'Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl' was one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters of 2003 - it grossed US$652 million worldwide. And the same is hoped for the sequel, named 'Dead Man's Chest.' But before production begins, one very important cultural group says it has something to get off its chest. Today Keith Swift found out about the local controversy surrounding this sure fire international blockbuster.
Keith Swift Reporting,
In 2003 American movie star Johnny Depp led a gang of rogue pirates in the hugely successful Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. It was so successful that part two is set to begin filming next month in the Dominican Republic. But that won't happen, at least not if Garifunas like Sebastian Cayetano get their way.
Sebastian Cayetano,
"We also condemn this company for wanting to produce a movie in Dominica portraying the Gariangus as cannibals in the past and we don't tolerate that, we don't subscribe to that either. We find it to be a downright outright discrimination and abominable in this supposed age of enlightenment coming from America."
Belize's National Garifuna Council has joined with other descendants of Caribs around the world in calling on the Walt Disney Company to rewrite the script. Cayetano says Disney intends to portray his ancestors as savages and cannibals and that is factually, historically, and politically incorrect.
Sebastian Cayetano,
"We were never savages to begin with and we don't take kind to that. We were never chased on the beach. When Columbus and his prisoners when they landed in the Walton Island they never chased our chiefs. Our Chief was there, our men were there, and we gave them the utmost of hospitality and yet Columbus' men tried to attack our women."
Keith Swift,
With this blockbuster movie coming out, how do you think this will play into that stigma?
Sebastian Cayetano,
"That seems to be the intention, to have it played into that stigma but whatever happens there we are still who we are and stand up and take our stand and fight against all this discrimination, injustice. This is injustice and shamelessness in this time and age."
"The Garinagu had the practice in St. Vincent where before they went into war there would be some arms tied up on top of the house being smoked. Before battle these arms would be brought down and then the men would sought of chew, not actually eat, but sort of chew on these arms because these were arms of strong courageous soldiers who died at war. It is believed that if these men chew on this that the strength would come in and this is what the Spaniards term as cannibalism. They were not eating them, it was just a symbolic thing."
Cayetano says the Garifunas aren't taking on the Walt Disney Company for money - they only want what is right and that is something priceless - the truth.
Sebastian Cayetano,
"We're still living and vibrant today. We are educated. We are intelligent. We can speak on behalf of our people to anybody. We're not savages neither cannibals. We are Belizeans, human beings, respectable, and with dignity, and with pride so why can't Disney consult us and find out who we are."
