Did you know that by the late 1700s, the County of Demerara had over 300 distilleries producing unique flavors and styles of rum? The success of the rum industry reflects the wider social and economic changes that were taking place across the Caribbean. However, the story of Caribbean rum goes much deeper as it is intertwined with the Systems of Indentureship and Slavery. While Slavery and Indentureship have ended, millions of gallons of rum remain as a reminder of the legacy of both systems and its impact on the Caribbean’s culture and history. From “Treasure Island” to the daily ration of grog issued to British sailors, the history of rum is both fascinating and complex. Don't miss this episode of the Peppa Pot podcast where we dive into the rich history of rum in the Caribbean and explore its social, cultural, and economic impact.

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Credits

Beats and Music by Noyz

Research by Ryan N. Ramdin

Creative Direction by Sara-Sati Ramprashad

Produced by WESTINDIECO

Resources

Allahar, A. L. (1993) “Unity and Diversity in Caribbean Ethnicity and Culture,” Canadian Ethnic Studies, 25(1).

Bahadur, G. “Coolie Woman: the Odyssey of Indenture” (The University of Chicago Press: 2014).

Gramaglia, L. “Colonial Psychiatry in British Guiana,” in White K. (ed.), “Configuring Madness: Representation, Context and Meaning,” (Inter-Disciplinary Press, Oxford: 2009).

Gramaglia, L. ‘Migration and Mental Illness in the British West Indies 1838-1900: The Cases of Trinidad and British Guiana’ in Cox, C. & Marland, H. (eds.) “Migration, Health and Ethnicity in the Modern World,” (Palgrave Macmillan: New York, 2013).

“I am a Coolie: Identity and Indenture,” Moray House Trust. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUirPfa8Fjg&t=1811s

Moss, K., Adams, E. & Toner, D. (2022) “Immigration, Intoxication, Insanity, and Incarceration in British Guiana” Slavery & Abolition: A Journal of Slave and Post-Slave Studies, 43:4.

Ramsarran, P. (2008) “The indentured contract and its Impact on Labour Relationship and Community Reconstruction in British Guiana,” International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, 1(2).

Persaud, S. (2022) “No Sovereign Remedy: Distress, Madness, and Mental Health Care in Guyana.”

World Health Organization, (2008) WHO-AIMS Report on Mental Health System in Guyana.