Douglas Islet is a small island located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, within the jurisdiction of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The island is uninhabited, and its only inhabitant is the caretaker. Douglas Islet is also home to the world’s smallest seabird, the Kittitian solitaire, which can be found nesting on the island.
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History
Douglas Islet was first sighted by Europeans in 1543, when the explorer Diego Ruiz de Montoya landed there on his way to find the spice islands of Indonesia. The island was named for Sir George Douglas, one of King James VI and I’s government ministers.
In 1685, a group of French Huguenots settled on the islet and began cultivation of tobacco. However, they were driven out by a Danish expedition two years later. Twenty years later, when Port-au-Prince on the French island of Hispaniola was captured by Christophe Collas and his men (French West Indies Regiment), Douglas Islet became a prison for Martinique’s slaves who were brought to St Kitts from Hispaniola in order its sugar production. In an effort to fight disease within the slave population that had arrived since 1660, Dr James Killian visited St Kitts.
Climate
Douglas Islet has a hot and humid climate with average annual temperatures of about 26 °C. Rainfall is moderate, being between 600 and 900 mm.
Fauna
Douglas Islet contains many different species of flora and fauna: * Kittitian solitaire
Douglas Islet is a nature sanctuary and uninhabited. The Secretary General of the United Nations recommended its designation in 1957, without success. As part of their Program for Man and Nature (proposed by UNESCO), they sent an expedition to Douglas Isle on March 4, 1975; this lasted just over 16 days as the island was claimed in 1977 as Tobago’s Southern Outpost National Park Reserve – it has previously been a nature reserve since 1963.
The park contains three large ponds (Little, Large and Stump) which have produced several species of turtle, including the endangered Hawksbill sea turtle (“Chelonia mydas”) or red-eared terrapin; as well this island serves an important nesting passage for migratory birds in these parts.
Culture
All inhabitants of the island are descendants of African slaves brought in to work on plantations. Oral tradition attributes the first human habitation to a Polynesian chief named Tupi who, according to legend, landed his canoe on Douglas Islet and built a few huts from palm fronds.
The first European planters followed, using enslaved labourers imported from Africa. In the 18th century, more workers came to this island on short-term contracts as well as slaves who were deported here in a conscious effort by successive British governments to maintain slave labour as existed at Jamestown and elsewhere between 1650 and 1780 because of plantation collapse in Jamaica.
Politics
The island is part of the country of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago are a British dependent territory at the southern end of South America. Native-born inhabitants have generally not shown much interest in politics with many members being recruited or educated abroad especially around Larnaca, Nicosia Greece for military service.. Social tensions arising from immigration issues which were later reflected in violence, led to rising crime rates on Trinidad including more serious narcotics trafficking problems all attributed to political instability as well as an impact.
Government services
The primary healthcare provider on the island is the Health Trust and it offers routine outpatient care, as well as emergency department, maternity services and a CHC. The University of the West Indies provides tertiary education in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.
Electricity
The island uses British electrical systems with electricity supplied mainly by generators operated by the state-owned National Energy Corporation of Trinidad & Tobago (NECTT). Natural gas is also supplied.
Radio stations
The nine radio channels are all in the English language including two international stations: RT 88 and HRN, which broadcasts songs and local news to Southeast Asia. Radio is government-sponsored except for 85 CJON as a community station also headquartered in Chaguanas known by its heritage call sign 89AMM providing Christian programmes at night beginning when it started broadcasting on June 25th 1995 via satellite facilities of the United States Federal.
Tourism
Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which includes Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Dominica Republics of The Dominican Republic & Haiti. Trinidad also participates in the American organization Inter-American Development Bank while being a full member of the Commonwealth realms .
In recent years with its relative proximity to the resort region of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago has become a tourist destination as well. The United States government also strongly encourages visiting tourists as it tries to bring into economic development efforts between both countries, which have had similar latin languages during their colonial times using English still are not able to communicate effectively today despite they practice Spanish in public life.
Transport
There are two main ports, Port of Spain and Point Fortin. Additionally there is a seaport at San Fernando. The country has an extensive highway system that connects the various districts with one another as well as to neighbouring countries. There are also airports in Port-of-Spain and Chaguanas.
The use of automobiles ensures that most people within Trinidad can easily get around on the roads, while public transportation (bus, train).
Cuisine
Trinidad and Tobago’s cuisine is a mix of imported items, indigenous dishes and African slaves who introduced their cooking styles. Some examples include the Chim Bam Manchurian (a type of Chinese broccoli), calypso music, bok choy, yam pie and rum punch. As the country is English-speaking, the Spanish and Portuguese people who migrated to Trinidad after 17th century helped along with their own dishes.
Wildlife
The country is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the Trinidad Tamarin and the Margay. There are also numerous types of birds, reptiles and insects.
Conclusion
Douglas Islet is situated in the middle of the Charlotte Strait, one of the two entrances to Baffin Bay. It is a small, barren island with a surface area of just over 1.5 hectares, and its only inhabitants are two groups of Canada geese. Inaccessible by road, it’s only accessible by sea or air. Douglas Islet has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique geological and natural features, including its geology, topography and vegetation.
FAQ
Where is It Located?
Douglas Islet is located in the middle of the Charlotte Strait, one of the two entrances to Baffin Bay.
How Big is It?
Douglas Islet is just over 1.5 hectares in size.
What Are Its Inhabitants?
Douglas Island has 2 groups of Canada geese, the number of these birds fluctuates depending on how many eggs they’re incubating and also if there’s just one bird or a few. Douglasi (the first discovered) were two storks that nested in 1969; Rorqual Brown was an osprey nestling found unhatched in
Is the Island Dangerous?
According to the locals, Douglas Island is not a safe place. There are stories of people being swallowed by sea birds and even fish entering their houses.
Can I Stay in the Island?
No, Douglas Islet is inaccessible by road.
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