Variety is considered the ‘spice of life’ and here in the Caribbean the rich cultural diversity is often considered the most intricate detail of the islands. What sets us apart from the rest of the world is not limited to our geographical location but the flare and richness of the multitude of races, ethnicities and cultures, which shared throughout the Caribbean. Saint Lucia is no different, playing home to a large number of these ethnicities and cultures.
On September 22nd, 2012 a contingent of Trinidadian nationals living here orchestrated an exhibition/trade show to commemorate the 50th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which was on August 31st, 2012. The event was held at the Baywalk Shopping Mall Conference Room and sought to highlight the work of Trinidadians living in Saint Lucia and also featured some of the products, which are sold locally but are manufactured in Trinidad. The room was beautifully decorated in red, black and white reminiscent of the Trinidadian flag. The atmosphere was flamboyant, truly cognizant of Trinidandian culture; the ushers were dressed in carnival costumes and guests were greeted by the sweet sound of steel pan music.
Dionne Benn-Cooper, one of the main organizers told Dazzle Magazine a little about the event and what it took to host an event of such a nature:
“In Saint Lucia we have a great population of Trinidadians and Tobagonians here, many of whom own businesses. In observance of our 50th Independence Anniversary, we decided to call on these business owners and give them an opportunity to showcase their products and services, which are imported by Saint Lucia. We were happy that many of them obliged.”
Amongst some of the products featured were: Lahner cleaning products, Spotless & Supreme Bleach, KC Candy, Slimmer matches, Vienna sausages which are all distributed by Renwick and Company. Other products featured were Lipton Tea, which comes in several flavours distributed and sold by Brydens and Partners Limited, Flavorite Ice Cream, distributed island wide and of course Fruta and the assortment of drinks distributed and sold by SMJ Beverages.
The Exhibition also featured fashion designer Lisa Barton-Volney manager and designer of ‘De Kloze Line’. The company started in Trinidad and later Mrs. Barton-Volney migrated to Saint Lucia with her husband. She focuses on custom pieces, including corporate uniforms, bridal and pageantry gowns, casual wear, formal wear and soft furnishings – all from her business in Entrepot.
Also featured was Caribbean Airlines, the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago, which offers the most affordable and comfortable flights to the Republic.
The event was well attended by Trinidadians and Saint Lucians alike, everyone basking in the allure of Trinidadian culture on display. Not only was there an exhibition component to the function but also the much anticipated cocktail section, featuring famous Trinidadian cuisine such as ‘doubles’, shark and bake, corn soup, roti, callaloo, pastelles and an assortment of desserts to name a few. Attendees were pleasantly surprised and intrigued as they opened their palettes to ‘something new’.
“If people could leave here with one thing, it would be to get a taste of our culture. People often go to Trinidad for shopping, for parties and of course carnival is a big thing but we are so much more than that. We have so many different heritages coming together to form the Trinidadian culture and Diaspora. Every part of the world makes up Trinidad”, were the words of Mrs. Benn-Cooper.
The party had only just begun as people were soothed by the sounds of the band ‘Skip Monday’, as they performed a multiplicity of music genres, truly showcasing the diversity, which exists in Trinidad. By the end of the night the exhibition had turned into a little carnival, as attendees were carefree and enjoyed themselves. Organizers were heartened by the turnout and see this as a sign of even better things to come.
