CARIBBEAN INSIDER BLOG

It’s all over, the festivities, the revelry and the partying. Quite a few Carnival celebrations have taken place across the Caribbean including Dominica, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, and the most famous of all, in Trinidad. But do you know the tradition behind Carnival, which apparently originated from the Latin word Carnevale meaning “farewell to meat”? Carnival was a precursor to the period of Lent which starts on Ash Wednesday.

Lent is a period in the Christian calendar which spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week on Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and the Saturday before Easter. Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord early on Easter Sunday. But since these new members were to be received into a living community of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation. Also, this was the time when those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community.

Lent is a season which is recognised as a time for introspection, self examination, and repenting for failures as a way to focus on the need for God’s grace. It is also a time of preparation to celebrate God’s redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that Christians hope for. 

It traditionally requires regular fasting and abstinence; most often practiced by Christians in many parts of the world by fasting on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, and abstaining from alcohol, sweets and meat, sometimes including other animal products (eggs, milk, butter and cheese, for example). 

Some families extend the spirit of fasting to include restriction of luxuries such as television watching, shopping and going out with friends. The season can also seek to reflect a period of charity and giving by donating clothing or possessions to the needy, or by volunteering services to the church. 

The Carnival season, which commences in many Caribbean countries from January 6 (Epiphany) and ends at midnight before Ash Wednesday, and its emphasis on revelry and merry-making, emanated from this very rigorous practice of Lenten fasting. Traditional stories suggest that during Carnival, housewives of the past rid their pantries of all butter, lard, eggs, bacon, cream and cheese in preparation for the Lenten fast. It is recognised as a time of "blowing off steam", of entertaining guests in the spirit of Christian hospitality and generosity, partaking in rich food and drinks, culminating with parades, costumes, dancing, music and general overindulgence and excesses. 

The custom of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is recognised as a final attempt to use up remaining eggs, milk and butter prior to Lent. Pancakes and related fried breads or pastries made with sugar, fat and eggs are traditionally consumed at this time throughout the Caribbean.

According to some sources, the Caribbean carnival is also a paradigm of many African festivals whose purpose is to cleanse, renew, and revive the community by parading through villages in costumes and masks. As the carnival passes the houses, music cleanses the air blowing away the cobwebs of last year’s troubles. The vibrant costumes of the mass wash your eyes clean, allowing you to see a brighter future, and the crowds of friendly dancing people banish bad feelings, creating new friendships and renewing old ones. Typically, birth rates go up afterwards, confirming the Caribbean carnivals life affirming qualities.

View your visit to the Caribbean during Lent as your time to search your soul, rejuvenate and recommit yourself to worthy goals. Forget the troubles of last year, focus on a brighter future and create and rebuild lasting friendships.

I was feeling a little down today. I can’t put a finger on it. Could it be due to all the talk of wine and roses, romantic dinners, and lovers’ getaways? Not a good thing for a single girl. Could I really be that superficial?

The Caribbean is the perfect setting to spend the most romantic day of the year.  Stroll along powdery white and pink sand beaches with the gentle waves of the Caribbean Sea lapping your ankles with that special person; toast your significant other with champagne on a candlelit restaurant deck overlooking the moonlit ocean; hire a private yacht with dedicated crew to cruise into the Caribbean sunset.

Can you hear the record scratching? OK, I am just being a grouch, but how many of you like me dislike the fabricated commercialised concept of Valentine’s Day? It is estimated in some quarters that 1 billion Valentine's Day cards will be sent worldwide this year making it the second most card-heavy celebration, generating an estimated US$14.7 billion in retail sales in the United States alone.

I say spend that money more wisely, and for you single ladies why not escape the madness and invest in yourself. With some of the best hotel and resort spas, the Caribbean is a great place to indulge in pampering yourself. According to the World Travel Guide, the top 5 Caribbean Resort Spas are:

1. One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas
2. Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Los Cabos, Mexico
3. Parrot Cay Shambhala Retreat, Turks and Caicos
4. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Apuane Spa, Mexico
5. Cuisin Art Resort & Spa, Anguilla

These resorts offer the “ultimate in rejuvenating experiences with an enriching selection of treatments blending ancient techniques with contemporary practise;  traditional spa therapies and the natural spices, fruits and minerals indigenous to the Caribbean are melded together to provide the pampering rituals and specific treatments”. With a host of massages and facials or ‘rituals of touch’ which are described as ceremonies of indulgence (including special four hand massages), beauty treatments, yoga classes, restorative treatments, holistic therapies, healing rituals, organic products and native remedies such as sea shell massages in addition to traditional stone therapy massages, you could possible stay in the spa all day, every day, if your purse permits.

Alternatively, develop your own spa package - island style. Pick your favourite beach destination and concoct your own soft sand body scrub along the shore or personalise your hydrotherapy sea bath (i.e. take a plunge in the sea). There are often quite well qualified massage therapists near well populated beach resorts who can give you fresh aloe vera massages right at your beach bed (make sure you check with the front desk staff for their recommendation).

I am scheduling my massage, facial and pedicure for this week and buying some snacks for Sunday evening watching some chick flicks.

For all those couples and single folk, enjoy your Valentine’s Day.

I am shell shocked. Everything that I thought to be true has been turned upside down. As a lifelong, committed Toyota owner I am reeling in the aftermath of the re-call and its effect on the image and reputation of Toyota.

I have owned three Toyota vehicles, the only vehicles I have owned since 1990, and often boast to anyone who cares to listen how wonderful these vehicles are and that you really don’t have to look under the bonnet (there was a great TV advertisement a few years ago that depicted that the bonnet was sealed shut because the vehicles are that reliable, which had me excitedly jumping up and down when I first saw it). I always thought that even if I won the lottery I would continue to own a Toyota (alright I would probably upgrade to a Lexus).

As a BBC report just announced as I write this post, “the shine has come off the spotless image of Toyota.” Its reputation tarnished. Its brand image trashed. I feel like a child who has just learnt that Santa Claus is not real.

My general Toyota malaise has coincided with an unfortunate incident that took place in a Caribbean destination that has caused many stakeholders to question the reputation of the Caribbean as paradise. I thought, would it be possible for the Caribbean’s brand to be similarly affected if we are not careful?

I have always been struck by a definition espoused by the former Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and current Minister of Tourism in the Bahamas, Vincent Vanderpoole-Wallace who stated in one of his many speeches:

“a brand is mostly a reputation. . . a reputation for the consistent delivery of a positive product or service experience at or above one’s expectation. And I have also come to believe that for a destination, that reputation comes from one place. It comes from the visitor experience. Some time ago with all due deference to former President Bill Clinton, when it comes to branding any destination, we came to the clear conclusion, ‘It’s the experience, stupid’”.

It seems as though the Caribbean’s reputation precedes it, and its brand has always been depicted by most potential visitors as sun kissed beaches, friendly people, lots of rum flowing, calypso music playing, fun filled, a perfect paradise. Much of what I have advocated on this blog. In the main this is a true depiction of many people’s experience.

But as everywhere else in the world there are rude and surly workers, rainy weather, potholes, less than perfect infrastructure, jaywalkers galore (a few nights ago I literally stopped an inch from a man crossing a road in the dark wearing black clothes) and my biggest peeve, bad drivers - I commit to one day undertaking a research study on the causes of such bad driving in the Caribbean (I think it has to do with the sun) and whether it is significantly worse then elsewhere in the world. Also, we don’t like to mention it, but there is crime.

Residents of the Caribbean often wonder why the apparent street savvy-ness of our visitors disappear once they arrive on our shores. We never seek to blame the victim but perhaps it is a symptom of our own effective marketing and word of mouth that people do believe that the Caribbean is paradise. And in paradise they do not expect any of the above.

One of the main causes of the Toyota’s fall from grace is the reportedly late action and poor communication on its recent issues.

This is a good lesson for all those stakeholders promoting Caribbean destinations, from Governments to hoteliers, tour guides to taxi men. We all have a role to play in shaping the reputation of the Caribbean and in communicating accurate information to ensure that visitors’ expectations are realistic. Paradise, no. Great place to live and vacation, yes.

I have been to San Juan, Puerto Rico on numerous occasions, mostly for shopping and attending conferences and meetings. I was recently there two weeks ago for a meeting and had a wonderful time.

Puerto Rico has a fabulous mix of cultures: the exotic Caribbean, the saucy Spanish flavours and the modern American influences.

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico, the main island being 100 miles long by 35 miles wide comprising nearly 4 million people, is composed of an archipelago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area and second smallest by population among the four Greater Antilles, which also include Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica.

The island was colonised by the Spanish in 1493 and became a major port in the Spanish Empire known as “rich port” or Puerto Rico, inhabited by slave labour from Africa. There was a brief, less than a month long, period of self governance as an overseas province of Spain before the American forces invaded during the Spanish-US war in 1898 after which Puerto Rico was governed by the military rule of the US. Following years of uprisings, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth with the United States Congress retaining control over many aspects of Puerto Rican life, including citizenship, currency, postal service, foreign affairs, military defense, communications, labor relations, the environment, commerce, finance, health and welfare. 

Puerto Rico is blessed with mostly mountainous terrain and large coastal areas providing a natural environment for tourism which is enjoyed by millions of visitors each year, with the majority coming from the US.

El Yunque, a 28,000 acre preserve, also known as “The Magical Rain Forest, Where Even Frogs Sing” is a favourite for forest lovers, hikers, and adventurers and is recognised as the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere. There are reportedly 8 kinds of lizards, 50 types of birds, 11 species of bats, 13 breeds of frogs and a diverse vegetation of 23 native tree species, 50 native orchids and some 150 types of ferns set alongside spectacular waterfalls. 

The mix of nationalities is mesmerising, with the French, Chinese, Lebanese, Portuguese, Scottish, German, Irish, Italians and Spanish all immigrating to the country in large numbers over the years. The culture is primarily a mix of Spanish, Amerindian, African and North American, leading to an exciting array of music and food, as well as literature and art. 

The country is well known for its salsa music and dancing. There are many nightclubs and bars that have salsa nights where you can learn as well as watch the best dancers strut their stuff and listen to the best musicians, perhaps catching the sounds of the most famous of Puerto Rican musicians, the late Tito Puente.  

Puerto Rico is also most famously known for its Pina Colado, a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with hard rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. Bacardi rum also originated in Puerto Rico and the Bacardi Rum Distillery (the largest rum distillery in the world) and Museum is a must see during your trip. 

There are also the famous coffee haciendas. In the year 1736, the first coffee plant was transported from Africa to Puerto Rico, probably during one of the frequent slave trade voyages of the day. Mountain-dwelling farmers, and in particular, Corsican immigrants, during the 19th century, helped found the basis of what would soon become a lucrative and prestigious coffee aristocracy in Puerto Rico, producing what many connoisseurs consider to be the finest coffee in the world. Due to its distinctive taste and incomparable aroma, Puerto Rican coffee was lauded in Spain, France, Italy, and Germany, swiftly becoming the favored beverage of kings, popes, and the literary élite. Today the Puerto Rican coffee industry boasts over 50 million dollars in annual sales. The industry employs over a quarter of a million inhabitants in 21 towns across the island. 

There are great golf courses; athletics facilities and a major convention centre so many of the Caribbean’s major events are converging in Puerto Rico in 2010.

There is the Puerto Rico Open 2010 from March 11-13 at the world class Trump International Golf Course in Rio Grande. Also, the XXI Central American & Caribbean Games will be held from July 17th - August 1st in Mayaguez.

A visit to Old San Juan is also very cultural, with historic buildings housing many great restaurants, bars, antique stores and art galleries. There is also a lot to do beyond the capital. One visit took me to the city of Caguas where we were hosted in grand style by the city officials at a conference seeking to strengthen the partnership between tourism officials in the Eastern Caribbean and Puerto Rico.

I have hardly scratched the surface during my visits, since I have so far been magnetically drawn to the wonderful shopping malls for the majority of my stay- especially to my favourite “Plaza Las Americas”, the largest shopping centre in the Caribbean, which takes a good three days to traverse, including having my customary calorie-laden meal at Chili’s and going bowling at Galaxy Lanes.

It really is a good place to hang out, the shopping is great, good beaches, and great restaurants. I am looking forward to my next conference in Puerto Rico likely in May. I am already scheduling an extra day or two to expand my Puerto Rican horizons!

All eyes are on Haiti. As the world watches this tragedy unfold, we feel much sadness as we despair for the people and the prospects for this desperately poor country. Yesterday, I thought again - all eyes are on Haiti, people will never again forget Haiti, and in time, the prospects for the future may be better as a result.

Haiti is a country in the Caribbean that has long held a lesser status in the region and the international community as a result of many years of political unrest, bad governance, violence and poverty. With a population of 10 million people, it has been sidelined despite its size and potential as an economic market within the Caribbean, as well as its pioneer history as the first black run independent nation with varying periods of great optimism.

Haiti is situated on the western part of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Greater Antilles. It is the third largest country in the Caribbean behind Cuba and the Dominican Republic (the latter shares a 360 kilometer (224 mi) border with Haiti). Haiti at its closest point is only about 45 nautical miles (80 km; 50 mi) away from Cuba and has the second longest coastline (1,771 km/1,100 mi) in the Greater Antilles, Cuba having the longest. Haiti's terrain consists mainly of rugged mountains interspersed with small coastal plains and river valleys.

Haiti has a long and colorful history and therefore retains a very rich culture. Haitian culture is a mixture of primarily French, African elements, and native Taíno, with some lesser influence from the colonial Spanish. The country's customs essentially are a blend of cultural beliefs that derived from the various ethnic groups that inhabited the island of Hispaniola. In nearly all aspects of modern Haitian society however, the European and African elements dominate. Haiti is world famous for its distinctive art, notably painting and sculpture, and is also renowned for its poets, novelists and musicians.

There is an ongoing shame in the Caribbean which was captured in lyrics by Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian David Rudder in 1988 in his song Haiti, which is amazingly poignant today:

Haiti:

Toussaint was a mighty man
And to make matters worse he was black
Black back in the days when black men knew
Their place was in the back
But this rebel he walked through Napoleon
Who thought that wasn’t very nice
And so today my brothers in Haiti
They still pay the price

CHORUS
Haiti I’m sorry
We’ve misunderstood you
One day we’ll turn our heads
And look inside you
Haiti I’m sorry
Haiti I’m sorry
One day we’ll turn our heads
Restore your glory
 
 Many hands reach out to St. Georges
And are still reaching out
And to those frightened
Foolish men of Pretoria
We still scream and shout
We came together in song
To steady the Horn of Africa
But the papaloa come and the babyloa go
And still we don’t seem to care
 
CHORUS
Haiti I’m sorry
We’ve misunderstood you
One day well turn our heads
And look inside you
Haiti I’m sorry
Haiti I’m sorry
One day well turn our heads
Restore your glory
 
When there is anguish in Port au Prince
Don’t you know its still Africa crying
We are outing fires in far away places
When our neighbors are burning
The middle passage is gone
So How come
Overcrowded boats still haunt our lives
I refuse to believe that we good people
Will forever turn our hearts
And our eyes away

CHORUS
Haiti I’m sorry
We’ve misunderstood you
One day well turn our heads
And look inside you
Haiti I’m sorry
Haiti I’m sorry
One day well turn our heads
Restore your glory

I believe this may be the tuning point in the world’s relationship with this country given the outpouring of concern, funds, search and rescue teams, and media. There have been positive stories about cities and countries recovering from earthquakes such as California, Skopje in Yugoslavia, Guatemala and Mexico City. By involving the affected communities in the planning and reconstruction efforts there have been major improvements of the building environment and mitigation of future earthquake damage, and enhancement of the quality of life and standard of living.

Haiti is also well poised some day for a resurgence to its hey day in tourism when it attracted the wealthy and well known celebrities. It’s strong and vivid history and culture, the possibilities of interpretations of the voodoo stories and myths, the beautiful scenery, pristine beaches, strong air links to Europe and North America, and art and literary scene continue to be a strong draw. Neighbouring Dominican Republic generates at least US$3.5 billion in revenues and millions of visitors to sprawling resorts and designer golf courses with visitors from Canada, US, Spain, Italy, Germany and other major developed countries. Most Caribbean countries now depend on tourism for their economic growth linking to farmers, fishermen, and merchants and many other supporting industries, and with such a large population Haiti could benefit from low cost inputs and rise quickly to the top of the most sought after Caribbean destinations.

We pray for those suffering and for those missing loved ones and we encourage all to contribute in any way they can to fundraising and other assistance that will be required for quite some time to come.

Join me in making a commitment to travel to Haiti within the next few years once there is the possibility to travel as a tourist, which could do wonders to transform the economy, country and future for the many millions living there.