Reporters of the Caribbean: At Trip's End

Our adventure in Trinidad and Tobago has come to an end. And what a journey it has been.

Mark interviewing Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh, an activist who fasted
21 days protesting the clearance for a highway being built in
southwest Trinidad. (FTB)

For the first time in my life, I've left the motherland and breathed in the fresh (or sometimes not so fresh) air of another nation. Driving around the country, talking with people about environmental issues and learning about their daily struggles provided me an education unlike anything I could've found in the halls of McTrib.

Trinidad has so many stories that need to be told. Even though we came down here focused on reporting about the environment, we gathered enough information to practically publish a weekly newspaper for a year. The allegations of corruption in the country are unbelievable...and the apathy toward it is just as disheartening. Reports of sex trafficking and the power of the international drug market even came up in our interviews. For a country to be so small, so wealthy and so desperate for  responsible leadership, Trinidad has plenty of material to keep a journalist busy for a lifetime.

The Icacos coastline is slowly being swallowed by the sea,
thanks in part to LNG exploration. (FTB)

For the two of us, Trinidad and Tobago has given us too many anecdotes to record on one blog. We learned how to lime like a Trini, drove around a dump and went to a beach only to discover the water was less than ideal for swimming. Our investigation took us all over the country (sometimes not on purpose due to my "great" co-pilot skills). We traveled through the beautiful mountains in the northern range, to the beaches of Pigeon Point, and to the disappearing coastline in Icacos. Even though we had hoped four weeks would be enough, Mark and I both know there was still plenty more we should've seen.

To say this trip went according to our plans would be an absolute lie. We definitely have had our fair share of mistakes and unplanned hiccups. Whether it be the unfortunate timing of a broken laptop charger, misplacing a cell phone, or getting stuck in an asphalt pit, we've made the most of a less than glamorous moments. Because even when you feel overwhelmed and every tire seems to be falling apart on your rental car, it's nice to have a fellow Wildcat by your side.

Thank you for following our blog the past four weeks. Be sure to stay tuned for future blog posts with updates on our story and watch for more photos and new video interviews with many of our sources.

And remember, it's a sin to only eat one mango.

--FB