A book entitled,  ‘The St. Vincent Botanic Gardens 1765 to 2009’ is due to be released during this carnival season. Author of the book, Dr. Edgar Adams, said that he began the project in May this year after receiving a request to write on the Gardens and make recommendations for its increased relevance to Vincentian society in the future.

Dr. Adams has written several books on the history and culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He said that, while his research on the Botanic Gardens clearly indicated that England started the Botanic Gardens in St. Vincent to aid its expansionist exploits in the Caribbean, he wanted to complete the book in time for this year’s carnival because he wanted to show the relationship between the Botanic Gardens and carnival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Carnival in 'The Gardens'

Dr. Adams said that he has always been interested in the Botanic Gardens, even as a youngster. “Nearly every Sunday afternoon, even in bad weather, I found myself in the Botanic Gardens, even as a little child,” he said, adding that although it is not clear when judging of carnival competitions began in the Botanic Gardens, he is certain that they were held there during the period of the second World War 1939 – 45.

“During the war years, I actually attended some of the (carnival) celebrations in the Botanic Gardens, and that is why I am able to say that they took place,” Dr. Adams said, adding that carnival competitions for the Tuesday Mardi Gras were judged by the Administrator of the colony, who was living at Government House.

“He was the sole judge, and if he said a particular band won the competition, nobody argued with him,” Dr. Adams said. He said the winners of the respective competitions received the coveted prize of one pound sterling and “the pole” – an eighteen-inch piece of wood that was wrapped in red, white and blue with streamers attached to it.

Part of Britain's expansionist plans

“That was the symbol of supremacy for that year,” Dr. Adams said emphatically before adding that after vying for the coveted title, the bands would dance and frolic from the Botanic Gardens to Kingstown where the rest of the carnival celebrations would continue for the rest of the day.

Dr. Adams also referred to an occasion when the Administrator ordered the arrest of a calypsonian who was participating in the calypso competition because of the lyrics used by the calypsonian. With reference to the new book, the author said Britain was competing with other European nations to expand their influence in the Caribbean and the world. In this regard, "it suddenly became the Imperial Policy for the British to further agriculture and the growing of trees with a view to increasing their own economic benefits through commerce and trade.

“As they pursued that, they realized that Europe at that time was virtually captivated by exotic plants, foods and spices, which they could only get at tremendous cost from the Far East. “And so, in their pursuit of economizing while still getting the full benefits of these products from the East, they decided to grow some of these products from the Far East within the tropics.”

According to Dr. Adams, this grand experiment was fortuitously started in St. Vincent in 1765 at the current site of the Botanic Gardens, which was originally granted thirty acres of land, which the King of England bestowed upon himself as his personal property.  Dr. Adams said the experiment grew to the point where the St. Vincent Botanic Gardens became the centre of Imperial activities in relation to the transfer of plants across the globe and “in filling that role, the island itself gained recognition; but it was the Gardens that was the centre of attraction”.

Clearly, Dr. Adams' latest contribution will serve not only to provide useful historical data but, as he intends, it should also cause an upsurge in interest in 'The Gradens' by locals.

source of article:
by : Jeff Trotman
2009/07/02
The Vincentian Newspaper
www.thevincentian.com