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Trinidad and Tobago is a twin island nation in the Caribbean.
This island known globally for steel pan music, the legendary cricketer Brian Lara and the great calypsonian the mighty sparrow.
This island stands out from its regional counterparts due to its higher economic standards
The pros of living in Trinidad & Tobago are the easy access to international cities, the vast amount of educational opportunities and a vibrant nightlife atmosphere. On the other hand, living in Trinidad & Tobago has its cons such as the threat of earthquakes, traffic congestion and water shortages.
Read on for comprehensive details of the pros and cons of living in Trinidad & Tobago from a Caribbean national who studied and worked in the twin island state.
Pros of Living In Trinidad & Tobago
Easy Access To International Cities
There are several international airlines that provide direct and non-stop service from major cities.
These airlines include Jet Blue, American Airlines, United, Copa, Qatar Airways and British Airways.
Nationals from other nearby Caribbean islands often travel to Trinidad in route to international cities.
Bustling Night Life Environment
Trinidad & Tobago is one the Caribbean islands that is well known for having a vibrant night life environment.
There are many bars, pubs, night clubs and casinos. Jade Monkey Casino Bar & Grill and Sunday School are two of the most popular nightlife spots on the island.
Additional, if you have an interest in culture, dance and the performing arts is huge on the island.
There are events that are held for these art expressions.
Educational Opportunities Available
When compared to other Caribbean islands, there are countless opportunities for higher education.
As an example, aspiring accountants have the option to attend classes full time on route to professional qualifications.
These opportunities are not available in several of the Eastern Caribbean Islands.
Furthermore, there are various North American universities that have partnership with local organisations.
Hence, if students choose the option to study long distance, books can easily be sourced on the island.
Job Opportunities
There are several thriving sectors in Trinidad & Tobago which does not exist in many other Caribbean islands.
Hence, there are many more job opportunities available.
As an example, if there is a violent and gruesome crime in neighboring Grenada, forensic pathological expertise is sourced from Trinidad & Tobago to support their investigation.
Grenada does not have an independent resource in this field.
Better Infrastructure
When compared to its regional counterparts, Trinidad & Tobago have more advanced infrastructure.
The road network is much more developed with traffic lights and overpass roads.
There are more advanced health care facilities in Trinidad & Tobago such as hospitals that specialize in cardiovascular conditions.
These facilities are not available in many other Caribbean islands.
Excellent Cuisine
Trinidad & Tobago’s multicultural environment makes it an ideal island for a foodie to explore.
The dominant cultures that exist on the island are Indian, African, Portuguese, Amerindian, Spanish and Chinese.
With this comes a variety of exciting dishes perfect for foodies to indulge. One of the most popular street foods on the island is doubles.
This is made with baras which can be compared to a sandwich that is used to hold a mixture with channa, chutney and a variety of sauces.
It is very popular that you will see local surrounding the doubles stands while on their way to work daily.
Another well-loved street food on the island is Bake N Shark and the favorite location for this item is Maracas Bay Beach.
Cons of Living In Trinidad & Tobago
Currency Devaluation
The official currency of Trinidad & Tobago is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD) which is divided into 100 cents.
The currency is issued and managed by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago located in the heart of the city Port of Spain.
The currency however is managed by floating exchange rate regime.
As a result, there may be times when there is a devaluation of the currency in response to changes in the foreign exchange market.
Natural Disasters
Earthquakes also affect the Caribbean region.
However, the island of Trinidad & Tobago is prone to earthquakes due to its location in the South Eastern Caribbean
The strongest earthquake to affect the island was in April, 1997 which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale.
Water Shortages
This is an ongoing challenge that is experienced especially during the dry season and in certain communities.
Additionally, climate change has further worsened this situation over the years on the island.
Traffic Congestion
With the large population and the huge volume of motor vehicles, traffic congestion is a nightmare.
The capital city is Port of Spain which is the hub of commercial and economic activity on the island.
Individuals traveling daily to Port of Spain from the central region of the island need to leave their homes very early in the morning usually in the dark, to ensure that they beat to traffic to arrive at work on time.
This is truly one of the main disadvantages of living on the island.
High Level of Crime
Trinidad and Tobago is known for having a higher rate of crime in the Southern Caribbean.
According to the Trinidad Express, the total number of murders in 2021 was higher than that of 2020.
There were 448 homicides in 2021. Therefore, solo female travelers should exercise extreme caution then traveling to the island.
Lack of Typical Caribbean Beaches
There are beaches in Trinidad and Tobago.
However, they are not as excellent when compared to Grand Anse Beach in Grenada or Dickenson Bay Beach in Antigua.
The better beaches in the twin island state are located in Tobago.
Pigeon Point Beach and Englishman’s Bay are two of the more popular beaches in Tobago.
Venomous Snakes
According to the University of the West Indies, there are over 60 species of snakes living in Trinidad & Tobago.
Of those 60, four species are poisonous, 2 being mapepire snakes and the others, coral snakes.
The two types of Mapepire snakes are the Fer de-lance aka Mapepire balsain and the Bushmaster aka Mapepire z’anana.
The Coral snakes are beautiful and colored. The two species of these are the large coral and the small coral.
The large coral is also called Micrurus lemniscatus diutus and the small coral is the micrurus circinalis respectively.
Final Thoughts
The pros of living in Trinidad & Tobago are that the fantastic infrastructure and great job opportunities when compared to regional counterparts. Alternatively, the cons of living in Trinidad & Tobago are the high rate of crime, the threat of earthquakes and the presence of venomous snakes.
Need More Information?
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