The thick brown sauce is made from cassava. It's thick like molasses and is a deep black color.
Blend together the ingredients for the marinade in a food processor, making a paste.
Put the meats into a large pan, then add the cassareep, and the herb paste.
Let the meat marinate an hour, then add the rest of the seasonings with the sugar and stir it good, before letting it simmer 25 minutes. Add the hot water, and let it continue cooking.