1498       Arrival of Columbus on island known to Amerindians as `Iere” (land of the Humming Bird). Renamed Trinidad by Columbus for the three hills sighted from the sea; Tobago also sighted by Columbus; name derived from corruption of word `tobacco’ planted by Amerindians on island

1592       First European settlement by Spain

1783       Spain grants permission to French-speaking Roman Catholics to settle

1797       Captured by Britain from Spain

1802       Tobago finally ceded to Britain by France

1888       Administrative union of Tobago and Trinidad

1937       Violent labour unrest leads to several deaths

1958       Joined West Indies Federation

1962       Independence achieved. Dr. Eric Williams, first Prime Minister

1970       Black power demonstrations and army mutiny

1976       Republican Status, Sir Ellis Clarke, first President

1990       Attempted coup foiled

1499       Country originally known by Amerindian name Surinam (after original inhabitants, the Surinas) sighted by Spanish explorer, Alonso de Ojeada

1651       First European settlement established by Britain

1667       Acquired by The Netherlands; became known as Dutch Guiana

1728       First Bush Negro Community established by runaway slaves

1761       Peace Treaty between The Netherlands and Bush Negroes following prolonged war

1815       Complete control regained by The Netherlands following numerous exchanges among Britain, France and The Netherlands

1954       Autonomy granted within the  Kingdom of The Netherlands

1975       Country became an Independent Republic, name  changed to Suriname, Dr. Johan Ferrier, first President

1675   Africans arrive via shipwrecked Dutch slave ship. They settled and inter married with Caribs,             Establishing a Black Carib Community – the Garifuna

1772   Attempts made by Britain to colonise the island but encountered  French settlers

1783   Finally ceded to Britain following numerous battles for possession with France

1796   Black Carib revolt crushed by Britain. 5,000 Black Caribs deported to Roatan (Honduras)

Eruption of La Soufriere volcano, killing 2,000 people

1958   Member of the West Indies Federation

1969 Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self-government) within WISA. Milton Cato,

First Premier

1979   Independence achieved. Milton Cato, First Prime Minister

1493   Arrival of Columbus on island known to Amerindians as ‘ Laimuiga’ fertile land which Columbus is

Said to have renamed ‘San Cristobal’ (St Christopher) after himself known to Amerindians as

‘Oualie’ renamed by Columbus ‘las Nieves” referring to the cloud- covered Nevis peak said to

Remind him of snow capped mountains in Spain

1623   First British settlement in the West Indies

1690   Severe earth quake and tidal wave destroyed what is believed to be the first capital of Nevis

(James Town)

1783   Ceded to Britain following shared use with France

1816   Together with Anguilla and British Virgin Island administered as single British Colony

1871   Incorporated within Leeward Islands Federation

1958   Member of West Indies Federation (St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla)

1967   Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self-government) within WISA.

Robert L. Bradshaw, first Premier

1980   Formal dissolution of association with Anguilla

1983   Achieved independence as a federation. Dr. Kennedy A. Simmonds, first Prime Minister

1520   Vatican Globe marks island as ‘ Santa Lucia’ suggesting claim by Spain. Amerindians first called

Island ‘louanalao’ (where iguana is found) then ‘Hiwanarau’ and later ‘Hewanoora’

1639    First recorded European settlement (by Britain)

1642   Ceded to French West Indies company by King of France who claimed sovereignty

1814   Island changed hands fourteen times between Britain and France, finally becoming a British

Colony

1838   Incorporated into  Windward Islands Federation

1951   Universal Adult Suffrage, George F.L. Charles, first Chief Minister

1958   Joined the West Indies Federation

1967   Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self-government) within WISA

1979   Independence achieved, John Compton, first Prime Minister

1493      Sighted by Columbus who changed island’s Amerindian name `Alliouagana’ (land of the prickly bush) to Montserrat, after abbey of same name in Spain

1632      Colonised by Britain (settled by Anglo-Irish who arrived from St. Kitts)

1783      Finally ceded to Britain by France following numerous exchanges between the two countries which began in the seventeenth century

1871      Incorporated into Leeward Islands Administration

1958      Incorporated into the West Indies Federation

1967      Elected to retain colonial status instead of associated status within the West Indies Associated States (WISA)

1982 Montserrat-born, Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell released his first Pan-Caribbean hit called ‘Hot Hot Hot’ which became the biggest soca hit of all time

1989      Hurricane Hugo destroys more than  90 per cent of the island’s homes and other infrastructure. Island rebuilt in less than five years

1995      Eruption of Langs Soufriere Volcano

2002      Monsterratians regain full British citizenship

2009 Locally-based airline, FlyMontserrat commenced scheduled flights from Montserrat to Antigua. Permanent fast ferry services resume.

SOME KEY DATES IN HISTORY

1494    Arrival of Columbus on island Arawak Indians called `Xaymaca’ (meaning land of wood and water)
1509    Occupation by Spain
1655    Captured by Britain
1692    Famous buccaneer town, Port Royal, destroyed by earthquake
1907    Capital, Kingston, severely damaged by another earthquake
1930    Framework for modern political system laid
1958    Joined the West Indies Federation
1962    Independence achieved. Rt Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante, first Prime Minister

1492    Arrival of Columbus on island called `Quisqueya’ by Tiano (Arawak) Indians; renames its `Isla Hispaniola’
1697    Island divided, western one third originally called  AYITI (Land of high ground) by Arawaks and Caribs; ceded to France – called `Ste Domingue’
1791    Slave revolt begins against France
1804    Independence achieved. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, first ruler; renames it Haiti, based on original name
1915- 34    American invasion and occupation
1957        Dr Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) elected President
1986    Era of Dr. Francois Duvalier’s dictatorship ends
1990    First free presidential elections, Fr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide elected
1991    Aristide overthrown by army
1994    Aristide returned to power under US and CARICOM protection

1616 Dutch established colony in Essequibo River with Headquarters at Kyk-Over-Al, followed by Second and third colonies in Berbice and Demerara respectively

1814 Finally ceded to Britain by the Netherlands after severl exchanges between them

1831 Colonies consolidated into British Guiana

1953 First elections under Universal Adult Suffrage

1961 Elections held under self-governing constitution. Dr Cheddi Jagan, first Premier

1962-64 Prolonged labour and racial unrest, Fresh elections under Proportional Representation, Linden Forbes Samson Burnham becomes Premier

1966 Independence achieved, LFS Burnham, first Prime Minister

1970 Republican status, Arthur Chung, first President

1980 New constitution established, LFS Burnham elected first Executive President

1992 PPP regains power. Party leader Cheddi B. Jagan elected President

    *1498   Columbus sights island called ‘Camernoque’ by Amerindians. Named ‘Concepcion’ by

Columbus

1783   Island changed hands several times among Spain, France and Britain, resulting in several name

changes (Granada by Spain, Le Grenade by France and Grenada by Britain)

1782   Nutmeg introduced by Sir Joseph Banks

1783   Finally ceded to Britain by France under Treaty of Versailles

1795   Julien Fedon Insurrection

1833   Incorporated into the Windward Islands Federation

1843   Nutmeg plants introduced

1958   Joined West Indies Federation

1967   Associated Statehood with Britain (full internal self-government) within WISA. Herbert A. Blaze,

first Premier

1979   Government overthrown by a coup lead by Maurice Bishop, of the New Jewel Movement (NJM)

1983   NJM Intra-party power struggle leads to : death of Maurice Bishop, some cabinet colleagues and

many other Grenadians: intervention by US and Caribbean troops in Grenada