By Linda Straker

“I am building a facility for locals that the tourists will be able to enjoy,” was the declaration from the man behind Grenada’s latest culture attraction that is located in the heart of the Beaulieu community in St George’s.

“People have being calling for it and now its here, it’s our home of culture, a place where anyone will be able to experience our culture from the food to the ambience,” said businessman Huge Dolland, Managing Director of Spice Basket.

Costing EC$12 million, Dolland said that the vision for the Spice Basket is to provide a cultural experience which will allow patrons to discover, honour and share what is unique about Grenadian culture and the way of life. ‘From the things we eat to the things we enjoy,” he adds.

Unofficially opened in August 2010 for the Carnival season with the return of the calypsorama calypso tent, Spice Basket is no doubt posed to become Grenada premiere tourist attraction with it various facilities that could easily be described as a village sitting on four acres of land.

Providing a sample of authentic Grenadian culture this Basket or Village within a village brings together the unique features that qualifies Grenada as the Spice island and at the same time provide the opportunity to experience the destination’s evolving history.

“From the landscaping, the design of the building to the trees in the basket, they are all strategically place to bring out the Grenadian spirit,” said Dolland who is of the opinion that while the shops provides an opportunity to obtain one’s own piece of spice novelty whether they are local or visiting from White Cane Industries, the half hour folk theatre performances will put folk magic into their spirit.

“The performances should take them back to their folk heritage as the dancers communicate an unspeakable messages from the rhythms of drums and steel bands as their bodies coil and twirl to movements that were development through months of practice,”

Deeper into the Basket one will find the Cricket Heritage Museum which has found its new home in Beaulieu because the cricket stadium is receiving less games and this has in turn impact on the declining number of visitors. Overlooking the basket community is the chapel that is slowly becoming the wedding venue of the North East as more and more couples are taking their vows in the Basket.

The experience at this facility cannot be complete without a sample of the food. The chef not only provides many Grenadian favourites but a menu list which is reflective of different destinations where Grenada has strong tourist market share. This attraction also contains a 1000 sitting theatre where many in the future will experience the awe, delight, sadness, contentment or happiness of productions that will be put together by artistic director Urias Peters.

50 persons have already again employment including players on a permanent steel orchestra to ensure that customers are treated to positive unforgettable and memorable experiences. There is no doubt that after visiting many will be saying: “it was an experience within an experience!”

Linda Straker