Tourism

One day I was given a letter from the government informing me that I had been appointed to Bequia’s Tourism Committee. This was not a request, it was pretty much a command, and I reluctantly became the Island’s newest member.  I had never been a fan of formal meetings, and that wasn’t about to change in a hurry.

Chester Peters, the charismatic manager of the Sunny Caribbee Hotel, was the Chairman of the committee.  Althea Gregg was the long-suffering secretary who looked after the little tourist bureau and took notes at the meetings.  The other members represented tourism-related businesses and I assumed I was there because I owned a restaurant on the Island.  The Police Inspector was a member as well as the head of Customs, and the group met once a month in the hot stuffy room above the revenue offices.  I disliked going to the meetings, they didn’t seem to accomplish much and I disliked the time wasted when I had more important things to do!

One day Son Mitchell sent a message to the Pizzeria asking me to join him at the Frangipani for a chat.  I believe by then he was in his second year as Prime Minister, and when the P.M. requested your presence you dropped what you were doing and went.

Son as well as his wife Pat were waiting for me under a palm tree by the sea.  I was curious as to why I had been summoned, and sat down between them to find out.  Son wanted to talk about tourism, and what I thought about the meetings I had been attending. I didn’t want to sound too critical, but it was hard to say positive things about the dull (and at times extremely boring) meetings, nor the hot grubby room we were forced to endure.  I saw no point to the meetings and resented having to take precious time off to attend.

Son and Pat listened to what I had to say with interest and it felt good to have a sounding board.  There was a lot that needed to be done if we wanted to promote tourism on Bequia, and those committee meetings were not the answer.

We spoke at length about the lack of infrastructure on the Island, and the impact being made by the increasing number of cruise ships.  I doubted that the minutes from the meetings were ever read by the Ministry of Tourism on the mainland; ours was an advisory committee, and although Mrs. Gregg dutifully sent the minutes from each meeting there was little or no response from the government offices.

The reason for my summons to the Frangipani suddenly became crystal clear. The Prime Minister wanted to make ME the chairman of the Tourist Committee, and he wanted the appointment to take effect immediately.  I was astonished as well as dismayed, and told Son and Pat that a Bequia person should be chairman, not someone born in another country!  I will never forget what Son told me that day, and which led me to accept the position as chairman.  “Judy”, he said, “You have been here long enough to belong, yet you grew up in another country.  You have one eye focused on the Island while the other eye sees it as a visitor does”.

What the Prime Minister said was very true, and rather nervously I agreed to be Chairman of the Bequia Tourist Committee as long as he ensured that the minutes were read on the mainland.  I also requested the right to choose the committee members myself, and to have the meetings at a location of my choosing.  The P.M. agreed enthusiastically and we shook hands.  He then told me my first task would be to organize the cruise ships visiting Bequia.  Well, THAT was going to make me REALLY popular, wasn’t it!!??

Tourism has changed from the days of a little tourist bureau with a ribbon-less typewriter. I had some incredible experiences during my eleven years as Chairman, some of which I will share in future stories………………..