in 1895, major american investment spurred the growth of the sugar industry in the dominican republic. large plantations recruited cane cutters from eastern caribbean islands - particularly, st. martin, tortola, anguilla, st. kitts and antigua. although the pay was merely $0.17 per ton of cane and conditions were poor, the opportunity was considered a "saviour" by those who took it up, especially among the still poverty stricken anguilla.