Barbados (1960s)

[Music] [Music] bobby this is called little england let her be famous ever to stand she may be small as far as you can see but have they big folks in society i'll be singing barbados babadoos land of flying fish are they singing barbados barbados produces a splendid dish she is a mission here anytime from overland and sea just come to enjoy this small scenery and this thing in barbados barbados the land of flying fish are the thing in barbados barbados produces a splendid dish [Music] we barbadians enjoy welcoming visitors to our island guests mean a chance to show off all the new things that have happened to barbados and all the old traditions that mark our way of life and will remain always a friendly welcome to newcomers has been part of it i suppose ever since the first stranger came along from europe more than 300 years ago in his sailing ship of course his journey took several weeks whereas our new airport is just a few hours by jet from the rest of the world [Music] the trade winds that once filled his sails today snap out the flags of airlines from the world over that serve the island every day as for sailing ships we still have them but we have great modern liners too from the americas from britain the continent and from the orient big and small each ship is counted by the lookout man the idol of many a young barbadian boy visitors who come by the sea routes can sail right into bridgetown we're very proud of our new deepwater harbour it's the finest in the caribbean and it is our symbol of the future [Music] we're proud of our hotels too a great many of them brand new developments everything from hillside and inland hotels roadside inns and guest houses to luxury clubs overlooking the ocean and hotels right on the beach with an earshot of the surf rolling in driving away all thought of time schedules deadlines and crowded cities easing tensions with the promise of days and days beside the blue caribbean where men for decades have sought and found escape visitors usually take just a few minutes to get out into that barbados sunshine and who could resist with water temperatures in the 70s all year round and all the surfing and boating in the world or if you'd rather just rest in the sunshine and explore the island afterward you'll be rewarded with romantic tropical views with fascinating sea towns and the interesting and many unexpected facets of the island's coastline and hills some very active visitors like to get not only in the water but right under it soaking up the sun with a cool drink by your side is a pleasant way to enjoy the beach too for carefree relaxation nothing beats the feel of the trade winds on your face and the sound of the caribbean massaging away those forehead wrinkles in a constant year-round 80 degree temperature massaging that becomes even more soothing if you prefer the profound solitude of another barbadian world out of the depths and inland from the beach still another world exists one that provides an impressive portion of the world sugar chewing raw cane tastes somewhat different from sugar in a sugar bowl but children like to try everything if they can the very first day this same cane distilled used to make the drink the old pirates like the drink called kill devil which vanished with the likes of captain edward teach better known as blackbeard barbados cane today is the raw material for some of the world's finest rum sugarcane was introduced to barbados three centuries ago by merchants from brazil who never in their most extravagant dreams imagined barbados to produce as it recently did nearly a ton per head of population heading out the cane is hard work but the constant trade winds help keep the fields cool and a cold drink tastes mighty good under that barbados sunshine too and just beyond the brow of this hill our new friends will find something that england sent over this way the game that has brought fame to barbados on cricket fields the world over the island's champions learned the game right here on the beaches [Music] the only thing that will get a barbadian boy away from a game of beach cricket is the arrival of the fishing fleet or a bus going by we play cricket anywhere road beach vacant field it's as popular as afternoon tea another legacy from england but when these lads get a little older and the best of them join regular teams turned out in the traditional flannels and play at kensington noble then watch out barbados is the birthplace of john goddard the only west indian to captain a team that defeated england on her own playing fields [Music] soon after an island boy learns to walk he learns to fly a kite the trade winds have made kite flying a universal pastime the trades moving in from the northeast off the atlantic power the grotesque forms of colored cloth and paper and sail them up against the caribbean sky like exotic tropical birds [Music] look east now to tent bay the fleet's coming home riding low with red snapper and kingfish dolphin and albacore and more flying fish than the road to mandalay ever dreamed of i became a fisherman with the fish he was charging he worked so hard all day for this fish for his living then i became a man goose the stealing and he too have to make his living his occupation is only stealing slime slime on your name slime on goose or your name on abroad then after stealing but he too have to make his living his occupation is only stealing that slime on goose mangoes got away that was his lucky day stopped by a pawn he thought he was alone then i came a big dog and ran him and took away that big fish from him once more he have to go a ceiling flying one good [Music] do [Music] nighttime means good food and good company visitors and barbadians alike congregate to watch the pulsating performances of island entertainers creating the tropic excitement of barbados having fun [Music] [Music] when the steel drums start this beat the limbo dancers aren't far behind with uncanny control they'll walk right under a bar eight inches off the floor incredibly only their feet touch the ground call to the bar has three meanings on the island [Music] so [Music] tropic moon turns its silvery light on royal palms rustling gently in the night [Applause] nelson on his pedestal looks across bridgetown's trafalgar square coming to life after a long cool night in the dawn the flying fish fleet starts out from tent bay to catch the fish that will appear on tonight's restaurant and hotel tables flying fish are delicious we serve them fried baked broiled or stuffed and even make them into flying fish pie yes they do have wings those fish and they do fly all right hey to see that the exuberant early morning traffic doesn't fly our efficient and friendly barbados police patrol start off as early as everybody else well almost everybody the plantation will remain deserted until the workers return from the cane fields late in the afternoon the sugar crop is sustained by its ability to fertilize its own soil and by the abundance of sunshine and by water pure crystal clear water furnished by natural underground springs while agriculture on the island depends almost entirely on sugar cane which has helped to make barbadians both skillful planters and hard-headed businessmen new industry on the island is developing rapidly the original machinery for the sugar mills came to the island long ago to keep it running over the years engineering factories and foundries were developed now adapted to serve modern industry and it looks as though the molasses is just about ready one thing certain the shipping port is close at hand just a few minutes from refinery or factory to dockside to ocean-going freighter and then across the world to your sugar bowl [Music] the uniforms of the harbor police originated in lord nelson's day when he served here as admiral of the fleet that protected the british west indies from france and spain bridgetown's awake and open for business haircut step right outside for school children there is more excitement here than in most places they might live for barbados is still two worlds the ancient and the modern the time-honored fishing fleets buildings dating back centuries and alongside them the 20th century redifusion radio serving barbados and other territories of the caribbean under the cloak of old world charm is a key station of the vast worldwide commonwealth telecommunications network make a call from london to montreal and chances are it will be sent two thousand miles southwest through barbados to get a clear line and they gave us our credentials today along with the locals barbados has quickly accepted the advantages of modern ways the island's general hospital the honeycombed functional architecture of government headquarters but left untouched is the aged and mellowed aura of harrison college the harmonious life of the students is in keeping with traditions that go back to the early days of the college founded in 1733 the oldest boys school in the caribbean a proud possession of commonwealth and crown [Music] oh [Music] from earliest days since the first parliament was called in the reign of james the first barbados has remained the most stable island in the caribbean both politically and socially indeed the barbados crest is a symbol of law and order it was captain pedro a campos a portuguese sailor who discovered the island in 1536 he opened the way and the world followed by many routes pupils from all over the caribbean and beyond attend the local boarding schools our educational system ranges from elementary and secondary schools and a theological college to a technical institute to fit people for new jobs in our changing island economy the only ice we ever see is in cool drinks so the girls at queen's college are satisfied with field hockey [Applause] while bridgetown plays another game getting through the traffic and one way that makes slipping through the crowd easier is to make yourself as slim as possible by adding to your height by a basket length or a chair length a suitcase why not everything goes up top on the way to the fairchild street market and your pick of zappadella golden apple guava soursop shattuck mango breadfruit banana papa and a dozen delightful items most of the world has yet to taste market bargaining might be exciting to adults but to some it's just a bore you said it work for an expert one slip and catastrophe a slice here a chop there and a couple of digs in just the right place and you have refreshment for a warm day that comes straight from the trees [Music] more and more the island is becoming a place where visitors stop for business as well as pleasure many exciting new developments are taking place on the island if you're interested in business a visit to the islands development board will provide some sound reasons for looking into the hundreds of opportunities for industrial expansion [Music] the new thirty million dollar deepwater harbor provides a vital key with its modern birthing and bunkering facilities it has opened the door to greater trade and commerce throughout the world and strategically located beside the harbour a modern pre-planned industrial park is taking shape an industrial showplace to house one and a half million square feet of diversified industry [Music] where once a single building was put up with little thought for the future today entire developments are emerging complementing other developments all part of a master plan to build the island into a functional and beautiful community our technical education program is adding new skills and new trades taking full advantage of an unusually talented people instilling in our large labor force a growing sense of urgency a realistic vision of future prosperity in this island [Music] we have good reasons to be optimistic about our future for we have three hard to find and valuable conditions to attract new industry we have 300 years of political and labor stability we offer every reasonable government incentive that an investor could wish for including tax-free holidays duty concessions nominal cost factory buildings and ideal industrial park sites and we have an intelligent and adaptable labor force eager to lend their talents to the increasing number of new industrial and hotel projects the island attracts each year boat builders with decades of handcrafting behind them apply their rare skills to yachts for the modern sportsman the hand wrought strength and grace that most yachtsmen only dream of the shorehand of the boat builder pan strung from cane cutting hands skilled in tortoise shell carving and in other cottage industries like embroidery and basket work are being quickly adapted to the needs of modern industry just a decade ago our island exported sugar and rum and imported everything else but today we manufacture shirts and shoes soap and spaghetti cottons and confectionery margarine and marble tiles boxes and biscuits the list grows rapidly as the old skills are converted into 20th century factory skills [Music] of course some of the old world will always remain at chalky mount on the east coast the fascination of the potter's wheel casts its ancient spell over our new friends [Music] pottery turned on the old style hand driven wheel makes a conversation piece for the shelf back home english bone china liberty silks movie cameras swiss watches and imported liquors can all be purchased duty-free in the many well-stocked shops on the main streets in bridgetown [Music] lunch time for the visitor takes a little getting used to if you're accustomed to a fast sandwich you can take it nice and easy through the midday hours eventually you let your mind and body ease into the relaxed atmosphere of the island during lunch barbados has always provided a good table no outside help required apart from a wide variety of fruit and vegetables and of course our own sugar and rum we raise plenty of farm animals and poultry so that a barbados table can look festive set with the good things we grow right here and oh those flying fish mentioned earlier you can see them gliding a foot or so above the water but they fly quickly and are camouflaged by their deep blue color but they'll never look more interesting than right between your knife and fork the barbados delicacy any sunny afternoon you can drive from bridgetown straight to england at any rate to little england for that's the name barbados has been given as english as the sussex countryside [Music] english except for place names like jack-in-the-box gully chimborazo bathsheba pico tenerife penny hole flower pot alley cattle wash monkey jump and morgan lewis and its windmill as the great wings of these ancient mills turned in the trades sugarcane fed one at a time was crushed between cylinders until the juice spurted out into boiling pots but that was a long time ago [Music] about 20 minutes from bridgetown is the oldest university in the british west indies codrington college founded with revenue from the plantation of christopher codrington the college as was his wish is run on monastic lines in this peaceful setting amid the cool hills even higher in the hill saint john's church with its square tower and gothic arches similar to those churches erected in england a century ago building costs in barbados years ago were calculated in sugar it was agreed to build st john's at a cost of 110 000 pounds of sugar during a ride through rural barbados scenes change rapidly [Music] i don't know where i'd be oh yes if you want to find me you're gonna look for me or she got my head upside down [Music] the island is good to see on foot from a car window and from the sea in fact when you cruise along the coast you'll find some of barbados most pleasant coves and tiny ports the trip can be as comfortable and luxurious as you want it to be a cruise boat is a popular and very inexpensive way to see barbados and meet new friends during the all-day tour by sea with lots of interesting stops along the route or if you'd like to toss a line over the side as you sail along well-equipped fishing boats are available too anywhere you choose you will see some magnificent tropical coast when you set sail from bridgetown above the fishing village of oystens the road climbs steeply to barbados most famous church christchurch where according to legend coffins were found to move about all by themselves after a day of exploring old ports beaches of silver sand and clear turquoise depths there are attractive hotels all along the coast to make you welcome with excellent dining after a long day at sea eastward there is nothing between here and africa but the open sea but when you touch these shores there is just about everything a reasonable man could want any time of the year the virtues of this island are those that man put here those that nature bestowed and those that each week brings sunny beautiful days filled with rewarding labors and plenty of fun as the friendly people look forward to a prosperous and happy future under caribbean skies on the industrious island the holiday island of barbados landing and slipping through sheed and sand on savory beaches there you can run we're yachts screw splendid little and fro no eyes can see where the wild wind goes as they sing in barbados barbados the lion of flying fish and they sing in barbados barbados produces [Music] you