achieved if its fate is in the hands of Tobagonians.
[caption id="attachment_972425" align="alignnone" width="1024"] President ANR Robinson during an official ceremony. File photo/TT News Centre Ltd[/caption]
Some take umbrage at the name Trinidad and Tobago, preferring to say Tobago and Trinidad, to indicate the importance of their priority.
But semantics aside, the Trinidad experience is different from that of Tobago.
Historian Dr Rita Pemberton, who was born in Tobago but lives in Trinidad, said Trinis and Tobagonians have mostly warmed to each other.
She recalled the days where Tobagonians were treated less well than their Trinidad counterparts.
"When Tobago was isolated, you could tell a Tobagonian by the way we talk or the clothes."
She said the employment limitations in Tobago forced Tobagonians to migrate to Trinidad in search of better opportunities.
[caption id="attachment_972659" align="alignnone" width="400"] Hochoy Charles[/caption]
"If you're in the public service you couldn't go past clerk three or four in Tobago.
"A number of people went into the police service or nursing or teaching and you had a relocation of people.
"There are more Tobagonians in Trinidad than in Tobago," she said.
She noted that the population in Tobago has remained stuck around 60,000 because of the migration issue.
Pemberton said the mixing of the populations, through the workplace, friendships and marriages, has caused a better understanding of the different cultures.
"What we have now is this sharp distinction between Trinidad and Tobago being dulled, because people have feet on both sides."
She said one just has to look around to see Tobagonians in every sphere nationally – the Prime Minister, Chief Justice Ivor Archie, heads of corporate institutions, lecturers, principals.
She noted, though, that Tobagonians did not have it easy initially.
"Tobagonians who came to Trinidad to study back then were treated like outsiders: 'You doh talk like we, nah. Allyuh from country.'
"Some people still have that backward thinking."
Pemberton believes this is slowly dissipating with travel between the two islands having become much easier, thanks to the seabridge and airbridge.
[caption id="attachment_728521" align="alignnone" width="1024"] In this 2021 file photo, the inter-island ferry the Galleons Passage is docked at the Scarborough port. File photo/Jeff Mayers[/caption]
"A lot of Trinis go to Tobago (for vacation). There are a lot of Trini businesses operating in Tobago now. Trinis are g
