My name is Sharaaz Ali Hanif and I'm an airport doubles man. Is a big difference between an airport doubles man and any other kind of bara man. Is a whole different concept. Doubles men who sell at the airport don't be on a 12-15 hours basis. Is a shift system. We airport bara men have a lot of people lives in we hand. If we give a airplane captain a bad doubles, is the whole plane going down, y'understand? That is a reason people does more prefer a airport doubles. I born and grow in Piarco Village, Piarco. Approximately two minutes away from the old airport. I went St Helena Presbyterian, two minutes away from where I live, spent all my primary school years there. Then Mt Hope from 95-98, I went to Raffique Memorial Secondary, Trinidad Muslim League, St Joseph, from '98-2000. Then one year in form six, 2000/1, then UWI. I did a three years course in ACR, air-condition/refrigeration technician. After all that, I selling doubles.
This is a family business over 29 years now. I learn the trade from my parents. I basically in charge because my old man retire. I started off cashing for him. After I finished school, I did doubles part-time before starting my own business, which I was going to do air-condition and refrigeration. When I get into the business and see the kind of money generating and the turnover and the wide response, I stick to the business. I have four brothers, no sisters. Three of us in the business. I'm the eldest. I have one child, my son Saleem. Nafeeza is my wife.
This is my job. I's a doubles man. I eat my own doubles every day. It's my favourite food. The runner-up is any style of chicken. Me and my wife does everything. She fries the bara and I does the channa and all the sauces. We do all Indian delicacies in our catering. Every three months, Carec does come and take samples from our doubles and take it to the lab and test it. Them could specify whether you use things fresh, or from the fridge, or you wash your products before using it. So your standards does be higher. That's a next reason people all over Trinidad more prefer a airport doubles to any other doubles.
I don' think airport doubles have a higher standard than a normal doubles selling on the street. I know so! If you have a chartered flight, mostly local people, you's get a rush. Once you see people have family coming in. Normally, the airport is just regular. We have two shift, 9 am-12 midday and 1 pm-7 pm. Monday through Sunday. If you land midnight, you wouldn't get a doubles now but maybe very soon. When the new food court start, we looking to open 24 hours because, as everybody know, airport don't close. So you have to accommodate everybody.
You get to meet everybody selling doubles in the airport. Everybody does come for doubles. Cabinet Ministers. When former prime minister Basdeo Panday was in government, he came and had doubles by us. He does eat doubles with no channa, just basically bara and pepper sauce. I listen to all music: Indian; rap; chutney. I more into soca and old school dub. "Under the Sycamore Tree" is old for my age. For relaxation, mostly I spend time at home. I go to mosque. I'm a practising Muslim. Being as a food vendor, though, you can't keep hair on your face 'cause is tend to fall. I drink and smoke occasionally. But I don't eat pork.
The best thing about the job is you get meet people and go places you never went. Like President's House, e.g. I do all the major parties there and I'm on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday with Tribe. This business have plenty opportunities. The bad side is the health side. Most of the time, you dealing with hot and cold, so later down in life, arthritis does start to come in. But I'm a young guy so me ent looking for that now. A Trini is a person who loves to party. I like to party myself, with my brothers. My wife don't drink, don't smoke, don't party. Trinidad & Tobago is a paradise to me. I don't know anywhere else you could have a career of doubles man. Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com