Page "History of Trinidad and Tobago" Paragraph 45

In 1968 the National Joint Action Committee was formed by members of the Guild of Undergraduates at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies, under the leadership of Geddes Granger.

In 1969 it was formally launched to protest the arrest of West Indian students at Sir George Williams University in Montreal.

Together with Trade Unions and other groups, this led to the birth of the Black Power movement.

In 1970 a series of marches and strikes led to the declaration of a State of Emergency and the arrest of 15 Black Power leaders.

In sympathy with the arrested leaders, a portion of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, led by Raffique Shah and Rex Lassalle mutinied and took hostages at the Teteron Barracks ( located on the Chaguaramas Peninsula ).

However, the Coast Guard remained loyal and was able to isolate the mutineers at Teteron ( as the only way out was along a narrow coastal road ).

After 5 days the mutineers surrendered.