myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hi, I read somewhere, I think on this website but can't be certain as I can't find it now, that camouflage clothing is illegal(?) in Tobago. My boyfriend got a pair of swimming shorts with camouflage type print on for Christmas for holiday, do you think he can wear them OK or not????

Caroleee
(not long to go now if the strikes are all cancelled!)

Hi Carole
You weren't hallucinating; there certainly was a reliable indication that camouflage pattern clothing is not acceptable on Tobago. Unless you really *are* Special Forces, of course...

There were reports of people being made to change out of camo in the airport, so all in all it would be better to avoid wearing any in public. Having said that, I wouldn't have thought swimming trunks would be a problem, and when we visited in November I did see at least one young person wearing camouflage patterned shorts, without attracting any attention.

Jonathan

Replying to my own post, tsk tsk, bad form

The FCO website giving travel advice for Trinidad and Tobago http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pag ... 3618386523 says

You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.

Ah thanks Jonathan, well I guess he could try and wear them if you have seen others wearing similar patterns. I would hope that he would only be asked to change out of them if someone in "authority" saw him wearing them and that nothing more sinister would happen to him!

I think I will get him another plain pair of swimming shorts too just in case ....

Hi, I actually think it would be best for him to leave them at home. It would be a bit of an embarrassment having to remove the offensive piece of clothing in public, I think. If You read the earlier thread on this subject it shows that the authorities really mean business when they want to show that side. Why take an unnecessary risk out of vanity?
Chrs

I haven´t seen anyone using swimming shorts made in camo so I don´t know how they would react. Most likely the life guards don´t care but if any officer from the Security or Defence Force will be around, they might have something to say.

I have with my own eyes seen peoples at the airport travelling in camo pants/shirts of different types, not only forrest camo. As an example, the security did stop a lady from Germany and she had to go to the washroom and change her German camopants before leaving the Security area, after the Passport Control and before the Costom Conrol. It doesn´t matter if it´s a child either. Camo is strictly forbidden, never mind what type of camo it is.

The Police, Army and Security has a lot of problem in Trinidad with peoples dressed in camo or uniforms similar with what are used by the Defence Force, Security, Police and different types of Special groups from the Army or Police. They just don´t want to see camo on civilians and the role is the same in Tobago.

He should better leave camopants/shirts at home or at least have something else with him. Sometimes the Security is harder, there´s many reasons for that, both inside the Airport as well outside, on the roads and so on.
If he would meet a higher Security at some time and the Officer didn´t wake up on his/her best side, he might have some problem. Leave it at home to be sure that you will have a nice vacation.

Ronald

Carole,it is definitely best not to take the risk.At this time there are lots of extra security people(due to it being carnival season)and some may not turn a blind eye.Like topless or nude sunbathing it is against the law.
David

OK thanks everyone ... I will try to persuade him to leave them at home, or at least only wear them on our balcony! I will have to show him this thread though for him to believe me and not think I am making it up!!!

Hello Caroleee,
I remember reading pages of stuff about camouflage clothing when doing my research.The simplest option is: if in doubt, don't!

We saw a lady sunbathing topless at Englishmans Bay. Obviously hadn't seen the information on this site. We hoped to see the police arrive with a blanket, but no...

Sun bathing topless.. that´s happen sometimes also at other beaches, even at Stor Bay Beach in Crown Point.
As you know, mostly Tobagonians are really friendly, even the life guards there has problem to tell them "I´m sorry but...".
But I don´t have that problem against other visitors, I tell them that it´s not only against the law, local peoples really don´t like to see that, and so far no one has been angry.

Those who have been in Store Bay know that you see not only local christian peoples there, there´s also Hindu and Muslim peoples there. But some visitors seems to be blind or they just doesn´t care.
"I´m always topless at beaches at home so I do the same here", some think like that, I met such a women from Europe some years ago at the beach.

Ronald

Hello Ronald,
Yes it's people with that kind of attitude who upset the locals and spoil things for the rest of us who try to respect local laws and culture.
Cheers
Carol(noe)