Have the Tribal Publicist e-mail them

Thursday, April 28, 2005


As the sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean continues filming this month on the island of Dominica, trouble is brewing with the indigenous population over a controversial shish-kebbabing in the movie.

Dominica's Carib tribe, numbering 3,500 on an island of 70,000, is concerned that the entire world will see a scene of Johnny Depp captured and comcially barbequed and think that the Caribs of the 16th century did this to every film star that visited their island. According to the tribe, most of the world instantly associates the island of Dominica (after they look it up) with the incorrect perception that cannibalism was rampant there during the 15th, 16th & 17th centuries.

The protests are being led by the current chief of the tribe, Charles Williams.

"Pirates did come to the Caribbean in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries," he testifies. "Our ancestors were labeled cannibals. This is being filmed in the Caribbean." The parallels are quite obvious.


Williams reportedly finds no irony in accusing foreigners of insulting his ancestors while he goes by the name Charles Williams. Nevertheless, Chucky is a staunch believer in the living history of his native people and hates to see their reputation damaged.


"For me, a good name is better than riches."




Some other Dominican natives, however, don't agree with Chief Williams' assessment of the situation.

Christabelle Auguiste, the only female on the local tribal council, believes the publicity surrounding a major motion picture might garner Dominica a boost in tourist revenue.

"It took 250 years for Dominica to be colonized after the arrival of Christopher Columbus," she said. "Dominica is the only country Columbus would recognize now if he revisited. This is something the Carib people should be proud of."





Columbus was unavailable for comment.





Hardcore traditionalist and elementary school principal Kathleen Jno-Lewis and historian Prosper Paris believe that some other residents' optimistic hopes for increased tourist revenue may be stymied by the negative portrayal of their population, however. Supporting this view, a recent MSN Vacations survey reports that a devastating 88% of summer travelers would have "serious reservations" about booking a cruise to or a resort stay on an island where the natives eat people.



Also making news, several pirate heritage groups are protesting the sequel as well, claiming the character of Jack Sparrow portrays pirates as "Silly and generally stupid, not fearsome at all," says Bloodbeard McNastynuts, president of Pirate Life International. "The image of the pirate will be severely damaged by this film."




Way to go!

posted by Scotty 2-shots at 5:21 PM
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