Tourism, and offshore finance attracted by the low tax regime, have replaced sugar cane as the main players in the economy of Barbados, but the importance of sugar cane is still emphasized in the annual Crop Over carnival held in July and early August. The ethnic origin of the population is predominantly African. The Grammy-winning musician Rihanna one of the island nation’s most famous current citizens.
Trinidad & Tobago is the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, and its economy is mainly industrial, including petrochemicals, steel, aluminum and plastics, as well as manufactured goods. It is also a regional financial center. The tourism sector is growing, but is less important than in many other Caribbean islands. South Asian and African origin ethnic groups of approximately equal size account for about 80% of the population. The music forms steelpan, calypso and soca, as well as limbo dancing, originated in Trinidad & Tobago, and it also claims to be the birthplace of the Caribbean and South American carnival tradition.
Cricket is the primary national sport of both nations, and they provide players for the regional West Indies international team. Barbados produced renowned payers Sir Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell, while Trinidad & Tobago was the birthplace of Brian Lara.
