By Mario Russel
The village of Grande Riviere is situated on the north-eastern seashores of Trinidad nestled between the coastal communities of San Souci and Matelot.
In the 1860’s immigrants from Venezuela and Tobago settled in the area with the intention of cultivating cacao as a profitable cash crop alongside essential their subsistence crops.
Because of the wide river that flows on the eastern end the village, the area earned the name “Grande Riviere Estate which consisted of a sprawling 650 acres expanse that employed the majority of the villagers to work on the plantation.
The flourishing cacao industry, which bloomed from 1866 to 1920, faced a setback due to disruptions in shipping during World War 1. An overabundance of cacao supply resulted in a sharp price collapse in 1921. Subsequently, a more extensive economic downturn stemming from the Great Depression and the outbreak of witch’s broom disease exacerbated the situation. During this time, sugar took precedence as the primary crop in Trinidad and Tobago, while the ascent of the petroleum sector initiated a gradual decline in cocoa production.
Throughout the twentieth century, the significance of Grand Riviere experienced a decline and the population dropped from 718 persons in 1931 to 550 in 1946. The village’s economy was predominantly rooted in agriculture encompassing the cultivation of cocoa, bananas and various other small cash crops. Activities such as fishing, hunting and the capture of nesting leatherback
turtles supplemented both sustenance and income for the community.
In 1992 the Grande Riviere Environmental Awareness Trust (GREAT) was founded with its primary goal was to safeguard nesting Leatherback turtles on Grand Riviere Beach. Visitors from all over the globe were interested in witness the layering of the leather back turtles know in Trinidad as “Turtle Watching”.
During the nesting season, the beach of Grande Riviere is off limits to the public and to visit a permit can be obtained from the Forestry Division. The subsequent year saw italian photographer Piro Guerrini repurpose the former cocoa estate headquarters into Mt.Plasir, a 12-room beachfront hotel.
The success of Mt.Plasir prompted the establishment of three more hotels -Le Grande Alexander, with 10 rooms, Mc Eachnie’s Haven with six rooms and Acajou, an ecological hotel offering seven rooms. Local villagers also began offering guest houses with bed and breakfast rooms to visitors.
The demand for tour guide services resulted in the creation of the “Grande Riviere Nature Tour Guides Association” (GRNTGA). Beyond the sea turtles there was a broader interest in nature tourism and bird watching. The critically endangered pawi (a turkey- like bird) which is the sole bird species endemic to Trinidad was hunted to almost extinction, however in recent years, due to conservation laws and public awareness their numbers have increased. The pawi is now a tourist attraction and can be easily spotted in Grande Riviere.
Grand Riviere mountainous terrain is a fantastic place for hiking. Within its borders there are numerous waterfalls and hiking destinations. Located on the western side end of the community, a one-hour trek will lead to Homad and Lacatang Waterfalls. Further east a popular spot for camping and exploring waterfalls is Shark River. At one time, during high tide baby sharks would
venture upstream giving it the name Shark River.
The big river located on the eastern end of the community is an explorer dream with countless waterfalls, gorges and pools to swim.
A popular spot frequented by villagers is “Two Branch Pool”. The short walk to get there is along a mostly pitched road with undulating hills and will take 30-40 minutes. For safety reasons visitors should seek the services of the local tour guides who will guide them to secure locations and provide valuable information on the natural assets of the environment.
Grand Riviere can best be described as a dreamy town. An ideal destination for eco -tourism where visitors can safely wonder around enjoying its natural beauty and hidden treasures. For a small town there are lots to do from birdwatching, turtle-watching, fishing, river explorations and hiking to
waterfalls. It is a place for relaxing and getting away from the busy hustle of city life. The scenery of the river’s still waters flowing into the ocean is soothing as well as mind-blowing. In recent times heavy rainfall has caused landslides and damage to roads making access to the village and beyond
difficult. The bad roads are a deterrent to outsiders and villagers anxiously await its fixing.
