Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase, coral reef ecologist, urges everyone to visit the reefs of Tobago. Photos of Tobago reefs courtesy the Maritime Ocean Collection. The Reef is calling. Will You answer?   Visit ten coral reefs in 2026. This is the challenge to know your marine backyard and help drive its protection. Exploration can take different forms: swimming, snorkelling and diving. There’s also virtual exploration through Google StreetView, or via the Maritime Ocean Collection (maritimeoceancollection.com). All images are available in 360-degrees and can be uploaded to a VR headset for the immersive vibe.   See to save the Reef Our coral reefs need you to visit them now more than ever! Coral reefs are important to living on islands and should be regarded as precious assets. At this time, their health is critically compromised, and we must actively support their management and protection. Having eyes on them and knowing what to look for when they are not doing so...

Birding is for Everyone!  Faraaz Abdool presents twelve of the many reasons that we should all be bird-watching!   Oh, birds! We’ve all experienced them at some point. Whether in passing or deliberately, birds, their superhuman abilities, and their symbolic representations have captivated humans for millennia. Presently, the term “birder” is a person who enjoys birds, irrespective of degree or methodology. While some may argue to the contrary, a person who cracks a smile upon hearing the sweet song of the wren in the morning is as much a birder as the person who sloshes through kilometres of flooded forest, battling millions of mosquitoes to catch a glimpse of a roosting potoo that looks like nothing more than a broken branch.   Being a birder is both a right and a privilege. There is no specific dress code, nor a thousand-strong species list needed to qualify one’s status as a birder. Being a birder does not make anyone into an authority either...

Pat Ganase recommends shopping for outstanding local products. Published in the Newsday on December 11, 2025 (Photos by Pat Ganase)   The malls are decorated with nutcrackers and fairies and wonderlands foreign to our tropical weather. The grocery aisles are energized by Christmas classics, from traditional carols to soca parang. All in the effort to drive sales. Businesses, corporations and some economists promote the positive effects of Christmas: more (even temporary) jobs in retail and service sectors, increases in production and spending, uptick in travel and tourism, and in some instances, generous donations to charities. While Christmas revenues in Western countries may amount to one-fifth of annual income, there is a downside to Christmas production and spending that ought to be considered: stress for consumers especially those who just cannot make ends meet; the ensuing financial struggle for those with credit cards; over-consumption and waste that result in environmen...

Anjani Ganase asks us to consider reducing waste and to give gifts that are meaningful and matter … to everyone involved, and to the planet. Christmas in our islands is seen as the occasion to spend with the loved ones ... and to spend. The commercial aspect of gift giving has overtaken the season with variety and extravagance, and with detrimental environmental impact as a result of waste production. Waste produced during Christmas fall largely into the categories of food waste, plastic and electronic pollution and an increased carbon footprint. Globally, plastic waste increases by 30% during the Christmas holidays owing to the plastic waste from product packaging, food wrappers, decorations and even gift wrapping.   It is the time when plastic cups, forks and plates may be preferred because no one wants to be bothered with the chore of dishes. Most of the plastic waste ends up in the landfills as opposed to recycling centres with a high portion of the plast...