White Trinidadian (sometimes Euro-Trinidadian and Tobagonian or local-whites) are Trinidadian people of European descent. However, while the term 'white-Trinidadian' is used to refer collectively to all Caucasians who are Trinidadian, whether by birth or naturalization, the term 'local-white' is used to refer more specifically to Trinidad-born Caucasians, and in particular, those who trace their roots back to Trinidad's early settlers.
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White Trinidadian and Tobagonians account for 5% of the population of Trinidad and Tobago . However, the classification is primarily a superficial description based on phenotypic description opposed to genotypical classification. In addition, many mixed race Trinidadians with European ancestry may self-identify as white, despite being mixed race.
Origins
Many white Trinidadians originate from the colonial era, in which French, Spanish and Portuguese laborers were imported in order to fill the gap required for labor on agricultural estates at the time. In addition, in the mid 20th-century English workers were imported, to work as overseers on estates, farming sugarcane and cocoa.