The long lines of traffic and beaches crammed full of seagoers were conspicuously absent at Maracas, Tyrico and Las Cuevas yesterday, as the traditional Ash Wednesday Cool Downs seemed to fizzle out.
While there was a heavy police presence throughout the day along the main access road and the beachfront, as well as in the water, the bumper crowd that was expected to descend on the popular north coast beaches did not materialise up to 2.30 pm.
It was not until 3 pm that more vehicles were observed heading to Maracas Beach, as it was reported that three parties were scheduled for late yesterday into the night.
Senior Patrol Captain of the Maracas Beach Lifeguard Unit, Karl Hernandez, confirmed, “The crowd ain’t really build up to how it usually does.”
Heartened by this unusual development, as they had a skeletal staff of only seven lifeguards, he explained, “We have tried to keep the crowd inside and with the jet-ski patrolling, we trying to control the crowd.”
Hernandez said Tyrico Beach remained without any lifeguards yesterday, hence the need for a jet-ski patrol.
He, however, renewed the appeal for additional lifeguards ahead of this weekend.
“The weekend after Carnival is when we get the crowd. That is when everybody going back home so they want to take a seabath before they go back.”
Asked what could have led to such a drastic decline in the numbers, Hernandez speculated, “I think everybody expected a whole lot of traffic. Last year, it was the same thing. People just fed up with the traffic, so people come yesterday (Tuesday). Monday had a good turnout. Weekend had a very good turnout.”
He estimated that between 30,000 to 40,000 people visited Maracas Beach between Saturday and Tuesday.
Seated on a lounger as he sipped a cold Carib alongside his dad and brother, Brian Warren, of the UK, soaked up the sun, sand and surf as he happily shared, “I just had some shark and bake. I had a few drinks and I am enjoying the weather, the sea and the people.”
Promising to return following an enjoyable and exciting Carnival experience he had thus far, Warren said he only had 12 years left to work before he could relocate to T&T permanently.
He jokingly said, “I want to come back and spend my pension here!”
His brother Stephen Warren, who has been to T&T several times, said his last Carnival experience was 20 years ago. While both men are of Trinidadian parentage, he said the two had been able to get a bit of everything this time around and would definitely be back for more.
Amanda Locke, of Canada, meanwhile said this was her third time here for Carnival, which was “always super beautiful.”
Admitting their stamina was a little lower than in previous years, she laughed, “We’re not as used to it this time around.”
Earl James, of New York, described his Carnival experience as wonderful and incident free thus far had “just been a blessing.”
“Trinidad is such a wonderful place. It is a beautiful island,” James said.
Referring to the local crime situation, he said, “There are a lot of people abroad that wants to come back here, but is the crime.”
However, he said he had gone around without worrying about the crime situation despite warnings from family and friends.
“They have to worry about it because they living in it,” he said.
Meanwhile, although the crowd turnout at Caura River in Tunapuna was also lower than expected, those who turned up eager to bubble a pot were determined to have a good time.
Shawn Babwah said, “We have provision. We have a manicou. We have curry chicken. We have white rice, tomatoes choka. We having a time. We having a little drink.”
Regarding the low turnout, Sudesh Naipaul said, “I do not know why, if people over tired or it doesn’t matter to them but I thought the river would have been sold out.”
He added, “I thought you would be fighting to get a place to bathe but when we came up here about 11 o’clock, the river was basically empty. “
Meena, who lives in Chaguanas, surmised, “Some people don’t go to work for the whole week, so later they might come.”
