Warning

There is no reason why the average citizen should have to sleep with a knife under their pillow in constant fear of criminals and feel totally helpless in trying to improve the situation.

On the surface, the Trinidad and Tobago Government spends millions of dollars promoting the islands as a paradise, which is true. For example, the weather is fantastic with minimal affects from hurricanes. The last hurricane that approached the islands was in the early 1960s. This is due to the fact that the islands are south of the hurricane belt. Therefore, the beaches are pristine and look as if they are literally out of a romantic movie. Also, the beaches have limited visitors and the water is crystal clear, warm and inviting.

Unlike the Bahamian Islands, the Trinidad and Tobago Islands’ geography offers diversity with very steep, rugged and picturesque hills in the north and scenic flatlands in the south. The highest point in Tobago rises approximately 2,000 feet above sea level. Throughout the islands, there is lush vegetation, a numerous variety of exotic birds, and multiple ocean reefs. The marine life on the reefs varies and, depending on the reef, can offer a memorable snorkeling or scuba diving adventure.

The citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are generally very friendly, helpful, and somewhat reserved. However, the residents who work in retail are not as open. As a whole, the residents who deal directly with the tourists in either the stores, restaurants or bars seem disinterested and appear as if they are doing you a favor by serving you. However, this is not that unusual for any of the Caribbean Islands and, to a degree, is part of the islands’ charm. Therefore, I always tell vacationers to not wear a watch. It will make their stay much more enjoyable.

The Trinidad and Tobago Government promotes themselves as being the “Hub of the Caribbean” for industry, trade, finance, culture and being “friendly” towards non-citizens. Unfortunately, this is a total illusion. I can say this with complete confidence because I have lived in Tobago during the winter months as a Canadian Citizen for the last 3 years. Therefore, I have experienced first-hand the phenomenal level of government corruption including under-the-table payoffs, bribes, extortion and absolute stupidity and arrogance that defies all that is decent and fair.

In fact, the Trinidad and Tobago Government makes most of the third world appear to be first world when a knowledgeable person makes a comparison. Honestly, I believe that I can say this due to the fact that I have lived in a number of countries throughout my lifetime. When I first came to live in Tobago, I did so because of, out of all of the places I have lived, Tobago drew my attention due to all of the reasons I mentioned at the beginning of this article. I believe myself to streetwise by being a “world traveler” and, therefore, I felt that I was making an educated decision as to living on this beautiful island. It was only after deciding to live there when I discovered that my paradise is a “Paradise Lost.”

Initially, when I was met with any negative attitude when dealing with the various government departments and their representatives, I believed it could be racial or because I was a foreigner. For example, I am Caucasian, which is a minority on the islands. Approximately 40% of the population is black and 40% are Indian descent from India.

When I visited the Department of Industry and Trade where I sat in the lobby for over 3 hours waiting to see a Supervisor, I began to understand the workings of the system. I was told that the Supervisor was in back-to-back meetings. When I spoke with the residents who were also waiting, they stated that, in all actuality, this was a very common occurrence. When I sat in that lobby waiting, watching and listening to the average citizens who were there trying to conduct business, I realized that I was not being singled out for being a minority or for being a foreigner, I was being treated like crap because the government treats everyone like crap. These “Civil Servants” of the local government were neither. In an odd way, it made me feel somewhat better.

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Episode #1: Immigration

In most countries in the Caribbean, if you are a non-resident, and do not carry a work permit, you are allowed to stay for a maximum of 6 months. Once you have stayed for a maximum of 6 months, you are required to leave. When you arrive in a Caribbean Country, you are required to speak to an Immigration Officer where you will explain your story, get your Passport stamped, and write on the passport the date of your arrival and the departure date 3 months later. Prior to the 3 month initial (cont.)

Episode #2: The Assault

The village of Buccoo, Tobago is a sleepy, picturesque, little paradise. The average resident there is just trying to pay their bills and get by. There are no mansions, no condominiums lining the bay, and no Hiltons or Marriott Hotels. On a busy day, you may only see a total of 30 people taking advantage of their beautiful and pristine 1 mile beach. Anchored in the bay are between 20 to 25 pastel colored fishing boats bobbing in the light breeze. The fishermen there work very hard and it is a (cont.)

Episode #3: Extortion Condoned

The storage container that I purchased in the United States and paid to have shipped to Tobago is filled with all kinds of creature comforts, which I also paid to have shipped to Tobago. The storage container included two boats, a motorcycle, spare parts, numerous tools, TV’s scuba gear, etc. I had it shipped from Fort Lauderdale to the Port of Spain in December 2010. Normally, when you ship goods into a country, the shipment is unloaded and put into a bonded warehouse where your inventory is (cont.)

Episode #4: More Extortion Condoned

One week later, I arrive at the Customs Office at 9:00 a.m. Much to my surprise, the Customs Broker is already there. We had to wait until the Supervisor showed up at 9:45 a.m. and wait again until 10:30 a.m. when the Supervisor decided that it was time to start. Fortunately, by 11:30 a.m., we had an agreement. The agreement was that the Customs Office will do the inspection for my container at the dock and will release it on the stipulation that we meet with the Head of the Port Authority and (cont.)

Episode #5: Government Red Tape

The following is a factual account and is presented as a series of short stories relating to my dealings with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago involving various departments including Customs, Immigration, National Security, the Department of Industry and Trade, Motor Licensing, Maritime, Land and Survey, Port Authority, Ferry Service, Custom Brokers, the Police Department and the Office of the Prime Minister. Most Caribbean Islands rely heavily on tourists by offering an abundance of sun (cont.)

Episode #6: The Trial

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Episode #7: The Motorcycle

The Motorcycle A few years ago, I imported a 1974 Honda CB200cc motorcycle into the Bahamas. It took one day to clear Customs, write the Driver’s Test, get insurance, have the motorcycle inspected and receive a license plate. At 4:00 p.m., I was driving around Grand Bahama Island with the luxury of my own transportation. This was completed all legally and completely “above board.” However, in Trinidad and Tobago, my experience was quite different. For example, on January 20th, 2011, (cont.)

Episode #8: The Boats

I was shipping a container that I owned from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Port of Spain in Trinidad. In order to get the best price, I contacted 8 shipping companies in the U.S. and 6 shipping companies in Trinidad. All 14 companies asked me, “What was going to be in the container?” This is, of course, an understandable question due to drug trafficking, etc. I told them that I had 1 motorcycle, spare parts, various household goods, tools, and two boats. I informed them that one of the (cont.)

Tobago Independence

A major topic of conversation this year at numerous parties and barbeques in Tobago is Self-government versus Independence. Anyone who has spent any time in Tobago trying to deal with the local government has learned that you have to go to Trinidad in order to achieve any progress in so many basic needs. For example, if you want a topographical map of Tobago, Land and Survey located in Scarborough does not have it and will not ship it into Tobago. You have to go to Land and Survey located in (cont.)

Buccoo Sunday School

Sunday School is a weekly outdoor party in Buccoo put together for the tourists. It lasts from 6:00 p.m. to 12 midnight. However, the younger locals continue to party from 12 midnight until 4:00 a.m. Fresh cooked local food is prepared by the area vendors and the quality varies from average to “not that bad.” The food is expensive for what you get and they have two prices. There is one price for the locals and another higher price for the tourists. Personally, this unfairness is one (cont.)

Buccoo Goat Race

The Buccoo Goat Race is truly an event you do not want to miss. There is a video of this event located on the Internet that is worth viewing. It is titled: "9 feet of rope." This is the distance between the goat and the jockey in his silks. <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/24434366">(Click Here to View)</a>. The big Goat Race is held annually on Easter Weekend at a new track built specifically for the event. The new race track and facility cost approximately $21,000,000 US dollars so a lot (cont.)

Diplomatology: We’re not ready

The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper 8 May 2013 www.guardian.co.tt Last Friday, Malay Mishra, India’s High Commissioner to T&T, arrived from Grenada on Liat flight 727. No immigration forms were issued on the flight, and everyone, flight crew included, had to fill out the required forms on entry at the Piarco Terminal. What happened after Mr Mishra entered the building remains (cont.)

Canadian traveller warns: Stay away from Tobago

The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper 15 Mar 2013 www.guardian.co.tt A Canadian businessman and traveller who fled Tobago last year has created a Web site warning foreigners to stay away from the island. In an article in the Canadian daily newspaper, Metro, 61-year-old Phil Noonan claimed in March 2012 he was attacked by two Tobagonians while staying at a guest house in Buccoo, Tobago. (cont.)