Arawak Promotions Statement Of Purpose
Arawak Promotions took root in the Spring of 2001. It began on the tiny Caribbean island of St. John in the Virgin Islands. Sometimes feeling like a Caribbean Santa, Pato Foster found himself bringing backpacks filled with cases of home-grown CD's, hot pepper sauce, various vials and bottles of irie-scented essences, lotions and soaps and bags of news articles to share with stateside friends upon returning from long sabbaticals there. Knowing the Caribbean is alive with extraordinary musicians, artisans and culture unknown to the world, Pato created an easier way to bring the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the islands to the world massive.
With the help and inspiration of Greg Willson of Planetmind Internetworks, arawakroots.com came to life. The name Arawak comes from the ancient indiginous people who first took root and settled in the Caribbean islands (probably from the Orinoco River valley of South America). They were a peace loving people that would settle in one place for extended periods raising families and growing crops (For an insighful look at the history and culture of the Arawak People, click on our "ArawakRoots Resource" link on the home page).
The head cornerstone of this endeavour is INNER VISIONS. On a taxi ride with Bassist "Jupiter" Pickering in 1995, Pato was first introduced to their sound and an instant friendship grew. Their first CD, "Love One Another" had just been released. Upon first hearing it, Pato knew their sound had something that had been missing in reggae music for some time- a "roots island" feel. With the release of their subsequent CD's (each a progresssion in reggae music), and a feeling of family with Jupiter, brother Grasshopper (Guitars) and Ras Paul (sundry percussives), he has been proud to offer their unique sound to the reggae massive. Hearing and watching this amazing band mature into the international stars they are today has been most gratifying- for they have done it with their own perserverance and hard work. Their live performances reverberate with crucial messages of One Love, One Aim, One Destiny. The addition of Grasshoppers two sons, Akiba ("Mr. Snooze" on keyboards) and Aswad ("Hollywood" on drums), has brought a 'sound of the youth' to the mix and a mature depth to their sound.
Pato first met Trinidad Charlie Deyalsingh in 1998, selling his hot pepper sauce out of the back of his Suzuki Samarai in downtown Cruz Bay. Their mutual love of the Plant Kingdom inspired many long days working on his hillside land on St. John planting everything from Coconuts to Coffee, Peppers to Papaya, while Charlie sang old Calypso songs from his boyhood days in Trinidad. And his Pepper sauce! From his first taste of its bold flavor, Pato knew this was something special. After selling a few cases of Charlie's sauce over the years to state-side friends who were always wanting more, Pato felt TRINIDAD CHARLIE'S AUTHENTIC HOT PEPPER SAUCE was the perfect second cornerstone for Arawak Promotions. After "residing" on Charlie's land in one of his eco-cottages, he felt what can be magical about the Virgin Islands and wanted to inform all true eco-tourists about this 'unknown' paradise tucked away in Guinia Ghutt.
When Pato first met her at St. John Carnival in 1995 selling her "rootical" products in Cruz Bay Park, N'Zeeba Rabsatt began imparting wisdom to him. While sitting in casual conversation, N'Zeeba would reach for a particular lotion, oil, or powder because she felt your vibration and knew you needed that "bush" medicinal for better health. Her smiling eyes and infectious laughter, although veiling a life filled with hardship, were the glue to their friendship. Whenever he was off-island and feeling blue, Pato could count on a package from N'Zeeba as the perfect pick-me-up, to feel whole and, best of all, to touch "home" again. A Roots Daughter of the first magnitude, N'Zeeba's spiritual
wisdom of all things herbal-ital-vital is the natural third cornerstone.
Guy Benjamin Elementary School in Coral Bay, St. John has been called the "forgotten school of the Virgin Islands". After Pato's then 7-year-old daughter, Caitlin, first saw a news article stating that fact, she wanted to help them. She had been visiting the island with her dad since 1999 and had become friends with children that went to the school. After she spent time in their classrooms and saw first hand their need for basic school supplies, it was easy to help out and create life-long friendships! Always growing in ideas, ideals and scope, it is Arawakroots jewel-encrusted fourth cornerstone.
 Daughter Cait's caricature of "Ras Daddy"
"The purpose of this website IS to 'promote Caribbean music, art and culture', but do so in the most rightious of ways- by giving back to the community that has given so much to I & I. The people involved are my friends, my family - hard working people all. The products I am offering stimulate all the senses-the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and feelings of the islands and put a smile on your face even in the most mundane of times", Pato says.
All profits from sales go directly into the website to better promote these
products, as well as offering other wonderful goods from the West Indies. Join us in nurturing Arawak roots to flourish and blossom over the Earth once more!
Give Thanks and Praises!
I wish to thank Greg Willson of PLANETMIND INTERNETWORKS, without
whose creativity and drive, this cyberoot would not have been planted.
Selah!
Patrick "Pato" Foster
"A noble failure may be of more value than a petty success. The man who
sets his goals too low and accepts too little as enough, squanders the
talents and abilities with which Almighty JAH and Nature have endowed
him. Let us set our goals too high; let us demand more of ourselves than
we believe we posess."
H.I.M. Haile I Selassie I
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