Babash
is a traditional rum which has its genesis in the Sugar Cane Industry. After
its discovery by Christopher Columbus in 1492, people from all over world were
bought to Trinidad to cultivate sugar cane. Various sugar factorys were
established to process the sugar cane into sugar. One of the by product of this
industry was molasses. It was discovered that molasses could be used to
manufacture alcohol . This was first manufactured by the Indians indentured and
descendants of African slaves in backyard makeshift stills. This was their main
source of alcohol and used on almost all social gatherings from funerals to weddings.
The name given to the product is Ba Bash, Mountain Dew, or Bush Rum. It is
illegal to manufacture or Drink this product, persons found drinking or
manufacturing this drink can be charged up to Five thousand dollars. Despite it
being outlawed it continues to be manufactured by locals and used by the rural
poor and the rich enthusiast. It is well know by the Trinidad Population and
idolized in song.
BUSH RUM STILL
Molasses
was also used by the Sugar factories, with Caroni Ltd being the last to close
down in 2003 to manufacture rum, this rum however remained legal in Trinidad
and Tobago and sold to local and external markets. Angostura limited a local
manufacturer first developed its rum from the sugar cane molasses , today it is
a World Class Company.
SUGAR CANE FACTORY
The criminalization of alcohol
production by the rural poor appears to me to facilitate the sales and profits
of the more affluent in society ,the manufactures and elites. It was a method
of creating a monopoly on alcohol
products. This led to the development of the refined alcohol industry,
with expert marketing, packaging and various blends accompanied by large profit
margins . On the other hand the rural poor manufacturers remain outlaws, taking
chances to produce, no opportunity for development, cannot invest in machinery
or equipment and produce at the very primary level. Had they be given the
opportunity to develop as those given to the elite manufacturers , today we
would be enjoying a variety of magnificent endemic brands of Ba bash . This is
a direct impact of Colonization. Alcohol Sales to person's under the age of 18 years is an offense in Trinidad & Tobago
