CARIBBEAN NEWS - HOLIDAY EDITION 2004
VOL. 2 NO. 9 - DECEMBER 2004
Editor's Note: In addition to the stories reported on in #8, these are some of the other noteworthy issues I discovered during my recent fact finding mission in the Virgin Islands. They all occurred between Oct. 20 thru Dec.10, 2004. - Pato
ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA (AP)- Nine dolphins were relocated temporarily to the British Virgin Islands after environmentalists raised concerns about the conditions of the park where they were kept in Antigua. Two chartered planes transported the dolphins to Tortola, said Antigua Health Minister John Maginley.
The Antigua & Barbuda Independent Tourism Promotion Cooperation- a group that promotes environmentally responsible tourism- had urged the government to close the dolphin park, saying contamination could be harming the animals. The group said a week of rain caused a salt pond to overflow and contaminate the water in the park, where visitors swim and play with the dolphins. Park officials used sandbags to stop the overflow, causing a road to flood and drawing complaints from nearby businesses and restaurants.
ST. GEORGES, GRENADA (AP)- Grenada commemorated the 21st anniversary of the U.S. invasion of the island during the Cold War, but most residents were invariably focused on rebuilding from the rubble left by Hurricane Ivan.
The commemoration came as residents struggle to recover after Ivan tore through Grenada on Sept. 7th, killing 39 people and damaging or destroying 90% of the buildings. Many islanders still live in their cars or with relatives or friends. The former British colony declared it a national day of thanksgiving and prayer.
The island became a point of contention in the Cold War after Maurice Bishop led a bloodless coup and installed a Marxist government in 1979. In Oct. 1983, a radical faction of the government staged a coup and on Oct. 19th, a firing squad killed Bishop- who was prime minister- and 10 of his supporters. Six days after Bishop's killing, U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered the invasion and U.S. troops led a force that included soldiers from nearby islands.
Reagan said the purpose was to restore order and protect American interests, particularly the lives of hundreds of American medical students. He also ordered the invasion because his administration suspected Grenada's airport was going to become a joint Cuban-Soviet base. Cuba insisted it was helping build the airport for civilian uses only.
ROSEAU, DOMINICA (VI DAILY NEWS)- Engineers on Dominica and Guadeloupe toured buildings damaged by the strong earthquake that struck the region Nov. 21st.
Dominican officials reported no deaths, but a young girl on Guadeloupe was killed and her sister seriously injured when a wall collapsed.
The temblor had a magnitude of 6.3. Three major aftershocks followed- a 5.4 and two 4.9s. The epicenter of the main quake was off Dominica’s north coast near Les Saintes, which are about 12 miles off mainland Guadeloupe.
In Dominica, at least 50 homes were severely damaged and 3 churches will have to be demolished. Engineers are determining whether 100 other damaged homes will have to be razed. Portsmouth Hospital has extensive damage and may also have to be demolished.
Recent heavy rains compounded damage in the country of 70,000 people. Floods and landslides blocked several roads, isolating the mountain communities of Grand Fond, Good Hope and Petite-Souffriere. Many of the islands numerous rivers were running over their banks.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that he was in contact with regional and international agencies to request assistance with the disaster estimated to have caused millions of dollars in damage. The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) said the government had already requested engineers, airlift support and providing food to residents cut off from supplies.
On Guadeloupe, dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged. Much of the damage on this island of 445,000 people occurred in the small archipelago of Les Saintes, which has 2,000 residents. About 20 homes were destroyed in Terre-de-Basse with many others damaged. About 30% of buildings suffered some damage in Terre-de-Basse and Terre-de-Haute.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD (AP)- A strong earthquake shook Trinidad on December 2nd, damaging several buildings south of the capital. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The temblor had a magnitude of 5.4. The epicenter was located near the town of Mayaro, about 12 miles south of the capital. It was the first earthquake of this magnitude on record to hit on land in Trinidad. A 5.5 magnitude quake was recorded in May 1994, but its epicenter was off shore.
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (AP and ARAWAKROOTS)- A Rastafarian has been appointed to a senior government post for the first time in Barbados history. The government appointed Ikael Tafari to be Director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs (CPAA).
Tafari, 54, is a former sociology professor at University of West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. His predecessor, David Comissiong, had directed the CPAA since it was established in 1998 (see a related story concerning both men; News- vol. 2, #3 ). The commission was created to forge stronger ties between Barbados and African nations. It has already established cultural and economic relations with Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.
Fueled by anger over colonial oppression of black peoples in the Caribbean, the Rastafarian Movement emerged in Jamaica in the 1930’s and spread throughout the region. Followers eat only certain foods, grow their hair into dreadlocks, consider the words of the late Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari Mekonnen), to be sacred and consider Ganja (marijuana) to be a holy herb used for their ritual sacraments. Rasta attracted international attention in the 1970s when Jamaican reggae singer, Bob Marley spread its message of One Love and rejection of materialist values (empire). Approximately 700,000 people practice the faith worldwide with most in Jamaica. It emerged in Barbados in 1975 after a Jamaican group, The Sons of Thunder, visited the island. There are 2,800 Rastas in Barbados.
The Barbadian wing of the Rasta community, the Ichirouganaim Council for the Advancement of Rastafari, hailed the appointment of Tafari. “It is a positive development in the advancement of Rastafari,” said the council’s head Iral Jabari.
ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA (CMC)- The Antiguan Rastafarian community will stage a march on Nov. 25th calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. King Frank I, the head of the Ras Freeman Foundation for the Unification of Rastafari, said the march will highlight 3 major concerns: Smoking marijuana (ganja) should be considered as a sacrament in Rastafarian practices; Marijuana can be used as a medicine; legalization of the herb has great commercial potential.
Frank I said, “We intend to carry the whole petition and protest to a CARICOM level.” He was arrested and fined on drug charges in Guyana in July of this year.
TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS)- The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), announced its financial contribution of $3.13 million to help the secretariat of the Organization of Caribbean States (OECS) strengthen the region and improve the organization.
“This new agreement demonstrates Canada’s commitment to the development of this region, and we will continue to work closely with the OECS to promote the economic and social development of its member states,” said CIDA President Paul Thibault.
Thibault and his delegation then left the BVI for a visit to Grenada to see firsthand the impact Hurricane Ivan has had on the social, economic and physical infrastructure of the island and discuss CIDA’s plan for continued assistance. They will also visit Barbados before returning to Canada. CIDA is the main vehicle for delivery of Canada’s official development assistance in the Caribbean and around the world.
Active projects in the OECS include local initiatives, judicial and legal reform, environment capacity, and trade policy.
ST. GEORGES, GRENADA (AP)- The U.S. provided Grenada with $42 million in hurricane relief funds following a $2 million contribution from Taiwan. The money will be used to rebuild homes, schools and community centers and revitalize the agricultural sector. Some of the funds will also go toward meeting the government’s expenses after a dramatic drop in revenue following the storm.
Hurricane Ivan’s winds tore through the island on Sept. 7th, killing 39 people and damaging or destroying 90% of buildings. The aftermath left Grenada’s tourism industry – the country’s #1 foreign currency earner – in shambles, particularly the hotel sector.
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA (AP)- Britain’s Prince Edward toured area’s battered by Hurricane Ivan as Grenada’s Prime Minister appealed for more aid. The prince’s visit came on the heels of first touring the Cayman Islands, struck by the same hurricane.
In St. George’s, he toured a convent, cathedral and parliamentary buildings damaged in the hurricane. “I heard a great deal about what had happened here, but it’s never quite the same as actually being able to travel around and talk to people first hand,” Prince Edward said.
Grenada also lost 60% of its nutmeg crop, threatening its biggest income earner and the livelihood of 1/3 of its residents. The island is second only to Indonesia in nutmeg production. Total damage to Grenada is estimated at $900 million.
Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said 10,000 low-income homes needed to be built to replace homes that were destroyed. Besides aid of $42 million from the U.S., the IMF has approved $4.4 million in emergency aid. Donors include the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank.
Before arriving in Grenada, Prince Edward spent 3 days touring the Cayman Islands. Hurricane Ivan’s winds tour through the British Caribbean territory’s main island of Grand Cayman, destroying 70% of buildings and damaging many hotels. Two people were killed.
The prince toured poor sections of George Town, hard hit when Ivan roared through. The government has lifted flight restrictions to the island and several cruise lines have begun stopping at Grand Cayman again.
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD (AP)- Caribbean leaders have begun talks here on a regional single market ahead of debate on whether to renew ties with Haiti’s U.S.-backed interim government more than 8 months after the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Thirteen top Caribbean leaders are attending. They will also discuss a stabilization plan for Haiti drawn up by Latin American leaders at a summit in Brazil. That plan calls for speedy delivery of promised aid, increasing the number of U.N. peacekeepers in a force that currently numbers 5,000, and sending a diplomat to meet with Aristide, who left Haiti amid a bloody revolt in February. (See related stories- News- vol. 2, #2, #3 and #4)
“It’s a very good move- talking to Aristide,” said Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. “I hope we can develop a clear and more definitive position on the Haitian issue.”
Initially, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was unified in its opposition to the interim government in Haiti, but now most countries have softened their stance. Only Guyana, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & The Grenadines have said they will not recognize the government of Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.
The summit opened with talks on a regional single market and whether to create a “Caribbean Passport” to allow citizens to work freely in member countries.
Leaders also plan to discuss the devastating hurricane season and schedule a date for the opening of the Caribbean Court of Justice (See related story- News- vol. 2, #2 ).
HAVANA, CUBA (AP)- After a decade as the dominant currency to buy everything from shampoo to canned food to furniture, the U.S. dollar is no longer accepted in Cuba.
Cubans as well as tourists visiting the island must now use a local currency tied to the dollar to buy goods at previously named “dollar-only stores” selling food and personal hygiene products. The dollar will also be rejected at restaurants, art markets, hotels and other businesses.
Cuba’s Communist government announced the decision to eliminate the dollar from circulation on Oct. 25, prompting thousands of Cubans to flood banks and exchange-houses to turn in their dollars for Cuban convertible pesos.
TORTOLA, B.V.I. (VI DAILY NEWS)- More than 200 positions are available in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labor, and Minister Alvin Christopher is looking forward to filling some of them with students graduating this academic year. Speaking at the opening of BVI High School’s career day, he said the islands’ needs future agriculturalists, marine biologists, geologists, land surveyors and experts in a number of other technical fields.
“You have chosen the theme – ‘Sustaining national development through professional engagement’ – which I must say fits well with the mission of our ministry,” Christopher said. The mission of the ministry is to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the territory to ensure long-term sustainability and support a workforce that can fill roles in various sectors of the economy.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (AP)- Long known for exotic flora and fauna, Jamaica now has a new attraction for which to woo foreign visitors: flu shots. Hoping to cash in on the shortage of flu vaccines in the U.S., a luxury resort in western Negril is offering guests “wellness packages” that include yoga classes, personal training and a flu shot for those unable to get one at home.
“There is no shortage of the flu vaccine in Jamaica and there’s no mad rush of people trying to get one,” said marketing vice-president Zein Nakash of Superclubs, which owns the Grand Lido Negril Resort and Spa.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA (AP)- A few hours’ drive from the pearl-toned beaches of Jamaica’s famed resorts, a war is brewing in the gritty slums of Kingston, where rival street gangs vying for control of lucrative drug and extortion rings wage almost nightly gunfights. Past efforts to silence the guns have failed. Now, aided by the U.S. and Britain, Jamaica’s government is trying anew, using a mix of new crime-fighting techniques and old-fashioned policing in a plan that is drawing mixed reviews from crime-weary citizens.
Success won’t come easy. Already some 1,200 islanders have been slain in 2004 – the most in any single year – giving the so-called idyllic tourist locale one of the world’s highest murder rates, and the highest in the Caribbean. Police attribute most of the violence to a government crackdown on drug traffickers that has touched off turf battles.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (VI DAILY NEWS)- A gunshot rang out after a high school football game at Lionel Roberts Stadium, sending fans scurrying for their safety. It was the third time in less than 2 months that someone has fired a weapon near the stadium after or during a game. Unlike the other 2 shootings – in which people were killed – no one was injured in this incident.
The shooting was the latest in a series of violent incidents near the stadium. It was the first shooting involving fans.
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS)- The owners of the former Yacht Haven site have secured a $107 million loan from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico to finance the first phase of construction in their hotel-marina-retail project.
“It’s everything we as developers want to hear,” said Elie Finegold of IN-USVI, the company developing the property. “That a financial institution that understands this community better than anyone else, believes in and wants to support this project.”
Phase I, to be completed in March 2006, comprises about 80,000 sq.-ft. of retail space, 3 restaurants, 31,000 sq.-ft. of office space, 12 timeshare condos, a yacht club, public dinghy docks, a park, and a amphitheater.
By the end of 2007, the company plans to have finished the second phase, which includes a conference center, a 70-room hotel, another restaurant and an additional 30,000 sq.-ft. of retail space.
The IN-USVI loan is the most financing Banco Popular’s local branch has issued to a single private developer. The project will create 500 construction-related jobs and approximately 600 new jobs when finished. (See related story; News- vol. 2, #2).
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS)- Heavy rains during the week of Nov. 7th washed away a large section of beach at Bolongo Bay, wreaking havoc on a local business and highlighting the effect development can have on the territory’s coastlines and watersheds. The damage also underscores the need for a comprehensive land and water use plan.
A 50-foot-long section of sand next to Iggies Beach Bar in Bolongo Bay became a 2-foot-deep river as water running off nearby hills and recently developed flood plains poured across the beach and into the ocean. The erosion has become worse in recent years as a system of culverts and ditches has been constructed to drain new development uphill from the bay.
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dean Plaskett said that a land and water use plan would address such problems before they develop. “Development in what is currently the second tier would have to be reviewed to consider these sorts of problems,” he said. “As it stands now…this is not adequately addressed.”
While land must be drained for development and economic growth, the bays below are unfairly burdened with the adverse effects that such land moving causes. “It’s like everybody says, ‘Let’s just get the water to Bolongo as quickly as we can so we don’t have to deal with the issues we’ve created.’,” said Richard Doumeng, general manager of Bolongo Bay Beach Club. Doumeng said that it has cost thousands of dollars to repair past damage to the beach in labor alone.
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS)- Developers of Botany Bay here could begin installing infrastructure next month to serve a small grocery store, a fitness center and at least 150 new homes proposed for its 360-acre West End property. The owners say they now are emphasizing residential development and have scrapped their initial plans to build a hotel and time-share condos, which had ignited public outcry over how the development would affect the largely pristine environment.
“It is not our intention to make the area very dense. We are not going to make a theme park,” said Henry Popkin of Seattle-based Popkin Development, which is managing the project. “We are now trying to do broad coverage and trying to do it to everyone’s satisfaction.”
The developers are conducting new environmental and archeological studies to determine how the residential development will affect the area.
The project’s impact on the environment is still a great concern to Carla Joseph, president of the Environmental Association of St. Thomas/St. John. “My greatest concern is that some of the endangered species that have been identified, both plant and animal, may be adversely affected. Even though this area has been closed to Virgin Islanders for more than 30 years, they say they will allow access. I pray they would stand behind their word.”
ST. THOMAS, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS)- For the second time in 2 years, the V.I. Port Authority is considering a controversial plan to erect a communication tower on Hassel Island in Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The proposal comes as the V.I. National Park, which owns 98% of the island, begins revising a 15-year plan for the use and management of parklands.
The communication tower is being pitched by Atlantic Tele-Network – the same company that lost its lease last year after public outcry on the issue.
The Port Authority owns the land at the top of the 267-foot-high Signal Hill, which includes an old Danish battery, a 1940s U.S. Army barracks and the original signal tower. The site’s zoning currently would not permit a communication tower. The current proposal calls for a tower as much as 93-ft. tall.
Adding to the complexity of the issue is an existing plan with Edward Killebrew to restore Signal Hill’s historic structures – funded through an arrangement with ATN in trade for a lease on a small plot to build their tower. But residents complained about a new access road that had been gouged into the hillside and the plans for the tower.
ST. JOHN, USVI (ARAWAKROOTS NEWS)- An update on the environmental mess created in Guinia Gut by the salt pond muck dumped at the Susannaberg Landfill, first reported in our last edition:
Although there have been no more flushing heavy rainstorms, clarity of the water flowing through the gut is improving. Fresh-water aquatic life forms such as mosquito fish and guppies are slowly returning and mosses are growing again. However the muck is still inches deep along the banks and plant life is slowly dying. The silt has mixed so completely with the soil in the gut that it will probably never be removed.
The Army Corps of Engineers has stated that DPW and VIPA were in violation of existing laws for allowing the dumping to occur and a lawsuit could be filed. We will keep you abreast of any new information.
CULTURE:
ST. JOHN, USVI (VI DAILY NEWS)- West African chants and passionate poetry marked a hike to Fortsberg in remembrance of the 1733 St. John Revolt, in which slaves seized control of the island from Danish colonizers for 6 months. The revolt predated the American and Haitian revolutions by decades. Fortsberg is listed in the National Register of historic places.
The group of 50 making the trip included teachers and students from St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Tortola and nature groups. By the time they reached the ruins, many had a deeper appreciation of their ancestors’ struggles and said it inspired them to persevere for improvements in their own lives.
The annual hike was first organized over 20 years ago. The event, which includes stops at Cruz Bay, a steam mill at Adrian and sugar mill at Catherineberg, emphasized key locations in the revolt and their importance in present-day Virgin Islands.
“This is a struggle for human justice that continues,” said Gene Emanuel, a UVI humanities professor and event organizer. “The road that you are traveling today is a road made by these ancestors of ours. They set in motion a chain of freedom.”
CRUCIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 2004 SCHEDULE
DEC. 17- Calypso Elimination
DEC. 19- Miss St. Croix Pageant
DEC. 26- Beach Jam
DEC. 30- Festival Village opens
JAN. 3 – King & Queen of the Band Competition
JAN. 4 – Cultural Night and Quelbe Tramp
JAN. 5 – Calypso Monarch Competition
JAN. 6 – J’ouvert(5 AM)
Three Kings Day and Latin Night
JAN. 7&8- Parades
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT:
CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA (AP)- St. Lucia’s reigning Calypso Monarch Jany Williams was killed when a car she was driving plunged down a steep cliff on the west end of the island. Eyewitnesses said Williams, 26, and 5 passengers were thrown from the vehicle. The passengers are all in critical condition.
In July, Williams became St. Lucia’s first-ever woman calypso monarch. She was a member of the group Caribbean Vision and performed with other Caribbean acts.
Ironically, her death came 5 days before she was to receive a new vehicle worth over $22 thousand for winning the contest.
ST. JOHN, USVI (STJ TRADEWINDS)- Sweet steel band beats vibrated from Franklin Powell Sr. Park (formerly Cruz Bay Park) into the night of Nov. 19th as the Love City Pan Dragon Youth Steel Orchestra launched their 1st ever C.D. at the 8th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner. Long-time fans and music-loving passersby gathered to groove to the tunes provided by the Pan Dragons and enjoy a feast consisting of a variety of West Indian foods.
“We have a dinner every year, but this year is special because the St. John Rotary sponsored us to cut our first ever C.D.,” said Pan Dragons director Samuel Lawrence. “I am very proud of these kids – they have done an excellent job.” Thirty students make up the mighty Pan Dragons, ranging in ages from 4 to 16 years old.
The endeavor has yielded a truly creative product- Volume One- which features 6 unique interpretations from famous as well as local artists, played with an energetic flair which can only be executed by these talented youth.
However, the completion of their C.D. does not give these young artists – who already practice twice a week after school – an excuse to rest. Each year, the Pan Dragons require approximately $7,000 for operational costs. They are entirely parent-funded, with additional funds coming from the community. The C.D. is available at St. John stores or e-mail: pato@arawakroots.com.
ST. JOHN, USVI (ARAWAKROOTS NEWS)- Chester “Mighty Groover” Brady has launched his new C.D. Titled “Homegrown Cultural Music of the Virgin Islands”, it is a mix of cultural lyrics, calypso, quelbe and a little Latin flavor. As Groover puts it, “it tells about the old-time days when I was growing up in Savan. It’s about the different places and things we used to see and do.”
Backed by perennial Crucian quelbe favorites - Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights - and keyboardist Carl Freeman, Mighty Groover belts out 10 classic quelbe-influenced songs- 9 of them originals. From the first notes of “Crucian Foongie”, your toes are tapping, your body swaying. Before you know it, “De Bam Boula” (already a radio favorite) comes crashing in and you’re on your feet shufflin’ to the beat. Many other great songs follow: “Old Timers in Action”, “Largin”, “Melay Yard” and “De Coal Pot”, to name a few.
He’s been involved in music since the ‘60’s, singing first with the Ten Sleepless Knights. His competitive Calypso career began in 1981 and he had his own troupe for 5 years and a tent for 12 years. He’s released 5 other C.D.’s including 2001’s “African Progeny”, with music related to black history.
On the night of Oct. 29th, I caught Mighty Groover live in Cruz Bay Park, and he blew me away! Dressed to the nines in a black, glittery tux and cherry red bowtie, he charmed the crowd with his showmanship. Backed only by Carl on keyboards and wailin’ St. Thomian saxman, Ira Meyers, Groover tore into originals old and new, traditional quelbe and calypso, and even crooned a few standards in a “Sinatra stylee”.
When he’s in his Chester Brady persona, he works the customer service counter at the Post Office in Cruz Bay, St. John. No longer interested in performing with big bands, Brady is more concerned with passing on musical traditions. With “Homegrown” he hopes “to get the younger generation to understand the things we used to do.”
The C.D. is available at various Virgin Island record outlets or e-mail: pato@arawakroots.com.
ST. JOHN, USVI (STJ SUN-TIMES/ARAWAKROOTS NEWS)- Does it seem strange that a local band - known all over the U.S, that knocked ‘em dead at the Monterey Bay Reggae Festival on their last tour, that might just break on through this year as one of the top 20 reggae bands in the world - can’t get invited to play at their own island’s Fourth of July celebration?
Ask INNER VISIONS vocalist, respected sage “Ras” Paul Samms and he shakes his dreadlocked head. It clearly is a sore spot for the band, the lack of respect on their home island of St. John, given their mushrooming fan base in the continent. Lead Guitarist Philip “Grasshopper” Pickering explains, “We are a cultural band here on St. John and we can’t even get a look from the celebration organizers. Yet we carry the message of the Virgin Islands more than anyone else on St. John. We have the Virgin Islands flag on our tour van. We are doing something for St. John and the Virgin Islands.”
Just why is a reggae band from the Virgin Islands on the verge of making it big in the States? The easy answer is INNER VISIONS is good- really good. However, Grasshopper mentioned something about “the style we play”. Bassist Alvin “Jupiter” Pickering adds, “Everyone thinks everything in reggae is about Jamaica. But when we strike up, we do a whole different thing….and St. Johnians are hearing the news from our tour.”
While on island, the band still plays at Fred’s Dance Bar to tourists and residents originally from St. Lucia and down-island. “People from St. Lucia seek us out”, says Grasshopper. “They know reggae!’
“People all over America know us”, says Ras Paul. “People with open hearts. They invite their kids and brothers and sisters to hear us, because they know INNER VISIONS has something to offer.” (You may purchase INNER VISIONS CD’s and read their history by clicking on “Inner Visions” on our homepage.)
HISTORY:
ST. JOHN BAY RUM
Bay Rum is tightly woven into the fabric of creole Virgin Islands culture. A hundred years ago, every single household in the islands contained a bottle of bay rum. It is the one historic industry that St. John and St. Thomas can claim as their very own. Virgin Islands bay rum has the reputation of being the finest in the world.
The prolific cultivation of the bay tree on St. John supplied great quantities of leaves. It is from the leaves that the essential oil of bay was extracted that provided the island with its most important industry. The oil was shipped to St. Thomas where it was manufactured into bay rum and then shipped to many parts of the globe.
Native Virgin Islanders were very knowledgeable on how to put the various parts of the bay tree to good use. Hanging its aromatic branches inside the home eliminated odors. The oil was used in perfumes, soaps and after-shaves. The bay rum liquid was added to sponge baths for fever, chills, aches and pains. When the leaves are burned, the smoke drives away mosquitoes. And the leaves are used as a condiment in creole cooking.
In the early 1900’s, about 4,000 quarts of bay oil were produced on St. John annually. About 60,000 cases of bay rum were produced on St. Thomas.
Bay leaves don’t supply high levels of any nutrient, but are rich in flavor.
BLESSED WINTER SOLSTICE AND HOLY DAYS TO ALL FROM ARAWAKROOTS!
