Standing directly behind the woman at the counter of the ticket outlet, I am close enough to see her shoulders slump and her head drop slightly as the cashier tells her there are no ferry tickets available for the next few days. The woman turns away silently and leaves the outlet.
The look of unspeakable disappointment on her face makes me wonder about her reason for wanting, or rather, needing, to go to Trinidad. The difference between someone choosing to travel to Trinidad from Tobago or to Tobago from Trinidad is more often a case of need and want, respectively.
In my personal experience and from observation, it seems that most people I know based in Tobago travel to Trinidad because of a need–usually needing to go to work, to attend a meeting or appointment, to get something that can't be gotten in Tobago, to receive some specific kind of medical attention, to take an animal to the vet for a procedure that can't be done in Tobago, to visit loved ones (sometimes also a "want") or to attend an event that is not being performed in Tobago.
Those coming from Trinidad are most often coming based on a want–want to relax and get away and lime in 'Bago mainly for long weekends, Easter, July/August and Christmas holidays, Jazz Festival, Great Race. At these times listed, the wants outweigh the needs, often resulting in ferry and plane tickets being sold out, particularly from the Trinidad to Tobago side, resulting in difficulty and delays for Tobagonians wanting to return home.
I get to the cashier. Sorry, no ferry tickets. I have a presentation to attend in a few days and need to get to Trinidad. I won't be able to carry my vehicle as planned. A flight is now my only option for getting across.At the airport, I discover that there are flights out, but no same-day returns. Thankfully I have family, a place to stay, no pressing engagements in Tobago at that time and can comfortably return a day later on the one flight listed as available.
I think of people who take the ferry from Tobago because they need to travel to Trinidad regularly. The economical price of $100 return (without a car) makes pocket sense–as opposed the expense of taking regular $300 return flights to Piarco, then having to pay a taxi or get someone to collect them to take them to wherever they need to go–often Port-of-Spain, where the ferry conveniently docks.
As of this July/August, I've been hearing more Tobago people talking about being "stranded" in Trinidad, unable to get a ferry back home. Recent comments on a friend's Facebook page (too many to include here) reflect the ferry and flight frustration:
1. "It would be nice if there was first preference to Tobagonians trying to get home to Tobago... This inter island travel is just ridiculous now... ALL flights are booked/sold out from today till friggin' next week Tuesday?!"
2. "Was on standby in the airport from 10 am this morning ... Got to Tobago at 8 pm ... Nuff said."
3. "No extra planes being put on these days either, for any build up of stand-by passengers ... like they used to do."
4: "We had that nightmare experience trying to get from Trinidad to Tobago. Been praying for a miracle shift in the way they do things!"
In light of the above, I would suggest allocating a daily quota of ferry and plane tickets for Tobago-based people who need to return home from Trinidad during high season.