Trinidadian Ryan Bachoo has published his first book, An Unending Search, a compelling West Indian tale of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation set against the backdrop of 1970s South Trinidad.

The story recounts the journey of Tar, a teenager working in the cane fields alongside the wise and influential Uncle Sundar, whose radio keeps them alert to global events through the BBC World Service. As Uncle Sundar instils in Tar the determination to escape the grip of poverty and systemic racism, the novel takes readers on a powerful journey of hope, with Tar setting his sights on New York or London.

Through Tar’s eyes, the 229-page novel confronts issues of racism, classism, and societal divides, painting a vivid picture of life and struggles in 1970s Trinidad while exploring the universal themes of growth and self-discovery.

“I started penning this novel out of a love for reading West Indian literature,” Bachoo, a multimedia journalist of 15 years, told the Jamaica Observer. “In my own community and town, I saw parallels to the West Indian stories I read from Lamming, Naipaul, Walcott and Selvon. In my own community and town, I saw West Indian literature. I hope this novel reinvigorates interest in West Indian literature and is enjoyed by people around the Caribbean. I also hope it inspires writers around the region to continue writing on the Caribbean, and it doesn’t matter who they are. Books are immortal. They outlive humans and can live on for generations and it is my hope this book can connect with generations of Caribbean people to come.”