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I just received a message from Dr. Ray Gambell, Secretary, International Whaling Commission

51st ANNUAL MEETING - 1999

After discussions with the Government of Grenada and consultation with the Advisory Committee,
the following arrangements have been established for the 51st Annual Meeting
to be held at the Renaissance Resort Hotel on Grand Anse Beach, Grenada.

30 April - 3 May Scientific Committee Working Groups (AWMP ¹ and Bryde's trials)
3 - 15 May Scientific Committee
17 - 19 May Whale Killing Methods Workshop
9 - 21 May Commission Committee, Sub-committees and Working Group (F&A, RMS, AS and Inf.) ²
24 - 28 May IWC 51

¹ AWMP Aboriginal Whaling Management Procedure
² F & A Finance and Administration Committee
RMS Revised Management Scheme Working Group
AS Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Sub-committee
Inf. Infractions Sub-committee

Saturday was mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers in the day.
Sunday was a simpley gorgeous, perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

This is a good time to remind visitors that electricity, or "current" as it's called down here, is sometimes an on-again, off-again kind of thing. This makes having a few candles nearby always a good idea. Last night, for example, the current went off several times during the early evening. Not for long. But in the time it takes to go around and blow-out all the candles you lit, off the current goes again. It was just one of those kinda days. I had an appointment made to install a new internet connection at Paddy's Enterprises at 8:00am. My morning routine entails staggering into the kitchen, I live and work at the same location, to heat the water for my coffee: first cup gets the heart pumping and the second activates the brain after a night's sleep. I turn on the burner and nothing. Propane gas bottle is empty. I trade my services at Paddy's for a new gas bottle, return home and have my coffee around 9:30am. Later that night, I'm baking chicken in the oven in a casserole dish from Grenada Clayworks, and presto! Off goes the electricity. Seems like it's always something. Seems like you have to always add items to your scavenger list, down here we don't having shopping lists, we have scavenger lists. Remember the game when we divided-up into teams with each given a list of items to go find. First team with all the items, wins. Well, here not all items are available at all times so daily shopping is like setting out on a scavenger hunt. Always plenty of basic provisions: rice, flour, dried peas. And take fresh fruits, for example. At different times in the year, Carricou produces mangos, passion fruit, breadfruit, sour-sop, melons, papaya, and of course, the coconut as "jellies" and as fruit. But not all bear at the same time so we have mango, mango, mango and then they are gone. Then the next fruit bears and everyone is sucking chin-ups. We sort of "go with the flow."

Which brings me to yacht charters. Earlier this year, we arranged a yacht charter only to have the people arrive after the boat had been sold. Going with the flow we rushed around and found a replacement. The guests turned out to be a newspaper reporter who published the following story after her return to Virginia:

Betty Booker Monday, February 16, 1998 Edition
- Front Page Prime Living -
Lead Story For The Richmond Times-Dispatch Newspaper
VIRGINIA'S NEWS LEADER - A Media General Newspaper

LOLLING IN THE SUN GOING WITH THE FLOW

I'm writing about an island in the middle of nowhere,
which is where winter-weary people would like to be.
The reason is flow. Flow is pretty simple, and it works.
When I remember to stay alert to what's around me, I find life gives what I need without a lot of gnashing and thrashing. Apparent setbacks are part of the process: They nudge me in the direction I need to go and cause less havoc when I don't insist on swimming upstream. When I set my mind and heart on a course and then flow with the wind and waves, they seem to carry me there.
If they don't, I reassess my course so I don't waste energy by struggling all the time.
Here's an example of how it works:
I've been wanting to write about Virginians who retire to warm-climate countries for health reasons.
My plan on this trip, however, had been to to loll in bright blue seas and to relax in the sun slathered with 45 SPF sunscreen. Then one morning, when Eagle Scout and I stopped in to thank the guy who had shephered us to Carriacou via the Internet "John H. Ingram" <webmaster@grenadines.net> I met two retirees with Virginia roots who had moved there for health reasons. If you're in the flow, and a reporter, you buy a note pad and do interviews. None of it seemed like work.
Flow blurs the rigid edges between work and leisure.
Even the way we chose the island relied on flow:
Scout surfed the Net hunting for a Caribbean island not overrun by tourists. He found many possibilities from Honduras to the Grenadines. I peered over his shoulder. When he got to a compound of three little Swiss-style chalets called the Round House Cottages, I said, "That's it." "Good," he said, "that was my choice, too." The place, it turned out, is owned by Sue Russell, a Swiss-German, and her husband, Kim. It's managed by a former New York chef, Kate Stroebel, a maker of stupendous desserts who also runs their little restaurant.
As a special treat, Scout also had booked a three-night cruise on the Russell's 50-foot yacht. We arrived to find it had been sold. Flow took care of that "problem": Sue Russell had lined up Brian Saunders, an Englishman, and Gillian Pierre, a Trinidadian, to take us on Blue Monsoon, their 45-foot catamaran. We had our own suite, all appointed with inlaid woods. Saunders, an engineer and former insurance agent who used to sail in pre-Olympic races, designed and built the boat and sailed it from Britain to the West Indies in 17 days, nearly two weeks less than the typical voyage. His reason for leaving Britain also refers to the harried midlife person's dream: "I wanted a different life than 9-5 routine existence," he said. "Now we have blue skies and constant winds. We just sail into a bay, stay as long as we like and move on to the next one." Gillian's reason for leaving Trinidad: "I didn't want to stay where I had always lived. I wanted to see the world." She cooks delicious West Indian style - "hot or not, as you like" - and international dishes. Island conversations contribute to flow: Sue Russell, for instance, wants to help low-income Carriacou residents revive the island's now-abandoned indigo trade as a cottage industry. West Africans brought their ability to weave cotton and dye it in intricate dark blue patterns in the 1600s. Russell, a weaver of wool, is picking seeds out of cotton by hand. She needs a cotton gin. This request goes into the flow; I suspect there's someone here in the land of cotton who has an unused one the islanders could use.
There's another reason for writing about this little island in the middle of nowhere.
Middle-age transitions: grabbing Scout by his hand and leaping into the flow of the second half of life with wild abandon. On our honeymoon.

Well, it happened again.

This time it was S/Y Suvetar and a family from the States travelling as a group of six. Flow solution: if we can't find a boat large enough for six, then we use two vessels instead: one sloop and one trimaran and have them sail up The Grenadines together. With 522 nights booked so far this year under our belts, we are not about to loose a reservation or drop our responsibilities.
It hasn't happened yet and hopefully won't ever as long as
... we go with the flow.

.

Following heavy rains last night, it stayed cloudy with scattered rain showers throughout the day.
The sun came back around 4:00pm.

Captain John Smith from the Original Island Sloop Mermaid of Carriacou, dropped into the office with his friend Larry. John says the International Whaling Commission is to hold their May 1999 Meeting in Grenada. We sent them an e-mail for the particulars and will up-date this page with what we learn.

Mustique Airways has a flight from Canouan at 10:30am arriving Barbados at 12:00 Noon.
The cost is EC$310/person one-way. Children <12 half-price.

I printed the Report Cards for the Harvey Vale Government School this morning.
113 children. No government support here.
Why not adopt this school's small children and contribute books and supplies and....

Captain Philippe of S/Y Tatoosh was in to print his sign for hotels and tourist offices in French
and seal them in plastic. Contact Philippe:

Cloudy with scattered rain showers and a nice wind.

The Carriacou Parang Committee called and they will be dropping by to create a webpage
for their annual Christmas celebration. The page will be published here.

The 1999 Carriacou Carnival Development Committee, which has elected its new slate of officers,
will hold a general meeting next Wednesday at the Regatta Jupa at 6:30pm. Watch the Committee's website for up-dates.

The current Carriacou Carnival program, subject to change, is:
Sunday, 6 December 1998
Domino Games and the showing of the 1998 Carriacou Carnival film. The Band X-TRAK will perform.
Guest calypso artists: Cokie, Rhino, Dan Juma, Young Eagle, Kizzie, Shanda Charles, Leftist, and Bob Adams.
WEEK ONE
Saturday, 2 January 1999
Community Centre - Happy Hour with calypso auditions
WEEK TWO
Saturday, 9 January 1999
Community Centre - Bingo & Dance. $2,000 Jackpot
WEEK THREE
Friday, 16 January 1999
Grand Bay's Escape Club - Calypso Show & Dance
Saturday, 17 January 1999
Grand Bay's Escape Club - Calypso Show & Dance with appearance of the Queen candidates
WEEK FOUR
Saturday, 23 January 1999
Brunswick Playing Field - Bon-Fire and Open Air Special
WEEK FIVE
Saturday, 30 January 1999
Community Centre - Happy Hour
WEEK SIX
Saturday, 6 February 1999
Community Centre - Open-Air Dance & Calypso Competition. Judging by crowd reaction.
WEEK SEVEN
Friday, 12 February 1999
Tennis Courts - Kiddie's Carnival
WEEK EIGHT
Saturday, 14 February 1999
Calypso Semi-Final

A simpley gorgeous, perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

A simpley gorgeous, perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.
Printed a few business cards, collected from customers dropping by to pick-up printing, offered visitors a chance to check their hotmail/yahoo, worked on travel details, and took it easy.

Around 5:00pm last night, the electricity to Hillsborough cut off and everyone in the town was plunged into darkness, except Ade's Dream with a generator going, for about 4-5 hours. From my office, I can roll my chair back to the windows where I have no doubt one of the town's very best views. The battery-back did its job and I leisurely closed down the programs and shut down the computer. Then with one foot to the floor I pushed back to see what I could see,

The Views out the Window...

After about 4:30pm, Hillsborough, the capital of Carriacou complete with harbor, jetty, airport, banks, post office, shops and restaurants, transforms itself back into the sleepy little village it is for those lucky enough to live here. From my up-stairs location on the Main Street in the center of the town, with a one-way street passing in front; and another one-way street passing to the rear, I notice that all traffic from the entire northern section of the island heading toward the airport and points south; and all traffic from the entire southern section of the island heading past the aiport and into Hillsborough, passes by my office each and every day. Okay, by now you must have a picture of the situation. In truth, after 5:00pm, I counted a total of ten transports passing to the front in the entire 5-hour period while the lights were off. Ten. Just 10. Not 100, or 1000, or.... TEN! By the way, even less on the back street. But I digress, Hillsborough transforms itself back into the sleepy little village where children and bare-backed boys rinse the salt from the sea off their clothes and bodies from a bare pipe sticking up through the sidewalk next to Dollarman's Shop. Cats. Dogs. Chickens. Lizards. Sheep. Goats. Donkeys. All come out to roam on Main Street after 5:00pm.

It's getting dark now. Those stars. Can I just reach up and pick them? Are they so very close? No moon; no street lights; and all the houses dark except for the faint flutter of candles. Here the sounds: the dogs; crickets; people talking, muffled; laughter and singing. Yes, I hear singing. Perhaps a wake going on.

Even in full darkness, with the island electricity off, the beach seems to glow with an inviting light... soft but definitely friendly. Off goes the shirt, on with the rubber shoes, out the door (left open) and across the street onto the beach. Only candles for light but I can see everything so clearly. On with the snorkel and mask and into the routine of laps... keeping the beach on my right... stroke... kick...stroke.... Turn at the Hillsborough Jetty and keeping the beach on my left... stroke... kick...stroke.... Turn past the Catholic Church and keeping the beach on my right... stroke... kick...stroke....

Something to say about swimming in water 80ºF when air temperature is 78ºF
Something to say about swimming in water with smooth sandy beach under your feet
Something to say about swimming in water protected from the waves by the island itself
Something to say about swimming in water at night and alone
Hillsborough indeed transforms itself back into the sleepy little village after 5:00pm

... a View out the Window

A simpley gorgeous, perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Jean-Michael from S/Y Kyrimba dropped-in to let me know that he and Elisabeth are off for Martinique.
Contact Jean-Michael:

Captain Paul of S/Y Nidri send me an e-mail today. Since he has received several charter requests, it was nice to get his itinerary. He just returned from his last Orinocco (Venezuela) trip for this year and he is on his way up North within a week. He will be cruising the Grenadines again as from Dec.9 until somewhere in March or April 1999. He has one or two charters in the Trinidad area but that is not very far away from Carriacou when the winds are favorable. Contact Paul:

A German landy came into the office today to scan a footprint from her new baby and then fax it to Germany.

A local Carriacouan stopped-by to surf the world wide web for sites containing high-speed, passenger ferry boats for sale. He is looking for an open-water ,100+ foot, high-speed, passenger ferry for use in the Caribbean. 150-200 passenger. Double-deck. 35-40 knots. Reclineable seats. Contact John:

The Carriacou Immigration Office called for another 100 crew lists for use in clearing in-coming yachts to Carriacou.

Kate Stroebel, Manager of Roundhouse Cottages and Restaurant came by to get the
Sunday New York Times Crossword off the net. Contact Kate:

Local Carriacouan Roger Mendes came in to print business cards for his barber shop located in Hillsborough.

An English couple visited with problems with their laptop. It's working fine now.

A simpley gorgeous, perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Lesley from The Studio-S/Y FireflyB on Tyrrel Bay in Harvey Vale arranged a kiddies picnic over on Sandy Island for today. Sometimes I think the parents have just as much fun on these family outings as the children. Wide sandy beaches, shade under the cocunut palms, snorkelling, BBQ, games, conversation and B_E_A_U_T_I_F_U_L blue skies.
Ah.... another day in paradise.

After a few brief rain showers last evening, another perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Printed more Custom Carriacou Cards for sale in my Gallery. Today I printed from the Sandra Preisig and Kay Collections. Sandra comes from Switzerland and lived aboard her sailing yacht when I first came to Carriacou. Today she resides in her own home built overlooking the Village of L'Esterre. I find her art possessing realism and her perceptions clear and confident. Mrs. Francis K. Brinkley's Kay Collection on the other hand is a reflection of her accumulated learnings and observations over 40-years an island resident of Grenada and Carriacou. At last up-date she was spending some time in the States and fine-tuning her health.
We all wish her a speedy return to Carriacou.

Eric from S/Y "Drôle d'oiseau" was in to make a few posters for his new day charter program this Season.
CARRIACOU DAY TRIP: Starting at either Cassada Bay Hotel, or Tyrrel Bay, Eric collects and brings you to the yacht. We set sail around Carriacou and stop for lunch off one of the deserted, out-islands and beaches with swimming and snorkelling afterwards. Depending on your wishes and the weather: Sandy Island, Anse la Roche, Chatham Bay - Union. Return at sunset around 5:00pm. GRENADA DAY TRIP: Starting at Grenada's Point Salines Airport, Eric collects you at Carriacou's Airport. Breakfast at Sandy Island with snorkelling on the paradise reefs afterwards. Then we set sail for Union Island Chatham Bay (one hour) and lunch. French specialties from Eric's galley. Relax on the yacht, snorkel, swim or just walk on the lovely white sand. Return to Carriacou Airport. Contact Eric:

While researching details for a gentleman from Germany and his young son, I now can publish:

LIAT FLIGHT SCHEDULE BETWEEN ST. LUCIA & BARBADOS:
(20NOV98 - Subject to change without notice)

Departing St. Lucia to Barbados

7:05am - arrives 7:45am
9:00am - arrives 9:40am
2:35pm - arrives 3:15pm
4:30pm - arrives 5:10pm
6:50pm - arrives 7:30pm

Departing Barbados to St. Lucia

7:45am - arrives 8:25am
2:25pm - arrives 3:05pm
3:35pm - arrives 4:15pm
4:25pm - arrives 5:05pm
7:55pm - arrives 8:35pm

The adult, roundtrip fare is US$145
The child, rountrip fare is US$ 94

AIR SERVICE BETWEEN BARBADOS AND THE GRENADINES
Aboard Trans Island Air
(23 November 1998 - Subject to Change Without Notice)

BEQUIA:
Depart Barbados at 6:30am - daily except SAT/SUN
Depart Barbados at 1:00pm - daily Depart Barbados at 4:00om - daily

CANOUAN:
Depart Barbados at 6:30am - daily except SAT/SUN
Depart Barbados at 10:15am - Saturday Only
Depart Barbados at 1:00pm - daily
Depart Barbados at 4:00pm - daily

CARRIACOU:
Depart Barbados at 10:15am - Saturday Only
Depart Barbados at 4:00pm - daily

MUSTIQUE:
Depart Barbados at 10:15am - Saturday Only
Depart Barbados at 4:00pm - daily

UNION:
Depart Barbados at 6:30am - daily except SAT/SUN
Depart Barbados at 10:15am - Saturday Only
Depart Barbados at 4:00pm - daily

Trans Island Air (TIA) offers the following flight schedule to Barbados from The Grenadine Islands.
This schedule also allows for island hopping among The Grenadines as the plane goes from island-to-island collecting passengers for the final destination of Barbados. Not all flights are available every day so please pay attention to the days.

BEQUIA:

MON: Flight #007 Departs Bequia at 06:00am arrives Barbados at 07:30am
(Connects to Miami (BWIA,AA) San Juan (AA))
-------------------------------------------
DAILY EXCEPT SAT/SUN: Flight #607 Departs Bequia at 09:50am arrives Barbados at 11:40am
(Connects to JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

SUN: Flight #607 Departs Bequia at 09:00am arrives Barbados 11:40am
(Connects with JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #625m Departs Bequia at 2:10pm arrives Barbados at3:35pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), New York (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY EXCEPT SAT/SUN: Flight #627 departs Bequia at 5:50pm arrives Barbados at 6:50pm (Connects to London Heathrow (BWIA), Toronto (Wednesday morning/AC, Saturday morning BWIA))
-------------------------------------------

MON/WED/THU/SAT: Flight #629 departs Bequia at 7:30pm arrives Barbados 8:50pm
(Connects to London Heathrow (BWIA Mon/Thu/Sat), London Gatwick (BA/Wed) ** Effective 14DEC98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CANOUAN:

DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAY: Flight #607 departs Canouan at 10:15am arrives Barbados 11:40am (Connects JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

SATURDAY: Flight #617 departs Canuan at 10:15am arrives Barnados at 12:00 Noon
(Connects to London Heathrow (BA Concorde), JFK (AA) and San Juan (AA))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #625 departs Canuan at 2:35pm arrives Barnados at 3:35pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), New York (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
-------------------------------------------

MON/WED/THU/SAT: Flight #629 departs Canouan at 7:50pm arrives Barbados at 8:50pm
(Connects to London Heathrow (BWIA Mon/Thu/Sat), London Gatwick (BA/Wed) ** Effective 14DEC98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CARRIACOU:

MONDAY: Flight #007 departs Carriacou at 6:30am arrives Barnados at 7:30am
(Connects to Miami (BWIA,AA), San Juan (AA))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAY: Flight #607 departs Carriacou 10:40am arrives Barbados at 11:40am
(Connects to JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #621 departs Carriacou at 2:00pm arrives Barbados at 3:00pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), London Heathrow (BWIA), New York JFK (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MUSTIQUE:

SUNDAY: Flight #607 departs Mustique at 9:55am arrives Barbados at 11:40am
(Connects to JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

SATURDAY: Flight #617 departs Mustique at 11:00am arrives Barbados at 12:00 Noon
(Connects to London Heathrow (BA Concorde), JFK (AA) and San Juan (AA))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #623 departs Mustique at 2:05pm arrives Barbados at 3:05pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), London Heathrow (BWIA), New York JFK (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST. VINCENT:

DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAY: Flight #607 departs St. Vincent at 9:30am arrives Barbados at 11:40am
(Connects to JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #623 departs St. Vincent at 1:40pm arrives Barbados at 3:05pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), London Heathrow (BWIA), New York JFK (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY EXCEPT SATURDAY: Flight #627 departs St. Vincent at 5:30pm arrives Barbados at 6:50pm
(Connects to London Heathrow (BWIA, Mon, Thu), London Gatwick (BA, Wed), Toronto (Air Canada, Wed a.m., BWIA Sat a.m.))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UNION ISLAND:

DAILY EXCEPT SAT/SUN: Flight # 607 departs Union Island at 8:30am arrives Barbados at 11:40am.
(Connects to JFK (AA), San Juan (AA), Montego Bay Hub Air (Jamaica), Montreal (Canada))
-------------------------------------------

SATURDAY: Flight #617 departs Union Island at 10:10am arrives Barbados at12:00 Noon. (Connects to London Heathrow (BA Concorde), JFK (AA) and San Juan (AA))
-------------------------------------------

DAILY: Flight #621 departs Union Island at 1:40pm arrives Barbados at 3:00pm
(Connects with London Gatwick (BA, Virgin), London Heathrow (BWIA), New York JFK (BWIA, Air Jamaica), Toronto (Air Canada))
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These flights to Barbados also allow for hopping between the Grenadine Islands as the planes collect passengers for drop-off in Barbados. Please check the above for the specific days of the week that the flight operates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIA INTER-ISLAND:

06:00am Flight #007 DEPART BEQUIA TO CARRIACOU (6:30am)
-------------------------------------------
09:30am Flight #607 DEPART ST. VINCENT TO BEQUIA (9:50am) TO MUSTIQUE (9:55am),
TO CANOUAN (10:15am) TO CARRIACOU (10:40am)
-------------------------------------------

10:10am FLIGHT #617 DEPART UNION ISLAND TO CANOUAN (10:35am)
TO MUSTIQUE (11:00am)
-------------------------------------------

01:40pm FLIGHT #621 DEPART UNION ISLAND TO CARRIACOU (02:00pm)
-------------------------------------------

01:40 FLIGHT #623 DEPART ST. VINCENT TO MUSTIQUE (02:05pm)
-------------------------------------------

02:10 FLIGHT #625 DEPART BEQUIA TO CANOUAN (2:35pm)
-------------------------------------------

05:30 FLIGHT #627 DEPART ST. VINCENT TO BEQUIA (05:50pm)
-------------------------------------------

07:30pm FLIGHT #629 DEPART BEQUIA TO CANOUAN (07:50pm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END

LIAT FLIGHT SCHEDULE BETWEEN MARTINIQUE & GRENADA:
(20NOV98 - Subject to change without notice)

LIAT has two daily trips from Ft. de France (via Barbados) to Grenada leaving Ft. de France at either
11:55 a.m. (arriving Grenada at 2:50 p.m.) or
5:55 p.m. (arriving Grenada at 9:00 p.m.)

A one-way ticket costs US$182; a round-trip ticket costs US$230; and a 30-day round-trip ticket for US$275.

Dexter Leggard from the Carriacou Regatta Secretariat dropped-in today to order some receipt books and billbooks. Seems his computer's hard drisk crashed forcing him to pack-up and sent it down to Computer Solutions in Grenada for (hopefully) repair. Contact Dexter with any offers of assistance.

From 7-9:00pm, fifteen members of the Carriacou Carnival Development Committee met to elect new officers for 1999. They are: Winston T. Fleary, Chairman; Shem Williams, Deputy Chairman; John H. Ingram, Secretary, Mearlyn Joseph, Assistant Secretary; Michael Joseph, Treasurer (re-elected); Roy Newton, Public Relations Officer (PRO); Abraham Pope, Assistant PRO. Chairman Fleary then appointed out-going Chairman Bob Adams as First Advisor to The Chairman and Andrew Matheson as Second Advisor to The Chairman. Watch the Carriacou Carnival Development Committee Home Page for up-to-the-minute information.Support the CCDC!

After a few brief rain showers last evening, another perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Printed more Custom Carriacou Cards for sale in my Gallery. Today I printed from the Canute Caliste and Ivan Godfrey Collections. Now 80+ years young, Canute first saw the mermaid when he was nine years old, near where he lives today by Tyrrel Bay. She was sitting on a bridge, combing her hair. She offered him her comb, then dove in, flashing her tail. Legend has it that if he accepted her comb he would be blessed. He is indeed blessed, as are we. He has been painting her ever since. Canite is a simple man. He lives surrounded by his family by the sea. He has 23 children and well over 200 grandchildren. He build boats in his yard, he goes fishing. He works in his garden, he bakes bread in a stone oven in his yard. He is a musician. And, gloriously he paints. Visit his website.  Ivan Godfrey lives and paints on Petite Martinique. He comes from England but has been here for many years. Visit Ivan Godfrey's Gallery.

After a few brief rain showers last evening, another perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

The day started out slowly printing more Custom Carriacou Cards for sale in my Gallery. Today I printed from the Christian Egemar Collection. Christian visits Carriacou every 2-3 years from his home in Oslo, Norway where he is a stage designer. I guess the reason why his watercolors are so beloved is the fact that Christian paints what we see every day and we recognize the little yellow houses covered with flowers and that rickety, old boat that plies the channel between Union Island and Hillsborough every Monday and Thursday. These are truly Carriacou's treasures.

Mr. Phillip Mendes, President of the Carriacou Owner's and Driver's Association, came by to send a fax to Cunard Lines about their ships visiting Carriacou on 20 January, 5 March, and 2 April 1999. The taxi drivers are offering three tours of Carriacou this Season:
TOUR OF HILLSBOROUGH:
We will describe the story of this town, when it was established and the cultural and architectural history as well as activities and occupations of its inhabitants.
NORTH TOUR:
Belair, about 600 ft. above sea level, offers some spectacular views with Hillsborough in the foreground and crescent-shaped Sandy Island glistening as usual; and with Grenada's towering mountains to the far South. Another scenic view from Belair will take in The Grenadine Islands, including Petite Martinique. Belair is also noted for its windmills, a Great House, an agricultural nature center, rain forest with tropical wildlife and the only hospital on the island, which also has an interesting story. To complete the tour we will visit Windward, home of traditional boatbuilding, introduced by the Scottish over 200 years ago. There are few places on earth today where boatbuilding is crafted in this old-age style. This tour returns to Hillsborough via Craigston Estate. You will love the history of this estate and of Beausejour Estate.
SOUTH TOUR:
This is mainly a coastal drive along Hillsborough Bay, L'Esterre Bay and Tyrrel Bay. Attractions include visiting Canute Calliste and his Art Gallery to observe this legendary artist at work with all his 70 years of experience behind him. Tyrrel Bay is a truly relaxing site with good liquor, shopping and gift items.
Service includes: refreshments, bathrooms Kind of Transport: minibuses

New menus were made for Harvey Vale's Lambi Queen Restaurant on Tyrrel Bay. Lobster about US$20.

More flyers and business cards for Lesley at The Studio, in Harvey Vale.

The owners of several Palm Island villas were over in the afternoon. We had a chance to talk a bit about the death of John Caldwell. Seems like he had a stroke on Palm Island and after being evacuated to St. Vincent, he died at age 80. Ownership of Palm Island is a question with rumors of a sale and a non-sale occuring before John passed away. Resort operations seem to be running on schedule but it is obvious that the guiding hand of "Coconut Johnny" is sorely and sadly missed. He will always be there living alongside the hundreds of Palm Trees which survive him.

The Palm island pages have been re-worked and up-dated. Please visit them and learn more about the villas and apartments for rent on a weekly basis (minimum seven nights unless arrangements for a combination villa/yacht package has been made.)

1998/99 Airline Seats to The Grenadines Are Closing-Out Fast. Book Now & Avoid Disappointment

Another perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Captain John Smith from the Original Island Sloop Mermaid of Carriacou, dropped into the office with his friend Larry. Larry and his wife Connie built a house in Beausejour and moved to Carriacou from the States where he worked on an assemblyline. Captain Smith has been spending a few days anchored outside the office window at Sandy Island. I agreed to monitor Channel 63 between 2-2:15pm daily in case any assistance is needed. Contact John Smith:  S/Y Tatoosh Captain Philippe Whitehead also stopped by. He's off to Grenada tommorow for the day to get a few things done. He's taking wife Rachel and son João-Felipe along making a nice getaway out of it. Lesley from The Studio-S/Y FireflyB on Tyrrel Bay in Harvey Vale called. She's making all those little perfect details for an up-coming wedding sailing charter. You know, things like "cakes," and "champagnes" and "flowers" and stuff like that. She and her life partner Lee are perfectionists which is probably why they have been doing charters in this area for over ten-years. Contact Lesley: Kenroy came by to pay for the fax to England and to pick-up the response about buying more fishing nets. He brought my dinner with him: lobster and stone crab. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Throw in the lobster and in 15-minutes out comes dinner. Over on White Island we roast them over the fire or bake them in a sand pit oven. When Kenroy's not out on the sea, he and his wife April manage Lovely Out-Island Camping, especially to nearby White Island. April works part-time for Carriacou's Kayak Radio 106.7FM. Contact Kenroy & April: A young man from Denmark taking some time off to sail around The Grenadines made use of the office internet connection to check is Hotmail. I told him the cost was only EC$5 for up-to thirty minutes of connection time. Nonetheless he surfed for about six minutes and dropped EC$10 on the table with a Keep the Change comment. Every little bit helps keep Grenadines.net operating. Anyway, he's now set sail for Chatham Bay on nearby Union Island. I told him to expect a wide, sandy bay much like Carriacou's Tyrrel Bay... without any development except perhaps a fisherman's shack. He smiled. Lawrence McLean from Hillsborough's Sands Apartments called to tell me the guests from England stayed six days and decided to depart today for a quick trip to Union Island. Contact Lawrence McLean: Malcomb Brown called from Palm Island. He is selling his Tradewinds Apartments there and wanted me to meet the new owner tommorow. Malcombe lives in Scotland but has several very comfortable Palm Island Rental Properties. Contact Malcomb Brown:

Before starting this diary entry today, I started printing some of my Custom Carriacou Cards for sale in my Gallery. I have a nice selection of local scenes that I have built up over the past eight years of reproductions of original island Carriacou art. I scan the original and then use Print Shop Ensemble v4.2 to make cards for resale off my HP DeskJet. They come out very nice, really. Photos don't duplicate well but scans from original art does quite well!

Company Director Sue Kennedy is off to Union Island tommorow for a few days with a friend visiting for three weeks from the States. Sue spent her life as a prision warden in the States for men's maximum security facilities. She has now built a house here on Carriacou and lives here most of the year. She took a 100 business cards with her so watch Grenadines.net for even more up-dates with more new information. Seems like everytime we get a chance to cruise The Grenadines, the Grenadines.net Family grows. Sue's life partner Bill is an artist and when he is on Carriacou, he continuously adds new art to his already heavy portfolio of actual Carriacou scenes.

Monday, oh Monday. Back to work. Another perfect weather day with sunny, blue skies and a nice wind.

Captain Brian from S/Y Cinderella came into the office today to make new posters for his 40' Morgan Sloop charter business. In addition to his four, separate day charters to 1) Tobago Cays; 2) Caribe & Petit St. Vincent; 3) Anse la Roche & Sandy Island; and 4) White Island, Brian is offering this Season Whale- and Dolphin-Watching Tours, Sunset Cruise - 2 hours with rum punches, as well as his Overnight Charters to all The Grenadines. Contact Brian:

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It was a beautiful, lazy day today. The sun was out all day and the rain stayed away. Blue skies with a few puffy white clouds. Temperatures around 85ºF. A nice breeze. The island's greenery is full. All the businesses were closed allowing the people to tend their animals, work a bit in the garden, and make their afternoon meal all with time to spare for "taking some breeze" seaside. Yachts are bobbing at anchor; speedboats zip around loaded full with local passengers moving among the nearby, usually deserted out-islands. I keep hearing about an up-coming, 2-year construction phase getting ready to launch on White Island making me suggest that you should come visit it before development occurs. There may be a multitude of 5-Star, All-Inclusive Island Resorts in various paradise destinations..., but there is only one White Island.

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