From where in St Vincent does the best tri tri come? (+video)
PM Gonsalves declared at the opening of the River 14 Recreational Park that tri tri from the Colonarie river is the best tri tri in the world. (Credit for tri tri photo Edson Reece)
Features
March 12, 2022
From where in St Vincent does the best tri tri come? (+video)

Vincentians from all over, and all walks of life, enjoy the seasonal delicacy known as tri tri. When they are in season, many persons earn a living by harvesting them from river mouths and on stones higher up in the river.

Over the years, many have argued whether or not the best tri tri is caught in rivers on the Windward or Leeward side of the island.

However, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves feels that the best tri tri is from Colonaire.

“Colonaire tri tri is the best tri tri in the world,” the Prime Minister declared.

He did so on Thursday March 10, while delivering the feature address at the official opening ceremony for the River 14 Recreational Park in South Rivers.

Dr Gonsalves is also the Area Representative for North Central Windward, which includes the villages of Colonaire and South Rivers. He said “there is no tri tri better than the tri tri which comes from the Colonaire River.”

Dr Gonsalves, who is originally from Colonaire recalled that upstream, the river is a source of food including: crayfish, river lobster, crab, suck stone and many other marine life.

“When you reach Colonaire, there is tri tri at the mouth of the river,” the Prime Minister reflected.

The audience chuckled a bit when he stated that Colonaire had the best tri tri.

“You could laugh if you want, I’m a tri tri man, I know it well.”

The Prime Minister further admitted, that like many Vincentians, he loves tri tri cakes “plenty plenty.”

Dr Gonsalves added that the River is vital to all the communities through which it flows.

So much do that when St Vincent Electricity Services Ltd (VINLEC) wanted to use the river for another hydro plant, he asked them to come up with “a better alternative.”

He said on Thursday that we are “witnessing our civilization at its best ”

“Not even 21 volcanic eruptions of La Soufriere last April, could stop us less than a year later.”

Addressing the ceremony at South Rivers, Dr Gonsalves expressed thanks to residents in the community.

“The South Rivers community sustains me,” the Prime Minister noted.

He further described South Rivers as “a Christian community with good leaders”.

In thanking the General Employees Co-operative Credit Union (GECCU) for its investment in the area, he said  GECCU must be congratulated.

According to Gonsalves, in 2015/2016, GECCU’s assets stood at $210.4 million.

I’m 2019/2020, their assets jumped to $314.8 million.

The Prime Minister indicated that the River 14 Recreational Park is an incredible facility.

He expressed delight to be part “of a credit union which can do such magnificent job.”