Landmark Video

Atlantic View from Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island used to be an island.  Two monumental peaks rising at the northwest tip of Saint Lucia divided the Atlantic and Caribbean waters. The island was also the haunts of Pirates and Admirals, forts and rum runs. In a move to increase commerce and marina traffic, the country connected the island to the mainland with a causeway built of dirt excavated from the marina bay.

Future Environmentalist

In  brilliant move, in 1975 the newly independent government of Saint Lucia established a land trust to protect this historic site.  There are other national parks on the island, but what is different about the Pigeon Island Landmark is the increasing use of private membership to promote advocacy on environmental issues.

I'm a member of the Saint Lucia National Trust, and when I heard about the need to advertise environmental legislation, I called on my radio and music background to write a few jingles. Who else to perform these jingles than the children who will inherit the island?  Lucian children are understandably disgusted by the trash on their beaches and pollution in their rivers.

My first jingle was posted here in October, and now, at last, is the second jingle with pictures featuring 5-year old Khaia.  The same video is posted at the bottom of the Information Board of the international legislation webpage for Principle Ten.

Party for a Prince

As the sun sets over Castries harbor, Government House is abuzz wth activity.  The energy is palpable as maids, bartenders, special police all work together to prepare for the arrival of Prince Harry of Wales.

Even a distant, fifth-in-line Prince is still a prince, and no effort is spared to make this party a success.  Tents and boardwalks fan out across the crest of Morne Fortune. A steel pan enemble of primary school children sets up across from the smartly, uniformed Police Band.  Inside to be the first to welcome the newly arrived royalty, is a string quartet from the Saint Lucia School of Music.





The quartet is made up of three Lucian and one visiting Venezuelan teenager.  The students seem a bit nervous and shy, at first, but are soon easily greeting Ambassadors and dignitaries.  The Prime Minister and Governor General smile as they pass.  Journalists speedily photoshop images of Prince Harry disembarking from a Royal Air Force tanker only an hour before.  Trays of appetizers float by and the students put their music in order.






At some point, as if this hive of activity has simultaneously received a silent message, the photographers close their laptops and crowd the entrance with long lenses. The steelpans fall silent and the students raise their bows. Anticipation and excitement are a peak levels as the motorcade arrives and Prince Harry steps through the main entrance.

Arcs and Barges- Part II

Barge Beach populates as Castries Harbor boat-ulates.   Onlookers breakfast on freshly sauteed sausage and bottles of cold Piton Beer.  A large pot of hot chicken bouillon is served into bowls and passed with hunks of chewy Creole bread. Eggs fried in the wheel house make the rounds, filling the air with the smell of sizzling butter.

Gathered to celebrate the ARC, boats cruise so closely together, captains exchange greetings and taunt one another from behind their wheel.  To add injury to insult, the Piton Piler fires unbelievably loud soda bottle bombs from the wheelhouse  at troublesome neighbors as they drift by.  Cannons made of wide diameters of bamboo are aimed over the side at the worst offenders.

A huge catamaran, with even huger loudspeakers, pulls up alongside the barge, and soon passengers are dancing and shouting across the bows to escalate the explosive atmosphere. Everyone is ready for a party, and there doesn't seem to be even a bit of competitive edginess.





After much mayhem and milling about, as if by magic, the flock of boats quietly turn their sails and head to sea. So, much for the barge leading the flotilla!  Although we are sure to be last in the race, luck has it we are first to the Boardwalk.  A barge drops only 2 feet below the water surface, so we can cut corners and park right next to the Boardwalk Bar. Kianna keeps time on the snare while, we are left far behind to putter our way north alone.

Arcs and Barges- Part I

There's that barge again! The Piton Piler, named not for the iconic Saint Lucian mountain peaks, but instead after the local beer, sailed across the Castries harbor early last Sunday.

Onboard, the motley crew is prepared to lead a flotilla North from the capitol of Saint Lucia to the capitol of sailing, Rodney Bay.  Each year boats gather in the city port to attract attention for the launch of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) in Las Palmas, Spain.  It takes over a week for boats to navigate 2,700 nautical miles west across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and cross the finish line near Rodney Bay.  Tired sailors then head for the boardwalk to enjoy prizes and refreshment.











The Piton Piler is equipped on this special day with it's own beach, it's own band, and it's own breakfast.  The Captains, assisted by first mate, 8-year old Kianna, motor around the crowded harbor, while sausages saute and lounge chairs recline.

8 legs-No Waiting

In the marina is where I might wish to meet a captain seeking crew for a race or daysail.  Yachts are often better managed and more fun with a group of persons to take direction and set the sails.  So, I was happy to receive an invitation to crew on a beautiful Sunday in Rodney Bay.

But, as the old adage warns, be careful what you wish for!  Turns out the vessel was a working barge and the mission for the crew was to set a mooring for mega-catamarans.  The mooring consisted of a 2.5 ton concrete block attached by heavy chain to a bright yellow buoy.  The intention is that boats can attach or detach to the chain and aren't required to set an anchor.

This barge came equipped with a crane, wheel-house and more ways to hurt yourself that you could possibly imagine. Rolling, swinging, low-hanging, sharp and unpredicatable objects were everywhere.  After some repairs and preparation, soon we were motoring to the center of the bay with our massive cargo.

Dropping the block was relatively easy, and then came the time to retrieve the old mooring.
Years underwater, the block had provided homes for anemone, seaweed and barnacles.  As the tonnage landed by my feet immediately out of the chain hole emerged a leg. And then another, and another, another, another, another, another, and... another!  This sudden creature moved a bit to fast for me to get a good photo as it sidestepped it's way back to the sea.

TalentFest

Seems like every Lucian school child is born to sing and dance. On the innately musical island of St. Lucia ,there is no shortage of talent. Little musicians with large abilities were were displayed last week on school stages across the island.

During National Music Festival Week, color, sound and excitement all come together for five days. Elementary and secondary music ensembles compete by district, and the audience samples a wide variety of acts.  West African drumming ensembles compete alongside the pop vocal group and symphony orchestra.  Each school is represented by its uniform and insignia, but the rhythmic and melodic abilities seem infinite.

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