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Possible Move to T&T

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Trevnicmaddie
  12/9/2013 13:43 EST

Good evening everyone!

I am possibly looking at moving to Port of Spain in February 2014 for a three year contract in aviation. I will be moving with my family including three young children, all under 3 yrs!

We are hopefully being provided with accommodation and I am more interested in the way of life and cost of living ..

We have heard all the horror stories with regards the crime, drug and gang culture but we have been expats elsewhere and are used to the safe way of living.

Any advice or experiences you can pass on will be highly and warmly appreciated.

FlyboyWV
  12/9/2013 20:15 EST

Hi Trevnicmaddie,
The aviation community in TT is very small, so I am certain that we will meet. I plan to fly my Cardinal RG down the Caribbean Chain from the US in the spring. I will probably be based at Couva/Camden Base when I get there. You called it "Aviation" so I assume you are from the US or Canada. Me too.
I understand your concerns about the crime rate there and the stories. I think you will find that the stories are about areas and circumstances that really dont apply to where you will find expats. Use caution like you would in any city environment and you will be fine.
There are some really good schools for children of expats. They are more of a European model rather than a North American (US/Canada) model, but that's probably a good thing.
I look forward to meeting you and hopefully flying together. Feel free to contact me directly if you'd like. [email protected]

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Smiffy
  12/9/2013 21:29 EST

Hi there,
My husband and I moved here in February of this year with our 2 girls, who are now 1 and 3. We are well travelled spent a couple of years back packing and lived in various countries across the globe ever since.
We were supposed to be here for 2 years but have decided to leave early as it really isn't the place for us and not somewhere we feel safe.
I can't speak for everyone as I've met a few expats that are reasonably happy here, so can only offer my opinion.
There is an awful lot of serious crime here and you do have to have your wits about you at all times. Before we arrived we were told that the crime is mainly targeted to gang members and drug dealers. That probably is the case but there are also lots of attacks on expats. I know of an expat woman who was violently raped and left for dead recently and also a home invasion where there were 3 intruders all armed with guns and they were attempting to rape the small daughters. I'm not saying this is unique to Trinidad in anyway, but you do need to be aware that expats are also targeted. If you can try and access the local newspaper and have a read through, it will give you more of an idea of what to expect.
One of my biggest hates is that my world is now so small. Before we moved here I would take my daughters all over the place and enjoy lots of activities. But since we moved here all that has changed and we really have a small portion of Trinidad that is safe for us to be in.
We have had lots of fun travelling to various Caribbean islands and this has kind of kept us sane. But in all honesty if we had our time again we wouldn't move here.
I hope no one takes offence, But just do lots of research before you come.
Best of luck.

Trevnicmaddie
  12/10/2013 03:10 EST

Hi and thank you for your swift and informative reply.

We have heard many stories of the crime in Trinidad and have looked at the local news also, and I must admit it seems more trouble than we first thought.

Our eldest child is 3 and we have twin boys who will be just 1 at the time of a possible move....

We have a second interview today so we will take everything on board and enter into it cautiously

Thanks again

Sade
  12/10/2013 06:24 EST

Wow. Expats are not targeted unlike certain countries that have made the news because if that like Aruba and Jamaica. If an expat was raped, that was an isolated situation. Crime is 98% amongst gangsters in very specific areas, these areas are obviously not where expats live or even venture. This is not Afganistan. I hope you find yourself a totally crime free country perhaps one of your own.

bagpus
  12/10/2013 08:27 EST

I agree with Smiffy's comments regarding the safety aspect for expats. My world has shrunk dramatically since being here. I wear no jewellery and drive an old car to avoid being targeted because they will follow you home. Shame because the country is beautiful, but apart from a couple of "safe" beaches you take a risk going off the beaten track. Shopping here is expensive and the choices pretty rubbish so use your allowance to bring what you can with you. The best thing about TT is being close enough to the other islands to escape for the weekend. I'm sure most Trinidadians won't be offended by the comments regarding safety, they feel the same way!

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Trevnicmaddie
  12/10/2013 09:24 EST

Bagpus,

Thank you so much for your input. I am starting to get quite a bad feeling about the place...

It has always been a desire of mine to spend a couple of years overseas with the family as I have always been involved in touring work where the family has been left at home for long periods.

I had honestly hoped that Trinidad would provide us with some relaxing time and time to bond as a family.

That seems far from the truth

ttfuture
  12/10/2013 09:29 EST

Hi both,

It is good to offer your genuine feedback - I don't think that anyone should be offended. We are all trying to help eash other ..

I am curious though - where do you live in TT? (I have heard such varied feedback). Are you located in the North, Central, East - where?

Thx, ttfuture

Smiffy
  12/10/2013 09:57 EST

I'm in Goodwood Park. My husbands company approve this area as a safe place to live. We have ministers etc live here so there is a lot of security especially at night. It is a good area and I'm glad they put us here. There was however a drive by shooting a few months ago at the entrance to the park, so even approved areas can at times be risky.

FlyboyWV
  12/10/2013 12:30 EST

For the first month that I liven in TT, I lived in St. Catherine, about 2 miles south of POS airport. I did not see another caucasian for 4 weeks. At no time did I ever feel ill-at-ease or in any danger at all. It was a predominantly Indian neighborhood. I was viewed more as a curiosity than anything else. After that, I moved to Arouca. Again, it was predominantly an Indian community with other cultures represented as well. The food choices and shopping was better and I still had no problems with anybody or anything even though I would walk the streets alone well after dark.
I am a rather small white man (5'7", 165 pounds) so I would have been a prime target if there was any predisposition for crime to occur. I think the reason taht you HEAR so much about crime against expat's is because it is so uncommon. When it occurs, it becomes news because it is unusual. Very much like how car wrecks in the US are so common that even though there may be a dozen wrecks within a 10 mile radius of us each day, we don't hear about them. BUT if a small plane makes an emergency landing 500 miles away, you absolutely will hear about it on every national news cast and on YouTube because it is so rare. That might give the impression that small planes crash frequently. I think we know better than that, but the news media will play up the novelty of the situation.

Trevnicmaddie
  12/10/2013 13:44 EST

Thanks for the reply..

Our interview went very well and we should hear if we have been successful by Christmas.

Hopefully we will get chance to chat to a few of the company's employees in T&T before then.

William RussellWilliam Russell
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bagpus
  12/10/2013 18:57 EST

No offence to Sade but she is a Trinidadian realtor who may therefore have a different perspective on things! I live in Port of Spain so can only give my opinion as an expat living here. I spent two years in Kingston Jamaica and felt a lot safer there. I have lived in several countries over the last 12 years and the difference I find with crime here is the threat of violence, especially guns. In truth the only time I have been a victim of crime was in my home town in the UK a couple of months ago. But last month a female expat was approached in long circular mall by a man who put his arms around her as if greeting a friend. She had to put all her jewellery and money in his pocket and was told not to move for five minutes until he could get away. He had an accomplice watching her. But if you are vigilant, go to the safe beaches like Maracas, don't go to dodgy cashpoints and leave the bling at home you should be fine. Then all you have to worry about is the way Trinis' drive but that needs a forum for itself lol

ttfuture
  12/11/2013 10:58 EST

Sade,
this was the reason for my query re: location.

i have been meeting so many expats / returning 'TT-dians' with their families and they seem fine. Everyone is careful, and informed.

The problem with TT and crime is also size - everything seems to take place 'in your backyard'. A rape here is newsworthy of violent crimes but rapes occur everywhere (& not just to expats).

For example, re: Canada - when Canadian prn star accused of eating boyfriend (Magnotta), it did not feel close to many locals. A similar crime occured in Markham but Mississuage or Brampton residents woudl not have felt threatened. And I believe another occured after that as well (woman in suticase). If that occure here, the world woudl hear about how gruesoem crime is in TT. Shooting at Joey's in Yorkdale accepted - shooting in TT outrageous. Size ...

I am really curious to know of these horrific, unliveable areas - I think that this will prove useful in the 'Expat Exchange information base' FOR ALL.

Exactly where are these 'Afganistan-type' incidents occuring? Please convey - your contribution could keep one more individual safe & educate many othere.

ttfuture

ttfuture
  12/11/2013 11:00 EST

Thank you Smiffy,
your input is appreciated as we all need to be informed to stay safe.

re Goodwood Park

TechRep
  2/1/2014 07:24 EST

Agreed Smiffy,

I to have requested a transfer to anywhere other than Trinidad. I have been here for going on 2 years and have had enough. Although I have yet to experience any crime issues I have never once felt welcome here.

As a middle aged single caucasian male here alone it has been extremely difficult. The expat community is very, very small, most of which live in the POS area, I do not live among them, the rent is simply to expensive.

It just seems to be a culture that a NOT rich white guy simply doesn't fit in. The average Trini is very nice when you meet them, but don't expect to be befriended.

Any expectation of having a social or dating life was quickly dismissed. Do not expect to be invited to any social gatherings, instead you can expect to hear about what a good time their last one was, and as always the "you should have come" statement. There are not any single expat women here and the local women would rather go out with someone who doesn't "work" for a living, I have met plenty. Everybody says that Trini women love foreign men, they do, foreign men with money.

I do apologize for being so negative, but this is my take and my experience on this island nation, one that does not really want us here .

gingerbaby
  2/6/2014 11:03 EST

Hi TechRep: It is unfortunate that you have met the wrong kind of women in Trinidad. Have you ever thought about joining the Lions Club or one that is similar to meet people who are just not looking for a rich foreign man and who have a better purpose in life. Maybe this will be a better way to assimilate into the society. And please be pleasant. Do you ever invite them over to your place to hang out? Or suggest doing something culturally with them. I don't mean a party. Go to a show or something. There are lots of things taking place in Trinidad. Try it out and see if it works. I am a Trinidadian living abroad and when I visit, I am not liked too much although I do not throw my foreign airs around. My own people hate us when we return. They tend to move in little groups, it was always like that, and it takes time for people to accept anyone regardless of who you are. It is just a cultural thing. But as I said before, try to join a group, there are lots of them or a church group if you are religious and you will soon have quiet a few nice friends. Don't look for the hustlers who are looking for a white man for money and to go abroad.

gingerbaby
  2/6/2014 13:05 EST

I hope she did not lose a lot. You should never wear anything of value or carry a lot of money with you. So if something like this happens, they just would only get a few dollars. It was a very bad experience for your friend. I never walk with a lot of money with me even in N.A.

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