Senior Multimedia Reporter
In 1984, two young people from Woodland – one Hindu, one Muslim – decided that love mattered more than difference.
Krishendaye and Kassim Mohammed, known today simply as “Mr and Mrs Pope,” married that year and built a life together rearing cattle, raising two sons, Inshan and Imran, and holding fast to a simple rule Kassim gave his wife early on – don’t quarrel, talk instead.
Forty-two years later, that same patience and partnership has grown into something many people travel to see – Pope’s Ranch, tucked into the Woodland lagoons along Rahamut Trace.
A retirement dream
Speaking to Guardian Media, Kassim said the ranch began as nothing more than a retirement dream.
He said he had spent years working at Caroni 1975 Limited and then 15 more at T&TEC, so after retirement, he wanted a quiet place to relax.
“My wife said she wanted us to develop this little place in Woodland and anything she asked for, I try to give, so we started building something small here,” he recalled.
The land belonged to Kassim’s parents – Aziz Mowlah and Hermidan Mowlah – and it was where Kassim first learnt to swim and plant rice.
When the humble ranch hut was built, word spread and people started showing up.
“People driving past kept stopping to ask if they could rent it,” he recalled.
Drawn in by the stillness, the water, and the birds, the ranch became a sanctuary not only for wildlife but also for people who wanted to get away from city life.
Building on the wetlands
Kassim said building a ranch in the lagoon was no small feat. Over 500 truckloads of dirt were needed just to backfill the swampy lagoon land, and Kassim said swimming in his parents’ rice fields nearby gave him the knowledge of the water flow.
Drawing on his memory of the Oropouche Basin’s water flow, Kassim said he designed his own flood defences, engineering ramps and banks to keep the property dry.
“I went abroad and saw how people used catchments and valves to keep their basements dry, and I brought back equipment,” he added.
But it was not foolproof. Kassim said in 2018, the riverbank collapsed and water gushed into the ranch, reaching into their bedrooms.
Krishendaye said she briefly feared their retirement savings had gone into ruin, but Kassim’s response was the same calmness that had carried their marriage for decades.
“He told me don’t give up, have courage. God is good,” she added.
With the help of their sons, they kept adding to the banks, slowly expanding. They planted forestry trees on the periphery of the property, cedar, mahogany, and an array of fruit trees which helped with the water flow. Kassim imported coconut trees from St Lucia and dug ponds for water lilies and irrigation. Krishendaye began planting flowers. Continues on page 23
A haven for wildlife
Years later, Krishendaye said the wetlands around Pope’s Ranch now shelter more than a dozen bird species, including flocks of scarlet ibis and egrets that sweep in to feed.
They planted rice to feed the ducks.
“Wild ducks, waterfowl, and rare visiting birds bring photographers from around the country,” she added.
She said caimans, cascadura, tilapia, and other fish are reared on the property.
Last year she planted chandelier bushes, and this started attracting hummingbirds. Butterflies flitter around gardens of rain lilies, amaryllis, hibiscus, and exora that Krishendaye tends by hand.
Fifty head of cattle graze the surrounding pastures.
Giving back to the community
Beyond the wildlife, the Mohammeds have made Pope’s Ranch a place of community service. They’ve hosted the T&T Red Cross for CERT training, planted trees with neighbours to restore the Woodland plains, and partnered with flood-action groups to manually clear watercourses.
Krishendaye said they have also waived fees for families who couldn’t afford them.
“You can’t take from the community and don’t give back,” she explained.
She added that the ranch has hosted weddings, christenings, baby showers, and receptions for Hindu, Muslim, and Christian families alike.
The secret to 42 years
Asked what has kept them together for forty-two years, the Mohammeds said they had some simple rules.
“Talk, don’t shout; compromise instead of quarrel; be your children’s parent first, but earn their trust so completely they’ll still call you their best friend,” Krishendaye said.
She commended her two sons for standing with them through thick and thin.
“They are very kind and loving boys. I was always determined to raise my sons with open affection. Kill them with love and support them with everything,” she added.
More than a ranch
Kassim said Pope’s Ranch stands as both an eco-tourism destination and a place of love.
“Our retirement dream has become a wildlife sanctuary and one of the places in the South where families can come together to experience nature, bond and talk about their future,” he said.
The Mohammeds said they are never unwilling to share their knowledge or their experiences for the good of others. They want Trinidad and Tobago to retain the traditional values of long ago and to remember how to live in sync with nature.
