Diane M. Hinds

I’m often asked why I named my debut novel “Conquerabia” The Struggle for Identity.

My extensive research unearthed the fact that one of the earliest names of Port of Spain is “Conqerabia”, a name that is associated with the Amerindian settlement that predated the island’s colonisation by Spain.  Another name associated with the capital is Cumucurapo “the place of silk cotton trees”, or a misinterpretation by Spanish settlers.  Mucurapo still exists to this day.

It is important for me to retain the word Conquerabia, as best I can, in order that people continue to ask questions about the island and its heritage, lest we forget.