Grenada’s devastating beauty resonates from its golden lined shores to its mountainous interior, which seems to reach up to the heavens and is showered the most fantastic tropical flowers that will adorn the little beach shack at the centre of the exhibit.

Entitled Castaway, the exhibit is an inspirational piece of art with a very powerful message:

“We want to send a clear message about the importance of preserving the natural riches of islands like Grenada for future generations.  Action now to embrace sustainability can help to ensure Grenada survives as a paradise for the castaways of today and tomorrow, and RHS Chelsea provides an opportunity to raise environmental awareness.’’ – (Suzanne Gaywood, Exhibitor and Designer)

Suzanne was recently appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). A regular exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower Show, where she has mounted displays of plants from the Caribbean island for more than a decade, her honour is in recognition of her services to tourism in Grenada and to horticulture.

Team Grenada will be joined on Press day, Monday 23^rd May, by LCpl Johnson Beharry VC , recent semi -finalist of ITV’s ‘Dancing on Ice’ programme, & Celebrity chef Gary Rhodes OBE

Simon Cowell

The pint sized impresario will be visiting Grenada’s sunny shores over the festive period to play Santa. He’s selected a rather luxurious sleigh for his gift deliveries – a 12 berth/43metre super yacht called ‘Slipstream’. Apparently it will set him and his shipmate, Sir Philip Green, back to the tune of £625,00 per week. We’re pretty sure they can afford it.

A source said “Simon wanted a change of scenery rather than spend another Christmas looking at Michael Winner’s gut at Sandy Lane for dinner.”

He should be on his way to Grenada right now after having left Barbados, and his reason for coming to Grenada? To deliver presents to his ex-girlfriend and best mate Sinitta and family who are apparently on the island.

Slipstream - the big sleigh

The source went on to say “Then he is off to Antigua for cocktails with Amanda Holden and her husband Chris Hughes. And then Jacqui St Clair is planning to meet up with him when he hits St Barths.

“Simon hates winters in England and has been looking forward to this trip for months. He chose this yacht because of the high spec. It oozes luxury – as soon as he docks the three-storey beast, people will be impressed.

“He could have gone for something more discreet, but that isn’t Simon’s style. He turned 50 this year and decided it would be his Christmas treat to himself.”

River Antoine Rum, 75% - 86% Alcohol

You’ll find a few varieties of local rum lurking in the bar backs of all the watering holes on the island. None is more potent however than Rivers – the local firewater, quite literally. When Grenada first entered my world some 20 odd years ago my Dad (now Calabash hotel owner) was working at the River Antoine Rum Distillery, he bought a few bottles back home with him and one evening showed us a trick, holding a burning spill in front of his face and with a mouthful of River’s he proceeded to breathe fire with the rum. This is quite an art, as he explained, since the rum very quickly numbs your mouth which makes it very difficult to keep your lips pursed and therefore maintain the necessary pressure with your mouth to force the stuff far enough away from you so as to avoid severe burns.

Rivers is the only drink I’ve ever seen that ice sinks in.

Strength varies from year to year and since the rum isn’t exported (except in hand luggage) the specific strength doesn’t have to be displayed on the label. Typically the stuff is 75% alcohol by volume, although the label lists the alcohol content by proof: 140% – most other rums are around the 40% alcohol by volume mark. This varies though from year to year depending on how much rain has fallen on the sugar cane from which the rum is made, some years it can get up to 86% volume / 180% proof if it’s been dry.

Strictly speaking the rum is not actually allowed on planes, it’s just too flammable. You can however buy a bottle at the airport to take back home with you, this is the aviation friendly stuff at a mere 69% volume.

Production hasn't changed in over 200 years

The distillery hasn’t changed its production methods since production began in 1785. Sugar cane is cut by hand and taken to the distillery which claims to run the only operating water wheel in the western hemisphere, this and the conveyer that moves the cane to the press have been in use since production began over two centuries ago. Tours are available and visitors are very welcome, our front desk staff or on site taxi drivers will be happy to arrange this for you.

The rum is an island favourite and the distillery can’t make enough to satisfy demand. My advice is to go easy on the stuff, it’s lethal.

Fort George

In light of the recent release of the seven Grenadian prisoners of the 1983 revolution – click here for full story – it seemed apt to write a little piece about one of the centre pieces of the revolution, Fort George. This place has much to do with the reason that the men were put behind bars, being the place where Maurice Bishop and some of his cabinet were executed on their orders.

Of course the old fort has much more history than that and is a popular tourist stop, albeit for somewhat macabre reasons much of the time. The building was erected between 1706-1710 on a mount made originally by the French and named Fort Royal. When the island was claimed by the British (with the cunning use of a flag) in 1763 it was re-named Fort George in honour of King George III.

Royal Grenadian Policemen

The fort was once the heart of the town but has now found its way to the periphery. The building has been in constant use in one form or another since its inception, currently it is the HQ of the Royal Grenada Police Force – is there a better police uniform anywhere in the world?

The building oozes history with its old cannons poking out from the abutments and the ancient, weathered masonry. Many of the major political and historical stories of Grenad have centred around the fort and it has commanding views over the town, out to sea and across to Grand Anse. In short it should be on every visitors itinerary. It is living, breathing, working Grenadian heritage.