Buy the soap

Vendors outside the cruise ship mall

Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Grenada for a vacation. These vacations range from ultra luxurious like Sandal's, quick visits on a cruise ship, to homestays around the island. Each week I inevitably get caught up  with some of these tourists coming off from the cruise ships as I walk to meet Brent after work. I get the calls to come over to look at the vendors wears, until they realize it is me and then I just get a little wave. But it is hard to get the attention of the tourists so I understand why anyone who is white gets asked to look.

Tourism is supposed to be a major economic driver and it is if you own a hotel, boat tour company or an air conditioned store. But what I hear from street vendors is that the tourists just don't spend money. The visitors want to see the spice market but they don't want to buy from it. It is so discouraging because whether someone buys allspice or cinnamon that day means the difference between having rice or meat on the table for a family.

Spice Market (outdoor)

The outdoor vendors at the market will arrive at between 2-4 a.m. to set up their tables, fruits, vegetables and homemade soaps and sauces. They will pack up by 5:00 p.m. and take a long ride back home, getting in between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. Indoor vendors fair a little better because they can lock their stalls and don't have to bring their supplies every day. But they would still be at the market by 6:00 a.m. getting ready for the day. That means you have a minimum 12 hour day every day but Sunday.

When you travel to a foreign country that is economically depressed, please think about budgeting into your trip $50-$100 for souvenirs to give away as Christmas gifts. Realistically you just spent a minimum of $800 on the trip, adding $50 isn't too much for you but it is a lot of money for the nationals of the country you are visiting.

If you want to buy something "authentic" I recommend the following: buy the hand made soaps! You know that it was made locally, you can always import it and you know you are supporting the local economy not some giant nameless company. So what if the soap costs $5 and you could get one back home for $3? When you are at home shop for best value for money but when you are in an impoverished country this doesn't make any sense. The point is when you buy their soap you are directly contributing to someone's livelihood and giving back a little bit to the country that is hosting you.

Other authentic gifts in Grenada are:

• Spice necklaces which are air fresheners
• Spices from vendors
• Giant cinnamon sticks
• Calabash bowls
• Nutmed (a locally produced remedy for aches and pains)
• Grenadian chocolate

Making soap at Arawak Islands

If at all possible buy a trinket or a juice from a child. You can bet that a child would rather be playing, the fact they are helping their mom or dad at the market or the beach says the family can't afford the luxury of having the children playing. Your purchase of a juice means they will get home sooner so they can be a kid.

I have definitely been the person who was oblivious to the world around me on vacation. It is way nicer to drink Margaritas by the pool and bask in the heat than be confronted with poverty.  But it is out there, just beyond the gate and you can help ease it on an individual basis.

Buy the soap.