Dominica Island Images

Toward the end of the 18 century, sugar and trade profits in the West Indies were dwindling. But the cost of defending the island remained high, both in money and manpower. At the Cabrits, many troops died of fever and other ill effects of the climate. To solve this manpower problem, Britain recruited African and Creole slaves, better adapted to the climate, to form the Black West Indian Regiments.

To learn more about the West Indies Regiment Soldier, visit Fort Shirley at the Cabrits National Park.