Preserving Tobago's land heritageThe Editor: Do you know that for the most part, Tobagonians now live on ancestral lands? In some cases we own those lands and conduct business on them. In fact, our forebears bequeathed these inheritances to us. Years ago, it was quite common for the Tobago ancestral parent to say to a son, "Bwye da piece ah lan by de sappadilla tree and de big-meat mango tree ah fu you own. And de piece by the breadfruit tree and de cargwood tree ah fu you bredda". It was also quite common for parents or for another person in the community to use bamboo rods in order to measure the land given to descendants. They were the original "land surveyors". So we built our own houses and lived on our ancestral lands. Squatting? Tobagonians do not squat. Fortunately, we have not inherited that. Thus, it is neither in our DNA, in our psyche nor in our heritage. It must be noted, however, that during the period of West Indian emigration in the 1900's, that a number of Tobago men (and some women) emigrated to Maracaibo, Venezuela, to Panama and to Cuba. In Maracaibo, Venezuela, they worked on the oil fields, whereas in Panama they worked at cutting the Panama Canal and in Cuba they worked on sugar cane estates. Additionally, Tobagonians worked on the oilfields in south Trinidad and at the American bases at Wallerfield and Chaguaramas. Some of these enterprising Tobagonians sent money home for their family's upkeep as well as to purchase lands. The others who remained at home found employment on estates, rope climbing, picking and cracking coconuts, 'planting garden', rearing cattle and horses. They, as well as the returning Tobagonians, invested heavily in Tobago real estate - land. Some bought lands at Buccoo, others at Carnbee, Clapham, Hampden, Shirvan, Scarborough and throughout the rest of Tobago. This was a significant era of Tobagonian land-acquisition and ownership. Despite our proud history of land ownership, some inheritors of ancestral lands have, allegedly, unwittingly disposed of their legacies and invested in motor cars in order to 'pull bull'. Additionally, other Tobagonians -- because the Town and Country Planning Division consistently denied them their building application approvals on some nebulous grounds --- have sold their lands in frustration.
Que Lastima!
If we are to preserve what remains of our land heritage, Tobago parents must, among other things, begin a conversation with their children. Parents must: (1) Inculcate in their children a sense of pride in their current ancestral land ownership (2) Tell children and grand children about the experiences in Maracaibo, Panama, Cuba, South Trinidad, and on the American bases at Wallerfield and Chaguaramas. (3) Inform children how grandparents and great- grand parents struggled in their penury while earning starvation wages to buy large tracts of land. (4) Relate the stories as to how grampa, long before 'foeday morning' had to cut a 2 x 25 task in the 'dew grass' or 'samblay' coconuts, and 'worked garden' to mind his oversized family and to buy land. Parents must ensure that their children heed Tobago Crusoe's advice, and to "hold on to their land and will it to their children". Finally, Assemblymen, Parliamentarians, Ministers, and Judges must immediately remove all impediments so that my father and other Tobagonians can have proper titles to their lands.
Bernard Henry Hampden. |
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D Mouse said on Thursday, Feb 23 at 12:33 PM
Buying land in a locals name is a huge risk if they not married.
82024172Coast to Coast said on Sunday, Feb 19 at 10:17 AM
when last have you guys visited castara? Every where you turn there is a Foreign-owned piece of property!Tourists paying other tourists to stay in castara! As we speak there is a British woman building a house/guest house. she said that castara is her home. i wonder if immigration knows about that one? the law has been revised to prevent these people from purchasing land in the village, but it doesn't say not to buy it in a local's name! Castara is a little Britain right now. Tobagonians need to be wise!
81620114Tobago Mother said on Friday, Feb 17 at 7:28 PM
Mr Henry, Your article is so wonderfully inspiring. I keep telling my own children that the property they were brought up on was purchased by our great great -grand mother in 1895. My children understand how difficult it was for an ordinary black woman to purchase a property back in those days . I personally feel that the sweat of my slave ancestors went into getting that property ,so in my youth I purchased the property, renovated the house , rented it to pay the bank and lived in one room . This was a sacrifice to prevent it from being sold to a stranger. I always tell my children how we came to have it and they all treasure both the memory and the most special property. The best part of buying back ancestral property was how my aunt and uncle were happy that I did. Thanks Mr Henry. Keep on writing.
81546709concerned citizen said on Friday, Feb 17 at 12:43 PM
Nice article brother We have a fundamental challenge now in Tobago regarding the retention of what you call ancestral land more commonly referred to as family land. The challenge is how do you allow younger Tobagonians to operate in the housing market while retaining the fundamental tenets of ancestral land? My own view is that we need to fashion a type of land tenure that allows us to hold on to ancestral lands in addition to operating in the formal market (if we chose to). We do not have to reinvent the wheel; other countries such as St Lucia have done it. We need to look at what they have done and fashion a system suited to our own unique circumstances. We are still in a good state. The THA is the single largest land owner in Tobago and many ordinary Tobagonians own land. We have to work to keep it this way. I am convinced that we will. Again; nice article.
81524924Desuperman said on Wednesday, Feb 15 at 9:31 AM
Correction: "then we'll be "second class"...
81403334Desuperman said on Wednesday, Feb 15 at 9:29 AM
Unfortunately, we have some stupid Tobagonians who are prepared to sell their lands to buy things like a car which has NO VALUE, because the'er prepared to live just for the moment. And the thing is, they're selling it to people who will NOT sell it back to folks like us the locals. We have people in this country who believe in absolute power because they boast of their "financial power", "educational power" "political power" and when ever they can own the land, then they we'll be "second class" forever. Lets see what the "real" purpose of the Indian trip will bear. When Basdeo Panday went there as PM Indians asking him about making T&T their home, but he told them that wasn't the reason for his visit (I read this in the T&T Mirror weeks ago). Remember the slogan, "We Will Rise" and observe.
81403274D Mouse said on Tuesday, Feb 14 at 5:20 PM
Hold on to your land my tobago people... One can borrow money against the land if one needs a quick money to start a business or for health reasons. Land is Gold in Tobago and like Gold you "HOLD IT" You can leverage it to your advantage without selling it...If you borrow money against your land at least the land is still yours in principle work hard and pay the loan off...If you sell your land its Gone forever effectively !!
81375627D Mouse said on Tuesday, Feb 14 at 4:57 PM
If you People can Google " USA Supreme Court Judge Robbed by Machete Wielding bandit in Nevis" He and friends at his vacation home in Nevis.....CRIME IS EVERYWHERE !!
81374176Concerned Tobagonian said on Tuesday, Feb 14 at 8:51 AM
Because the younger Tobagonians refuse to work the land, they thought it good to sell, money finishes. What's alarming is, after ridding themselves of their ancestral property, they wind up renting. We must educate our children, brothers, sisters etc, etc... as to the detriment of their actions, For some might wind up living in the cars and boats that they mortgaged their ancestral land for.
81348389Desuperman said on Monday, Feb 13 at 12:57 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, that was the "intellect" an "academia", the "very bright" "VIRGINIAN". Hooray!!!
81288197the virginian said on Sunday, Feb 12 at 6:28 PM
Adjacent,the conclusion you're trying to draw might be false since you don't really know that black couples circumstances.One cannot,then,rush to judgment not knowing all the facts.What if that man or woman or both of them need to purchase expensive live-saving medication and considering everything else,their only hope and means was to dispose of their home and use some of the windfall proceeds to purchase the much needed medicine?What good would homeownership provide otherwise in this case?Just to say that you own a home and you and/or your spouse/companion would rather continue ownership and die than save your lives?Rational?Sure not.Irrational?Maybe. I know only one people that doesn't understand there's no utility to be derived from a nonproductive asset with maintenance cost,Tobagonians.And the chief,no-sell,town crier,Citylimer.
81277359Adjacent said on Saturday, Feb 11 at 3:41 PM
I agree with citylimer. We not living in the stone age...Tobagonians supposed to know better. I know a black couple in my village who sold his wooden house to an indian family for TT$80,000 dollars and renting now. I am sure this family knows about the value of land and they will never let it go.
81229497Anonymous said on Saturday, Feb 11 at 11:54 AM
Tobagans who are un able to obtain land in the legal way, will take from legit owners ,no mention of that deceit. TYPICAL
81220717citylimer said on Friday, Feb 10 at 8:56 PM
Bernard - very good article. The people of Tobago need to be educated about the tremendous value of their land called Tobago. To be separated from your lamd you become not only landless but Islandless with no voice in the operations of your Island. This is a retrograde step.Property is not only economic power but political power. There is a both a land grab and a political grab going on in Tobago.It is going to hit the Island big time within a year or at least become more blatant as time progress. It is being accelerated at an alarming rate by the PP/UNC Government aided by the TOP who seems to be blind of the game plan or are turning a blind eye. Their eyes are on political power at all cost. They are selling out their mother, brother, sister and the whole of Tobago.Expansion of a particular diaspora is marching full force with the assistance of this regime.Open your eyes Tobagonians. Bernard keep on keeping on. Educate the people. The truth be told. TO LATE TO LATE WILL BE THE CRY.
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