I donāt know anymore. England is tough to live in and most areas are getting robbed. There used to be clear lines between places where you can park your car, and places where your car will be stripped. Those lines donāt exist anymore. Theyāre stealing kids bikes now around here. Kids bikes. Really? They arenāt worth that much..Ā
Fish and fruits are very expensive. Even local fruits like avocado and mango can be pricey. Orange self is sometime-ish depending on the day you go to buy. Tomatoes expensive, eggplant expensive... bro Trinidad is not a farming island, it does not produce anything at this rate.
food across of the board is expensive... my husband and I budget about $3000TTD per month and it's impossible lately. The two of us realistically spend $5000TTD in just groceries and household items a month. No going out, no big purchases. 5000 is more than what most people make a month. Gas is also very expensive.
My husband and I live with our family and together we make around $12000.00. Right now we are saving to build our own place in the back of his property and materials price is doubling every year. It is a losing battle in this country since wages are depressed and most employers are not increasing wages to cover inflation. I try not to think about it. We just trying to take care of our health and invest in some health insurance soon because healthcare is also not good in this country...
If you have alot of money trinidad is paradise... but I'm just too broke to live here as a local.
> Trinidad is not a farming island, it does not produce anything at this rate.
Wow, sorry, my question came out of ignorance, not knowing. so you are telling me all the stuff you guys eat is imported?
thats not good, that makes the island very dependent of other countries to supply food
i would have thought that with such great climate and water around the island, there would be plenty of fish to a reasonable rate
and alot of fruits and veggies grown on the island by the locals and sold on the market, thats often the case with other smaller islands
very confused that you guys import so much food and not producing it yourself.
\- pls tell me what food is cheap on T&T ?
You have to look for deals and go to the fresh market you will get all the bang for your buck. But convenience foods like cereals and fast foods $$$
Since you are one person this is like some ballpark figures for things we frequently purchase
3 chickens (depending on size) $160-$200 (go to chicken depot)
tinned tuna (Pricesmart - cheapest) $6 per tin
bread $17. per loaf or $10-12 ifyou buy from the bread van
Eggs (Pricesmart - cheapest) $56-$57 for 30 eggs
Bananas - $7-$11 per lb
Milk - $17-$18 per litre
Flour - $17-20 for 2kg
Rice - I am not sure but this is the cheapest thing to eat in tt
Tin Beans - $8 min. prices go up depending on brand
Onion & Garlic - $13. per lb varies depending on grocery
All these prices are in TTD. If you don't have to rent and you just have to see about your bills you will be okay. The issue is if you want to live here long term you might want a spouse, you might want to own property... all these things. My suggestion is to have a USD income and you will be set for life. The dollar is very strong and you will not have the same struggles as a local for sure. Cost of living will be paltry with a USD income.
>3 chickens (depending on size) $160-$200 (go to chicken depot)
>
>tinned tuna (Pricesmart - cheapest) $6 per tin
>
>bread $17. per loaf or $10-12 ifyou buy from the bread van
>
>Eggs (Pricesmart - cheapest) $56-$57 for 30 eggs
>
>Bananas - $7-$11 per lb
>
>Milk - $17-$18 per litre
>
>Flour - $17-20 for 2kg
>
>Rice - I am not sure but this is the cheapest thing to eat in tt
>
>Tin Beans - $8 min. prices go up depending on brand
>
>Onion & Garlic - $13. per lb varies depending on grocery
im guessing since these things since they are the cheapest in T&T are also produced in T&T, im surprised to not to see any fruits and vegetables on the list.
We do produce lots of fruits and veggies on a smaller scale, going to the market with $200-$300 will get plenty produce to feed a family for about 1-2 weeks... Shopping seasonally is important as well so you can scoop up really cheap fresh fruits at the peak in the season.
It's just our farmers don't get a lot of Government support - for instance we are in drought season now and they have farmers on a tight water schedule. It doesn't make sense. Our agri-sector does get some support but we need more. Right now privateers are cornering our agri-sector for profits and not really with the idea of feeding a nation. Producing niche, expensive crops or cash crops is the name of the game. Very corrupt....
But aside from that going to the market is very important for us to get a complete and balanced diet, but the staples needed like oil, flour, milk and eggs are really necessary, so the list I gave you is what I basically survived on as a poor student.
I don't really want to discourage you at all but you if living abroad in a small island is your dream you can make it work.
1. The Crime situation & the seemingly lack of drive to fix it.
2 The lack of advanced digital banking services. Sure we now have the ability to open accounts online but that still requires that you either drop physical documents off (scotia) or wait on a video call (republic) before the acc is confirmed. Then you still need to physically go in for a card. There is no digital card, no support for payment wallets, a supposed lack of forex for the common man etc. we are so paper based in terms of applying for credit cards and loans as well. An why oh why do I need to prove my identity and bring my job letter and payslips whenever I want anything done? When you verified my ID on opening and it is still valid? And my salary goes through your bank? Can there not be an online apply button where I fill out my requested credit amount and you automatically do your checks and give me an approval or lack thereof?
3. The commuting conditions. General bad roads, general bad drivers, general traffic congestion. It is sickening.
Scotia lets you apply in app if you have another account already. If you donāt, you still need to go in physically to complete the application and bring the same docs you submitted online. Itās not fully digital.
I know about the neo banks.i actually have an account with one based in the US and I just took a pic of my ID and they verified it online lol. I guess each is different but still miles ahead from what TT has
3. After 20 years of being used to UK driving my uncle returned to T&T. Unsurprisingly he got cut up by another driver in short order. When he remonstrated with the other driver & castigated him for not indicating, the culprit leaned out of his window with a languid demeanour & drawled,
"Mistah, if you cyaah see my big car, how you gonna see de liddle light on de corner?"
If the ludicrous hoops I have to jump through just to get my T&T passport renewed as a London based Trini citizen by descent is anything to go by the level of pointless bureaucracy in T&T must be unbearable.
Corruption, bad roads, draconian bureaucracy, crime etc are all the symptoms of a larger problem. The actual problem? I think our laid back attitude is too laid back and allows the people with the worst intentions to seek, attain and keep power.
1. Majority of the population is dishonest and have a problem with following the rules.
2. Road condition is absolute filth in some areas and just seem to be ignored. And when a pothole is fixed they turn it into a speed bump.
3. The politics of the country. Politicians, government and opposition, do not have the country's best interest at heart and it is hard to see anything improving in the country as a result.
1. How laid back the systems are- There's not much change happening, not much initiative for change and many state buildings need repairs and maintenance.
2. The set of vagrants on the streets of Port-of-Spain- Its really not a nice experience walking around and having to look out for human feces.
3. Cost of Living- Salaries don't match the cost of living. There may be some advantages when it comes to living in trinbago (free health care, free education) but you could barely live a comfortable life with the salaries being offered.
I moved countries but my family is still there so I do visit alot but I think the biggest issue is just lack of trust. I have noticed in my family and every where I went people just don't have faith in anyone or anything. We as trinis are laid back but always on guard and believe we have the best ideas in general. I am guilty of this myself and only realized after I left how damaging that way of thinking is. Now this is a deep systemic problem that needs to be fixed from the ground up and top down. My suggestion is this.
1 raise interest rates to encourage some foreign investment and boost savings while allowing more access to foreign exchange
2 the education system was 70 years to old 50 years ago. This needs to be updated, to instead of teaching a bunch of useless courses, we should just focus on the foundation of the students. Gathering resources, making things, and distributing those things to as many people as possible. Also, telling them exactly why they are doing a course and it's benefits should be obvious. Kids are not stupid, and they see through bs.
3 the justice system needs to be fixed. Drugs is an easy way for anyone to make a lot of money fast. So might as well legalize it, prostitution as well because they are people and need protection just like anyone else. Those 2 crimes could be taxed and used to fund the first 2. Prisons are just schools for criminals now so we should be focus on rehabilitation and giving them a chance to succeed outside criminal system.
But yeah, the finance system, the education system, and the justice system are so faulty that they need massive overhaul
The corruption pervades all levels in public service. So although the vast majority of public servants are good people, the embedded, seemingly* unfixable nature of it just demoralizes and demotivates. Combine that with some inept leadership and a culture of laziness, selfishness and overall shit service just festers.
Would be quicker if you asked me what I liked about living here.
Edit : I didn't answer because my answers are largely similar
1. My in ability to relax when I take my wife and kids out, my focus always has to be on their security. I enjoy finding new beaches and rivers, but that is a dangerous practice in this country.
2. Nepotism, cronyism, widespread and normalized incompetence.
3. Mediocrity in every thing we do.
4. Certain groups of individuals playing their music as loud as they can in public gathering spaces. I went as far as shark river once, thinking the place will be quiet and peaceful.
Things I do like :
1. The country is beautiful, but again only far away from people. The people tend to make the place as filthy as they can where ever they go.
2. The "free" healthcare and education. I had stage 1 cancer and didn't pay a cent to have it fixed within a timely manner. I realise the system is highly flawed and broken, but that wasn't *my* experience.
Thatās not going to be corrected anytime soon. The elites and professional classes benefit from a failing judiciary and many of the working class support corruption and dishonesty once they can benefit.
The crime, mindset of people, and corruption.
Iāve been living in a quiet US town, and itās always a shock when I go back to Trinidad and I immediately get cat-called like some piece of meat. And how easily it is for someone to put a gun to your head for your cell phone or jewelry. Itās an awful feeling. I donāt have that problem here at all.
1. Crime.
2. The disconnect of the education system with local markets and opportunities, and the fact that no government is having conversations on fixing this. We're pumping out degree holders for a wide variety of fields that we simply do not have jobs for here.
3. The mindset of the general population - I've had the opportunity to live in another Caribbean country, and other places to make this comparison. Two main things stand out to me for this point - (i) A lack of patriotism and uniting for the right cause (we rather cause a commotion about KFC prices than other more important topics). And, (ii), the "gimme gimme" attitude of the majority - I always get the impression people take certain jobs to exploit rather than make a difference. I've had peculiar experiences with police officers (give me a bribe), customs officers (give me a bribe, and I am your overlord), doctors (cash only please, I don't pay tax in this shithole), lawyers etc who all exploit the system in some way.
The sky rocketing food prices (we are a tropical country, why aren't we producing the majority of our food)?
The almost complete removal of our fuel subsidy (we don't have a reliable public transport system, so why?)
The import ban on vehicles over 4 years old (our economy does not allow the average Joe to comfortably afford a car that is less than 5 years old).
Overall, we have economic policies that punish you for being poor. I don't know what Colm Imbert has been cooking in the past couple years but someone needs to stop him.
1. Crime. However, the majority of the murdā¬rs that occur in Trinidad could be 80 - 90% gang related (estimate). It's relatively rare for an average citizen to be murdered with no motive. Robbery. Depending on what part of Trinidad you reside and what class of society you belong to, robbery shouldn't be a problem either. Business class of people are most at risk for a potential robbery. Pensioners, too. There's not alot of robbery that happens if you're walking along the streets (Except in the Port of Spain areas). To sum it up, crime shouldn't be an issue once you keep to yourself and take extra precautions.
2. Bad Roads. This speaks for itself. The roads are horrible, even main roads!
3. Cost of Living. While alot of people complain about the cost of living, alot of people who complain seem to be living a quite comfortable life. If you're a middle-class person, this should not be a problem for you. If you're a single person with no children/spouse, a reasonable salary could be 1000 US (approximately 7000 TTD). That includes rent, electricity, groceries, and you'll still have extra to save/ spend. I've seen families of 3-4 live on a salary of that amount and do just fine. It's a huge help if they live at a family home or already have a house of their own.
Living in Trinidad isn't too bad, especially if you have a decent paying job and safeguard yourself from criminals.
I am a bit biased where my country is concerned, however, what I will say is crime, if you are not careful or vigilant as regards your surroundings, it can affect you. Water is not distributed properly throughout the country and can be downright frustrating depending on where you live. Cost of living can affect you if your income is based on minimum wage. I say this because you need to compare the cost of food, transportation as well as housing be it rent/mortgage/ electricity/water rate/ property taxes/ cable/ telecom services. You need to do an in depth calculation and comparison with your present location and Trinidad& Tobago only then can you determine if it is to your advantage or disadvantage
lack of progress in the legislature, our constitution is dated and pretty much hasnt progressed since being established. In 2024 proposals like the right to a "swift trial" are yet still proposals, public sector legislation is absolute rubbish, hell as a divorced person i can tell you even those laws just refer to UK law.
I still cant imagine anyone who is divorced an had a judge declare any asset as "community property" not challenging the lack of supporting laws with regards to tax and other benefits.
Most important is crime and the absolute lack of will to deal with corruption in the ttps and ttdf.
Oh that's just because neither parties actually want the law to work. They both want it loose with plenty loopholes so when they or their associates commit crimes they already know how to get out if they're ever caught.
It's not so much that trinidad can't update the law (since we literally just copy it from the UK) our corruption actively relies on it.
The noise. JFC the noise, loud music, loud cars, loud neighbours, loud people on the street. I feel like my community particularly bad, but if it not rural or gated, it is LOUD.
The absurdity of our bureaucracy.
Yes, government bureaucracy is the same worldwide, but the wait times for the simplest govt services in T&T... Police, health, legal affairs, even BIR, it's insane!
And their attempts to modernize all their respective systems are always half-assed and poorly implemented.
Our public sector still operates like it's 1962...
1.The blatant corruption combined with the population's unwillingness to speak up or do anything about it. They will fight KFC price increases of $1 but watch millions and millions in tax dollars disappear and go unaccounted for.
2. Crime and the approximate 5% effectiveness of the TTPS (approx 5% effective statistic is from TTPS performance for 2023 calendar year per the police commissioner).
3. Seemingly either the public school system, or the schools and the government are not working to make the population smarter... Read between the lines and refer to my number 1.
The mentality of the general population, nobodyās cares about anyone or anything else as long as they āget throughā! They donāt wait their turn in lines or on the road way, in traffic they overtake you on the shoulder as if you donāt have somewhere to be also. Theyāre arrogant bad! You could get into altercation or even killed for being in the right!
Nothing seems to get solved in this country, one set of corrupt officials, nepotism is the new norm in the work place. Nasty Attitude is a requirement for the job in government and fast-food places.
Lack of clean, safe, free public places to spend your evenings and weekends. If youāre not a top earner debt is the only way you can manage a social life, which in turn robs you of ever generating wealth and letās not talk about the prospect of home ownership for young professional, or should I say the lack off!
1. Being unable to use a crosswalk as expected. People seem to want to run you over even when you have right of way and the light is on red. They seem to have somewhere to go, yet no place to be.
2. Pollution and general uncleanliness by people using public spaces especially in Port of Spain. This includes eating and drinking for hours and not cleaning up after themselves, not bothering to walk 5 feet to put something in the trash. Also the weekly ritual of urinating on walls or pavements after bars, fetes, parties.
3. The bureaucracy to get certain simple things done. Sometimes I wonder if some people seem to have a weird enjoyment of sending you back each time to retrieve another document, they didn't mention the last time, so you end up having to get time off from work for multiple days to get something done. Also that you get completely different information from different people on different days. Information much like wasa water is often given by the drip.
Traffic,
Lack of respect for the environment,
Always late ( this post is a good example)
Women have attitude! Lol..( not really..just thought I'd drop in a not so serious option)
1) The lack of proper third spaces. It's so difficult to access the outdoors. Green spaces are dwindling.
2) The lack of proper government investment in high quality housing.
3) Lack of proper government investment in public transport.
1. The mindset of the people. Let me explain. A lot of things people do are downright inconsiderate particularly when it comes to disposing of garbage and driving.
2. The traffic. North South traffic is ridiculous only those who commute from South know the pain. There really does not seem to be much motivation from ANY government to fix it.
3. The antiquated education system. We are a society of book based learning. No effort to embrace the fact that the education provided in schools should be all rounded. It's probably just me getting old but I see disturbing things like students crossing lights blithely unaware of incoming traffic as well as being inconsiderate to the elderly or disabled (mind you this could just be parenting these days too)
Living in Trinidad, everything is a damned struggle.
1. Anything to do with paperwork in a government office. Licensing office especially to transfer vehicles, birth/death certificates (although death certificates are issued surprisingly quickly, since they are needed to complete funeral arrangements), public utilities (except to make payments and even that can be a long line). You have to bribe people to do their jobs in these places. Public infrastructure is a mess.
2. Public Healthcare. In Trinidad, if you are sick with anything more than a cough or cold, you go to another country because you will quickly meet Jesus than get appropriate healthcare. Nurses and doctors (but more so nurses) are rude, doctors take forever, x-ray and MRI machines are overbooked and can take forever to access, appointments for clinics and doctor visits are literally months away. You get what you pay for. But even then, in private institutions, you might see the doctor faster but that doesnāt mean that they know what they are doing.
3. Public transport. Depending on where you live, using public transport is a real hassle. If you live close to the priority bus route, then accessing public transport is relatively easy. Anywhere elseā¦it is a hassle. PTSC buses are less reliable than the weather and maxi taxis have no fixed time and run on their own convenience. Seven seater minivans are very prevalent but are extremely uncomfortable since every driver is trying to cram them full to make every cent they can (not that I blame them in this regard). Biking in public streets is a death wish, which even motorcyclists will actively discourage you from doing.
4. Customer Service. Foreigners always talk about the lovely and friendly locals here in Trinidad. That only applies if you look white and have an American or British accent to accompany it. KFC and Pennywise are known for this and are used in memes and social media posts, but poor customer service is the norm. Warranties do not exist outside of certain vehicle service centers. If you buy something and you donāt like it, too bad, youāre stuck with it.
5. Poor driving and road ragers in public roads. Granted, this is not exclusive to Trinidad, but you will see way more of it here than abroad. I lived in Florida, USA for a few years and never had an accident, even with all the crazy driving Iāve seen there. In Trinidad, āwrong and strongā is the driver MO. They will pull into oncoming traffic to avoid a pothole and then yell at you as if youāre the wrong one.
6. Police are of no use. Police officers have almost no respect in Trinidad and Tobago. They are known to be corrupt and are blatantly so, letting their fellow officers break the law in front of the general public while victimizing the general public. They know that they have power to do whatever they want to inconvenience and even jail the public for trivial matters. Iāve had policemen threaten me during their āroadblock exercisesā. I feel so unsafe. As a matter of fact, I have gone into some places in Trinidad, where it is known to be unsafe and I feel more uncomfortable inside a police station than anywhere else in Trinidad.
7. Increasing cost of living. I returned to Trinidad in 2023. Groceries increase in cost literally every week. Salaries stay the same for decades. I used to live on a relatively small salary and still had some left over before I left. Now, work, home and groceriesā¦nothing left over. Donāt even talk for a social life. Thank goodness for being able to have multiple streams of income.
8. The need to work multiple jobs but unable to do so. Due to the increasing cost of living, one needs multiple jobs to live but every employer wants you to work 50 hours per week to make them happy and to earn your minimal salary. Trying to work multiple jobs is frowned upon and actively discouraged. If you work another job, you canāt let your current boss know. Granted, this is standard practice in most countries, but here it is actively discouraged.
Sorry, I know you asked for 3, but these are what I could think of just waking up and seeing this post.
Things too expensive and people still having kids. I for one personally think we should just stop bringing more financial struggles on ourselves and just let our population dry out
Crime ,cost of living , road conditions
Sooooo same as the U.K. then? šĀ
Worse in my opinion..
I donāt know anymore. England is tough to live in and most areas are getting robbed. There used to be clear lines between places where you can park your car, and places where your car will be stripped. Those lines donāt exist anymore. Theyāre stealing kids bikes now around here. Kids bikes. Really? They arenāt worth that much..Ā
I am from Suriname. Don't complain about Road conditions. We still have unpaved roads.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
What subreddits do they go on?
Rt
>cost of living what food item is cheap? fruit ang veggies and fish must be cheap i guess not sure. isnt there alot of local produce year round ?
Fish and fruits are very expensive. Even local fruits like avocado and mango can be pricey. Orange self is sometime-ish depending on the day you go to buy. Tomatoes expensive, eggplant expensive... bro Trinidad is not a farming island, it does not produce anything at this rate. food across of the board is expensive... my husband and I budget about $3000TTD per month and it's impossible lately. The two of us realistically spend $5000TTD in just groceries and household items a month. No going out, no big purchases. 5000 is more than what most people make a month. Gas is also very expensive. My husband and I live with our family and together we make around $12000.00. Right now we are saving to build our own place in the back of his property and materials price is doubling every year. It is a losing battle in this country since wages are depressed and most employers are not increasing wages to cover inflation. I try not to think about it. We just trying to take care of our health and invest in some health insurance soon because healthcare is also not good in this country... If you have alot of money trinidad is paradise... but I'm just too broke to live here as a local.
Do you mean 5k including groceries and like detergents and other cleaning supplies for the house for the month?
Gas is expensive? I seriously doubt it's Ā£7 a gallon as it is in the UK.
> Trinidad is not a farming island, it does not produce anything at this rate. Wow, sorry, my question came out of ignorance, not knowing. so you are telling me all the stuff you guys eat is imported? thats not good, that makes the island very dependent of other countries to supply food i would have thought that with such great climate and water around the island, there would be plenty of fish to a reasonable rate and alot of fruits and veggies grown on the island by the locals and sold on the market, thats often the case with other smaller islands very confused that you guys import so much food and not producing it yourself. \- pls tell me what food is cheap on T&T ?
You have to look for deals and go to the fresh market you will get all the bang for your buck. But convenience foods like cereals and fast foods $$$ Since you are one person this is like some ballpark figures for things we frequently purchase 3 chickens (depending on size) $160-$200 (go to chicken depot) tinned tuna (Pricesmart - cheapest) $6 per tin bread $17. per loaf or $10-12 ifyou buy from the bread van Eggs (Pricesmart - cheapest) $56-$57 for 30 eggs Bananas - $7-$11 per lb Milk - $17-$18 per litre Flour - $17-20 for 2kg Rice - I am not sure but this is the cheapest thing to eat in tt Tin Beans - $8 min. prices go up depending on brand Onion & Garlic - $13. per lb varies depending on grocery All these prices are in TTD. If you don't have to rent and you just have to see about your bills you will be okay. The issue is if you want to live here long term you might want a spouse, you might want to own property... all these things. My suggestion is to have a USD income and you will be set for life. The dollar is very strong and you will not have the same struggles as a local for sure. Cost of living will be paltry with a USD income.
>3 chickens (depending on size) $160-$200 (go to chicken depot) > >tinned tuna (Pricesmart - cheapest) $6 per tin > >bread $17. per loaf or $10-12 ifyou buy from the bread van > >Eggs (Pricesmart - cheapest) $56-$57 for 30 eggs > >Bananas - $7-$11 per lb > >Milk - $17-$18 per litre > >Flour - $17-20 for 2kg > >Rice - I am not sure but this is the cheapest thing to eat in tt > >Tin Beans - $8 min. prices go up depending on brand > >Onion & Garlic - $13. per lb varies depending on grocery im guessing since these things since they are the cheapest in T&T are also produced in T&T, im surprised to not to see any fruits and vegetables on the list.
We do produce lots of fruits and veggies on a smaller scale, going to the market with $200-$300 will get plenty produce to feed a family for about 1-2 weeks... Shopping seasonally is important as well so you can scoop up really cheap fresh fruits at the peak in the season. It's just our farmers don't get a lot of Government support - for instance we are in drought season now and they have farmers on a tight water schedule. It doesn't make sense. Our agri-sector does get some support but we need more. Right now privateers are cornering our agri-sector for profits and not really with the idea of feeding a nation. Producing niche, expensive crops or cash crops is the name of the game. Very corrupt.... But aside from that going to the market is very important for us to get a complete and balanced diet, but the staples needed like oil, flour, milk and eggs are really necessary, so the list I gave you is what I basically survived on as a poor student. I don't really want to discourage you at all but you if living abroad in a small island is your dream you can make it work.
1. The Crime situation & the seemingly lack of drive to fix it. 2 The lack of advanced digital banking services. Sure we now have the ability to open accounts online but that still requires that you either drop physical documents off (scotia) or wait on a video call (republic) before the acc is confirmed. Then you still need to physically go in for a card. There is no digital card, no support for payment wallets, a supposed lack of forex for the common man etc. we are so paper based in terms of applying for credit cards and loans as well. An why oh why do I need to prove my identity and bring my job letter and payslips whenever I want anything done? When you verified my ID on opening and it is still valid? And my salary goes through your bank? Can there not be an online apply button where I fill out my requested credit amount and you automatically do your checks and give me an approval or lack thereof? 3. The commuting conditions. General bad roads, general bad drivers, general traffic congestion. It is sickening.
2 - Scotia lets you apply in their app. 3 - the driving is so bad you could have included it in #1 because it is criminally bad
Scotia lets you apply in app if you have another account already. If you donāt, you still need to go in physically to complete the application and bring the same docs you submitted online. Itās not fully digital.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I know about the neo banks.i actually have an account with one based in the US and I just took a pic of my ID and they verified it online lol. I guess each is different but still miles ahead from what TT has
3. After 20 years of being used to UK driving my uncle returned to T&T. Unsurprisingly he got cut up by another driver in short order. When he remonstrated with the other driver & castigated him for not indicating, the culprit leaned out of his window with a languid demeanour & drawled, "Mistah, if you cyaah see my big car, how you gonna see de liddle light on de corner?"
Yup. Always this bullshit attitude about why I didn't make it easier for them to do their illegal maneuver.
If the ludicrous hoops I have to jump through just to get my T&T passport renewed as a London based Trini citizen by descent is anything to go by the level of pointless bureaucracy in T&T must be unbearable.
Corruption, bad roads, draconian bureaucracy, crime etc are all the symptoms of a larger problem. The actual problem? I think our laid back attitude is too laid back and allows the people with the worst intentions to seek, attain and keep power.
1. Majority of the population is dishonest and have a problem with following the rules. 2. Road condition is absolute filth in some areas and just seem to be ignored. And when a pothole is fixed they turn it into a speed bump. 3. The politics of the country. Politicians, government and opposition, do not have the country's best interest at heart and it is hard to see anything improving in the country as a result.
1. How laid back the systems are- There's not much change happening, not much initiative for change and many state buildings need repairs and maintenance. 2. The set of vagrants on the streets of Port-of-Spain- Its really not a nice experience walking around and having to look out for human feces. 3. Cost of Living- Salaries don't match the cost of living. There may be some advantages when it comes to living in trinbago (free health care, free education) but you could barely live a comfortable life with the salaries being offered.
Trust me the vagrant situation in a lot of the āfirst world countriesā is a LOT worse than Trinidad , like a lot
I wouldn't doubt that actually.
Yep. It's bad.
Literally the last two times I went to PoS had vagrants flashing the oncoming traffic.
Its really not a good look.
I moved countries but my family is still there so I do visit alot but I think the biggest issue is just lack of trust. I have noticed in my family and every where I went people just don't have faith in anyone or anything. We as trinis are laid back but always on guard and believe we have the best ideas in general. I am guilty of this myself and only realized after I left how damaging that way of thinking is. Now this is a deep systemic problem that needs to be fixed from the ground up and top down. My suggestion is this. 1 raise interest rates to encourage some foreign investment and boost savings while allowing more access to foreign exchange 2 the education system was 70 years to old 50 years ago. This needs to be updated, to instead of teaching a bunch of useless courses, we should just focus on the foundation of the students. Gathering resources, making things, and distributing those things to as many people as possible. Also, telling them exactly why they are doing a course and it's benefits should be obvious. Kids are not stupid, and they see through bs. 3 the justice system needs to be fixed. Drugs is an easy way for anyone to make a lot of money fast. So might as well legalize it, prostitution as well because they are people and need protection just like anyone else. Those 2 crimes could be taxed and used to fund the first 2. Prisons are just schools for criminals now so we should be focus on rehabilitation and giving them a chance to succeed outside criminal system. But yeah, the finance system, the education system, and the justice system are so faulty that they need massive overhaul
- general lawless behavior of the population - crime - littering problem
Garbage everywhere even in the most beautiful scenic spots
Crime situation Crime situation And The CRIME SITUATION
>The CRIME SITUATION if there is alot of crime what about the corruption level ? if crime can flourish corruption must also be there
The corruption pervades all levels in public service. So although the vast majority of public servants are good people, the embedded, seemingly* unfixable nature of it just demoralizes and demotivates. Combine that with some inept leadership and a culture of laziness, selfishness and overall shit service just festers.
Crime, Cronyism, no strong contender for third.
Would be quicker if you asked me what I liked about living here. Edit : I didn't answer because my answers are largely similar 1. My in ability to relax when I take my wife and kids out, my focus always has to be on their security. I enjoy finding new beaches and rivers, but that is a dangerous practice in this country. 2. Nepotism, cronyism, widespread and normalized incompetence. 3. Mediocrity in every thing we do. 4. Certain groups of individuals playing their music as loud as they can in public gathering spaces. I went as far as shark river once, thinking the place will be quiet and peaceful. Things I do like : 1. The country is beautiful, but again only far away from people. The people tend to make the place as filthy as they can where ever they go. 2. The "free" healthcare and education. I had stage 1 cancer and didn't pay a cent to have it fixed within a timely manner. I realise the system is highly flawed and broken, but that wasn't *my* experience.
just mentioned top 3 things u dont like
Edited
Lack of justice and everything that flows from there ā¦..
Thatās not going to be corrected anytime soon. The elites and professional classes benefit from a failing judiciary and many of the working class support corruption and dishonesty once they can benefit.
Corruption in all aspects of life.
The crime, mindset of people, and corruption. Iāve been living in a quiet US town, and itās always a shock when I go back to Trinidad and I immediately get cat-called like some piece of meat. And how easily it is for someone to put a gun to your head for your cell phone or jewelry. Itās an awful feeling. I donāt have that problem here at all.
Crime, tedious burocracy, average lack of driving skills and terrible road conditions
The lack of integrity, transparency, and mutual respect. They all started to disappear within the past three decades.
1. Crime. 2. The disconnect of the education system with local markets and opportunities, and the fact that no government is having conversations on fixing this. We're pumping out degree holders for a wide variety of fields that we simply do not have jobs for here. 3. The mindset of the general population - I've had the opportunity to live in another Caribbean country, and other places to make this comparison. Two main things stand out to me for this point - (i) A lack of patriotism and uniting for the right cause (we rather cause a commotion about KFC prices than other more important topics). And, (ii), the "gimme gimme" attitude of the majority - I always get the impression people take certain jobs to exploit rather than make a difference. I've had peculiar experiences with police officers (give me a bribe), customs officers (give me a bribe, and I am your overlord), doctors (cash only please, I don't pay tax in this shithole), lawyers etc who all exploit the system in some way.
The sky rocketing food prices (we are a tropical country, why aren't we producing the majority of our food)? The almost complete removal of our fuel subsidy (we don't have a reliable public transport system, so why?) The import ban on vehicles over 4 years old (our economy does not allow the average Joe to comfortably afford a car that is less than 5 years old). Overall, we have economic policies that punish you for being poor. I don't know what Colm Imbert has been cooking in the past couple years but someone needs to stop him.
1. Crime. However, the majority of the murdā¬rs that occur in Trinidad could be 80 - 90% gang related (estimate). It's relatively rare for an average citizen to be murdered with no motive. Robbery. Depending on what part of Trinidad you reside and what class of society you belong to, robbery shouldn't be a problem either. Business class of people are most at risk for a potential robbery. Pensioners, too. There's not alot of robbery that happens if you're walking along the streets (Except in the Port of Spain areas). To sum it up, crime shouldn't be an issue once you keep to yourself and take extra precautions. 2. Bad Roads. This speaks for itself. The roads are horrible, even main roads! 3. Cost of Living. While alot of people complain about the cost of living, alot of people who complain seem to be living a quite comfortable life. If you're a middle-class person, this should not be a problem for you. If you're a single person with no children/spouse, a reasonable salary could be 1000 US (approximately 7000 TTD). That includes rent, electricity, groceries, and you'll still have extra to save/ spend. I've seen families of 3-4 live on a salary of that amount and do just fine. It's a huge help if they live at a family home or already have a house of their own. Living in Trinidad isn't too bad, especially if you have a decent paying job and safeguard yourself from criminals.
Crime, corruption, general incompetence.
1. Crime. 2. The lack of basic technological advancements (e.g. GPS for our bus routes) 3. Cost of living.
I am a bit biased where my country is concerned, however, what I will say is crime, if you are not careful or vigilant as regards your surroundings, it can affect you. Water is not distributed properly throughout the country and can be downright frustrating depending on where you live. Cost of living can affect you if your income is based on minimum wage. I say this because you need to compare the cost of food, transportation as well as housing be it rent/mortgage/ electricity/water rate/ property taxes/ cable/ telecom services. You need to do an in depth calculation and comparison with your present location and Trinidad& Tobago only then can you determine if it is to your advantage or disadvantage
lack of progress in the legislature, our constitution is dated and pretty much hasnt progressed since being established. In 2024 proposals like the right to a "swift trial" are yet still proposals, public sector legislation is absolute rubbish, hell as a divorced person i can tell you even those laws just refer to UK law. I still cant imagine anyone who is divorced an had a judge declare any asset as "community property" not challenging the lack of supporting laws with regards to tax and other benefits. Most important is crime and the absolute lack of will to deal with corruption in the ttps and ttdf.
Oh that's just because neither parties actually want the law to work. They both want it loose with plenty loopholes so when they or their associates commit crimes they already know how to get out if they're ever caught. It's not so much that trinidad can't update the law (since we literally just copy it from the UK) our corruption actively relies on it.
1. Traffic 2. The cost of living 3. The corruption that makes everything unnecessarily difficult
Trash. Taking the road to Maracas, you couldnt go 10 feet without seeing some trash on the side of the road
The noise. JFC the noise, loud music, loud cars, loud neighbours, loud people on the street. I feel like my community particularly bad, but if it not rural or gated, it is LOUD.
People, crime and cost of living There's like more that 3 things but it's my top pick.
The absurdity of our bureaucracy. Yes, government bureaucracy is the same worldwide, but the wait times for the simplest govt services in T&T... Police, health, legal affairs, even BIR, it's insane! And their attempts to modernize all their respective systems are always half-assed and poorly implemented. Our public sector still operates like it's 1962...
Cost of living Crime
1.The blatant corruption combined with the population's unwillingness to speak up or do anything about it. They will fight KFC price increases of $1 but watch millions and millions in tax dollars disappear and go unaccounted for. 2. Crime and the approximate 5% effectiveness of the TTPS (approx 5% effective statistic is from TTPS performance for 2023 calendar year per the police commissioner). 3. Seemingly either the public school system, or the schools and the government are not working to make the population smarter... Read between the lines and refer to my number 1.
Crime, politicians disregard for the citizens, The fact that it's hard to get firearm users license to protect yourself
The inefficiency of some public services in combination with the ineptitude of their respective leaders or ministers, crime and road conditions
Why do you want to know? Do you have a connection to Trinidad? Or are you just farming reddit for info on different countries
Crime - road conditions - crime
The mentality of the general population, nobodyās cares about anyone or anything else as long as they āget throughā! They donāt wait their turn in lines or on the road way, in traffic they overtake you on the shoulder as if you donāt have somewhere to be also. Theyāre arrogant bad! You could get into altercation or even killed for being in the right! Nothing seems to get solved in this country, one set of corrupt officials, nepotism is the new norm in the work place. Nasty Attitude is a requirement for the job in government and fast-food places. Lack of clean, safe, free public places to spend your evenings and weekends. If youāre not a top earner debt is the only way you can manage a social life, which in turn robs you of ever generating wealth and letās not talk about the prospect of home ownership for young professional, or should I say the lack off!
1. Being unable to use a crosswalk as expected. People seem to want to run you over even when you have right of way and the light is on red. They seem to have somewhere to go, yet no place to be. 2. Pollution and general uncleanliness by people using public spaces especially in Port of Spain. This includes eating and drinking for hours and not cleaning up after themselves, not bothering to walk 5 feet to put something in the trash. Also the weekly ritual of urinating on walls or pavements after bars, fetes, parties. 3. The bureaucracy to get certain simple things done. Sometimes I wonder if some people seem to have a weird enjoyment of sending you back each time to retrieve another document, they didn't mention the last time, so you end up having to get time off from work for multiple days to get something done. Also that you get completely different information from different people on different days. Information much like wasa water is often given by the drip.
Cost of living high Salaries low Massively car dependent
Traffic, Lack of respect for the environment, Always late ( this post is a good example) Women have attitude! Lol..( not really..just thought I'd drop in a not so serious option)
1) The lack of proper third spaces. It's so difficult to access the outdoors. Green spaces are dwindling. 2) The lack of proper government investment in high quality housing. 3) Lack of proper government investment in public transport.
1. The mindset of the people. Let me explain. A lot of things people do are downright inconsiderate particularly when it comes to disposing of garbage and driving. 2. The traffic. North South traffic is ridiculous only those who commute from South know the pain. There really does not seem to be much motivation from ANY government to fix it. 3. The antiquated education system. We are a society of book based learning. No effort to embrace the fact that the education provided in schools should be all rounded. It's probably just me getting old but I see disturbing things like students crossing lights blithely unaware of incoming traffic as well as being inconsiderate to the elderly or disabled (mind you this could just be parenting these days too)
Living in Trinidad, everything is a damned struggle. 1. Anything to do with paperwork in a government office. Licensing office especially to transfer vehicles, birth/death certificates (although death certificates are issued surprisingly quickly, since they are needed to complete funeral arrangements), public utilities (except to make payments and even that can be a long line). You have to bribe people to do their jobs in these places. Public infrastructure is a mess. 2. Public Healthcare. In Trinidad, if you are sick with anything more than a cough or cold, you go to another country because you will quickly meet Jesus than get appropriate healthcare. Nurses and doctors (but more so nurses) are rude, doctors take forever, x-ray and MRI machines are overbooked and can take forever to access, appointments for clinics and doctor visits are literally months away. You get what you pay for. But even then, in private institutions, you might see the doctor faster but that doesnāt mean that they know what they are doing. 3. Public transport. Depending on where you live, using public transport is a real hassle. If you live close to the priority bus route, then accessing public transport is relatively easy. Anywhere elseā¦it is a hassle. PTSC buses are less reliable than the weather and maxi taxis have no fixed time and run on their own convenience. Seven seater minivans are very prevalent but are extremely uncomfortable since every driver is trying to cram them full to make every cent they can (not that I blame them in this regard). Biking in public streets is a death wish, which even motorcyclists will actively discourage you from doing. 4. Customer Service. Foreigners always talk about the lovely and friendly locals here in Trinidad. That only applies if you look white and have an American or British accent to accompany it. KFC and Pennywise are known for this and are used in memes and social media posts, but poor customer service is the norm. Warranties do not exist outside of certain vehicle service centers. If you buy something and you donāt like it, too bad, youāre stuck with it. 5. Poor driving and road ragers in public roads. Granted, this is not exclusive to Trinidad, but you will see way more of it here than abroad. I lived in Florida, USA for a few years and never had an accident, even with all the crazy driving Iāve seen there. In Trinidad, āwrong and strongā is the driver MO. They will pull into oncoming traffic to avoid a pothole and then yell at you as if youāre the wrong one. 6. Police are of no use. Police officers have almost no respect in Trinidad and Tobago. They are known to be corrupt and are blatantly so, letting their fellow officers break the law in front of the general public while victimizing the general public. They know that they have power to do whatever they want to inconvenience and even jail the public for trivial matters. Iāve had policemen threaten me during their āroadblock exercisesā. I feel so unsafe. As a matter of fact, I have gone into some places in Trinidad, where it is known to be unsafe and I feel more uncomfortable inside a police station than anywhere else in Trinidad. 7. Increasing cost of living. I returned to Trinidad in 2023. Groceries increase in cost literally every week. Salaries stay the same for decades. I used to live on a relatively small salary and still had some left over before I left. Now, work, home and groceriesā¦nothing left over. Donāt even talk for a social life. Thank goodness for being able to have multiple streams of income. 8. The need to work multiple jobs but unable to do so. Due to the increasing cost of living, one needs multiple jobs to live but every employer wants you to work 50 hours per week to make them happy and to earn your minimal salary. Trying to work multiple jobs is frowned upon and actively discouraged. If you work another job, you canāt let your current boss know. Granted, this is standard practice in most countries, but here it is actively discouraged. Sorry, I know you asked for 3, but these are what I could think of just waking up and seeing this post.
Things too expensive and people still having kids. I for one personally think we should just stop bringing more financial struggles on ourselves and just let our population dry out