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This week's photo entry is centered around an area formerly a cocoa and oil producer as well as a hub of business commerce.
A little bit of history
Settlement in this area surfaced around the 1880's to 1890's, beginning with settlement on 12,000 acres of crown lands which were sold in the Monserrat ward, 700 grants were made. The area soon became known as Tabaquite as settlement developed.
Interesting facts
- Tabaquite was once a mass producer of cocoa. the industry was supported by an elaborate railway system establish in 1898.
- The first oil wells in Tabaquite went into operation in 1913 producing a 150 barrels per day annually.
- Oil production in the area brought along Chinese shopkeepers who developed retail businesses throughout Tabaquite.
- Tabaquite is home to the 1st tunnel in Trinidad named after Governor Courtney Knollys in 1898 which became a tourist attraction.
- Cocoa, oil and business activity made Tabaquite a quite bustling and bright area by 1921.
- The decline in cocoa and oil production resulted in the migration of businessmen, leaving behind the ex-cocoa and oil labourers.
"Taba slums"
Today Tabaquite is much less vibrant area, the residents mainly engage in small scale farming to feed their families and surplus is sold at the markets. The population is below 1500 and slum areas are located around old train lines after the closure of the active rail system in 1965. There is one secondary school in the area: the Tabaquite secondary school, two primary schools Tabaquite Rc and Presbyterian and three preschools including Tabaquite's Early Childhood learning centre. Despite the presence of these educational facilities most children stay at home home help their families farm in their gardens to put food on the table.
