TROLLING FISHING

In a previous blog post I discussed seine fishing which is a common fishing method used by fishermen in Mayaro, however this is not the only method used, there is also Trolling. While seine fishing is done on the sea shores, trolling is where these fishermen actually goes out into the waters on their boats and catch fishes using bait rather than nets. Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines baited with bait fish are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side to side.

This kind of fishing takes a lot of time and patience usually it takes an entire day to catch a fair amount of fishes, sometimes the boat may have to move around the ocean or set position for hours to find the right place where most fishes would come to eat their bait. If you are persistent one tide could get you a great catch. These fishermen do this for a living so it is indeed a fun activity for them and the means by which they support their family on a day to day basis. Fishing has become the lifestyle for many families here in Mayaro, it is indeed a lot of hard work but it is how some families make an honest living while utilizing our natural resources here in Mayaro. 

One day's catch of trolling fishing 

Check out some more of my videos on trolling fishing.

A SUCCESSFUL ATHLETE

Photograph by: Ian Walton/Getty Images Sport

Cleopatra Borel-Brown is one of Mayaro’s precious gifts who have proudly represented T&T in the field of shot put. Coming from the remote area of Plaisance, Mayaro, she faced some difficulties in chasing her dreams, but this never stopped her. When Cleopatra was growing up in Mayaro, it was a rural district without any state-of-the-art facilities for sport.  However, her father, Raymond, always had an interest in sports and had trained as an athlete in high school.  Borel’s father taught her and her siblings everything he knew about track and field events, including the skill of throwing.

Deciding early on that shot putting suited her capabilities and determined to display the strength she knew she possessed, Cleopatra actively engaged in the sport, practised assiduously and built up her stamina and skills. In 1998, at the age of nineteen, she moved to the U.S.A. and entered Coppin State University in Maryland. Here she hoped to advance in her track and field goals and for a time the atmosphere at the college worked for her. However, when her coach retired, Cleopatra transferred to the University of Maryland. There she was advised to pursue three years of athletics before advancing to do what she desired.

Borel’s fortitude and indomitable spirit was such that she also completed a Bachelor’s Degree in health psychology at Coppin State University, while never losing sight of her goals with respect to the shot put.

Photograph by: Ian Walton/Getty Images Sport

Cleopatra can easily qualify as being one of the most enduring and widely competitive women field athletes of Trinidad and Tobago (T&). She specialized in the shot put while also competing in the hammer throw on occasion. In 2012, she counted a third consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games while also having logged two or more appearances at Games such as the Commonwealth, CAC, Pan Am and World Championships.

Borel has gained the respect of fellow competitors for her sheer grit, fortitude, determination and competitiveness. Her sterling efforts and accomplishments have earned her choices as Trinidad and Tobago’s Sports Woman of the Year on more than one occasion. Borel has worked as an Assistant Coach at Virginia Tech, an experience the young people of Trinidad and Tobago whom she inspires benefit from as she passes on her knowledge and vast practical experience. Evidence of her world class star ranking is apparent; she placed second to three-time world and two-time Olympic champion, Valerie Adams, of New Zealand on two occasions in March, 2013.

Her personal best throw is 19.42 metres, achieved in August 2010 at the London Grand Prix in London. She has a personal best of 19.48 metres on the indoor track, achieved in February 2004 in Blacksburg. Borel is currently ranked 14^th on the world’s 2007 outdoor shot put list. Here is a full list of her achievements. Miss Borel is another proud product birthed out of this rich Mayaro soil.

Photograph by: Ian Walton/Getty Images Sport

THE WAY KIDS GREW UP

I remember growing up fun was being outside with friends and playing a good game of catch, hide and seek or some other outdoor activity, but this is not what our younger generation knows about today. There's no we in playing, there's only selfies, Ipad, Iphone, and all the other I's, television, video games and all the other technological devices, that has taken over kids minds. Most children don't know what outside looks like but only when they really need to leave the house to go to school or anywhere else. I remember my parents had to beg us to come inside but today most parents would beg their child to go outside, which I found to be really SAD. 

However when I walk around in my community I can still say there's hope, kids running and laughing, playing a good game of moral, scooch and hop-scotch, yes I know you haven't heard about these games in ages. 

Moral Box

These were the games I knew about, the games I grew up on, the things kids do to have a good laugh, well that's before all these technological advancements. The weekend were the days to look forward to because play time was even longer, and we all hoped that it could never be over, FUN TIMES. I feel so happy to see kids in my community being active rather than glued in front of a laptop or tablet for the entire day. This is by far the healthier choice and to me the best way to have some good fun.

Kids playing a game of scooch

 

FOLKLORE-The mystery of the soucouyant

Despite it becoming nearly extinct, folklore has been a major part of the village of Mayaro. Growing up your grandparents, great grandparents or the elderly in the village would always have a mysterious story to be told. The most common of those was the legend of the Soucouyant. Described as a reclusive old woman, who sheds her skin at night and turns into a flying fireball that sucks the blood of humans. In her true form, as a fireball she flies across the dark sky in search of a victim. The soucouyant can enters the home of her victim through any sized hole like cracks, crevices and keyholes. My fellow classmate is currently doing her blog on folklore so i decided to collaborate with her for this post. For more details on the soucouyant, what it does, where it came from and how to catch it, you can visit her blog Bump In The Night BITN and take a good read. 

Growing up in Mayaro I've heard endless stories about the soucouyant, and though I was not a victim, I know a lot of people who have been sucked by one. However what I can tell you is my experience of witnessing a ball of fire dashed across the dark skies, this image remained vivid in my mind from then till now. I was just about 10 years old and was on my way home from church with my mother, uncle, sister and cousins. Just around 10: 30 pm on the manzanilla road, Mayaro, my uncle and my mother left us in the car to drop out a friend who got a ride home with us. The place was pitched dark since at that point in time there were no street lights on that stretch of road. While waiting for them to return my sister and I stepped out of the vehicle to get some fresh air, when a bright light reflected on the road. Upon looking up we saw a huge ball of fire shoot across the sky, without hesitation we started running and screaming towards our parents direction to tell them what we saw, but by the time we got there it vanished. This was the scariest experience I ever encountered in my life. A memory sketched in my mind never to be erased.

As I mentioned before back then there were little lighting on the roads so the place was dark in most places, that was one of the reasons why the soucouyant was commonly seen in the village of Mayaro. Now it has basically died out with the improvements made in the community, it is a brighter and livelier village than before. Very rear now you would hear someone say “ah soucouyant suck meh last night.” So if you do want to hear about one of these stories you would  have to get it from the older people's mouth. 

Last year I had to opportunity, together with TGN Media group, to interview some people in my community about what they know about the soucouyant and produce a documentary film. This video was shown at Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival and it gives you a good idea of what the soucouyant is about and measures to keep her away. Take a look.

A HISTORICAL LANDMARK

The first mission church that was built here in Mayaro by the Arawaks 45 years ago, is the same place where Mayaro Roman Catholic Church stands today. Mayaro came into recorded history in 1690 when Capuchin priests from Catalunia in Spain arrived at Trinidad, at the request of a Spanish governor, to convert the natives to the “Holy Roman Catholic faith.” They founded missions, some of which have today become well-known villages such as Savoneta, Mayo and Tortuga, San Rafael and Princes Town, as well as the very first mission to be founded, Purísima Concepcion de Naparima, now the City of San Fernando.

These brave missionaries spent three years at this task, founding missions, with sometimes just one remaining behind and the rest moving on to search for natives to convert. Sixteen of these missionaries had arrived at the Arawak village of Naparima (now San Fernando) in 1687 and in 1690 the last two of them reached a large Arawak village on the east coast. Happily they built a mission church here. But what did the Arawaks call this place? They called it “Mayaro.” Although no one can tell what became of the original mission church, one knows exactly where it was, because it is still the site of the Mayaro Roman Catholic church.

Mayaro Roman Catholic Church

FLORA- Natural Beauty

I can't help but appreciate my natural surroundings here in Mayaro. The vast variety of naturally grown flora is a sight that I wake up to each and every day. It gives me a sense of appreciation for God's creation and the many marvels he placed up this land. 

It puts you in a place of relaxation and a peaceful state of mind. Nothing annoys me more than when someone ask me where I live and their response to my answer is "or in the bush," No people I live among NATURAL BEAUTIES. Most of the times they have never even been to Mayaro, but that is just the perception of many. I see beyond the 'bush', on the surface lies a beauty that cannot be compared to any other. In both images which I took, the background is bushy but to me what is in the foreground outweigh the bush. Mayaro is an area with an abundance of beautiful sights and scenery, a place that I love so dearly. 

SEINE FISHING

Seine Fishing or "pulling seine" is a common activity seen on the shores of beaches in Mayaro. The Fishing industry have became a major part of this community and a means of livelihood for many families in Mayaro. So some may be familiar with this method of fishing while others may not. A seine is basically a fishing net that hangs vertically in the water with its bottom edge held down by weights and its top edge buoyed by floats. These nets are deployed from the shores and cast into the sea, bringing in dozens of fishes to land. A lot of man power is needed in this type of fishing method in order to bring all these fishes to shore. 

Big catch at Mayaro beach

Last month fishermen made a big catch of over a hundred cavalli here in Mayaro. Seine fishing to me is such a marvelous site and one of my favourite activity to witness. Residents often visit these sites and are given a fish or two to cook for the families, and then fishermen sell these fishes to earn an honest living. Here is some more pictures of seine fishing in Mayaro.

  

COUNTRY vs. CITY

Many people don’t like the country because “it’s away from everything” as they would say or it’s too lonely or to quiet, and all sort of different reasons, but I prefer this country life any day, any time. So you may be wondering what could I possibly love soooo much that the city don't have? 

The air is far more cleaner, imagine waking up every morning to the fresh scent of nature and not just seeing buildings all around, nothing beats that. This fresh air is healthier than the fumes released by factories and vehicles in the city. 

Peace and Quiet- I love the quietness of the counrty. I could never imagine hearing the horns of cars day and night. 

Scenery- sometimes I just take a stroll around my neighborhood to appreciate the beautiful nature God has placed upon this land. From the animals to the plants, beaches and rivers, there is soo much around you to enjoy each and everyday in the country. Houses are surrounded by pure nature that has a calming effect on your body and mind. 

Very little or no crime takes place here, you can walk the streets not wondering if someone would break in your home while you are away. Your neighbours are your watchmen they look out for you and as i mentioned in my previous post "we are one" the people of the community have your back. There isn't that much solidarity in the city.  

The people are warm and friendly. Hello, Hi, how are you are a natural part of our conversations whereas in the city most people just ignore you or passes you straight. 

These are just some of reasons why I think COUNTRY LIFE IS THE BEST....

A GEM OF MAYARO'S SOIL

Mayaro Lagoon
Acrylic Wash, 1975
Photograph By: Art Society of T&T

 Edwin Hingwan was born and raised in Mayaro in 1932. He lived here for his entire life but at the age of 20 he became afflicted with polio. He was sent to England for medical treatment but the young trainee engineer never recovered and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Having lost the ability to hold the paint brush a special device was made which enabled him to continue painting. The brush was attached to one of his limbs and with the canvas propped in front of him he persevered and became one of Trinidad's most accomplished artists. In one year he produced over 100 paintings. He died in February 17, 1976 at the age of 43, succumbing to the disease that left him paralysed for 23 years. At the National Awards ceremony of that year he was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Silver) posthumously for his contribution to the arts.Culture plays a key role in Mayaro. At Hingwan Drive the abandoned house in which Edwin Hingwan lived still stands at Hingwan Drive Mayaro. 

Below are some more paintings done by Mr. Hingwan.

Moonlight at Manzanilla
Watercolour - 1969 
Photograph By: Art Society of T&T

Mayaro Bridge
 Photograph By: Art Society of T&T

River Scene | 1975 | Edwin "Ou" Hing Wan | Watercolour 
Photograph By: Art Society of T&T