Mixed Reviews For Jounen Kweyol

Saint Lucians are coming out of a hectic Kwéyòl weekend and the reviews are as mixed as the various influences on our Kwéyòl heritage. Jounen Kwéyòl Entenasyonal or International Creole day is observed officially on October 28 in the French Creole speaking countries of Saint Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. However here in Saint Lucia the entire month of October has been designated Creole Heritage Month, with the main activity being staged on the Sunday closest to October 28. This year was no different as activities reached fever pitch over the weekend. Last Friday, from schools to business places, the evidence was there in the décor that featured the madras as the centerpiece, to the food and the music and even the playing of traditional games in some cases. Then on Saturday, there was the mad rush for creole attire as well as produce and condiments to prepare traditional dishes such as dumplings, cocoa tea, acras, bouyon, pork, salads and more. The law of supply and demand dictates that when demand exceeds supply, prices tend to rise, and such was the case. Lettuce, tomatoes, smoke herring, saltfish and cucumbers all appeared more expensive than usual. Moreover, those increase in prices...