Biche
Encyclopedia
Biche is a flourishing agricultural village in east Trinidad and Tobago
exactly 18 kilometers south of Sangre Grande
and 18 kilometers north of Rio Claro
.
The name Biche derives from the French word biche, meaning deer or wild beast. In those times, hunters from Arima
wandered into the area via the Nariva River and Nariva Swamp
in search of wild animals.
Biche falls under the jurisdiction of the Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation
, and has a population in excess of 4000.
One of the famous families of Biche is the Chin-Yans. He was an immigrant from China and his family owned most of the town.
One of the descendants that still lives in Biche is Awing Chin-Yan.
Biche also boasts of its own cable service and high school. The latter remains closed for political reasons.
In recent times the exploration of oil has given hope to the residents of Biche which over the years have seen the increase in the brain drain of its youths because of its location and lack of job opportunity besides gardening.
Up to this time no oil has been found but the villagers remain optimistic that some will be found and thus boost the appeal of the town in terms of job availability.
Biche is also known for its wild meat. It is one of the few places that one can still acquire cascadura in abundance.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
exactly 18 kilometers south of Sangre Grande
Sangre Grande
Sangre Grande is the largest town in northeastern Trinidad, in Trinidad and Tobago. It is east of Arima and southwest of Toco. Sangre Grande is sometimes abbreviated to just "Grande". It is the seat of the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation. The town falls into the Toco/Sangre constituency of the...
and 18 kilometers north of Rio Claro
Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago
Rio Claro is the largest town in southeastern Trinidad, in Trinidad and Tobago. Rio Claro lies east of Princes Town, west of Mayaro and northwest of Guayaguayare. It serves as the major commercial centre for southeastern Trinidad. It lies in a primarily agricultural area...
.
Overview
Situated along the Cunapo Southern Main Road, Biche was first inhabited by a hunter and his teenage wife in 1874. There is little historical data to support the origins of this couple; however, the hunter's wife was believed to be named as Maria Gomez.The name Biche derives from the French word biche, meaning deer or wild beast. In those times, hunters from Arima
Arima
The Royal Borough of Arima is the fourth largest town in Trinidad and Tobago. Located east of the capital, Port of Spain, Arima supports the only organised indigenous community in the country, the Santa Rosa Carib Community and is the seat of the Carib Queen...
wandered into the area via the Nariva River and Nariva Swamp
Nariva Swamp
The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago and has been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention...
in search of wild animals.
Biche falls under the jurisdiction of the Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation
Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation
Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation is a Regional Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a land area of 852.81 km². The Rio Claro-Mayaro Regional Corporation is headquartered in Mayaro...
, and has a population in excess of 4000.
One of the famous families of Biche is the Chin-Yans. He was an immigrant from China and his family owned most of the town.
One of the descendants that still lives in Biche is Awing Chin-Yan.
Biche also boasts of its own cable service and high school. The latter remains closed for political reasons.
In recent times the exploration of oil has given hope to the residents of Biche which over the years have seen the increase in the brain drain of its youths because of its location and lack of job opportunity besides gardening.
Up to this time no oil has been found but the villagers remain optimistic that some will be found and thus boost the appeal of the town in terms of job availability.
Biche is also known for its wild meat. It is one of the few places that one can still acquire cascadura in abundance.
See also
- Transport in Trinidad and TobagoTransport in Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean country which relies heavily on industrialisation and tourism, has various transport systems. Trinidad is the larger island, with a business-oriented economy and the seat of the country's government and Piarco International Airport, the country's major airport...