Vecina: Nay-bah

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Clifton Hill beach - Anielvys plays along the shores of Clifton Hill beach, during a family outing. © Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project © Kelly-Ann Bobb - Sofia stands with her friends in the yard of the house rented by her family. View all images ↓
View all images ↓

My docu-series Vecina: Nay-bah (Trinidadian Creole for the word neighbor), aims to foreground the unheard stories of Venezuelan migrants who strive to build a life in Trinidad while supporting family members in their home country.

It is estimated that 6 million Venezuelan nationals have left their homes due to the country’s economic collapse. Separated by only 7 miles of water, a long-established maritime route exists between Venezuela and the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago.

My docu-series, Vecina: Nay-bah (Trinidadian Creole for 'neighbor '), is a platform to amplify the voices of Venezuelan migrants. It aims to bring their stories to the forefront, showcasing their remarkable resilience as they strive to build a life in Trinidad while supporting their families back home. The series delves into the challenges of migrant life in Trinidad and the issues that arise during integration into Trinidadian society.

As someone with experience with migrant existence, the ability of the Venezuelan migrants to build a life in Trinidad intrigued me. I first started building rapport with the community in 2021, during the COVID pandemic, and due to the time spent amongst the different communities I have been able to intimately exist with them, allowing me to tell their authentic stories.

The current political outcomes have curbed a lot of hope most of the Venezuelan diaspora held in returning to their homes. The Trinidad/Caribbean experience of the Venezuelan migrants has not been documented. My goal with this documentary project is to highlight this unique story that has yet to be told and shared.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Clifton Hill beach - Anielvys plays along the shores of Clifton Hill beach, during a family outing.
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Clifton Hill beach - Anielvys plays along the shores of Clifton Hill beach, during a family outing.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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A Warao woman at a health fair organized for members of the Warao community in Cedros, south Trinidad. . Many members of the indigenous migrant community living in Trinidad, do not speak English or Spanish. This has further affected their ability to integrate themselves within the Trinidadian community.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Sofia stands with her friends in the yard of the house rented by her family.
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Sofia stands with her friends in the yard of the house rented by her family.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Young Warao men sit in conversation in Icacos, Trinidad.
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Young Warao men sit in conversation in Icacos, Trinidad.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Vetiver Grass grown in the yard where 10 Warao families live. The grass is grown and used to make baskets and other grafts.
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Vetiver Grass grown in the yard where 10 Warao families live. The grass is grown and used to make baskets and other grafts.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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A young boy sits in his hammock made from a re-purposed fishing net, having a meal. The Warao – whose name means “boat people”, have also fled to Trinidad to seek a better life. Most of the community makes a living doing odd jobs, or utilizing their craft skills to make and sell, baskets and hammocks.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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A young Warao woman with her daughters, at a Medical outreach program in Cedros, South Trinidad. Pregnant migrant women can obtain their antenatal care freely within the public health care system. Within the Warao community, some have barriers to accessing health care due to cultural differences and language.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Portrait of a Warao family, at their home.
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Portrait of a Warao family, at their home.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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Portrait of Yoshua taken at his home in Point Fortin, Trinidad. Education among migrant children remains one of the biggest issues in the community, which was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent attempts are being made to facilitate entrance of the migrant children into the public school system, through private sponsorship, however, the majority remain without formal education.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Pedro stands with a generator that is no longer working, which was the families only source of electricity.
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Pedro stands with a generator that is no longer working, which was the families only source of electricity.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - There are many Venezuelan migrants who live in these make-shift homes, made of plywood and galvanize.
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There are many Venezuelan migrants who live in these make-shift homes, made of plywood and galvanize.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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Children play in the sea at the Gulf of Paria, Point Fortin, with the faint outline of Venezuela in the background. The reality of playing in Trinidad waters, with home (Venezuela) visible in the background, highlights the complexity of their existence.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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Lourdes stands with her grandson after visiting a health fair organized for members of the Warao community in Cedros, south Trinidad. Lourdes is one of the elders in the community who speaks both Spanish and her mother tongue. She has been instrumental in assisting with communication among those in her community who do not speak Spanish or English.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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Icacos beach, South Trinidad, with fishing boats lining the beach. These are common vessels used by migrants trying to enter the country illegally. To get to Trinidadian shores they must cross the Bocas del Dragón (Mouths of the Dragon), a maritime route that is highly dangerous and littered with pirate activity and human trafficking.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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A group of children (Venezuelan and Trinidadian) go through exercises before beginning their Burroquite dance at an outreach program in Belmont. El Puente features two traditional characters, the “Burroquite” derived from Spanish heritage to depict our Venezuelan neighbors, and the “Moko Jumbie” rooted in our West African lineage to represent Trinidad and the link between the two countries. The pr

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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Genesis, Icacos Coral point, South Trinidad. Genesis is a lawyer and pastor, who runs the Venezuelan arm of a church in Point Fortin Trinidad. She is involved in many projects which aim to meet the need of the migrant community. She has been instrumental in introducing me and allowing me to enter the migrant community in South Trinidad.

© Kelly-Ann Bobb - Image from the Vecina: Nay-bah photography project
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An area off the coastline in Icacos, South Trinidad. A place of serenity, holding both beauty and horror as some Venezuelan migrants who make it to these shores safely, may endure further hardships at the hands of smugglers.