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Trinidad & Tobago: Moving to Trinidad:
"I don't no shoes who." What on earth does this mean? For an American citizen with a Trinidadian wife, I would expect you to write English properly. I have yet to hear a phrase like that in Trinidad. Everyone and everyone who lives in Trinidad knows that Trinidad has become a little Chicago or New York when it comes to crime and you have to be just as cautious as you would be in America especially if you live in a big city. It is unfortunate that they nearly kidnapped your wife. I wonder how come they did not pull it off. That part I don't believe. It sounds very fabricated to me.
Trinidad & Tobago: Moving from US to Trini:
My suggestion is it will be a good idea to read this subject on the official Trinidad and Tobago Government Internet site. You can check out the embassies sites also. There are a few in the US where you can make an appointment to visit. You will have to apply for your visas from the Trinidad embassies in the United States, Do not waste your time to venture into an embassy office in T&T, you will get nowhere. And do not waste your money and time to go to a lawyer. My second thought. If your husband is from T&T, does he have dual citizenship? I am asking this because you live in the States. If he lost his citizenship before 1988. He will have to apply for Reinstatement of Citizenship. You will have to make sure that the children get their citizenship papers before going there otherwise they will have problems getting registered in the schools. It could be difficult because some people from other countries try to capitalize on the free education system and they have become very strict and this is one thing that I am proud of the Government for. I thank Eric Williams for introducing free education in the high school system many decades ago when many people could not afford to send their kids to high school. But as you know, even the University education is now free and there are lots of scholarships that one can apply for and there are other forms of assistance. They will have no problems getting their citizenship papers because their father was born there. But remember that he should reinstate if he lost his T&T citizenship. With you the rules will be different. The embassy will inform you. You can also read this up on the T&T Government site. My two cents is to visit the nearest T&T embassy to you and discuss everything with them. I believe in doing things right and if this is your family's wishes, go ahead. Children used to be more grounded growing up in the Caribbean but as everything else in life, things are changing there like everywhere else in the world.
Trinidad & Tobago: Fully furnished appartment:
Princess Town is not near to where you are going to work. Check the map of T&T and you will see. Don't go there.
Trinidad & Tobago: USA pensioner wants to retire in Trinidad. Part two:
I just realized that you wrote an earlier post. What I said will go for Tobago too, re medical. For a matter of fact, you may have to end up in Trinidad if you are very ill with something that they can't handle in Tobago. If you are a US citizen and can fly out quickly when you know you are ready to collapse then all my writing will not scare you because you have an alternate plan. Again, you should check with the nearest T&T embassy in the USA. You may be much happier in Tobago as you will be a retiree and they will have an expat community with a lot of retirees and it is a tourist island. I hope that my information still helps. Hopefully, you do have some friends in Tobago. I don't know how they will be when you are living there permanently. Everyone is different. But I wish you luck and that you do enjoy your life there. It is different from Trinidad.
Trinidad & Tobago: Usa pensioned retiree wants to live in trinidad:
I will give you my honest opinion. You should first read up everything on Trinidad regarding visas, etc., on the Government of Trinidad Internet site. Yes, there are lots of places in Trinidad that are very nice, but that is the beautiful homes, malls, etc. Are you in good health? That is the most important thing at your age that you have to ask yourself. I live in Canada, and that is my first question to myself. I will explain why. You might not enjoy staying in a public hospital if you get sick. I don't think that the doctors that they are hiring from abroad are the doctors that I would like to go to. The conditions are not the best because they seem to be not up-to-date with the medical world. The private nursing homes are extremely expensive and again, I do not trust the doctors. They price their services for the rich. Doctors in Trinidad are not required to update their training. After leaving University, they are not required to do upgrades like abroad and register with the government of their upgrades on an ongoing basis before continuing their practice They cannot get some medicines and they do not have all the specialists to deal with certain operations that you will need. That is a bad sign. The crime is very high. So you will have to live in a very expensive area to feel a bit safe. I hope that you have nice relatives or very close friends. When we go back home to live (was born there) I understand that your old friends do not bother with you much. In your case, making new friends will not be that easy. They move with their families and in their little circles and I don't find people very friendly otherwise . Everything is done by who you know, everything is a greased hand. People have become very greedy when coming to money. If you can't hand them something, they have no uses for you. The society had become very selfish. I would chose another Caribbean island to retire. Forget Trinidad, if you are not a Trinidadian and do not have a very close circle of friends and a lot of money to splurge around.
Trinidad & Tobago: Canadian Teacher Offering Babysitting Services:
I don't know how babysitting with your education in T&T will work. The lifestyle there is unlike how we live here in Canada and I don't see you fitting into that role in that society with your qualifications. Maybe, you can offer your services in an environment where your teaching skills will be an asset or do some voluntary work with an organization where you can contribute something.
Trinidad & Tobago: Migrating with family need overall advice:
I am a Trinidadian living abroad but have been to T&T twice in the last two years. I will be honest as I can be and you can use what you can from my comments. Trinidad is a country with very many educated people with a high literacy rate so if you are not a qualified teacher, you will not get a job. Re movies, it is not a movie producing country, but you can dabble in it if you can produce something worthwhile. Maybe the TV stations may have something to offer you, but you will have to be really exceptional. There are many, many hairdressers in Trinidad. Your wife will have to be a top notch hairdresser to start her own business and do well. She can however apply to work in a hairdressing salon. I am not sure how that will work. You as a goldsmith. I don't know, you will have to check with our top jewelers. Check the Internet to see if there is some kind of Jeweler's Association to learn everything that goes on in that field or when you go to check out Trinidad, you can check with the jewel shops to see how they work and the type of jewelry that will sell. It is important to know people in Trinidad if you plan to get anywhere. It is still a society where you have to know people to get what you want done. The cost of living is very high in Trinidad. Food is very expensive. Different areas demand different prices as everywhere else in 3rd world or developing countries. I don't think that you will be earning the types of salaries when you start to live in Trinidad to live in the affluent areas unless you are going there with large sums of money. They are only affordable to the people who are well established in the country and the expats whose companies pay their rents. So you will have to live with the average people who know their culture and the life of the country. You talk about a safe place to live. Trinidad is a country with a lot of crime. You do have to be cautious and learn the culture, where to venture and where you do not, who you associate with and who you do not. It is a country that has social and racial undertones. Trinidadians are very class conscious, they are not good mixers even with their own people. This is one thing that the British has left behind. There are different types of education. I would say that anybody can get a decent education for their children free. You don't have to go to private schools if you can't afford them. I was educated in the public system and I have done very well in my life. The first thing you should do is check the Trinidad and Tobago government sites to read about what the government has to say about the country (forget people gossip at times). Check the Ministry of Legal Affairs to see what papers you need. Check the on-line Trinidad Guardian and Trinidad Express. Look at the pictures to see what is going on in the business sector. Check the classified ads. You can't just come to Trinidad to live and work. As in all countries they have their laws. Going to check out Trinidad in January and February this year is a NO-NO. It is carnival time. All places are booked and the prices are their highest. The country is in party time mode and you will gain nothing. People will be busy thinking of either making money for their businesses, entertaining guests or just having a good time. You will just be wasting your time. There will be lots of visitors and retirees in the country from now until the end of February. You can go after March when people have settled down or left the country after the Carnival season. Trinidad like everywhere else has the rich, middle class and poor but it is more or less a middle class country when you compare it to the other islands. It is very important not to play with the Immigration Department. They have enough illegal immigrants in the country now (over 101,000) and are planning to really tighten up. Many of them will eventually be deported when they overstay their time. My advice to you is to read up the government sites, Ministry of External Affairs, embassy sites in order to get a better idea of where you are heading to and what is needed. I would love to return home but I don't think that I will ever afford to. Yes, my pension will go five times over, but I still wonder if I can afford to live the lifestyle that I am used to. Good luck. I don't believe that I have said negative things but that is how it is. My father was not Indian but used to tell me "Gopaul luck ain't Seepaul luck". What works for one person might not work for the other". I still live by that mantra. So don't let the negative things keep you back but be honest with yourself and go to Trinidad first before you make your final plans. You may end up being a top T&T jeweler one day.
Trinidad & Tobago: Nanny:
I don't want to sound as if I am discriminating because I am a Trinidadian myself. I don't see you fitting into this role with a local home as a qualified teacher. Maybe an expat home will be more suitable as they would understand that you are just looking for something to do for one month instead of hanging around home doing nothing. Trinidadians concept of what is a nanny is completely different to what we are used to here in Canada. They still have the prejudiced British mentality and surely will not give you the respect you deserve.
Trinidad & Tobago: Single Woman moving to POS:
Success in life depends on you. It all depends on your profession and your personality in T&T. Trinidad is a very status, class and race (lately it is worst, especially with one upcoming race) country. It depends on where you fit in. In North America, you can survive without anybody and venture to many places alone. Trinidad is a country where you have to move around with a group of people or a friend. You cannot survive being an independent person, you must get a few friends. Yes, they are very family oriented and I find it is hard to get into groups if they have not been your friends since high school or have family connections. It is not a transient society like US or Canada is. Remember it only has a population of about 1.3 million officially but maybe another 300,000 living there. Lots of families who are related. Maybe if it was a tourist island, people would have been different. I will not discourage you because it is my homeland and I think that it is a beautiful place and some parts are no different than living up North. Although I have not lived there for many decades, I still have friends there who are very hospitable to me when I visit. If I did not have friends, I would probably visit Jamaica instead where I find the people are friendlier and more welcoming. If you have a great personality and are prepared to put up with the BS from public establishments with their lackadaisical attitude and rude manner towards you, you will survive. If you keep up with the news, there are lots of events going on all year round to attend. There are also lots of charitable groups working with almost every area in life. When you get there check out a show called The Morning Brew and you will be informed of important current things that you should know on a daily basis. You just have to find your groove and you will be happy. The only way for Trinidad to change is for the government to start educating the children when they are toddlers. I don't think that will happen in my life time. Good luck and enjoy.
Trinidad & Tobago: Banking for non residents:
I was recently in Trinidad and live in Canada and deal with RBC. I was able to withdraw money (T&T) from the ATM, I used RBC, but they could not access my account if I wanted to do anything else. They don't have that access. So if I went to T&T for a few months, I can get my money because it is deposited in Canada. Of course, I was only allowed to withdraw $3,000 TT from my account a day but that depends on your local bank's allowance for withdrawals. I don't think that they would just allow me to open an account although I was born in T&T but I do not have dual citizenship. Years ago I was told that I would have to have a joint account with a local if I wanted to do so, but that was years ago. Of course, I would not do that either.
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