Remembering the 1990 Coup in Trinidad and Tobago

[@letzsnuggzz]

It's a real shame that they are not teaching this part of our national history in schools. Yes. It was a low point. But so important to learn about our lowest points, so we can prevent history from repeating itself.

[@thenowchurch6419]

Thank you much for educating people on this. I was a reporter at TTT at the time. I was a hostage there for 5 harrowing days. I thank the Most High Jah for sparing my life.

[@YohanPartap]

Wow, thankfully you servived! What you must have seen! Thanks for watching!

[@mungalmangroo9942]

This is what started gangs and division in the country and is the reason for the state of Trinidad today as we speak.

[@jaytay4027]

My grand father who i havent seen in 15 + years who came from trinidad and Tobago told me this story today. And he said the same thing it was a day i will never forget.

[@natalieeudovic7886]

A perfect summary of the coup. I was just explaining to my kids how this coup came about. And we decided to come on youtube for more details. Your video was the first. Thanks for the upload. It has helped a lot :)

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks so much for your feedback, I am very happy it was helpful in explaining the Coup.

[@edwardlewis1963]

@1:30 "It might have not been the only one" (meaning the only tv station) Yes, TTT was the only tv station, which is why taking over the one and only tv station was a key aspect of the plan. 1990 highlighted the National Security problem of the existence of only one tv station in the country. One year later, TV6 came online.

[@YohanPartap]

Yes, I put a note on screen to correct myself, thanks for the extra info!!!!

[@kingnaldo4058]

I remembered this very well. I was 14 at the time and had just migrated to the *USA* a year earlier, from *Jamaica.* *Yasin Abu Bakr* presence on television was very *Erie* at the time and the news that *Prime Minister A.N.R. Robinson* being shot, was nerve racking. The scenes of gunfires, with burning buildings and looting still vivid to this day. This shook my best friend who is *Trini* so much so, he has not returned to *T&T* since. He had stories for days of his own experience in *Laventille* during this time.....🤔

[@YohanPartap]

Wow, thanks for sharing!

[@myzone5916]

Thank you very much for this brother. Really, really appreciate it.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks!

[@letzsnuggzz]

I was living in the East so we didn't get a signal from the Saturday onward. But after things returned to normal, I heard talk from my friends about all the latest American movies that they were seeing on tv at the time. I thought people were making that up. Really interesting what really happened regarding the knocked out signal and what went truly went down.

[@sheldonquamina9634]

I got stranded at the stadium we had to walk home the day then the crazyness started never forgot the look of Port of Spain

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ykseuz]

I was 14 but was in Tobago at the time of n vacation but recall the curfew that was implemented. Thanks for the reminder and Rest In Peace Mr. ANR

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching!

[@FlorenceJulienCummings]

Thanks for shareing. I was 15yrs. At the time

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching!

[@kalicia84]

Thank you for sharing this. My family had immigrated to the US a few years before, so my memory is of my father trying to gather as much info as possible from cable news and our family in Trinidad. I'm grateful for your perspective. As a Trinidadian living abroad I need to know more about this too.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mellemel4635]

Great story there should be a movie about it...

[@YohanPartap]

There should be.

[@Godiseverywhere-k4y]

U did an excellent job my brother I enjoyed it

[@YohanPartap]

Glad to hear it

[@tyrexdino]

I was 12 as well and just registered to start QRC 2 days before. I was thinking that I would not be able to go to school. I remember so much from that time. Thanks for sharing.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching and I had the same thought around school.

[@Maraj38]

A time in my life I’ll never forget I was six years old and lives a block away from TTT.

[@YohanPartap]

Wow you where clsoe to the action, sure you will always remember, please pass on you exprience of this to others.

[@Maraj38]

We lived on Gray Street at that time. I remember hearing and seeing gunfire, remembering seeing a lady get shot in her car. For two straight days, we heard gunfire up and down our street all the way to TTT. I remember collecting bullet casings and remembering my dad, throwing them away. It’s definitely a time I’ll never forget.

[@miasalazar6220]

Great video. They definitely should teach about this as it's an important piece of our history. But thanks to content from you and others we can learn more about it.

[@YohanPartap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@isiano10]

Great content bro!

[@YohanPartap]

Appreciate it!

[@aishadebique9201]

Yes, Batman and The Little Mermaid movie!I almost forgot!I was only 12 years old as well

[@YohanPartap]

Yes, the Little Mermaid! thanks for the reminder!

[@karelphillips3483]

I was 17yrs, just left secodary school. I was on Frederick Street when everything took place. Minister Leo DeVignes died from gun shot wounds

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@karelphillips3483]

@@YohanPartap Welcome

[@nicolesimon2045]

Sitting with my sons 13 and 6 telling them I was there that Friday afternoon on Independence Square, my 14yo knew nothing about this. Why isn't this being taught in achool

[@YohanPartap]

Yes, part of our history

[@anna-mariaseesahai9641]

Amazing summary .

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching!

[@mahadjama1481]

My brother, I think you did a fantastic job when you described the coup and I think it was particularly interesting that you described what you said in the form of a child's point of view, which not many people think about what effects they can have and how long one remembers before they ages that usually want to put it behind them and move on. I do not remember the military coup in my country Somalia when I was born 4 years after but had to live with its consequences with persecution, imprisonment and finally forced exile for large parts of my relatives, colleagues and acquaintances when the government that was in charge contained many of my relatives and the President who murdered was both related and familiar with us. We tried staging our own military coup 8 years later, which failed and only forced us in to jail and several death sentences until it all came together in 1990, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Thank you for your review.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks so much for your response, sounds liek alot to go through and I do hoep youi and your family are well now.

[@lucysam953]

This happened just one year after I visited T&T for a month in 1989. One year earlier I felt quite safe walking around the Red House as an 18 year old American kid. The country is such an interesting blend of cultures. The coup broke my heart. So surprising to see the story break on CNN. I recall being very concerned about my friend and her family.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing

[@royaladviser2834]

I remembered I was watching tv on the Friday night, I was18 yrs old then the TV interruption happened. I remember seeing these men with machine guns on the set saying that they have taken control of the country. Then I realised this was serious. I lived in Tobago, so we were not experiencing the bombing and looting but the curfew was awful in my view because the police had to enforce and keep us in our homes. Thanks for your video, I let my kids know of the T&T Coup, also of Abu Bakr who died one day ago.,

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing, we have to pass on our experiences and with his recent death it is coming back up. Thanks for watching!

[@karelphillips3483]

My three uncles were serving members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. One was at the Red Hiouse, when soldiers were deployed.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing, sure they have stories!

[@karelphillips3483]

@@YohanPartap Yes, but two have passed on after their retirement

[@annesayoung5425]

I was 5 months and 2 days at the time, from what i was told by my mom, at first she thought it was a prank until she realised it was serious😢

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@neavax]

hi good day. would it be ok if i used this video in my presentation, you will be properly credited.

[@YohanPartap]

Yes, sure. Glad its of use.

[@oscarguevara9001]

Thanks God the coup was defeated, I witnessed 2 coup in Venezuela, many people died, they were defeated too, how ever the rebels were released two years after, and finnally they took the power by elections, and now Venezuela is worse. Violent people is unable to built pease or prosperity. Excelent video congrats!

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tamikadanielle8380]

They should make a movie about this

[@YohanPartap]

Would be interesting,

[@thewealthand_health]

I got some crazy stories man that could have been the day it all ended

[@deborahs4970]

I remember this. When the gunmen interrupted the nightly news we thought it was a skit. The football match at the stadium continued because no one took it seriously until Abu Barker made an announcement. I was so upset, because it was the finale of 227 a US sitcom (never got to see it). After the announcement of what was actually taking place, it became very scary.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks so much for sharing!

[@joegrinefine]

This was a Friday night and 227 was not part of that night’s programming……Primetime viewing from 8pm,started with,”MacGyver”. Ask any Tom,Dick and Harry‼️

[@karelphillips3483]

The curfew was not a year. It lasted until September.

[@RandomTrinidadian]

I was 4. My dad was a police and had actually finished work that morning. When things went down, dad went to the police station near we (Morvant) and we didn't see him for like a week. What my dad said, they gave him an SLR rifle put him and a few others in a police jeep and got sent to Bessont St. Police station. He never really talked about what happened but I never pressed him. I figured it was for the best.

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing.

[@RandomTrinidadian]

@@YohanPartap Here is another one, a little more light hearted. Back in Morvant, my mom was selling pies outside our house and no one bothered her or us kids. No joke.

[@davidacave]

Well done Yohan! The discourse concerning the coup is very sparse.

[@YohanPartap]

Hey David! Yes, its a bit strange something so important seem to have been mostly forgotten.

[@davidacave]

@@YohanPartap Yohan, I really don't believe that it was forgotten by those who lived it. But it has been suppressed by many, particularly those in high political office or those who were too comfortable to be bothered. It's sort of like a traumatic experience that Trinidadians would try to sweep under the rug instead of addressing it. The only problem was that many negative consequences of the coup remain: the corruption, the firearms, the crime, the racism. So it will always resurface, regardless of whether Trinidad is ready to deal with it or not.

[@Trintech75]

I was in Trinidad… Town to be correct… We was in the Movie Theatre… Held at bay by some soldiers but they wasn’t Army Men.. The smell alone I will never forget…

[@nothecker4715]

I wasn't born in 1990 only my granny was born but I got the sadness news in my life

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching.

[@nothecker4715]

@@YohanPartap no problem

[@karelphillips3483]

A Special Reserve Police (SRP) PC Solomon McLeod was killed at the entrance of the Police Headquarters. He was the senrty. Also Assistant Superintendant Roger George.

[@YohanPartap]

We should remember these names!

[@thefabraja]

They played The Little Mermaid a lot to. 🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@YohanPartap]

Yes they did! Thanks for watching!

[@adeshmanharramkissoon-amrs3528]

I remembered having seen when they stormed the PARLIAMENT ... i was 4 years old ... i cannot remember if that was live ... i was even playing the soldiers an the Muslimeen ... MY FATHER BUFFED me though ...

[@YohanPartap]

Lol, thanks for sharing!

[@bobdelabourer1307]

I knew exactly where I was. I was not in the country at the time but my brother came running in saying dey overthrow de gov. I was very worried. Great thinking on the part of the engineers in knocking out de tower. US destroyers were immediately dispatched by President Bush The father.

[@YohanPartap]

I remember the seeing the destroyer at sea. Thanks for sharing!

[@QuantumLeapResearch]

Cool nice history of it!

[@YohanPartap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@QuantumLeapResearch]

Yeah such a shame this happens, we can only pray people smart enough to so choose better 🙏

[@kweennefatari9283]

yuh remind me off wolverine here yes lol

[@brentmohammed7850]

So weird that ive never heard of this parents and family never told me and they lived there all there lives

[@YohanPartap]

This is why its important to talk about it now. Thanks for watching!

[@ghiansudelo2590]

Are you living in Jamaica or Trinidad?

[@YohanPartap]

Jamaica

[@chaseedwardsedwards540]

I was 6 years old at the time

[@jeromiegaming2848]

I wasnt born yet but my mother told me that her dads sister worked as a police woman and her police department was blown up by him

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@aliyahmccune4769]

My mom was 9 and she was scared and now she has a daughter which is me and I'm seven

[@dezjamesjr4376]

The Trinidad and Tobago special operations forces came in rescue the prime Minister and his cabinet.

[@adamsamuel8593]

No. Bakr chose to come out and give himself out. Think please. The amount of guns they had they could have taken over for months. It was done to teach politicians a lesson in stop mamaguying the people which they haven't learnt despite changes in government personel. Most people disliked Robbie that's why NAR lost badly at the next general elections. If people had a choice to pick a President he would never have been President in this country. Before his death he ended up getting senile for his wickedness.

[@Chev2k3]

If this ever happen a Jamaica........

[@YohanPartap]

Hopefully never. Thanks for watching!

[@kenrickhayling3430]

I was buying cleats in Port of Spain Trini and was knowing wats going on what the hell was doing on

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for sharing!

[@KieronquashieKIERONQUASHIE]

I think i was like 5 years at that time

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks for watching!

[@cindyali3695]

Good story ....

[@YohanPartap]

Thanks as always for watching and adding your comments, really appreciate it!!

[@cindyali3695]

I was 12 too at that time

[@fikriak4915]

who is wrong in the coup? why?

[@sambrown2791]

Trinidad govt was wrong .the people supported him . If you did the research you see it happen because of special problems cause by the prime minister and because the govt killed a woman .basically doing fuck up shit

[@tal9973]

God Is King

[@kweennefatari9283]

not everyone was looting nah, we lived in the east so nothing really happened there. lol mostly town.

[@YohanPartap]

Yes mostly town.

[@INFINITESYKOSIS]

insanity

[@tawory1]

#SuperStation

[@tal9973]

Christ is Returning

[@Gro-485]

If they try that with the Jamaican Government he would be a dead man.

[@ATLTee]

:)

[@Servant-Of-Al-Qudus]

Quran 5 32

[@paul-zc5on]

My leader may he rip in peace ✌ al la

[@alexisjc4508]

Stop saying ATTEMPTED..... he was SUCCESSFUL in what he did for a period of time. If his operations was foiled before he was able to take the members of cabinet as hostages, then I'd say it was "attempted"...

[@joegrinefine]

He’s correct…..It is an attempted coup…..A coup is only successful when the government of the day is ousted by an illegal entity,and the latter takes full control of the operations of the country/state and all of its resources.This did not happen,hence the reason it has ALWAYS been referred to as such,since its ill-fated occurrence‼️

[@joegrinefine]

It is totally misleading and ludicrous to say that coup was SUCCESSFUL……Firstly,it was unsuccessful and it was merely an attempt that did not unseat and/or removed the substantive government of the day…..Hence the continual reference of it only being an attempted coup. English language is very straightforward.Please refer to your dictionary and/or thesaurus to know the meaning of the word,”coup”.🤣

[@eulinpetit-woodyear6816]

@@joegrinefine A coup d'état essentially is an illegal act and with this in mind we can adopt the correct perspective in viewing the actions of the Jamaat al muslimeen. They stormed the Red House and arrested the prime minister, relieved him of his duties, and held him hostage along side other cabinet ministers. This took place in our parliament building. He forcefully took charge of our parliament, the seat of Governance, of our country. Abu Bakr was ineffect the interim leader of our country by a means outside of our established democratic processes. To bring an end to his "rule" he and his subjects were offered a pardoned for this illegal act thus allowing him amnesty. He subsequently accepted the amnesty and relinquish his hold on "Governance". How long he remained in charge is an immaterial fact, what counts is that he was in charge albeit through illegal means, i.e. a coup d'état. So, to now debunk your view, an unsuccessful coup d'état would have ended in his death or imprisonment and the rightful return of the duly elected government to power. However, he was detained and subsequently released a free man. I hope this makes it a bit clearer for you.