Panthers visit Gaspar Grande

A cheerful and pleasant voice was heard above everyone: “Good morning, all.”

It was our tour guide, Mrs. Shafnena Labon.

No one knew her, but you would not know it, as everyone seemed to pause to see where this voice was originating. She then introduced herself as the tour guide for In Joy Tours.

At that point we knew she was our team mother for today. The Panther basketball team along with Dr. Tim Autry, A.D.; Mrs. Karen Williams, Asst. A.D.; and Dr. Lionell Sabb boarded the bus for a tour of the Gasparee Caves. Mrs. Labon seemed to make us all feel comfortable and safe. There may have been a reason that we would later understand.

The bus ride was approximately 30 minutes. During this time Mrs. Labon explained how the United States built a base after WWII in Trinidad, and that civilians were not allowed past a certain checkpoint before entering the base. Little did we know that we were going to board our ferry on the site of that post.

Maracas Beach

We boarded a small, 35-seat inboard motorboat for the short 5-minute ride to Chaguaramas. Once on the island it was all up hill, or might we say “up mountain.” Now everyone knew why we were asked to wear sneakers. The trek was so long that we took two rest stops before we reached the mouth of the caves. Mrs. Labon’s nurturance of us early on made it easier for us who have never been in a cave to feel comfortable enough to navigate the small and slippery steps inside the mountain.

The caves appeared dark and dreary as each step seemed to pull us closer to the center of the Earth. Upon reaching the center point, we could look up and see a hole above that seemed to be a source of a geyser eruption. We looked down into a 35-foot deep body of water our mountain guide said he swam in for years.

“You look like you have at least one more swim in you,” a joking Coach Woodard said.

The mountain guide quickly responded that he has been in the caves’ pool more than anyone he knows.

“I don’t have my swimsuit on today or I would get in.”

To our amazement he told us that he was a native of this island and that he grew up on this property, along with some other friends, and would swim in the caves everyday.

Enjoying the coolness of the cave were three dogs. We came upon them as we descended the narrow steps into the cave. The dogs startled us at first, because dogs would have been the last animals we thought would occupy a cave. The dogs seemed more comfortable seeing us than we were seeing them. The party quickly adjusted to the canines. The dogs appeared to be protectors of us, running from the front to the back seemingly trying to make sure all of us are accounted for.

The guide explained how the different shapes of the rocks and trees were formed through thousands of years, as all of us took pictures that would last a lifetime. It was now time to forge a path back to our awaiting ferry. Our new-found friends (the dogs) accompanied us back to the dock and sat with us until we were all on the boat.

The Panthers take a break from basketball.

While taking a much needed break on the dock, sophomore forward Dominic Johnson stated that “This was an experience that I can go back home and talk about. It is not often you get the opportunity to visit other countries, especially Trinidad and Tobago.”

Teammates Eric Salley, Ernest Sinkfield, Jonathan Durant, Preston Johnson and Jamaal Newman found themselves nodding affirmatively.

The scenic ride back to the hotel was a well-needed rest, as the team appeared wiped out from their outing.

It was back to business as the Panthers would have a 6 p.m. contest with the best Trinidadian team, the North All-Stars.

Tired from the uphill hike and the 90+ degree heat, the Claflin Confidence would give them incentive to play hard and bear out their team motto, “Excellence Without Excuses.”

- Dr. Lionell W. Sabb, Sports Information Director