I have to share this. I have an Oxford dictionary printed in 1986. I just checked the definition of native for curiosity sake. As a noun: 1. one born in a particular race. 2. a local inhabitant. (right now, you're thinking, see, nothing wrong with the word, well....). 3. a member of a non-European or less civilized indigenous people; (in South Africa) a Black.
Less civilized? a Black? I guess White South Africans are not natives. Yikes. I think I need to throw away that dictionary! I'm really curious to see if a more current Oxford still has #3.

Anyway, my point is that this is exactly the reason why JAGIRL, and I and a lot of people of color (I certainly can't speak for all) have "issues" with the word. There's a lot of history behind it. So of course, a person who's not of color will perhaps not realize or not cringe when they hear or use the word "native".
Funny thing is that my 1988 Webster's dictionary does not have that "interesting" definition.
Anyway, I'm done, I promise, on that topic.

caribtraveler, I'm a little surprised that the third definition was listed without any indicator of usage, such as derogatory, inflammatory, etc.

blamona, thanks for the info about the condo ownership.

You mentioned the term "belonger" which I've always liked, but I've only ever read about it (both here and in books) but have never heard it in active use. Maybe that's the excuse I need to take a trip to Anguilla or T&C!

JAGIRl, only *you* could come up with the phrase Turkey Cake!

I used to be a Cruzan. In my heart, I still am.

I just love this board. We can take a post about puking from mold infestation and turn it into an etymology lesson. As unintentional as sunnydelite's description was, I agree with JAGIRL and caribtraveler, the word has some bad connotations, thanks to old Hollywood, especially when used to describe the inhabitants of a relatively exotic place. It can conjure up some comic imagery. It's also somewhat bland in illustrative power. No one is really "native" to the islands anyways. Like the United States, we/they all came from somewhere else ancestrally. Maybe we should stick to only referring to flora and fauna as being native or not native. Besides, I think the nicknames for locals are so much more fun. (Love "Turkey Cake," nothing wrong with turkeys or cakes IMO) I wonder if I wear a grass skirt and put a bone through my nose they'll let me call myself St. Johnian?

Tuxedocat: I know. I love this board too. The thread hijackings are always something else.

I woke up this morning and felt bad because I didn't want Sunnydelite to think we thought she meant it that way. JAGirl apologized for jumping on her because she knew it wasn't meant that way. The rest of us were answering TPatricco's question and it went from there.

Oh sure...blame it on me! (meant facetiously). As I thought of the context another word to substitute for natives just escaped me. Blame it on an overloaded work week and my brain shutting down.

Gold stars to you all for your thoroughly researched answers.

Locals seems the right word to use in most cases.

Regardless I think we'll all be steering clear of the Ocean Club West in T&C at least for the near future.

Marion,
That US board is something else indeed Now there's a board with some short fuses and lots of and lots and lots of .

Hey, ej, I didn't come up with Turkey Cake. I got it from a Bahamian friend of mine. He actually dared innocent little me to call our Turks friend a turkey cake!

We both laughed, until the tears came, at her reaction!

I hope sunnyd isn't upset at the threadjacking of sorts.

Wow all the responses LOL>>>>>>>>>

First off, I cannot believe I said lewding instead of looting! My fault as I had 20 mo. old twins circling like sharks around me and had written this haphazardly!

Ok. I never called anyone natives (on that island to their face LOL)...I call myself a native NY'er...so I wasnt even thinking twice about it but with all the political correctness out there today I will use locals instead!Actually I have in the past but for some reason I said natives!
I think we will go to Anguilla next time or the Caymans.........maybe just stay in the good ole USA for the next couple years!LOL!!!!!!!!!
thanks again to all who responded! Just wanted to get it out there about the hotel...As I said the beaches were absolutely beautiful! The grounds were well maintained also.......but that is where it ends!
Blamona-thanks for the info with the condos being independently owned!Maybe the 3rd room would have been a good luck charm!

I sincerely didn't mean to insult anyone with the word native!!
EjCrowe- lol thanks for correcting me!!

Sunnydelite,

Thanks for responding to all of us in such a positive manner.

Sometimes a thread can go far afield from what the OP intended, and I think that was the case here.

You have a great sense of humor which is appreciated ;-).

So we live and we learn

Goodness woman, with 20 month old twins, you deserve a pass on whatever you write ;-)

Keep posting and take care !

Marion

<b><font color="indigo">It didn't offend me.... I know you didn't use the term &quot;Native&quot; maliciously. I'm so sorry your vacation wasn't everything you'd hoped. I know how disspointing that can be when you anticpate it for so long only to be let down. I've only had the pleasure of staying in TCI once (this year) and had a wonderful experience at The Sands. Maybe if you decide to go back, you could try that resort.

I hope you don't let one bad experience prevent you from returning to TCI. I bet next time will be 100% better!</font></b>

I am very sorry you had a bad time at OCW. We were just there August 26-30 and our Junior Suite was nothing as you described. We had a toddler with us so. We rented from a private owner.
Everything in there was clean and of high quality. So I am very suprised at your experience. I would return to OCW again.

Sunnydelite: I echo what MarionCK said. Thanks for taking our &quot;blablabla&quot; moment in stride.

Sunnydelite - sorry you had such a bad stay at OCW and that it sounds like they didn't use good customer service skills to help rectify the issue. We did notice a slight difference in the attitude from belongers toward tourists outside of our resort (The Sands) this last visit; a tad more negative which was a little dismaying but won't stop us from returning for a fourth visit as soon as we can.