The Water Riots took place in Port of Spain on 23 March 1903 in Trinidad and Tobago, then a British colony.
As a result of the riots, the Red House, which was the seat of the Executive and Legislative Council was destroyed.
[2] A number of public meetings had been held to protest against the increase, culminating in a demonstration on 23 March in Brunswick Square, located outside the Red House.
Protesters threw rocks at the building, smashing windows (including a historical stained glass window commemorating the arrival of Christopher Columbus) and causing members of the legislature to hide under tables for protection.
The protesters then set the lower floor on fire, at which time police opened fire on the crowd, killing sixteen people, and injuring forty-two others (including two teenagers and one child).