Caribbean Time
Telling time in the Caribbean has recently been on the news and has often caused problems, for both locals and visitors alike. A music concert or Queen Show is scheduled to start at "11:00", then that becomes "11:00ish", which next turns into 11:30 (or later) to start around 12:00, and this is then called Caribbean Time! Yet when one goes to catch the 9:00 ferry to the neighbouring island at 9:05 it has left, but you are still in the Caribbean! There are actually two types of time in the West Indies. What people really need to understand is the difference between "Business Time" and "Social Time".
"Business Time" refers to business hours such as shops, banks, ferries, and church service (we count religion as a very serious business in the Caribbean) which use the same clock as everybody else for telling time. They all run very close to schedule, just try getting into the bank at 2:01! The same for some activities, guides are there usually before the given time: clearing trails; setting out bikes; or saddling up horses. Thus you should be too.
"Social Time" is different. This is for parties, relaxing and going out for the evening, and nobody watches the clock when "dey liming, Mon". It may be a parade or a Calypso Show, but it is going to start late. This is when Caribbean Time kicks in! Shows can easily start over two hours after the scheduled time.
Christmas and other holidays can be very confusing because they are a period for both "Business Time" and "Social Time", make sure you know which is which. When you are out at dinner and things seem a bit slow that is because the server is trying not to rush your "Social Time" (They want you to drink and eat your fill and have a nice time!). If you need it to speed up, it's their "Business Time", just ask and they will speed things up so they can start their "Social Time"!
Now hopefully we have cleared up and everyone understands that in the Caribbean there is "Social Time" and "Business Time". The main thing to remember you always want it to be a good time!
Published by James Johnson
I grew up in South Carolina and obtained 3 University Degrees from Clemson. I worked in research for a while and the joined Peace Corps and moved to the Caribbean where I now reside on Nevis. I work as a n... View profile
Go to the Caribbean This Spring Break Without Breaking Your Bank Account...Times are tough and for a lot of us we don't have the money to spend like we used to. Regardless, vacations and traveling are still possible, even to the most exotic of location...- Adventures in the CaribbeanAh-how enchanting are the islands in the Caribbean. From the white, sandy beaches of Tobago, to the blue mountains of Jamaica, there is much to be admired in the Caribbean.
- Caribbean Overview - A Visit to ParadiseLuminescent waters, baby powder sand, and sun that shines eternal; you are in paradise, you are in the Caribbean�but with so many islands and literally thousands of accommodations, which one is right for you?
- Inequality and Social JusticeCan inequality and social justice be the same thing?
- Social Networking and Social Bookmarking: Getting All Linked UpIf I had to use a conventional term to describe what online social networking and social bookmarking in the business context, I would use the term 'word of mouth marketing'. I mean, let's look at it closely.
- Religion and Social Life
- Top Caribbean Cruises for Under $600
- Caribbean Vacations: Paradise Fit for a Pirate
- Why Pirates of the Caribbean Sucks and Johnny Depp Can't Be Any Gayer Than Keith R...
- Coconuts and Tourism in the Caribbean
- Budget Friendly Tips for a Summer Trip to the Caribbean
- Summer 2009 Visiting the Caribbean on a Budget
- Learn about "Social Time" and "Business Time" in the Caribbean
2 Comments
Post a CommentLOL... This hits home for me. I went to Medical School in Grenada. There was "School Time", which was accurate to a minute. Exams, lectures, labs and such all ran on this time. EVERYTHING else was on "Local Time", which meant there was a range of about an hour on either side of the given time. I miss Grenada.
LOL, I liked that. It reminds me that we have two different times over here in the UK. One is 'appointment time' and the other is 'builder's time'. It is even more confusing than Caribbean time as builders time can be 3 weeks later than appointment time.