Before you lies one of two manmade tunnels within this ridge called Jasper Rock. This 200-foot tunnel was built using slave labour in 1813. It allowed the Europeans access by land to areas north of this tunnel. Prior to the cutting of Byera tunnel, goods from plantations further north were transported to Kingstown using canoes and droghers (small sea crafts).
The Treaty of Paris between the French and British in 1763 gave the British ownership of St. Vincent. Thus, although lands further north were previously reserved for the Caribs, by 1796, most of the Carib inhabitants were forced into exile off St. Vincent.
Settlement of the Carib Reserve by the Europeans thereafter began around 1804. Several sugar estates including Grand Sable, Rabacca, Lot 14 and Orange Hill were later established.
Byera tunnel was reinforced and repaired in 2004 using steel and concrete. The second tunnel, Black Point, is located at the end of the ridge near the sea.
Comments 0 comments