Mrs Louise Brooks
There have been some note-worthy compliments for the Salt Festival in Anguilla this week from the newly-appointed Minister of Tourism, Mr Haydn Hughes.
He took time off from a busy period between the Commonwealth Parliamentary Post-Election Seminar and a meeting of the Executive Council, on Thursday, July 23, to attend an exhibition, an impressive component of the Salt Festival.
The cultural event was held at the Conference Centre of St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church where the Minister met Mrs. Louise Brooks, the main organiser.
Very much impressed by the salt and artistic display of a wide range of exhibits, Mr. Hughes told The Anguillian newspaper:
“This exhibition is great. It says a lot about our culture.” It says a lot about our maritime history and our salt-picking history. Anguilla has been a salt-picking destination for well over a hundred years. In 1986 it was all wrapped up due to market forces. But we are seeing that persons are now embarking on a Salt Festival.
“It is interesting because I remember that during the Anguilla National Youth Council’s debates Jerome Roberts brought up the idea of a Salt Festival and people laughed. Now, look at this: Just less than two months later, we are embarking on our very first Salt Festival.
“This is something that is great and something that we can incorporate in our product development in the Ministry of Tourism. It is something to which we will give our full support to. As a matter of fact I will be partaking in the Salt Festival.”
Mrs. Brooks, the exhibitor, was pleased that a number of other persons had turned up at the exhibition and congratulated her on her work.
Among the exhibits was a replica of the MV Warspite which, during its most successful years, transported multi-shipments of Anguillian salt to Trinidad for the oilfields. Other exhibits included paintings by Mrs. Brooks of salt-picking scenes and bird life at the Road Pond.
