Page 12 - The lifestyle and the Culture of the Caribbean

The Lifestyle and the Culture of the Caribbean

They would talk for hours about the local
Caribbean dishes that made my stomach rumble

with excitement. The ackee and saltfish of

Jamaica, the roti and curry in Guyana, Oil down

from Grenada, and the Flying Fish dishes of

Barbados. Oh, and how can I forget the peas and
grits with pigtails, salt beef and fried fish from the

lovely Turks & Caicos Islands.

These festivals and food were passed down from

our African ancestors and embraced by our
Caribbean people. I saw many fathers teaching

their sons how to master the art of boat building,

sawing, and hemming under larger, towering pine

and coconut trees. On the weekends, I would be

serenaded by the sounds coming from the various
churches. Saturday was the day for all

Seventh-Day Adventist worshippers, and I could

hear their grateful praises for Sabbath day of rest.

On Sundays, I would rock and sway along with

the Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches’
high tempo praises. On this day, no one came to

play in my cool, relaxing waters because everyone

Page 9 ©2021 Caribbean Examinations Council