DID YOU KNOW THAT? The road into and thru (through) Seine Bight was first called (named, known) Cull Highway. (It was so named) So name after (Fr. John Cull, S. J.) the first (a priest who first drove) Priest who drove into Seine Bight by driving thru the uncharted bushes and swamps of Riversdale, in a four-wheel-drive jeep, sometimes one set of tires in the sea then (with the) other set on the sandy shores.

Did you know that our Seine Bight forefathers first settled at Jonathan Point also called All Pines until they were driven or expelled from there because they REFUSED to pay for the area on which they lived. They found the idea of paying for GOD's Land REPUGNANT. They rejected this stupid idea of paying for land. A white settler by the name of one Mr.Downner had bought the entire area and offered to sell them a peice. They REFUSED. He drove them off the land. These group of Garinagu traveled south way pass where Seine Bight is now to an area called Caribbal. For many years, relics of broken bottles, chinaware and building posts remained behind at the location as indication of prior human habitation.

DID YOU KNOW THAT: The darkest days in Seine Bight was one sunny Sunday morning in May 1961 when over a dozen peeople died over a 36 hour period. This was the Benzine incident.

A gallon of what was believed to be consumable liquor drifted ashore Seine Bight and privately distributed and consumed among a select few. This sunny day quickly dimmed as this deadly vermouth almost immediately began claiming one victim after another.

This deadly drink's first action is to severe the optic nerve rendering instantaneous blindness follwed by massive internal bleeding leaving it's victim in an almost catatonic and terminal state. Burials in Seine Bight were scheduled by the hour. Often, before one coffin was covered the wailings of other (new) mourners can be heard announcing another death or two.

Men stood by the church bell to take turns sounding the bell in that Ever-So-Slow and distinct bone chilling, Death announcing bang, sending chills impregnated by fear of multitudes of untimely ghosts throughout the village. Providence only saved others such as my mother as they were denied access or admission for one reason or another to the private distribution process of this clear colorless mortal drink.

My mother often relates how she was not admitted to one upstainrs wooden house where her group (Pu-lal-li-guna) (Pulali = a sweetish milky mini dumpling) where the ladies of Pulali meets for singing practice. The Pulali group had been a given a quart of this vermouth for the consumtion of its paying members. Members of the Pulali group (all ladies) were obligated to pay 25 cents a month to remain current. Because my mom was one month behind, yes, she was behind by 25 cents .... she was denied admission at the door. She relates how she remembers each step she took as stepped down each rung of the steps.

The half dead or half living rushed to Stann Creek and often didn't make it. In some cases one or more members of the same family died hours apart. Emergency medical response from leaders of government was anemic at best. After these dark days bottles drifting ashore were heavily scrutinized.

It may not be late to research marine records to find out which negligent ship or liner that was the source and seek legal remedies.