AS TOLD TO BC PIRES
My name is Gary Greenidge and I have to make do with Bajan doubles.
Greenidge is a good Bajan name. My dad was Bajan. My mom is from Grenada.
Me and my brothers are first-generation Trinidadians. Gerard is the eldest, Richard is under me and Robin is the last.
My dad was married before, so I have sisters and brothers from that side.
I have a sister who lives in Barbados too and family in Six Roads I didn’t realise I had. Pumpkin vine kinda thing.
My son Malakai Greenidge mom is a white Bajan, Andrea Medford.
I’m a man, I don’t have preference. If my heart flutter for you, it flutter for you. And I go where my heart go. Her heart show her me and things was all right with me and her.
They live in Canada now, but my son like Trinidad.
My girlfriend now is German, but she lives in Barbados.
I’m from Santa Cruz, Cantaro Village – but, no, BC Pires, I never bat with Brian Lara. But I went by his house by the Savannah as a young boy, because he had like my aunt.
In Santa Cruz, most people know each other, like a family. Santa Cruz now, so much development, you don’t recognise it when you go.
It still nice, is still home – but is different.
Barbados is small and close-knit. Everybody know everybody.
Even if they don’t talk to them.
I went to Exchange Presbyterian Primary, then Couva Junior Sec. And then Union Claxton Bay Senior Comprehensive, where I did my A-Levels, after we moved to Couva.
In 2001 I came to Barbados for a two-week holiday from my first job at Pt Lisas on Air Caribbean. I came Tuesday and they went out of business on Saturday.
So, boom, I end up stuck in Barbados. So, over months, I got my citizenship sorted out. I applied to two companies and one hired me.
And I just end up staying in Barbados and in that job about 20 years now.
For the length of time I working at my job, they still call me the Trinidadian fella. That’s the stigma that come with being the only Trinidadian there.
But is a nice company to work for.
The biggest change between Trinidad and Barbados is that the people are more closed as how Trinidadians are welcoming.
Bajans are not that open and straightforward friendly. Is up to them if they want to accept you or not.
Could be my second year in Barbados, I didn't go back to Trinidad for Christmas.
I made a friend at work and we were cool. I didn’t know anybody but him and I passed to check him.
It was shocking to me because he was, like, “Boy, what you doing here? You don't come by people house on Christmas Day! Christmas is for family!”
In Trinidad, somebody turn up by you, you don’t run them out. You offer them a drink. You sit down. You talk one or two old-talk. Then you walk them out.
In Barbados, they talk to you outside the gate! That was my first experience going ho
