A few days before we left for the Caribbean, I received a series of e-mails from a Heather Grant on Union Island.  I guess that some people are indeed reading this stuff.  I was impressed.

Rob:

A friend just sent me your piece on the Boat Boys of the Grenadines.  Bravo!!!!

I have recently opened a business in Union Island called Erika’s Marine Services.  We are located in the Bougainvilla Complex; our services include e-mail and Internet access, telephone and fax service, laundry, bicycle rental and lots of other services as required by yachtsmen. Please look at our web site - www.erikamarine.com.  It is a new site and we are still adjusting it, but the basics are there.

One of our aims is to stop the cycle of negative aggressiveness that one finds in Clifton Harbor.  We have a young, friendly boat boy called Allex.  He carries a printed brochure, which he hands out to the yachts.  It describes Erika’s services, shows our prices which gives customers a sense of security that they are not being ripped off, and is also a handy reference to other services and products in Union.  It even has a map, showing beaches and other locations.

We are always concerned about the negative image that some of the boat boys are bringing to us, but there are some very nice ones, too.  We have designed and printed notices for a few of them, helping them to present themselves in a positive way.  We have a bulletin board outside our office that anyone can put a notice on.  We want to become a part of the community.

The pamphlet has had an excellent response.  We also hand out inserts in it for other businesses here.  We know it takes time, but hope that we can become the “Daffodil” of the southern Grenadines.

I will be away from Union when you visit on Nov. 30, but please drop in.  Chille Alexander, our office manager will be here.  She will introduce you to Allex, our non-aggressive boat boy with a lovely smile.  Allex can let you see our “Erika’s” dinghy.  It looks non-aggressive as well.  It is more cute than anything.

If you look at another web site, www.unionisland.com, you will see a project that has become reality.  Father Andrew Roache, the Catholic priest here, and we, have partnered in creating a community/training center in the church grounds.  Part of it is accommodation, quite luxurious for these parts.  Father Andrew would love to meet you when you are here next week.  He has been an important influence in Erika’s development.

Heather Grant
Erika’s Marine Services

This was quite a remarkable development.  I had been told that the situation on Union, with respect to aggressive harassment, had been deteriorating.  It had reached a point that new charter guests were being advised to avoid Union Island altogether.  Such developments are always a concern to me, since I have a vested interest in this part of the world.  I was interested in learning more about Heather’s new initiative.

As the e-mail states, I was invited to drop in and visit her new business, and pay a call on a Father Andrew Roache at St. Joseph’s Church.  I was intrigued by the whole idea, as I always enjoy establishing closer contact with the people in the places I visit.  I looked forward to experiencing life in the Caribbean from another point of view.

The Erika Initiative

Before departing on vacation, I had a look at their website so that I would have some idea what to expect.  When I finally arrived on Union Island, I went looking for them and found their office neatly tucked away amongst the beautiful trees and flowers in the Bougainvilla Complex.

They were expecting me.  I was warmly welcomed by Office Manager Chille Alexander, who gave me a brief tour.  Everything in that facility, I mean everything, was brand new.  They had spanking new iMac computers, printers, fax machines, desks.  Even the wall hangings were set in plastic laminate to prevent moisture damage.  Nothing was haphazardly done here.  This was clearly a well-funded operation, with a mission to get it right the first time.  Their bright yellow uniforms projected a happy and professional image.  I was impressed.  

I met Allex Hutchinson, who handles their on-the-water activities.  I can hardly classify him as a Boat Boy, although he does drive the boat.  This young man was bursting with pride over his new job, his new boat, and his new uniform.  His enthusiasm was outwardly obvious.  There was no question that he was the first step in turning around the negative cycle of harassment in Clifton Harbor.

St. Joseph’s and the Community

Round Man and I wandered up the hill past the town in search of Father Andrew Roache at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  As I neared what appeared to be a brand new church surrounded by a very impressive fence, one of the men tending to the gardening stopped working and met us at the gate.  I was about to ask how we would get through the gate, when he asked, “Robert, is that you?”  It was indeed Father Andrew.  He had been waiting for us!

After a quick introduction, he showed us around.  The church was a beautiful new stone structure, perched on the side of the hill overlooking the sea.  The wood frame windows were very decorative and quite different, in that they had no glass, enabling the prevailing winds to provide those inside relief from the heat of the day.

A beautiful 2-bedroom cottage named St. Joseph’s House was built on the property.  It offers visitors to the island clean and attractive accommodations at a reasonable price, with the finest views of Carriacou, Petit Martinique, and Petit St. Vincent.  Everything in this facility was brand new and extremely well constructed.  This would be a great place to stay overnight if you wanted a break from the boat.

Further information about the cottage, its facilities, rates, and how to book online is available on their website at www.unionisland.com.

Father Andrew began to explain exactly what they did there.  There was more.  This was no ordinary church, and this was no ordinary parish priest.  He went far beyond tending to the spiritual needs of his parish.  Here was a real community leader, one who had established a center aimed at “improving the quality of life” for the people of Union Island.

One of the other new buildings on the property was a multi-purpose training center.  There were half a dozen brand new iMac computers in a study lab, each with Internet access and a stunning view of the ocean and surrounding islands.  “Computer skills are going to be needed by our current generation,” Father Andrew pointed out. “We don’t want to get behind.”  He certainly had the facilities to achieve that objective.  I was told that Website development was another important skill being taught there.

We were shown a complete hydroponics lab on the property.  Because the soil is thin on the island, vegetables do not grow easily, and consequently must be brought in at great expense.  Father Andrew could see the potential benefit to the community of growing their own vegetables – it would reduce the cost for basic necessities, and provide a complete chain of employment, from growing to distribution.  Simple but effective.

There was also a complete silk-screen facility onsite.  The silk-screened T-shirt business is big business in tourist areas, and the employment benefits to the local residents are obvious.  The island could definitely use more diverse employment.

Erika’s Marine Services use the laundry equipment at St. Joseph’s to provide their on-the-water laundry service.  The business plan and service delivery model for Erika’s was in part developed with the assistance and guidance of Father Andrew.  The result is an excellent new marine service for Union Island visitors, and most important, gainful employment for several people in a respectable business.

The multi-purpose building also had a large conference facility with accommodations for a dozen or so young people who might attend some training or church-related function. There were also accommodations for guest instructors who routinely travel to St. Joseph’s to teach.  Industry specialists arrive from abroad to donate their time and expertise for the cause.   Quite an amazing operation.

I suddenly became quite sensitive about the wording in my Boat Boys of The Grenadines website article, given that it had been read by Father Andrew.  It was originally aimed at the charter boat audience in an effort to ease an existing negative perception about Boat Boys.  Given that some of the negative perception was self-inflicted, there was no way that article could be all “milk and honey” and hold any credibility.  However, now that it was being read by the people of that community, I became concerned that they may not appreciate it.  There was some criticism contained within.  I wondered if Boat Boy Herman would find me and cut off my head.  I asked Father Andrew about it, and he assured me that the article was indeed fair.

As we parted, I felt gratified to have witnessed such an amazing, yet simple operation, charged with the very noble task of improving the lives of a community in need.  I wished Father Andrew well in his mission, and assured him that we would stay in touch.

It was indeed one small miracle.