Tobago silk cotton tree's legacy to be preserved

Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis has described the fall of an old silk cotton tree in Golden Lane as a significant loss to Tobago and its heritage.

The century-old tree, which had many mystical stories attached to it, came crashing down on Wednesday just after noon after hours of heavy rain.

The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the tree pulled down several lines as it fell, and damaged two cars.

Silk cotton trees are associated with jumbies and that tree is famous for stories of an African witch called Gang Gang Sarah who climbed the tree and fell to her death while trying to fly back home.

The road in and out of the village was impassable, even by foot and residents of Culloden were trapped.

On Thursday Dennis said the Tobago House of Assembly is looking at ways to preserve the site as a tourist attraction.

He said, “This is definitely a loss for Tobago historically and culturally. That tree had a lot of history behind it and it was definitely a focal point of Tobago’s heritage. There are a number of stories dated back to many, many years ago concerning that tree, a part of the whole Gang Gang Sarah story. Fellow villagers and residents of Tobago within that community can tell a number of stories of experiences at that tree.

He said as chief secretary, "I will ensure the necessary steps are taken to preserve that aspect of our history. We are looking at this point in time of ways and means in which we can utilise the lumber derived from the tree itself maybe to facilitate the establishment of a monument of a silk cotton house or something else that can ensure the historical benefit of that tree and its location can continue to be derived by Tobagonians.”

There are stories of people having strange experiences after trying to cut the tree. One man claimed he suffered a stroke after he was sent to trim its branches. From first-hand experience, Pastor Rollin Bacchus, historian from the Golden Lane village, told Newsday on Thursday he remembered seeing what looked like two phantoms near the tree, one night he passed there alone as a child.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes and it took me some time to even speak about it."

The tree was famous as a site spiritual leaders would visit to interact with the spirit of African ancestors. And it’s a known spot for obeah at night.

Bacchus said, “I just hope they perform the right ritual so that the men involved in cutting or removing that tree aren’t harmed. It may not happen at once but, time will tell...All of us were surprised that this tree fell – but from the root, not even a branch, from the root.

"As I said, legend versus belief versus the way people operate is what’s guides life.”

In an update on Thursday, TEMA director Allan Stewart said it took workmen over five hours to remove the tree.

Asked if spiritual leaders or rituals were involved in its removal, Stewart said, “I did pray and I pray for the team’s safety. The people of that belief know who they are and they will come forward and do that. It is the personal responsibility of every Christian-hearted person, under those circumstances, to do what is necessary.

“It’s not a task that could be subscribed to TEMA or we will undertake or advocate for as part of our duties. But our individual duties in undertaking such tasks that have such risk factors is that everyone would pray for their own safety.”

He said there was no bad feeling or hesitation from any member of the team, and up to Thursday morning, final clean-up works and cutting the tree into smaller pieces went smoothly. The remains of the tree were piled up at the side of the road.