Norway (E)

A part of the Bells district in the center of the island where workers constructing the Transinsular Road in the 1940s and 1950s had their camp. Built by the Public Works Department, it consisted of long barrack buildings and kitchens. Because it was so cold to live there the workers called the place Norway. When funds for the Transinsular Road ran out in 1947, without the road being completed, at least two Carnival songs were composed celebrating the scandal. One of them began: "Sa ki twavai Norway, vini en l'office mwe..." (Those who work at Norway, come to my office...) and another: "Si ou te Norway, sa ou te ke fe?" (If you were at Norway, what would you do?) When the road was eventually completed in 1956, the camp, on the site of the present Bells government school, was demolished. Also the name, Norway, as a description of the area has generally gone out of use.

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