Belair Spa is Ah Vincy Wonder

Back in de mid 1990’s, the marketing officer of de Nation Newspaper of Bo-bathe-us conducted a training workshop in SVG for Searchlight’s staff, mainly de marketing department. Before returning to Bim, he indicated he wanted to see one of de better Tourist sites in SVG. Immediately ah soft whispered : “ Carry yuh guest over hills and Valleys!” And de ‘Marriaqua Valley’ rang out in me ear-bell. When ah reached at Arnos Vale he told me it was time foh ah drink, and suggested we stop at any parlour way he could sample one ah Vincy’s best locally made Soda. Right away ah made ah left turn at Fountain Gap, den headed towards de Belair- Fountain Mineral Spring, “de Spa.” We were getting into mountainous territory, and he looked ah bit concerned, den he reminded me about his Soda. Same time ah reached ah dead-end next to de river. Ah handed him ah M.T. plastic bottle and cup, and directed him to ah fountain way fresh-cold water was pouring freely thru ah piece ah galvanize pipe . Den ah teased him saying dat: “Jesus turned water into wine, dis is your time to turn river water into Soda.”

Reluctantly he filled his bottle and glass, however, cautiously sampling dis precious Natural Vincy Underground Unsweetened Soda Drink. He immediately spang into ah shock like in cricket when ah batsman is“ beaten outside his off stump!” Den de questions came one after de other. He was floored when ah told him dat de water he just drank was manufactured and processed in de La Soufriere Volcano, and delivered underground, thru ah vein in de soil. Finally his professional skills in marketing came alive. His exact words were: “ I will guarantee you dat I will sell any amount of dis product you can deliver to me in Bo-bathe-us!” That visit exactly 30 years ago. Admittedly some enhancement was done making de surroundings look touris-ish. And as far as ah was told, Kay Bacchus-Gill, former NDP caretaker of de West St George Constituency, is de only person who seriously spoke openly about this development and actually made an effort to commercialise de Spa Water. Currently Belair-Fountain Spa continues to be one ah SVG’s most treasured, natural site foh tourists to visit. Last Monday ah had two surprise visits. My long lost cousin foh over 40 years, Rolty Mac Lean and his English/Canadian wife, interrupted his vacation in Bequia to come harass me. Additionally my wife’s nephew, Dr Kim Caesar, his wife Tahira, ah registered Nurse, and dey two year ole son from Trin-dad are visiting dey ancestral home.

We made one trip and took both sets ah visitors to de Spa. Not only was it dey first time visit, but it was like Déjà vu all over.. More questions dan answers: “ Where does dis Soda Water come from, and where does it all go to, is d water being tested, processed, treated if required and marketed? Why is dey no additional facility for Spa bathing, swimming and showering etc. Why is de vacant adjacent lands not acquired and developed? Ah told dem de only answer ah could give right now, is dat de present Go-venom-mint has been in office for de last twenty four years; very soon dey’ll be an elect-shun.

Vincy people behave

like we own volcano. We sleep foh years and when we ready foh change, we give short notice, den we blow off we top, pitching fire an brimstone like we did in 1984 and 2001.And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

•  Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.