My name is Ishan Poonwassie and I’m a do-it-yourself kinda guy.
I was born in Augustus Long Hospital, Marabella, but I had boy days with my cousins in San Francique, where my dad grew up. The family used to gather round there, on cooks. The parents would be looking for us and we’d just be hiding in the back.
I went to Garden Memorial Presbyterian, St Peter’s Private Primary, did O’levels and part of A’levels at St Benedict’s. Then ASJA Boys College. I went to plenty schools. School was all right.
I signed up to UWI but didn’t get through. I got kind of down, but then I started thinking I wanted to be like my dad. At my age, he did electrical engineering and instrumentation. I decided to sign up for electrical engineering. I finished the course, started work, got a bit of money.
You know every kid want to buy a car? I bought mine. Save up money from pressure-washing during the years. Started working in a music shop. From there, I bought my music. Put it in the car.
I got an opportunity to work repairing life vessels for offshore platforms. From there, I got a job doing air-conditions in vehicles. From there, going to Junior Sammy yards, doing the air-conditions on the cranes was a really awesome experience.
Working for people sometimes tend to be frustrating. So I started my own business, selling doubles. Everybody in Trinidad feel “Doubles is it! You bound to make money!” But doubles is not it. All those doubles guys out there making money, they doing a hard job! I still eat doubles and I don’t begrudge the doubles men the $4 or $5 now.
I had some bad relationships in the past. I don’t have as much girl experience as I do work experience, but enough to make me think about what I want. In the music store, Gabriella Biswah used to come hang out with us. I started to like her ‘cause she was cool. What I was going through, she was that support. From there, I said, “Let’s see where this could lead to”. You have your little setbacks but we going strong two years.
Having some sheltered parents, is only once I ever took part in Carnival. I recommend it to all. I played mas and watching the bands parade is not as bad as some people think. It’s what you define Carnival as [that really matters].
My favourite soca artiste is Machel, come on!
I took part in car shows twice. Just showing that a small music system could sound good. Your car is pretty much an expression of yourself. My car is a Honda Civic with a five manual. I like the speed and the music. It’s blue but I recently got in an accident so it’s multi-coloured right now.
I like fast food but I mainly cook for myself. My mom taught me. My dad makes a really mean barbecue. We weren’t raised strict Hindu.
I got an opportunity to go work and live in Canada. From there, I realise Trinidad was the best place. Canada was like another Trinidad, but more chilly to the bone than Trini to the bone. I couldn’t handle the cold.
I’m a do-it-yourself kinda guy. I pretty much learned from my father, Dainan Poonwassie, who does everything for himself. Seeing him do household stuff – plumbing, rewiring the whole house, anything to do with cars, engine, brakes, anything – it taught me. Anything to do with my car, I do the work myself. And I good in the kitchen, too. Gabriella, you lucky!
Apart from car shows, customizing cars, there’s nothing better than fishing, just relaxing out on a boat for a whole day in the Gulf. We don’t have that much power in my father’s boat to go up on the north coast. Banking is the better way to fish. Seeing as I did environmental science, I’m an environmentally-friendly guy.
I’ll take the occasional drink. Johnny Walker on ice. I get that from my dad, too.
A true Trini enjoys life to the fullest, appreciates what he has in Trinidad and is proud of his country.
Trinidad & Tobago is the best place. No other country could replace this. No matter where I am in Trinidad, I feel at home.
• Real a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com