Disclaimer I was two minds about putting out this blog post. As all my photos that were taken got corrupted and lost, but I still decided to post the write-up, in hopes that it would have the same effect. Nonetheless, hope you enjoy it. Happy Reading!
Have you ever experienced the irresistible pull of wanderlust, the insatiable desire for adventure, and the freedom of the open road? The kind of feeling that makes you want to pack a bag, jump in the car, and set out on an epic journey with no destination or plan in mind. Just the thrill of the unknown and the promise of discovery, waiting for you around every bend and over every hill.
A few weeks ago, I got into my car and drove aimlessly, without a map, through narrow, bumpy dirt roads that led me to a remote area with very few houses. Hills and lush greenery surrounded the area. While exploring, I stumbled upon an ancient-looking building that resembled the ones you see in documentaries about lost tribes. It stood there as if it had weathered centuries. As I admired the building, an older man with only a few teeth approached me with a warm smile. He could tell that I was not from the area and greeted me. I must have given off a "lost person" vibe. He asked me if I needed any help and introduced himself.
“My name is Nancoo, but you could call me Uncle,” he exclaimed. I replied, “Nice to meet you uncle” and told him that I was exploring but was curious about the building that looked like a temple. He then told me that he was from the village of Piparo, which I was currently in, and that the building was a Hindu Temple built by Dole Chadee. He asked if I knew who that was, but I pretended not to, hoping he would tell me the story. He chuckled and said that everyone in Trinidad and Tobago knew who Dole Chadee was and that if I didn't, I must be living under a rock. He allowed me to walk around the temple's compound, but not for too long. Although I was grateful to see the beautiful intricacies that adorned the temple's walls, there was still a daunting and eerie feeling attached to the place that made me ready to leave.
There was a lot of excitement not too long ago surrounding the Netflix series Narcos, which brought back the story of Pablo Escobar - the most notorious Colombian drug lord in history who had amassed a fortune of billions. Despite his criminal activities, many revered him for his philanthropic activities, like helping the poor and building communities. This led to him being idolized as a deity among the Colombian people. The village of Piparo even had its version of him, with many referring to him as the Trinbago Pablo. Meanwhile, Nankissoon Boodram, more commonly known as "Dole Chadee," was a prominent drug lord in 20th-century Trinidad and Tobago.
Chadee used Piparo as the headquarters for all his drug operations, and the roads leading to the area were carved out from the earth to create a single file to ensure that there was only one way in and out, making it easier to monitor everyone entering and leaving the vicinity.
He was considered one of the smartest. Chadee was reputed to be one of the top drug lords in the Caribbean, as he was never convicted of any drug-related crimes. No matter how many runnings he had with the law, he seemed to have managed to walk free every time. However, things took a turn for bad as it all came crashing down for the gang leader and his men when one of his very own, turned state witness against him.
Law enforcement and politicians saw this as their opportunity to finally get rid of Chadee and his gang once and for all. Chadee, who had given a command to kill an entire family, was convicted. He and eight of his gang members were hanged in 1999 for the 1994 murders of four members of the Baboolal family of Piparo.
Piparo, a little village on the Southern edge of the Central Range in Trinidad, is known as the place that holds the Secrets of a drug kingpin, but It is also home to one of the grandest mud volcanic explosions.
On 22nd February 1997, a mud volcano erupted in the village of Piparo, causing catastrophic damage to the community. It was a regular day until residents felt tremors and heard roaring from the earth's surface. Mother Nature had issued a warning, which the villagers did not pay mind to until the beastly grumblings under the earth had gotten so loud that they eventually heeded the alert by fleeing to safety just in the nick of time to save their lives.
Well, you know how Trinbagonians dislike taking things seriously until they become dangerously chaotic and challenging. As the saying goes, only when “Sh*t hits the fan.”
Mud spewed everywhere. The volcano shot out 200 feet of mud, flooding the area and causing significant damage to homes, vehicles, and livestock. Although no human fatalities were reported, power outages and a disruption in the watercourse added to the chaos. The mud hardened quickly into concrete clay, confiscating everything in its path and rendering the village a disaster area. As a result, around 300 families were forced to evacuate and rebuild their lives elsewhere.
In 2011, several residents heard noises that mimicked the sounds of 1997, making villagers cautious and adamant that a repeat of the event might occur. However, only small spews of mud made their way to the surface due to heavy rain downpours. There was no extreme damage. Today, the Piparo Mud volcano has little or no activity. Villagers use the grounds to conduct Annual Hindu Prayers (Pooja) and dig small pockets in the area to retrieve mud around carnival time for J’ouvert celebrations.
The volcano is still considered a threat and can erupt at any given moment. As for Dole Chadee, that’s still a touchy subject.