2018 Issue 1
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Launch Issue
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The expat lifestyle Guide to
rs&
r e s ta
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Locally Made
iving
The Art Of Creative Design with
in Saint Lucia
Martina Crafton
Exclusive Interview Wes Hall
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T O P
ISLAND LIFE
Women who care
Need to knows before making the
HOME
with
Mandiana Auguste
BIG MOVE. GIVING BACK
Going Vegan
PROPERTY
LEISURE
CULTURE
BUSINESS
M MOTORS Authorised Dealers of BMW Vide Bouteille Highway Castries Saint Lucia, W.I. Tel. (758) 451-4269 Email. sales@mmotors.lc www.bmw.lc
LIVE YOUR INDEPENDENCE, PASSIONATELY. The All-New BMW X3.
ISSUE No1 Editor-in-Chief Sebastian Isaacs sebastian.isaacs@cocotraie.com
----Associate Editor - Photographer Christine Songeons christine.songeons@cocotraie.com
----Press & Marketing Mahalia R. Charles mahalia@cocotraie.com
----Advertising & Sponsorship Gabriel Johnson rive@cocotraie.com
----Publisher RIVÉ is published by The Cocotraie Group Ltd uk & usa
----Artwork & Design Cocotraie Publishing
----Contributors Patricia Richards - Steve Jenkins Trenton Burchall - Medupe Zumeno Michael John - Pat Shillingford Charlie Richards
givingback
supporting Saint Lucia
RIVÉ is a socially responsible magazine with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and improving the daily lives of impoverished communities.
distributed internationally free to
restaurants, bars, hotels, resorts, business centres, embassies
& consulates
to find out more about how to be a part of
RIVÉ, and
advertise your company, products and services in this new publication email us at: rive@cocotraie.com tel:
+1 758 486-0077
alt tel:
+1 758 718-3530
R Sebastian Isaacs Editor
W
elcome to the launch issue of RIVÉ magazine,
which takes its name from the Creole word for “Arrived”. An appropriate name as RIVÉ is dedicated to providing a platform for the until now under represented international resident community who have arrived here from countries all over the world, as well as for those looking to make the move to live, work and start businesses in Saint Lucia. Written by Expats new and old as well as Lucians who have returned from living overseas, RIVÉ is the “in the know” networking guide magazine to living the tropical dream on the island. With useful first hand experiences, hints/tips and recommendations RIVÉ provides Saint Lucia’s international community with invaluable
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Living in Saint Lucia is also about being part of the community, finding ways
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information on the need to knows, what to do’s and how to do them.
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to Give Back and making a difference. Lending our support to help drive the continued development of the Island. It is as much about what we can do for Saint Lucia as what Saint Lucia can do for us.
Content What’s Inside This Issue
32
8
Making the Move P1 Preparation & Planning
Chef Orlando Reinventing Caribbean Cuisine
38
10
G&G Interiors Home Design & Decor
Mandiana Auguste living the vegan way
42
14
100 Women Who Care Giving Back to the community
Buki Cahane Art Curator
44
18
Martina Crafton Imaginative interior design
Nadia Jabour Island Mix - promoting local
52
20
Say No to Plastic Bags ECO Watch
Upclose with Wes Hall Owner of Harbor Club
Living in Saint Lucia
Part1
The RIVÉ Guide To
Preparation & Planning Congratulations on deciding to pack up your things
You will need to address what may seem like count-
and make the big move to the Caribbean island of
less details before you start your journey but the
Saint Lucia. Relocating here (or anywhere for that
more you know and prepare before you leave, the
matter) can seem quite overwhelming, but put your
less stressful your move to Saint Lucia will be and the
nerves at ease as here you will find everything, well
easier it will be for you to adjust to island life. So read
almost everything, you need to know about making
as much information available on the island, its his-
the move. Our regular guide features should act as
tory, culture, immigration requirements and time permitting, visit as often as possible.
your closest travel companion and your ‘how-to‘ manual for residing in Saint Lucia. As you
Visiting is very different to living.
read through our Making the
Having been through this process
Move Saint Lucia guide, you
ourselves, one thing is certain, whilst
will find practical insider tips on
advice from family and friends are
matters such as immigration,
incredibly helpful, every experience
customs, shipping, and taxa-
is different, and cannot replace
tion, just to mention a few.
your own first hand on the ground
As well as practical information
experiences and impressions. Even
about everything you need to know before you
if you have visited the island as a tourist on numer-
embark on your journey, you’ll also find information
ous occasions and like to think you know your way
about settling into your new island life here.
around, “visiting here is very different to living here”.
Research.
The Trial Period.
The notion of moving to a faraway land to pursue
Where possible we would recommend you visit the
your happiness might sound romantic and adven-
island on a trial basis for about 2-3 months before
turous but it can be tricky and fraught with unfore-
making the decision. This is the discovery period, to
seen obstacles and challenges, so research and
navigate your way through the need to know infor-
preparation are integral to the transition.
mation about i.e Stay Extensions, Work Permits,
note
- all information provided herein is based on 2017 data. Our recommendations and suggestions are based on first hand experiences.
Immigration, Residency and what documents you
So be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to deal with
need to bring. Use this trial period time to find out
your relevant paperwork to reduce any unwanted sur-
about opening a bank account, short and long term
prises, delays, or disappointments. Some documents
rental accommodation, car hire, buying property or
might be required to be dealt with in your home coun-
land and of course the ago old question of where are
try, so it’s best to check which paperwork is better
the best places to shop, eat, drink and meet up. Talk
dealt with there, and what can wait until you arrive in
to fellow expats who have made the move about their
Saint Lucia. This will save you a lot of time to prepare
experiences, but remember as we have said before
and finalise as much as possible before your big move.
each experience is different.
Even if your trial experiences don’t go exactly according to plan, which trust us it won’t, doing the ground-
Getting around.
work, during your trial period, means you are prepared
During this period we would recommend renting a car
and forewarned.
however if not, choose somewhere to stay that’s close to a bus stop and/or the shops.
Opening a Bank Account.
Taking the local bus is quite cheap and a fun expe-
Integral to making the move is where to put your mon-
rience as you get to hear all sorts of stories, discover
ey and what paperwork you’ll need for opening a Bank
new areas and routes and more often than not will get
account. Saint Lucia is home to three international and
you to Castries or Rodney Bay just as fast as a car.
two main national banks. Whilst they may offer similar services, the procedures, requirements and documen-
EC$1.50 - From Gros Islet to Rodney Bay.
tation needed for account opening can vary.
EC$2.50 - From Rodney Bay to Castries.
Based on feedback and experience we have rated
EC$8.00 - From Castries to Soufriere.
each of these banks based on *Customer Service, *Products & Services and *Ease of Account Opening. 1. - CIBC First Caribbean International Bank 2. - Scotia Bank 3. - RBC Royal Bank 4. - National Bank St. Lucia Limited 5. - Bank of Saint Lucia Limited Generally, for all new non-resident account openings
Also, take this time to make a price comparison at
to open a Deposit account you are required to pro-
supermarkets with costs back home also make a list of
vide a combination of the following documents.
the things you like but can’t find on island or are much
2 forms of valid identification, in the form of either your;
more expensive.
• Passport. • National Identification.
Laying the ground work.
• Driver’s license.
If by the end of your trial period you still feel that mak-
Also
ing the move is right for you then whilst you are here,
• A Bank reference letter, stating how long you have
now is the time to start looking at longer-term accom-
held an account with your home bank which must
modation and the property market. This is an important
be addressed to yourself or the bank you choose
step as you don’t want to endure hefty hotel bills in the
to open your account. (Best to bring one of each).
first few weeks or months that will eat into your savings.
• Proof of Address (of where you are staying here). • Utility Bill (no more than three months old).
Documentation.
• Rental or lease Agreement.
Let’s be honest, moving abroad requires a lot of paperwork. Therefore, it goes without saying that organi-
This is not an exhaustive list and can vary from bank to
sation is the key when it comes to ensuring all of your
bank, therefore our advice would be to set up an ap-
documents are prepared and meet the requirements
pointment with each bank and compare and contrast
of the Saint Lucia Immigration Department prior to your
each of their services and account opening require-
arrival on the island. You may already have some of
ments before making your decision. Also note that the
the required paperwork on hand, however other doc-
procedure can take a few weeks or a few months de-
uments might take longer to sort through.
pending on the bank and the information you provide.
o
Home Design & Decor
Known for their vast array of fabrics and furnishings, interior design company g&G interiors should be one of your first stops when furnishing your Caribbean home.
F
urnishing your home in the Caribbean is a distinctively unique experience, more so perhaps than anywhere else in the world. It’s not just the climate and the ubiquitous indoor/outdoor living experience, the challenge here is giving your home that sense of place within its location without being obvious. For many years a “Caribbean home” meant embellishing it with bright
vibrant colours, palm tree paintings and ornate cultural figurines. Today however the best dressed Caribbean homes use subtlety and finesse, integrating tropical features and furnishings with restraint. In short, you should not have to furnish your home with the Caribbean to show that you are in the Caribbean. One interior design company that has seen and adjusted to this change in tropical home décor is G&G Interiors, headquartered here in Saint Lucia. Whether it’s a small project, a completely custom-designed home interior or a commercial space Gemma and Georgina, the creative duo behind G&G Interiors have been offering their interior design services to help create unique and bespoke spaces to both homeowners, resorts and hotels for over twelve years. As part of our Moving to Saint Lucia series Gemma and Georgina gave us an insight into tropical home decor, fabrics and furnishings and what are some of the features of a well-designed home. RIVÉ 40 10
What first drew you both into the world of interior
What was the first project that you
design and how did you decide to start G&G?
worked on together?
We had always enjoyed furnishing our own homes and
The first project was a turn-key three bedroom condo
from early on had a keen love for home interiors,
in Rodney Bay. Talk about “in at the deep end”, but
especially fabrics. We were given an amazing op-
we were lucky enough to be given free design reign
portunity in 2005 to furnish a holiday home
and a great budget. If only all future projects
for some family friends and from there
would be like that first one!
we hit the ground running. We saw there was a gap in the market for
How does the collaborative process
fabrics and better quality furniture
between the two of you work,
so started our business working
who does what?
out of our own homes and using
Everyone knows that George is the
a garage as a showroom.
numbers person. She can work out costings and quotes in minutes in
Tell us about your backgrounds,
her head. I on the other hand am
how you met?
totally useless with figures so tend to
Funnily enough both of our back-
be the more creative one, but we
grounds were in catering. We are both
really work well together.
from the UK and when we met in St Lucia we discovered that both of our parents had restaurants in London. Our first venture together in St Lucia, before our children
What were the early days like? The early days were manic because the business just kept evolving and growing to meet the demands of our clients. We would spend the whole day driving around picking up curtains from seamstresses, meeting clients in the garage. Our storeroom at the time was a 40ft container outside one of our houses which we used to have to go and open
“
What, in your opinion, are the key components/must haves of Caribbean/
Fabrics can give so many layers to a room adding colour and texture. Wall colour and lighting are key to the mood & ambiance.
10 times a day to get stuff. Having everything under one roof now sometimes feels like a luxury.
“
were born, was in fact G&G Catering!
She says I’m better at PowerPoint!
Do you ever have disagreements, and if
tropical interior design? We are big fans of reminding the client of where they are and allowing the interior to add to the sense of place. It always upsets us if we walk into a hotel on a Caribbean beach and when the curtains are closed it could be in midtown Manhattan. We do this by, not only subtly using colours that reflect the tropical beauty around us, but also with the odd motif, a delicate sea-fan, an embroidered palm frond. The trick is to find a sophisticated balance to get a chic Caribbean look. Is there an element of the design process you particularly enjoy?
so how do you work through them?
For me it’s the beginning when you get the brief and
Weirdly, but conveniently, we seem to always agree
you can start choosing and selecting things you may
on design. When we go buying at trade shows the salesmen always laugh at how much we concur on what we want - and what we don’t want. There’s rarely a disagreement as we always like the same thing.
have seen at trade shows or spied online which you can finally get to use. That’s the fun part. I used to like the end when it’s all complete but it’s sometimes so stressful you can’t wait to close the door & leave!
11 41
RIVÉ
Is there a G&G signature style & How would you describe it? One word: Blue. We just can’t get away from it. We’ve recently ventured into teal and are feeling very proud of ourselves! What do you think makes a house a home? Accessories and good sized art is important to giving a space a more homely feel. Because we do a lot of holiday homes this is important so that the house doesn’t feel cold & unwelcoming. We always make sure there is room in the budget for the extras that warm up a space to make it feel more like home, with no bare walls and empty shelves. What are the key traits of a well-designed room? Lighting is key because this is what is going to give your room ambience, which ultimately is what it’s all about. Good natural light and well placed artificial light is so important & can make or break a space. You have worked for many of the high-end hospitality resorts and hotels in St Lucia who expect the best. Does the pressure ever get to you? Of course! And the scariest part is because we are importing most of the time you are at the mercy of a container ship and a customs officer! We recently managed to get a 20 foot container of furniture from a warehouse in California to site in St Lucia in 14 days! That was down to the wire! Then the most frustrating thing is every container ship leaves Miami on the same day so if you miss your Thursday shipment you have to wait an entire week. RIVÉ
14
What are the common misconception clients may have about interior designers? That hiring one will cost a fortune. We can work with any budget no matter how small and can usually make something work that exceeds client expectations. How does the collaborative relationship with your clients work? We always ask the client to go on line on Houzz or Pinterest and send us as many pictures of rooms and looks that they like. This makes it so much easier for us to interpret the style and design that they want. Once we set a budget and a time frame we can then start putting together a presentation or digital mood board for the client to make sure we are all on the same design page. Tell us about your most recent project? We are just finishing up a renovation project in Barbados at Sea Breeze Beach House and the newly revamped/re-built hotel is due to re-open in the New Year which we are very excited about. It’s been a fun project involving everything from custom made fabrics & furniture to accessories and lighting so we are looking forward to seeing the end result. Are there any particular projects that you feel most proud of? What was your most rewarding project to date, why? Last year we completed a large corporate office project for Digicel group. We worked alongside a great local architectural team and our brief was to provide a “Google” style office. What was rewarding about this project was that the end result looked exactly the same as our initial conceptual drawings and mood boards and we didn’t have to do any major changes along the way. Where do you look/go to for creative inspiration? Since we do a lot of hospitality work, hotels give us great ideas. As soon as we arrive at a new hotel, before even unpacking, we’re examining the drapery, the bedding & the furniture! We love seeing innovation in hotel lobby ideas in lighting, seating and high performance fabrics.
the
insight Favourite city? Gemma: Chicago - Georgina: Paris Favourite resort/hotel? Sugar Beach in Soufriere, St Lucia Favourite places to eat/drink and socialise in Saint Lucia? Rodney Bay Marina on a Friday night. Favourite food? Spaghetti vongole at Elena’s. Guilty pleasure? Sonoma Chardonnay. Lots of it. Favourite off-island weekend get away? We both love to escape to Miami for a shopping mall splurge.
13 RIVÉ
rive
givingback
C
supporting Saint Lucia
No matter how tough you think your life is there are always those who have to face challenges that are much tougher than yours. Giving Back to the less fortunate through volunteer groups, non-profit organisations, charity or other means does so much to help those in need. Here in Saint Lucia, if you want to get involved in community outreach but don’t know where to start, one organisation
Co-Chair. Valerie Jenkinson
you should consider is 100 Women Who Care, a group of women who care deeply about the local community. Co-Chair of the Saint Lucia branch Valerie Jenkinson talked to RIVÉ about the organisation and how she got involved. 100 Women Who Care was first started in Jackson, Michigan (USA) by Karen Dunigan in 2006. Her group of 100 women, at their first one-hour meeting, raised $10,000 to buy 300 new baby cribs for an organisation in their city. Their membership has now grown to nearly 300 members. Sister chapters have popped up all over the US, Canada, and into Mexico. There are now over 470 chapters throughout the continent with more being established every day. There are also 100 Men Who Give a Damn and 100 Kids Who Care chapters. Together since the inception the chapters combined have raised more than $53,000,000USD.
WOMEN WHO CARE I first heard about 100 Women Who Care from a friend who started a chapter in Kelowna, Canada. I joined and was hooked on the simplicity of the concept. We meet for only one hour every 3 months and at that meeting any member can nominate a local charity. All the nominations get put into a hat and we pick three at random. The members who nominated the three charities have 5 minutes each to present who their charity is and what they would do with the money if they should win. The members then vote and the charity with the most votes wins the donations. Each member, whether they attend the meeting or not, donates $100EC at each meeting and then goes home. No-one has to attend endless meetings, bake cookies or sell any-
Mairi Low
Berthia Parle
thing!! It is a perfect way for busy women to give back to the community. After receiving the funds, the charities have to come back the following meeting and give an accounting of how the funds were used. After seeing the concept working so well in Kelowna I thought it was a perfect fit for helping those in need in St Lucia. The meeting on the 3rd of April marked our 3 Year anniversary. In that time we have raised over $110,000EC for small local charities. We have been blessed with a wonderful team. Past Senator Berthia Parle, who knows so many people on the Island graciously accepted the role of Patroness and has been a tremendous support from day one as our indomitable and super efficient Treasurer Mairi Low, who is the Financial Controller for JE Bergasse. A year and a half ago Trudy O. Glasgow, Vice President of the Saint Lucia Bar Co-Chair. Trudy O. Glasgow
Association, was appointed co-chair and has done an outstanding job.
What are the needs you’ve identified to improve the lives
programs made to the children and also how the moth-
of Saint Lucians?
ers were able to find some respite while their children were
The needs are really too many to name individually. The
cared for in the program.
100 Women Who Care has opened the eyes of many of our
How do you keep your positivity when you come face
members to the growing needs in the community. We not
to face with some of the local issues encountered?.
only get to contribute but we all learn so much about small
Sometimes I have to shake my head at policies in St Lucia
charities that are bettering the lives of so many, often strug-
that are contrary to letting people reach their potential.
gling to do so, we heard of the domestic violence against
One of our charities that won was the John Compton Foun-
women and the number of rapes each year from Raise your
dation. Lady Janice Compton raises money each year
Voice. We have learnt about the struggles of children with
to pay the fees so that children who have finished their
autism or cerebral palsy from their respective Associations
schooling can take their exams. While this is a very benefi-
and had a great presentation from the Alzheimer’s and
cial endeavour the question it raises is why children who
Dementia Association where the presenter walked our
cannot afford to pay have to forego sitting their exams.
members through a quick screening exercise that identifies
That is a systematic problem and we need to address the
if one should look to do further testing which was a big hit
root cause rather than have to exert such effort to raise
with our members.
funds each year. This is the case in many of the charities.
A big need is for children living in poverty. They need financial assistance for schooling needs and remedial learning opportunities. There are many left behind in the system and if we can help, it will have good repercussions down the road as they become productive members of society. For people living with Alzheimer’s, mental illness or any other similar ailments, this can have a tremendous impact.
How often do we hear people say, “I’d love to do something to help others but what can I do. I am just one person and i don’t know where to start.” Well here is that opportunity to help those in need in St Lucia. Tell us about a charity that really moved you and how donations made a difference? The hardest part of every meeting is trying to
What are the things that you like about Saint Lucia? When I come back and walk down the street and so many people say “Welcome home”. The
decide to which charity one’s vote should
beach, the sun and the sea are great but the
go. Many of the presentations move one
people are what makes the island so special.
to tears. Every winner and nominee has a
What advice would you give to anyone look-
heart wrenching story to tell and it is hard
ing to move to Saint Lucia?
to pick out one as all the stories deserve to
If you can’t be patient, you will have a hard
be heard. The very first winner was Pawasol Pour Ti Mamai. They do fantastic work for the disadvantaged on the island. After they won their
time! There is a different pace which is lovely if you are retired or on holiday but can be frustrating if you are working. I think I have learned to have
representative stood up and told us the donation was
a lot more patience which is a good thing.
“like manna from Heaven,” She explained that they had
What doesn’t the island have that you would like to see?
had some desperately needed children’s wheelchairs do-
I miss the theatre and my old friends at home in Canada but
nated from overseas. The wheelchairs arrived along with a
Skype, WhatsApp and Facetime bring us close together.
$4000 invoice for shipping and customs which they did not have. The wheelchairs had remained in bondage at the
What do you say to women who want to get involved
docks. Our donation enabled them to get the wheelchairs
and give back?
cleared and to the children who needed them. Another
My question is always “if not me then who?’ This is a way to
very moving presentation came from the Cerebral Palsy
give back with so little effort and the rewards are great. I can
Association. When they returned to present to the mem-
honestly say of all the things I do, this gives me the most satis-
bers how the funds had been used they showed a video.
faction. Go to our website www.100womenwhocarestlucia
There were not many dry eyes. Many of the children were
to learn more or simply to sign up and be on the mailing list.
cared for 24/7 by single mothers. They did not go to school
You will have wonderful camaraderie over the hour and
as the schools were not able to cope with their disabilities.
leave with a real sense of pride and accomplishment.
Previously, before a couple of mothers started the Asso-
I always suggest to make it a night out with your girlfriends,
ciation, children with cerebral palsy had very little stimu-
come to the meeting for an hour - do a lot of good - then
lation. The video showed the difference stimulation and
go to dinner and be with your friends for the evening.
o
the
insight Find out about Living in Saint Lucia from those who
Live, Work & and call this
beautiful place
Home.
Finola Jennings Clark Author How long have you lived in Saint Lucia and what do you love about it’s culture, people, lifestyle? My family and I came out on the ‘banana boat’ Geest Star, back in 1970 and except for returning to the UK for eight years to work and study and living in Barbados another five, Saint Lucia has been home. I’m Lucian at heart. I love the community spirit and the way that, by and large, people of different nationalities and backgrounds mix easily. My work takes me to our rural communities, where I’ve found such generous and in indomitable spirited people. Trainees who insist on giving a crate-load of mangoes just because you did your job well. Lawòz (La Rose) festival groups who find unending fun in dancing in circles singing, while trying to ‘t’ief’ sweeties off a table without the ‘Constable’ seeing you and hauling you before the ‘Magistwa’ to pay a 25c fine. For me, it’s this Saint Lucia that makes us special and keeps me here. What are the some of the island development changes you like and dislike? We’re finally beginnings to appreciate of Saint Lucian heritage growing; traditional foods, local music, fashion designers, poets, nature. My work is mostly in community development, heritage and culture and while we have seen positive developments, we’re also seeing growing threats through mass tourism and lack of support for creative industries. This encouraged my decision to create Island Effect, a website to promote the Saint Lucia’s hidden treasures. Here, through creative story-telling and innovative tech, locals and visitors alike, will be able to explore our hidden gems, and in the process, fall more and more in love with this little island! What advice would you give to anyone looking to move to Saint Lucia? Forget the paradise notion and accept that small-island life is full of challenges. Don’t say ‘why can’t they’ ‘why don’t they’ with an expectation that things should be more like your home country, you’ll drive yourself crazy that way! If you feel it, let it mean you’re embarking on a journey of discovery, expanding your horizons and your
RIVÉ 40
understanding of another culture. Think adaptation – how can you re-invent your expertise and experience to make positive changes that fit Lucian life? It can feel like there’s nothing but drinking, eating and ‘liming’ to do here but if you look deeper, there is more! Local & foreign cultural festivals, community fairs, musical and theatrical performances, academic and cultural talks, or take Kweyol and folk-dance classes. Or you can lend a hand and help kids in need to learn useful skills at local schools. Ask people you meet for recommendations; most people happily share tips. Facebook events are also a useful source for what’s on but of course, sign up on Island Effect for an ongoing stream of tips about discovering Saint Lucia. What doesn’t the island have to offer that you would like to see? More and better equipped recreational spaces, big beach-front hotels are fast overcrowding our main beaches and we don’t have many public parks, so sometimes it can feel like we’re losing quality access to the things that make island life attractive. I really would like to see the ferry between Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada come on stream. It would make inter-island travel much more affordable. It’s been coming to come for years now, let’s hope we see it soon. And we really need to get to grips with recycling here! Entrepreneurs keep trying to get this going but I think it’s something where government needs to step up and invest in supporting recycling. What hospitality trends do you think Saint Lucia could benefit from adopting? We’re a small island nation, we need to be innovative and find options that help build genuine independence by filtering earnings into the wider local community. So I am fully behind sustainable tourism. In recent years we’ve seen increasing numbers of local entrepreneurs starting up heritage, cultural and nature tourism but struggling with all-inclusive dominance in the hotel market. I strongly believe we have everything to gain by changing our focus to developing immersive, locally led, sustainable tourism. That’s what I’m putting my efforts behind. Favourite spot on the island? I can’t choose just one. My favourites are all nature spots. Just inside Pigeon Island National Landmark, to the right, chill on the smooth round rocks scattered on the beach as waves crash in and the salty wind soothes away stress. If you’re up to hiking a little, head up to Fort Rodney. The view of the mainland is absolutely stunning. On the East Coast, the northern end of Cas-en-Bas beach, early morning is best. Walk out on the rock plateau that’s covered in shallow water and just take it all in.
What doesn’t the island have/offer that you would like to see? St Lucia is unique in its make up and I won’t want to change anything about the Island. However, my main concern would be that St Lucia ends up looking like any other island in the Caribbean, too many hotels, houses all look similar and they lose what has made them different. When folks come for a holiday it is the uniqueness that brings them here, otherwise they
Dr Greta Franklin Returning Lucian
would go to Europe where everything looks the same. St Lucia needs to retain their culture, their values and most of all educate the people to appreciate what they have and that is St Lucia Helen of the West Indies.
What makes Saint Lucia so special? I love to come back home because it’s the land of my birth. My roots are in St Lucia where I am not referred to as ethnic minority, or to fill in a box to stating whether I
What hospitality trends do you think Saint Lucia could benefit from adopting? They don’t need to adopt any trend, they just need to
am Black British or Black Caribbean or Other.
keep on doing what they currently offer but do it with
For the most part St Lucian people are friendly and it
passion and commitment. They need to make em-
makes living or returning more palatable. The culture is
ployees feel valued and part of a team, they need to
unique in that we celebrate each other without having
develop better training skills in customer service and
to be divided and by that I mean we are inclusive not having the separation of ethnic groups, we are all St Lucian. I love this and I’d hate to see this change. We are one people all “Looshans”. St Lucian’s are people who enjoy a good fete and you can be guaranteed a good time when you are back home. The lifestyle is relaxed and it could take some getting used
continue with this training on a regular basis, they need to adapt this training as different clientele visit the island. One size doesn’t necessarily fit all. This should be the focus for any service provider. Well trained employees, happy employees, people who are appreciated make a business very successful.
to, otherwise Island life tends to be less stress because people don’t appear to be in a hurry to do a great deal.
Remember Saint Lucians can do more than just serve. What are some of the challenges you find in doing business here? Starting any new venture comes with challenges. The difference in the Caribbean Islands is that things tend to move at snails pace. People don’t appear to understand the urgency by which you need to complete certain projects or indeed meeting deadlines. I think once this has been factored into the progression of the new venture becomes more manageable. What advice would you give to anyone looking to move to Saint Lucia. I would suggest that you do your homework first. It’s very important that anyone who is considering relocating to St Lucia come for short periods at a time e.g 2-3 months stints and gradually increase this to perhaps 6 months making it a slow process. The reality is living on an island where everything happens very slowly can be frustrating. People come with certain expectations that is quickly dispelled where you encounter poor customer service, some people are rude and then there’s the wait to get anything done and common courtesy is lacking. Fundamentally it’s about learning to adapt to a different lifestyle and if that is what you want then certainly go for it but put your expectations to one side.
High jumper Levem Spencer St Lucia at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
claims historic gold medal for
17
RIVÉ
Home Design & Decor
I
location: banana countree
Interior designer Martina Crafton and the art of Upcycling
nterior designing a home, office or a space can be a challenge at the best of times, and if you’re on a tight budget and environmentally conscious that challenge doubles. Upcycling, which means taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it a new lease of life not only allows you to do your bit for the en-
vironment through recycling, it can also be a great cost-effective option whilst making your home look and feel unique. This approach opens limitless options to what you can create, is economical, not to mention environmentally friendly and the end result is a truly unique space. We can see many examples of interior design upcycling particularly in bars and restaurants that use the same wine barrels to create tables or chairs, or that create furniture from old product boxes, as wine bottles, pallets and antique furniture. Martina Crafton has been doing just that for a few years now, both in Saint Lucia and internationally, tapping into her innovative spirit, reimagining, repurposing and reusing things to create one of a kind pieces that add authenticity and charm.
RIVÉ 40
Hi Martina, tell us about your background?
What was your 1st project?
Well, I grew up in the UK and wanted to be a fashion
A friend of mine, who knew I was into decorating, told
journalist but my Girls’ School gave the career
me that her brother-in-law was opening a small
options of “Teacher, Secretary or Nurse”?.
hotel and wanted help with the décor. This
None of those appealed to me and as
was Coco Kreole, now part of Coco Palm,
I had worked in a Hairdressing Salon
where I worked for over 5 years. I con-
on Saturdays. I decided to train as
tributed to the design of the original
a Hairdresser, Beauty Therapist and
hotel, designed the Plantation style
Make-up Artist over a period of
interiors and custom furnishings. After
years at the London College of
completion there were several refer-
Fashion, a wonderfully creative
rals and I worked on two luxury yet
experience!
eco-friendly hotels in Dominica. I’ve also worked on some vacation villas,
I was also quite interested in the medi-
private homes, restaurants and a salon
cal side of things which we had covered
here in Saint Lucia. Work tends to came
in my training so later I decided to train as there was a world shortage of, plus I thought this would give me the opportunity to travel. One of my fellow students had taken a job with General Electric and kept telling me how wonderful it was because he was travelling all over the world training clients to use GE medical equipment and thought I would be really great at it. They had an opening, I interviewed for it and got the job. At the same time, parallel to working as a radiographer I was also decorating friends’ houses all over the place, got a couple of commissions and really enjoyed it so I decided to do both. I had an awesome job, stayed with GE for 13 years travelling the world. How long have you been back in Saint Lucia?
“
I’ve always looked at things not for what they are but for what they could be. I Love Looking at objects from different perspectives.
“
a Radiographer, for which at the time
via recommendations and word of mouth. What is your design approach and do you have a particular style? There are some designs I am drawn to instantly, a real Caribbean feel and slightly rustic. I love that it brings all of the earthy, “jungle-ly”
qualities
together,
however,
there are many clients looking for a luxurious Caribbean feel with a modern touch. There’s a movement towards contemporary, clean lines look which is fine but then, there’s no real sense of “place”. I really like designing somewhere that reflects that so I research that island’s history and style, not forgetting indigenous and African, influences. I look at the island’s artisans to see what’s available, who produces what type of artwork that would suit and what can be pulled from the colours.
When my parents returned I started coming to Saint Lucia on holiday
Can you turn anything into something?
every two years then 6 months or so
Pretty much, I mean there’s so much
after my son was born. I was living in
around that people just throw away.
Paris at the time and I remember on
They just see it for what it is and can’t
one holiday, walking through Castries
see beyond, but you can cut it, add
and I just thought “I’m going to move
to it, change its colour and of course,
back to Saint Lucia” and 6 months
turn it upside down! I have a passion for
later I was back and settled, I’ve
boxes, wooden crates etc.
been back 21 years now.
19
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There isn’t a lot of local furniture available on island, how do you deal with that?. There are very talented local craftsmen who make custom designed furniture. That can be a bit challenging so plan well in advance and be precise with drawings and measurements. There’s also the supply of local wood which is relatively easy to obtain, but finding someone to produce the finishes you want is challenging – oh, there are other woods besides mahogany! Our northern design shops have beautiful furniture also and can sometimes order customised pieces by request. Would you say this approach sets you apart from other designers? Yes, I think it does because I’m not somebody who would just sit down and put together a list of items from websites it’s not my 1st move. I like to see what the client may already have and how we can incorporate them because people have pieces of sentimental value in reasonable condition which may need updating. And then I’ll look at what’s available locally. How do your clients react to your creations? Oh, that’s interesting because sometimes in the design phase when I explain what I have in mind they look at me like I’m totally off my head! I would say “why not use some PVC pipes to make some lighting they would reply “Really? Pvc?” That’s followed by the “Maybe we made a mistake” look. Usually when you can show them samples, photos of things you’ve done before, then they start looking at it differently and warming up to the idea. What is your most interesting and memorable project to date? I think the project I love the most is Villa C’est La Vie in Trouya. That sense of well-being and the open, Caribbean feel throughout the house and garden. The cosy adjacent cottage and organic shaped pool were all a labour of love. The design collaboration between the owners, the contractor and myself was excellent. We paid a great deal of attention to the details, particularly the materials. Natural hardwoods and local stone were used to complement the villas lovely location near a cove. My second project was a resort in Dominica, Rosalie Bay, which was tragically destroyed during Hurricane Maria. What was the inspiration behind the design of the new Banana Countree bar and restaurant? The owners wanted casual dining, with a relaxed, Caribbean feel that featured Saint Lucia’s bananas. It’s too easy to go overboard with a particular theme so I decided to use the colours instead. I walked around for weeks with banana leaves, flowers, green and ripe bananas, matching colours of the banana tree and its related families like Heliconia. The owners and I wanted to use steel drums for some unique furnishings and I had access to plentiful supply of washing machine drums! Both are featured throughout the décor. RIVÉ 22
Are there any challenges that come with designing in the Caribbean? Different islands have wildly varying access to materials. Some are renowned for local furniture fabrication and design with excellent materials and craftsmanship. Others have all the hardware required for modern design. It is rare to find all that’s needed at the same time here and in the required quantities. Making some craftsmen understand my vision! Some are used to making the same things repeatedly and don’t do “different”. They believe that I, (a mere woman) don’t know what I’m talking about because it’s different and they haven’t been exposed to new designs. What advice would you give to someone who’s newly arrived and what would you recommend they bring? Practice patience!. Bring quality hardware for all your cabinetry and main doors, especially if you plan to live near the sea. Buy extras of everything as there are always changes and you may have to wait several weeks for reorder to complete. Furnishing fabrics can be really expensive here so if you like specific colours and fabrics buy them during the sales for example and bring more than you need. Feather cushion inserts (they survive humidity, washing and wear & tear far better). I usually advise clients that if they’re importing plumbing and sanitary fixtures to buy a spare toilet because you never know what might happen during transportation or installation, particularly if it’s an unusual design. Where do you shop for furnishings in Saint Lucia? All over the place! The reclamation yard in Bexon is one of my favourites. It’s hazardous hunting but I love the thrill of a find! For the normal Layperson, Inside I like working with wood but not just for furniture, for accessories as well. Lately, I’m quite enjoying PVC, strings as well and concrete if you can get the right person
to work it into countertops for example.
Out, Courts, G&G and don’t overlook the smaller stores either where you can find basic pieces. I also look out for estate sales, thrift and consignment shops e.g. Alibaba in Rodney Bay. Furnishing
fabrics from Wards and Abrahams, taking time to look in the corners!. Having lived in many countries where do you see ways in which the island could improve, particularly when it comes to the environment and recycling? There are many ways particularly when it comes to dealing with the plastic epidemic. We abuse the use of plastic bottles and bags.
Remove the free bags from
the supermarkets. We need more litter bins especially at bus stops, on the buses and beaches for people to dispose of their rubbish and those bins emptied daily What do you enjoy most about living in Saint Lucia? A sense of belonging, seeing several familiar and friendly faces daily, that first cup of tea or coffee in PJ’s on the veranda all year round.
o
23 RIVÉ
ECO Watch
T
he ocean has been used as the global sewer for centuries and it’s now a sad fact that there is more plastic in the ocean than plankton. Plastic can be flexible or rigid, and its lightness also
makes it very appealing, but for all the benefits plastic has given us, disposing of products, particularly those
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
designed to be used only once, such as packaging has
Help, Educate & Create an environmentally conscious Saint Lucia.
become a major environmental issue. Plastics such as those used in plastic bags, or expanded polystyrene foam used in coffee cups and packaging around electronic goods cannot be recycled, as they have been designed to be strong and durable. Environmentalists have long denounced plastic as a longlasting pollutant that does not fully break down, in other terms, not biodegradable. So how big is the problem? 1. Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes, but a single plastic bag has a life expectancy of up to 1,000 years.
90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s
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20
surface is
Plastic.
2. Worldwide, nearly 2 million single-use plastic bags
Our main problem is plastic is now part of our daily lives
are distributed every minute. 3. Plastics do not bio-
and is found in almost everything we touch from a pen,
degrade, but instead break down into small particles
a laptop, our phones to bottles, food packaging, straws,
that persist in the ocean, absorb toxins, and enter our
plastic cutlery and bags, it’s everywhere.
food chain through fish, sea birds and other marine life.
In a culture so reliant on conveniences, it’s understand-
4. There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the
able that changing our behaviours overnight is going to
ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface,
feel like pulling teeth. But with a little time and moder-
while some four billion plastic microfibers per square
ate effort, customers and business owners will adapt to
kilometre litter the deep sea. 5. 85 percent of all sea tur-
our society’s much needed progress. You can start by
tles will be injured or killed by plastics in their lifetimes
saying no to plastic bags at the supermarket checkout
in fact, 100,000 turtles and marine mammals, such as
and bring your own. Many countries have introduced
dolphins, whales and seals, are killed by plastic marine
single-use plastic bag bans pushing for customers to ei-
litter every year around the world. 6. Marine wildlife
ther use their own cotton bags or purchase a “Bag for
often mistakes plastic bags for food, especially sea
Life” reusable shopping bag.
turtles hunting jellyfish. 7. It is projected by marine biologists around the world that by 2050 the world’s
I will leave you with this sobering thought, according
oceans could have more plastic than fish. It is time for
to Dr Chris Wilcox of the Commonwealth Scientific and
the industry and governments, not just well meaning
Industrial Research Organisation’s Oceans and Atmos-
individuals or eco conscious corporations to change
phere research department, about every 11 years the
the way we use packaging and how we dispose of it.
amount of plastic produced .....doubles!!.
o
What Can You Do? Plastic Pollution is not only very harmful to marine wildlife but it’s bad news for us too, as plastic toxins make their way back into our diet. This is your island home now, so Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse Single Use Plastic. Use bars of soap instead of bottles of soap. Buy in bulk! - stop buying a small bottle of something weekly and buy a larger container that will last you much much longer. If you see derelict fishing gear, nets, ropes in the sea or washed up on
in Jo
g no to
ic bag s
rive in
in ay
as t pl
st plas t ain
r fe r s a g su
s
the beach? Remove it or report it.
21 RIVÉ
ic
Recreational Activities
In the last 10 years Recreation Diving around the world particularly here in Saint Lucia has become an integral part of the tourism industry.....here’s why.
H
ave you been contemplating scuba diving but have yet had the courage to take the plunge? There are countless reasons why many people learn to scuba dive, you may be trying diving for the first
time or an already certified diver looking for the next open water reef dive. It may be on your bucket list, a purpose to travel or even a way to escape the effects of gravity, either way diving is a total adrenaline rush and once you become comfortable, totally addictive. Warm aquamarine seas, enchanting underwater sites and a number of highly experienced dive operators, many of whom conveniently located at the major resorts, makes Saint Lucia a top destination for both diving and snorkelling. Saint Lucia is a stunningly beautiful island with breathtaking scenery both above and beneath the sea. This is an Island known for its strong scuba diving culture with hundreds of diving sites, undamaged coral reefs, a multitude of marine life and great wreck diving. Unlike many popular dive destinations, Saint Lucia is very concerned with conservation and the Soufriere Marine Management Agency (SMMA) protects the reefs which means that they are still an attraction for snorkelers and divers to visit. The most popular form of diving here is Recreational diving which, whether with the family, friends, or just some random divers you meet during a trip, the focus is about having fun.
24 24 Magazine Š RIVÉrive
Paradise beneath Saint lucia’s ocean waves
25 rive Magazine 25 © RIVÉ
What’s The Difference Between PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Scuba Diver Course ? Both are entry-level courses. The PADI Open Water Course is the full entry-level certification course which allows divers to be certified for diving up to 18m or 60ft accompanied by a dive buddy or dive professional. The PADI Scuba Diver Course is halfway to a full Open Water certification and allows you to dive to 12m or 40ft ONLY with a dive professional. The majority of the most popular dive sites, notably Anse Chastanet Reef, one of Saint Lucia’s top dive sites, are located on the calm West Coast within the island’s protected marine park. This forms part of the Soufriere Marine Management Association (SMMA), which comprises the entire near-shore environment from Marigot Bay to Gros Piton. There are numerous designated dive sites within the marine park that provide a variety of
What are the Bends ? The bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS) or Caisson disease occurs in scuba divers or high altitude or aerospace events when dissolved gases (mainly nitrogen) come out of solution in bubbles and can affect just about any body area including joints, lung, heart, skin and brain.
scuba experiences including, drift, wall and wreck dives. There are also a few dive sites in the North of the island that are regularly visited. While Saint Lucia does possess some excellent coral reef environments off of the East Coast and the extreme North and South ends of the island, they are rarely used for diving as the conditions are normally unsuitable. The Leeward West Coast offers shelter from the prevailing easterly trade winds and the potentially dangerous wave and current conditions they produce.
Did you know Scuba is an acronym for ‘Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus’. Decompression always occurs when you go from a higher to a lower ambient pressure. Thus all compressed gas diving is decompression diving. When recreational diving is referred to as “no decompression diving” it really means “no mandatory decompression stop diving.”
RIVÉ 26
top
dive sites Anse La Raye Wall A dramatic wall falls from the surface, covered in sea whips, gorgonians and soft coral. Delicate soft corals and large feather duster worms can be found in this site.
Wreck of the “Lesleen M” A 165 foot freighter that was sunk in 1986. It is covered in soft corals and sponges with a variety of reef fish.
Anse Cochon A steep slope with large boulders covered in sponges and gorgonians in the shallower part.
Turtle Reef A crescent-shaped reef that drops quickly from a plateau area starting at 40 feet to over 150 feet. Spectacular pillar coral and barrel sponges can be seen.
Anse Chastanet Reef This reef is just off the Anse Chastanet Beach. A plateau between 5-25 feet that drops away to 140 feet. The reef is covered in soft corals and sponges.
Fairyland With excellent visibility due to persistent currents this reef sparkles with vibrant colours of many varieties of coral and sponges. The plateau area slopes gently from 40 to 60 feet. Turtles are often seen on this site.
Grand Caille Patois for “Big Rock”, Grand Caille is known as a very dramatic dive site with deep water gorgonians and sea whips.
Trou Diable Patois for “Devil’s Hole”, Trou Diable is a fascinating location with large barrel sponges and well developed coral heads with schools of chromis and grunts in profusion.
lar seamounts that rise dramatically from the depths to within a few feet from the surface. These structures provide shelter for trumpet fish, filefish and sometimes seahorses.
Jalousie Situated at the base of Gros Piton with lots of schooling fish, Creole wrasse, bar jack and occasionally the southern sennet.
photograph courtesy of stlucia.org/things-to-do/diving
Pinnacles Our most visually stunning dive site with four spectacu-
27 RIVÉ
Wreck Diving.
Many dive schools offer a range of programs from a
The ‘Lesleen M’ wreck, which was sunk in a shallow sandy
30-minute Try Dive program, for those just wanting to get
bay, north of the Pitons 1985, to create an artificial reef
a sense of what it’s like to dive, to a PADI’s Reactivate
is a popular and well-known wreck and ideal for novice
Program for certified divers wanting a refresher.
wreck divers. Sitting evenly on her keel, 165 feet long and
PADI is the world’s most respected and recognised or-
at a maximum depth of 60 feet with the Pilothouse ac-
ganization in recreational scuba diver training and certifi-
cessible at 40 feet, she has a wide-open accessible cargo
cation. Its “C Cards” certifying the training are recognised
hold which leads into the engine room. It is covered in
around the world. Those who are more adventurous and
soft coral, sponges and hydroids and provides an ideal
are in search of the ultimate scuba dive holiday can en-
habitat for many juvenile fishes. This site is an ideal in-
rol in PADI’s Open Water Diver course to earn their whole
troduction to wreck diving for the newly certified diver,
scuba diving certification.
seasoned divers will also enjoy the prime condition of this wreck.
Remember, scuba diving is safe when you are properly
On the southern tip of St. Lucia’s Atlantic side lies the
trained, Saint Lucia does have a hyperbaric chamber
Wawinet ‘Atlantic’ wreck. She is a 400 feet long freighter,
located at Tapion Hospital in Castries. The chamber is
lying on her starboard side at a depth of 105 feet. Sunk in 1980, also to create an artificial reef for marine life but not necessar-
staffed by fully qualified and trained individuals and is overseen by hospital physicians certified in Hyperbaric Medicine.
ily for diving, she is fully loaded with all her original equipment still in place.
For those of you seeking the ultimate scuba diving experience here in
Fitness
Saint Lucia RIVE Recommends:
You don’t have to be super athletic and fit to dive but you need to be at least in a good state of health. Even for people who have physical disabilities, there are divers who specialise in training people with physical limitations. While scuba diving sounds like a fun activity, it is important to keep in mind that you need to first undergo training and then get a certification, which will prove your ability to dive safely. RIVÉ 28
Scuba St.Lucia - Anse Chastanet www.scubastlucia.com
Dive Saint Lucia
www.divesaintlucia.com
Scuba Steve’s
www.scubastevesdiving.com
Eastern Caribbean Diving
www.easterncaribbeandivingstlucia.com
The industry standard depth limit for recreational divers is 130 feet (39 m) at sea level. During the basic scuba certification, students experience depths of 30-60 feet (9-18 m), and a “deep” dive is considered more than 60 feet (18 m). “Going deep” is not an end in itself for scuba enthusiasts. Science has shown that the vast majority of marine species live at depths less than 60 feet (18 m). Within the limits of their training, divers go as deep as necessary to see the points of interest at
How d e e p do you go ?
a particular dive site. That may mean 110 feet (33 m) along a coral-covered wall, 90 feet (27 m) on a wreck or 20 feet (6 m) in a river. Staying shallow holds several advantages. One is that your air lasts longer. The deeper you go, the greater the water pressure. The scuba regulator works by automatically providing the diver air at the same pressure as the surrounding water. Therefore, the air in the cylinder is used faster the deeper the dive. For example, at 100 feet (30 m), air is used four times as fast as at the surface. If it takes a diver an hour to become low on air at or near the surface, all else being equal, it would take the same diver only 15 minutes to deplete his air on a 100foot dive. Another advantage of remaining shallow is that the diver’s body accumulates less nitrogen in a given amount of time. This allows him to stay down longer without needing to make a mandatory decompression stop. Decompression diving is beyond the scope of standard rec dive training. Recreational divers primarily breathe filtered air compressed into the scuba cylinder. Nitrogen, which comprises 79 percent of “plain old” air, is not metabolized, but accumulates in the tissues when breathed under increased pressure as you dive. This is what causes decompression sickness, or the bends; when the absorbed nitrogen is released too quickly, it forms bubbles in the tissues. The same percentages as above apply: A diver absorbs nitrogen four times faster at 100 feet than at the surface. There is a definite trade-off between how deep you go and how long you can stay down. Some recreational divers expand their skill range through additional training in technical diving disciplines. These include courses in deep diving and use of mixed breathing gases, gases other than plain old air.
29 41 RIVÉ
Living in Saint Lucia
Part2
The RIVÉ RIVE Guide To
Extending your Stay Unless you are a returning national, from the Carib-
So how do you apply for an extension? Plan to go
bean Community (CARICOM) or married to a Saint
to the Immigration office, located on Bridge Street in
Lucian, chances are you’ll need to make monthly
Castries, about 1-2 days before the expiry date.
trips to the Immigration Office in order to extend
Know that an extension to stay is valid for a month
your stay on the island beyond what was granted
only and will have to be renewed every 30 days at
on arrival by custom. First things first, check for how
the cost of EC$200 ($74, £57).
long your passport was stamped for on your arrival.
What to bring. • Valid passport + a photocopy to
As a general rule, visitors from
leave with the immigration officer.
Europe, America and Canada
• Valid return ticket + a photocopy
can stay on island for a minimum of 42 days. Prior to the
to leave with the immigration
expiration of this deadline and/
officer (Property Holders and
or in the event you plan to stay
Persons with SL parentage are exempt from requirement).
longer, a further extension may be granted after an applica-
• Original receipt of rental contract
tion is made to the Immigra-
payment + a copy to leave with
tion Department. The extension
the immigration officer.
granted is discretionary, based on responses given
• A passport size photograph.
in an interview conducted by an Immigration
• EC$200 in cash.
Officer. Bear in mind that the entry requirements
The extension process takes about 5 working days
vary depending on the passport you hold, as some
during which time they will hold onto your passport.
countries require a visa to visit/stay in Saint Lucia.
When you return to collect your passport Check that they have stamped your 30 days extension. If you
For those of you who are part of CARICOM, as part
need to repeat this process 30 days later you only
of its free movement within the Caribbean islands
need your passport, a valid return ticket and EC$200.
policy, you can live and work in Saint Lucia without
You can of course pay for two months at a time so
restrictions. That being said, be sure to do your re-
you don’t need to go there every month as queues
search and contact your foreign office beforehand.
can be long and take on average up to 45 minutes.
note
- all information provided herein is based on 2017 data. Our recommendations and suggestions are based on first hand experiences.
o
Just a couple of weeks later, on Oct 1st 2017, we headed to St Lucia from Canada with the hope of a catching a Ferry ride to Dominica. (We were told “The Ferry from St Lucia was the only possible way to get to Dominica, as no fights were being allowed in!”). As we were just about to leave we get a WhatsApp Video/Pictures message from a friend on the island, that our home had survived the storm”. When we arrived in St Lucia we stayed at an Airbnb in the North, a few weeks later we found a home next door to where we were staying to rent, at least until we figured out our what to do next. We sent much of that time trying to get information about Dominica and how to get over there, but were told repeatedly that it isn’t safe due to the conditions.
Canadian couple Craig & Christina Stevenson share their story of Moving to Saint Lucia after Hurricane Maria hit Dominica.
Our days, quickly became filled, with constant trips to Cas-
“Living one day at a Time”
of the Hurricane. To cut a long story short, the good news is,
O
ur Caribbean journey of discovery began in 2013. My wife Christina and I, were on a South-
tries to deal with our now “Refuge situation”, getting our 40ft container redirected here from Jamaica, and car from Trinidad, which is where they were re-directed to because we have now decided to stay in St Lucia for good.
o
the
insight
ern Caribbean Cruise. One of the stops was Dominica, we fell in love with the island instant-
ly and decided then and there that when we retire it will be
What are some of the key challenges moving/living in?
in Dominica. Then in 2017 we made the call to retire from
Well, the first biggest challenge was to muster up the
the hustle and bustle of corporate life early. I told Christina
Courage to “Leap on Faith” and just “Do It”.
“Let’s sell it all and move to the Caribbean now, while we
Once that was decided, there was the “Naysayers”
still have our health“ she replied, without hesitation, “ok”.
stating things like, “What are you going to do about health
So later that same year, Craig and his wife sold their home,
care, what about it being a 3rd world county, and what
cars and boat in Canada, packed their belongings into a
about the crime!” We choose to just “Ignore the noise”
40ft container and shipped it all to Dominica.
and follow our hearts. Another challenge, probably the biggest, is getting use to “Island Time”. Things move a little
As Craig explains, “while everything was on-route and we
slower here, much slower! Ironically enough, one of the
were still in Canada organising and preparing to make the
reasons for moving here, but it applies to all the situations
move, at 8pm on Monday Sept 18th 2017, I remember the
we are finding ourselves in; dealing with Customs, Immi-
date and time exactly as I will never forget it, Hurricane
gration, Government processes etc.! We quickly came
Maria, smashes into Dominica, a direct Category 5 hit,
to realise that this is a totally difference set of standards,
wiping out 80% of everything!!. All communication gone,
and the sooner we choose to “Go with the Flow” the
no clue of the wellbeing of our good friends, and/or the
better off we would become! So, for us it is
condition of our new home on the island”.
“Island Time, …… One Day at a Time”.
Cuisine - Head Chefs
To elevate Caribbean Cuisine to International recognition
A
s part of our Culinary Experiences feature, RIVE
My parents are from the Caribbean but migrated to the
met up with Chef Orlando Satchel, one of Saint
United Kingdom where I was born. My dad is Barbadian
Lucia’s most recognised and distinguished
and my mother is Jamaican, so I grew up in the UK eat-
Chefs. Hailing for London England, of Caribbe-
ing Caribbean Cuisine from a very young age. Addition-
an decent, Chef Orlando moved to the island
ally, I would watch Culinary Programs. I realized that Italian,
in 1998 and quickly gained a reputation as a “CHEF ON
French and other European Cuisines were featured but not
A MISSION”, to elevate Caribbean cuisine to international
Caribbean Cuisine. I noticed that it was because the pro-
levels of excellence. A strong advocate of healthy living,
grams focused on presentation.
Chef Orlando firmly believes in farm-to-table sustainable
RIVÉ 32
cuisine and through his internationally recognised Restau-
From then, I have been on a mission to get people aware
rant presents an array of inventive sustainable ingredients
of the untapped creativity that lies in Caribbean Cuisine.
on his menu.
Chef, you have made the South of the island your home,
So Chef, what made you choose to become a Chef?.
What makes Soufriere so special to you?. Soufriere is over
I love cooking and I inspire people to cook, but essentially,
pouring with potential. It should not just carry the weight
I grew up seeing my mother do the cooking, when I got
of advertising Saint Lucia as the “Romantic Honeymoon
older if my mother did not cook, I would cook and I would
Destination”, Soufriere should be cultivated to support
transform my mom’s dishes with presentation.
community development, local farmers and suppliers.
Orlando Chef
“
Local farmers and suppliers should be benefiting from tourism as well.
Soufriere should be an example of Sustainable Tourism
“
41
RIVÉ
So the question I’m sure many people would like to know, Why did you decide to start your own restaurant rather than taking up a new Head Chef position after leaving the world famous Ladera Resort?. “I think it was long overdue. I have always wanted to own a restaurant. When I opened Orlando’s I said wow, I finally did it. I have acquired ample experience so I think that owning my restaurant highlights my maturity and dedication as a Chef”. How has Caribbean cuisine changed over the years, we asked him. “Well A lot more effort is placed on its presentation. When I was growing up French and Italian Cuisine made it on television programs now Caribbean Cuisine is featured on Television more often than before. Today, with more Caribbean Chefs getting recognised with their infusion and Caribbean background reflected their dishes, I think Caribbean Cuisine is compatible in the international arena a lot more than twenty years ago. In addition to that, my influence over the last twenty years has proved that Caribbean Cuisine can be prepared with presentation and not lose it authenticity”. Travelling around the island we have begun to notice that Caribbean cuisine is slowly losing its position as the most popular food, do you agree and if so why do you think this is?. “I think the Fast Food Craze is very real. Saint Lucians have lost the value for local cuisine so they see it as a chore. They need to understand what this means for Tourist/ Tourism in Saint Lucia. As an island, we are selling Saint Lucia short in terms of Tourism. Some visitors come to Saint Lucia to find out more about what is authentic to this island but when the people and other stakeholders do not promote it, it will always be something they have to look for when they get here”.
34 rive Magazine ©
I hear allot about how hard is it to find willing and able
our Caribbean Cuisine. I also go to local schools to judge
local staff do you find this an issue. “In terms of finding
cooking competitions. I use this as an opportunity to find
employees and people who genuinely want to become
the next young person who is inspired to cook and want
a Chef or love to cook, yes it can be hard however while
to contribute to Caribbean Cuisine. I love to train and
formal education and training is fine, I would go with raw
inspire these individual so that they too can continue this
talent because some of the aspiring cooks who want to
legacy of the fusion of our heritage in the Caribbean.
become Chefs especially the young ones do not have
A fusion that should be celebrated as food is universal but
formal training. That being said the way that I do things
enjoying it from knowing the history of where the produce
is very important to me so retaining people who share
that we eat come from”.
my vision for my restaurant can be a challenge”. Where do you source your supplies, particularly organic?. “I buy from the supermarkets, local suppliers and farmers/ vendors from
What advice would you give to the young up and coming cooks and Chefs?. I would tell them to cook with passion. To go looking for ways to develop themselves, for instance, train
Soufriere. I operate my restaurant around
with someone who is highly experienced
the concept of a boutique restaurant.
so that they can be guided properly. To remember that once you cook for other
My concept is “Ti Mange” (small plates). Therefore, I use basic ingredients which makes it easy enough to find home grown organic ingredients which is part of the slow food movement”. What’s your favourite “Caribbean fusion” dish?. “Ah good question, that would
people you have their life in your hands so get the proper food safety training and remain up-to-date with what is going on in the industry”. And to those thinking about moving to Saint Lucia, what would you say to them?. “Come to Saint
be pan Fried Snapper with Jerk Plantain salsa”. Another
Lucia with an open mind and heart. Try out our Cuisine by
key question I’m sure readers would be interested in is,
visiting local restaurants. I am an expatriate from England
what ways do you give back to the local community?.
and I have found living in Saint Lucia to be quite enjoya-
“I buy 90% of my ingredients every day from local farmers
ble. The people are friendly and there are lots of activities
and vendors. Since opening my business 5 years ago I
to enjoy. Get yourself familiar with the island by doing our
have hosted every December a lunch for the local farm-
excursions and tours and bathe in our sandy beaches.
ers and vendors in Soufriere. It is also a prize giving event.
That is also a good way to start off your life here in Saint
The prizes come from sponsors and I do it because I want
Lucia as you get re-energize every time you spend time
them to feel appreciated and to have me prepare the
exploring Saint Lucia. There is an inner peace that takes
produce that they sell in a manner that most of them do
hold of you as you explore this simply beautiful island.
not often times get to enjoy so that they can appreciate
That is why she is called the Helen of the West Indies”.
o
rive Magazine ©
35
the
insight Favourite thing to do at the weekend? One of my favourite things to do over the weekend is head to the beach. Its either a quite beach day on Pigeon Island or head to the Landings Beach where you tend to catch up with friends and watch the sun go down with a rum punch in hand. Getting in the car and heading south is always a great thing to do having a few hours at the sulphur springs, lunch at the Ti Kaye hotel, a trip along the wild East coast, get off the beaten track and visit Anse L’Ivorgne south of the Gros Piton or just head to Canaries to see the family and visit the waterfall.
Pepsi Demacque-Crockett Business Owner
What drew you to the island and what do you love about its culture, people, lifestyle? I came back to Saint Lucia on holiday with my husband whilst my sister was on vacation on island from the States.. It was my first visit for over 30 years, so it was a reunion with my sister and Saint Lucia. Meeting family in Canaries and spending time with my aunts, uncles and cousins made me realise how disconnected I was from my island culture. I felt elated with a sense of deep reconnection, which I must say was largely a connection with my now deceased parents, my mother in particular who would often reminisce about her former life in Saint Lucia, despite being happy in London. As such, I just had to come back so plans were hatched and eighteen months later we returned due to a six month contract my husband received working on a community tourism development project funded by the EU. This gave us the opportunity to spend an extended time here and live not just vacation. We sunk into the way of life nicely and we have been on island for 8years now. We have made some great friends which always helps with getting to know a place and we have a simple and enjoyable life style in the sun. I would say those friendships are a vital part of the glue which binds us here, people are just as important as place! What is your Favourite places to eat/drink? We have a boat charter business (Jus’Sail) so we spend a lot of time in the marina. For a quick coffee and catch up with friends we tend to head to Cafe Ole and often eat a local lunch at Bread Basket. Another place I like heading for lunch or dinner is to Gros Islet village and eat at Golden Taste. The food is really well presented, its a simple fresh menu with a good choice of local meals and very affordable. Gros Islet is also well known for its Friday night jump up which we tend to go to for some fun once in awhile. Buzz restaurant is also a nice place for Happy Hour and if you want to stay for dinner it has a great menu too, we always bump into people we know there which usually ends up with everyone congregating around the bar. RIVÉ 36
What advice would you give to anyone planning to move to Saint Lucia?. I would advise living on island for 6 months to a year and really immerse yourself in the culture. Get yourself involved in something constructive like supporting a community group or NGO as giving back is vital for your wellbeing on an island that has so many good causes to support. Get a handle on all the hoops and the red tape because you will have to have a lot of patience for that when time comes to move permanently. What doesn’t the island have/offer that you would like to see? This is a big question for me because this changes from day to day for me. Some days I am happy with my lot and then other days I wish I could head down to Marks and Spencers! But I would say that its not really what the island doesn’t have which might bother me, but what it is at risk of losing should it pursue too much growth. What hospitality trends do you think Saint Lucia could benefit from adopting? I would say move away from all inclusive hotels, which I don’t believe should be such a dominant sector on the island and rather focus on a few more authentic beach bars and boutique developments which appeal much more to the millennial and digital nomad generation. Otherwise we are at risk of becoming a generic destination which could be anywhere! So... Support what’s local, authentic and real, otherwise why come to Saint Lucia?. It’s a beautiful, diverse and richly cultured island, filled with friendly and genuine people with a stunning natural environment... I love palm trees so more of them and less concrete is always a good thing!
What are some of the main challenges to running a business here? Island life is slower than a “first world” country and therefore it sometimes takes much longer than expected to get things done. This is both in private sector and the public sector as well. Lending institutions are very conservative which can make borrowing money more challenging. Scarcity of all resources is also a major challenge and can affect day to day running of business.
Matthew Hartmann & Marisa Groenewald Business Owners
What drew you to the island and what do you love about its culture, people, lifestyle? Are you kidding? Have you looked around? This island has a raw attraction about it which is hard to put into words! Seriously though the island is stunning and has some of the best natural landscapes the Caribbean has to offer. This is what first attracted me initially here as I am a nature lover. The people are extremely friendly and helpful and genuine. At the time I was looking to move here, St Lucia’s economy was climbing strongly and was well positioned for continual growth and that was important to me as an entrepreneur. Finally I met the woman of my dreams within 24 hours of being here and the rest as they say ..... is history. How did you both came to own BUZZ? Many dinners and lots of wine! It was a natural progression as I was looking for a restaurant to buy and Marisa was the manager at Buzz at that time. Pat Bowden the owner was ready to retire. Marisa and I became quick friends and both had dreams of owning a restaurant here, so luck definitely played a part in terms of the timing. We then bought the restaurant from Pat who was happy to sell to both of us as she thought we would make a good team.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own business/bar/restaurant in Saint Lucia? First and foremost, do your research and familiarise yourself with the cultural nuances of doing business here. Be prepared to adapt your approach. Expand your network as soon as you can and meet as many people as you can both socially and in business. Get a good lawyer who can advise you on ALL THE LEGALITIES AND STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH BUSINESS SETUP. What advice would you give to anyone planning to move to Saint Lucia?. Relax and enjoy the ride. Saint Lucia is about the quality NOT the quantity of life. Immigration has many avenues of choice ,CIP, residency or citizenship, so you need to know which avenue you want to choose. It bears repeating to embrace and accept the culture and pace of life here. What doesn’t the island have/offer that you would like to see? More structured training and development for the hospitality industry (hotel training school). Better governance and accountability in the public and private sector. Beside that the island is beautiful and perfect as it is.! What hospitality trends do you think Saint Lucia could benefit from adopting? Organic and health food movements and eco sustainability as it pertains to the hospitality industry, these need to be developed and matured more. Favorite things to do at the weekend? Marisa: Golf golf golf, Matthew: Exploring nature, going to the beach and socialising with friends and of course, my main passion and favourite sport Kite Surfing.
How does the collaboration/business partnership work? We are equal partners in the company. We both have clearly defined separate roles in administration, accounting and office administration on one side and marketing, sales and promotion on the other. We both share the actual face of the business, meeting and greeting clients and assisting our team during service hours. There is some overlap and there are no hard lines drawn however. Most importantly however is that our personalities are different but compliment each other in terms of our strengths and weaknesses and we are friends which helps a lot!
37 RIVÉ
Healthy Living
Dishes on display include Hummus. Tropical quinoa kale salad Zuchinni Noodles with turmeric Alfredo sauce and Veggie hummus wrap
RIVÉ 38
un-process your life by
living the vegan way
W
ith life threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure common occurrences in the Caribbean many are now becoming increasingly
mindful of what they’re putting into their body, as well as where their food comes from. It could be argued that this awareness has come as a consequence of hospitality culinary trends, largely driven by resorts and hotels, following market demand for healthier menus to include vegan options, either way, it is long overdue. Although not as yet a mainstream alternative, a plant based diet is becoming more and more popular with a number of people who prefer healthier food and lifestyle.
Mandiana Auguste, creator and owner of Garden Of Vegan, a catering service that delivering delicious vegan meals around the Island, tells us more about a Vegan lifestyle. I suppose the obvious first question Mandiana is when and why did you become a Vegan? The transition occurred after the inception of Garden Of Vegan in 2016. The two main contributing factors leading me to this decision were health and I am also a firm believer that being the brand representation of
39 RIVÉ
my own business should start with me, especially since I am the face of the business. I am a firm believer that being brand representation of my business should start with me especially since I am the face of the business. How has this plant based diet/way of eating benefited you, have you noticed a difference in your overall health? Certainly, I have noticed positive changes in my health. One of which is maintaining my current body weight. Additionally, knowing that my decision is positively contributing to the environment is far more fulfilling. Why did you decide to start your own Vegan Food business? In 2016, it dawned on me that the options were limited for people who would be interested in leading a plant based diet. I capitalised on this need, and hence the birth of Garden Of Vegan. What types of clients do you have? My client list is quite broad, it includes Judges, teachers, lawyers, business owners, transitioning vegans and vegans.
Where and how easy is it to find supplies on island? Finding supplies on the Island can be an easy feat if one knows where the supplies can be obtained. For vegetables, grains and seeds I would strongly recommend TransCaribbean. They are located in Bois d’ Orange and Vieux Fort La Tourney. And Of course, fresh herbs and produces can be directly obtained directly from Castries market. What’s your favourite dish on the menu, why? Garden Of Vegan’s menus are never set as the menu changes weekly. If I were to have a favourite dish, it would be my Caribbean three bean pelau with vegan hotdogs. Why? Because It’s that good. How and where do you find inspiration for creating new dishes? Inspiration to me begins in my head. I’ve come to understand that like art, cooking is equivalent to the finished product of an artist. What is your favourite ingredient(s) to cook with? Fresh herbs and seasonings, they’re used in almost every dish on
o
the menu.
41
RIVÉ
Arts and Crafts What inspired you to create MeCurator? I have been observing the art in St Lucia for as long as I have been living on the island and one thing that is strikingly obvious; there is so much talent here. St Lucia is an abundant Island, with a multitude of resources, energy and light. For me, these vibes are best reflected through the artists and artisans. The artists bring the history, culture and richness of the island, to life through their paintings, sculpture and jewellery. They tell the story of life via different means, they tell it in a form that is accessible to all, language is not a barrier in art. MeCurator was birthed with this in mind. I wanted to reveal to people that, We / Me can all Create. That we all have a story to tell, a journey to go on and what better way to do this than through art and creativity.
Buki Cahane Saint Lucia’s new Curator and promoter of local artists
What do you see is the current state of the local artist market here? The art in St Lucia is exposed through great spaces like Island Mix, Inner Gallery and the Eudovic Art Studio. Three separate spaces dotted around the island are
A
rt Curator Buki Cahane is the inspiration behind MeCurator an art business that she set up to bring awareness, grow and promote the work of the isalnd’s local artists. RIVE met up with Buki to
find out about her life in St Lucia and MeCurator. So Buki, tell us about your background? When people ask me this question, I often start with my name, my introduction to the world. Buki is a Nigerian name, short for Bukola. I was born in Lagos Nigeria, the youngest of 5 children. I spent much of my young life growing up in Nigeria, leaving Nigeria for England was tough on me as a child, when I moved to England, I didn’t speak any English!. I learnt how to speak English very quickly and adapted to life in London. I excelled
representing different types of artists and types of craft. However, I feel collectively, we can all work together and rise up, propelling St Lucian art to the next level. Although we have these spaces and with MeCurator, St Lucia still needs to push its local artist to the forefront. For the artists to be recognised as more than just artists who paint souvenirs but genuine artists who depict a range of images and styles. I feel a lot more has to be done for the younger artists, those who are seeking their visual voice and looking for a platform in which this can be showcased. For example, there are two great emerging artists, that I have had the privilege of working alongside. GilroyH and Junette Alexander both have a very unique style of painting and depicting St Lucian heritage in an unconventional way.
through school, college and University and I give all credit to that to my Father, He was a teacher in Nigeria. Why did you move to Saint Lucia?. My family and I came to St Lucia on vacation from Antigua, on the last day of our vacation my husband received a call about a role based in St Lucia, he left at 9am in the morning and came back at 9pm at night with a job! We returned back to Antigua the following day, and within three weeks the whole family had relocated to St Lucia. We have been here for two and a half years now and are still finding things that make us smile on a daily basis.
RIVÉ 42
With so much talent here, the advice I would give to an emerging artist is don’t give up!. Start with a theme,
o
build up a collection and continue to create.
“
The Art of Saint Lucia
“
The main advice I would give to an emerging artist is don’t give up. Continue to paint, to draw, to create. start with a theme, and build up a collection.
Buki Cahane Art Curator: Founder of MeCurator Location: Windjammer Resort 41
RIVÉ
Arts and Crafts
Nadia Jabour AN advocate of locally made art & Jewelry and leading supporter of saint lucia’s artisan community.
W
ith travel now the world’s largest industry, underpinned by resorts selling mass produced tourist gifts of unknown origin, discerning travellers are increasingly turning to locally made.
Locally made is not only a wonderful piece of memorabilia of your time in that country but a way of giving back to the local artisan from whom you bought it from. And for the environmentally conscious amongst you Locally Made typically means less transportation, less infrastructure and as a result less waste. Here in the North of the island if you are looking for unique handcrafted locally made Art and/or jewellery to adorn either your person or your home visit Island Mix. Take a stroll through Rodney Bay, turn right down a side road called Seagrape drive, tucked neatly behind Big Chef restaurant and you’ll see the sign. A former water fronted home converted into an Arts and Crafts boutique with indoor/outdoor cafe, Island Mix is not only one of the island’s few outlets that provide a platform to showcase the work of talented artisans, it is also a wonderful place to relax and meet friends, fellow internationals and travellers.
RIVÉ 44
Hi Nadia tell us about Island Mix and why you
What type of art you are looking for?
opened the boutique?
We’re looking for Quality. We have more than
Island Mix was created 3 years ago and conceptual-
80 artists showcased at Island Mix, some from other
ised after my original business ‘Design By Nadia’.
islands. Sometimes I’ll have an artist bring a carving,
I could not find retail outlets to sell my handmade
I would buy it straight out and give it to one of the
jewellery and then began to realise that there
artists to work on by painting it so that it
were quite a few of us in the same situation
enhances the piece.
so we formed our own creative development network. I still couldn’t find
Have you always been creative?
any retail outlets so I finally decided
Oh yes, I’m always designing
to do it myself.
something. I’ve done floral designs for many many years and have
What is the concept behind
always dabbled in something
Island Mix?
artistic, I can’t even remember a
The concept is to create a home
time when I wasn’t creating some-
for artisans and artists so that there is
thing. I am not a fashion person at
one place where locals and visitors can
all, but jewellery came about when I
come to shop and know that everything is
was living in Canada after having my kids.
made locally. The artisans do their own pricing (as everything is on consignment) so they get a fair share.
you’ve faced when trying to source and showcase the work of local artists? I can’t say I have a problem in sourcing because they have all come to me. I don’t really do much advertising for artists to come by and showcase, many have heard about Island Mix and just come by, I take on about 2 new artists every months. But really, the biggest challenge I have is with marketing, both them and the boutique, where to advertise the boutique in Saint Lucia? We have two satellite stores within resorts, one at Cap
“
didn’t have enough space so I decided
The point is to give the artists the exposure I would love for them to tell their story themselves because they can sell their art better than me.
Maison and the other at East Winds giving us more traffic and bringing awareness. The other challenge I would say I have is pushing the artist to become interactive. I always say: “Stay around, it’s a place for you to sit down and
“
What are some of the biggest challenges
I couldn’t continue with the floral designs as I wanted to because we just to take a day course in jewellery making and it just took off from there. I think the knowledge and experience I had in other areas just combined really well. What types of materials do you use? I like natural materials, I use seeds, sea glass, driftwood, any metals I pick up but really whatever catches my eye and inspires me. I once made a whole collection around a variety of colourful leaves and made it into jewellery. What would you say to an artist who would like to have their craft showcased at IM? Come try it out!! We have a good market which is growing year on year, we have the right place, the right mix of things. We also have a café and give art and sewing classes so it has
paint” as we’ve got canvases, we have paint, stuff
become a bit of a hub for visitors,
they can try out. I want them to come and make it
people wanting to learn a bit more about the arts.
their space. The point is to give them the exposure I would love for them to tell their story themselves.
45 RIVÉ
So Why did you decide to come and live in Saint Lucia? I am Guyanese born and lived half of my life there and the other half in Canada. I first came to Saint Lucia about 19 years ago and just fell in love with the island. I was fortunate enough to be able to come back and visit a few times before making the final decision to move here permanently 7 years ago. I didn’t come with the intention to open a business at first but I knew I had to do something. Whilst making my jewelry on the side, people started coming to me and say “oh my god, we don’t have anything like this, could I have this, could you make this for me?. So I just started from there. I found Saint Lucia a really lovely place because of the people, I like the feel of it. I love their friendliness, they are courteous, open, hospitable so it was just comfortable and I didn’t find there was any prejudice, it was just a lovely island that made you part of it.
o As Nadia mentioned in this interview, Island Mix is not only a great place to discover local artists it’s also a place where you can hang out and have freshly made Fish & Chips every Thursday evening and delicious Guyanese Roti, now on the menu every day. The best thing, for us though, has to be her totally addictive Rum Cakes!.
“I like natural I use seeds, sea glass, driftwood, any metals I pick up, but materials,
really whatever catches my eye and inspires me�
Living in Saint Lucia
Part3
The RIVÉ Guide To
Buying Property & Aliens License As with all things that require you to separate with a sizeable amount of money, when it comes to buying a new home always always always do your research. There is an exhaustive list of things to consider so we will just pass that over to Google. However if there is one constant it’s to separate the “needs from the wants”. What are your priorities for your next home? How important is public transport? Community facilities, Parking, Size of property, Privacy, proximity to Schools? How many bedrooms and baths will you need? And of course how important are sea views.
All non-citizens, non-Caricom nationals and alien com-
Fees for the license according to the size of the land:
panies are required to obtain an Aliens License in order
1 acre or less
EC$5,000
to purchase property/real-estate in Saint Lucia.
1 – 10 acres
EC$10,000
The license is obtained from the Ministry responsible for
10 – 20 acres
EC$20,000
Physical Development and must be registered by a
20 – 50 acres
EC$30,000
local lawyer/solicitor.
50 – 100 acres
EC$40,000
Over 100 acres
EC$50,000
1. The applicant’s lawyer submits the Aliens License
Documentation
application to the Permanent Secretary of the Min-
With the assistance of your lawyer/solicitor and real es-
istry of Physical Development. The application is then
tate agent, the following documents must be submit-
forwarded to the Survey Department’s Chief Surveyor,
ted in support of your application for an Alien’s License.
which prepares a memorandum to the Cabinet of Min-
• Non-refundable cost of the application is EC$5,400.00.
isters for approval.
• Details of the property to be purchased.
2. Upon approval from Cabinet, the lawyer submits a
• Property value assessment.
sworn declaration and the draft license to the Attorney
• Profile of applicant/Directors of Company.
General’s Office for vetting. If there are no amend-
• Passport and Citizenship details (Copy Data pages
ments or discrepancies, the draft license is returned to
• Profession or employment status (short form Resume).
3. The solicitor puts the license on approved paper and
• Bankers’ reference.
re-submits, along with a sworn declaration and other
• Police Certificate of good Character (PCGC) or
relevant information, to the Attorney General’s Office,
Police Report from country of origin or current
which then forwards it to the Prime Minister’s Office for
residence.
final approval and signature.
• The Statutory Declaration (to be provided by your
4. The official license is submitted to the Survey Depart-
lawyer/ solicitor for your signature), may be provided
ment, where it is collected by the lawyer who registers
as an interim measure, but the PCGC must be pro-
the license at the Land Registry Department.
vided within 6 months of the date of the application.
The license is granted for a specific property or plot of land and is not transferable. It is a permanent license
RIVÉ 40
of Passport).
the solicitor.
• Four (4) passport sized colour photographs of the applicant/directors.
which does not require renewal.
• Purchase Price of the Property.
Attorney fees - 3 - 5% of the cost of the property.
Buyer cancels - Deposit is forfeited.
Length of process - A realistic time-frame for the pro-
Vendor cancels - 10% deposit is refunded plus buyer
cessing of the application is 4-6 months and is usually
receives the 10% deposit forfeited by the vendor.
applied for immediately after an Agreement for Sale
If the Alien’s Landholding License is not approved,
has been entered into and a deposit has been paid by
the buyer’s 10% deposit is refunded.
the intended purchaser. The intended purchaser can
Worth noting - An advantage of buying property in
secure his or her interest by lodging a “caution” against
Saint lucia is no Capital Gain tax, no Inheritance nor
the property.
Estate tax.
note
- all information provided herein is based on 2017 data. Our recommendations and suggestions are based on first hand experiences.
Blue Reef real estate ltd
A Team Going Beyond with Proven Results that Move
YOU!
Toll Free: US & Canada Tel: 1(209) 233-6126 International Tel: 1 (758) 452-8941 Tel: 1 (758) 285-2001 Tel: 1 (758) 716-2007
Property Sales
info@bluereefrealestate.com
Rentals
Marketing
facebook.com/bluereefproperties
www.bluereefrealestate.com
What should potential buyers know before
How negotiable are today’s prices?
choosing to buy property in Saint Lucia?
Buyers can expect reasonable movement
Firstly, speak with a registered Realtor before
typically about 10 - 15% from listing prices.
selecting a person to represent your inter-
Realtor Maria Buchner gives us her insights into the property market
ests, ensure that they are registered with the
What locations do you recommend to rent
St. Lucia Realtor’s Association which is the
or buy and why?
only recognised body on island.
Choosing a location on the island ultimately
Secondly, Legal Advice. Before committing
depends on your choice of lifestyle. People
to a purchase, get a referral to an experi-
tend to gravitate to the north of the island
enced Attorney-at-Law who can advise you
seeking easy access to services and ameni-
on the different options for acquiring prop-
ties like Malls, Marina, Golfing and buzz-
erty in Saint Lucia, which can help save you
ing nightlife. However, if you prefer more
time and money. You will also need advice
laid back settings, then you will feel right
on the required documentation.
at home in towns south of Castries such as Marigot Bay, Soufriere and Choiseul rich in
What advice would you give to people looking to move to Saint Lucia?
After the financial crisis, the Caribbean
nature and culture and scenery. The main
St. Lucia is undoubtedly one of the most
property market was hit pretty hard has
takeaway is that here in St. Lucia we have
sought after islands in the Caribbean. Most
it now recovered?
something to offer everyone.
persons find that the island checks most of
The St. Lucian Real Estate Market has defi-
the boxes when it comes to their expecta-
nitely made some progress in growth. While
tions for island life in the tropics. Furthermore
we are still recovering from the global prop-
it is still an excellent time to invest now as we
erty crash, realising a correction in prices
are still in a buyer’s market which means that
over the last few years has driven sales up in
you can walk away with some great savings
the overall market which means good things
and equity on your new dream home.
for the discerning investor.
Blue Reef Real Estate founder and owner Maria Buchner moved to Saint Lucia in 2001 Since launching her real estate company in 2004 Maria, together with her Saint Lucian born business partner Donnelly John, has become one of the Island’s most prominent realtors.
49 RIVÉ
Living in Saint Lucia
Part4
The RIVÉ Guide To
Buying Your Car When it comes to transport and getting around the island, one of the main questions people moving to Saint Lucia ask is “should I Buy or Bring?”
A
fter you have finally settled into your newly
capacity is also important. In Saint Lucia a one car pur-
bought, built or rented home, you’re going
chase serves multiple functions as family car, off roader
to need transport to get around the island.
and tourer, which is one of the reasons why you see so
Now, whilst the local taxis and bus
many SUVs and pickups. As you move
service is remarkably good here, it’s
up into the premier market like a BMW,
always nice to have your own trans-
Mercedes or Audi customers tend to
port. Returning Saint Lucians and
know what they want, however the
those coming in from the CARICOM
biggest consideration to think about
region have the advantage of be-
is whether you want petrol, diesel or
ing able to import vehicles without
hybrid.
suffering many of the duties and
Diesel cars/SUV’s are very popular
headaches that those from outside
because of their efficiency and fuel
of the region are confronted with.
economy, however if you are consid-
For our 4th segment on Moving to
ering bringing over your own diesel
Saint Lucia we spoke with Mario Reyes Managing Direc-
car it is important to remember that the quality of the low
tor of M Motors BMW to get his advise on a few of the
sulphur diesel sold here is not as clean as the ultra-low sul-
key things to consider when buying a car in Saint Lucia.
phur diesel that you have in the UK/EU. If you put our low sulphur diesel fuel in you UK/EU imported ultra-low diesel
Mario: One of the keys things to consider is what do you
vehicle the filter that cleans the engine, which is part of
want the car for, what will be its primary usage, how
the exhaust system, tends to get blocked. When this hap-
much travelling do you intend to do and whether it’s for
pens even if you are still under warranty it won’t cover the
business or pleasure or both. The roads here are very dif-
repairs which will be expensive. With petrol engine vehi-
ferent to those in the UK, they are not as long and tend
cles however there are no such fuel compatibility issues.
to be more mountainous, uneven and twisty, so engine
In Issue 2 we will take a closer look at Importing.
50 rive Magazine ©
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One of the key things to consider is what do you want the car for, business or pleasure, Diesel or Petrol and how much travelling up and down the island do you expect to do.
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Mario Reyes: Managing Director of M Motors BMW rive Magazine ©
51
Leading Figures
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he Game Changer Wes Hall A man not just fuelled by success but influenced with the desire to build communities.
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amed after Wesley Winfield Hall, the former Barbados & West Indies fast bowler who his father adores, Wes Hall is a self-made man with an exceptional eye for business. With his latest multi-
million capital investment in the luxury focused Harbor Club (a Curio Collection by Hilton) this Canadian businessman is an established innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. With beautiful Rodney Bay Marina as its backdrop, Harbor Club, a 4-star designated hotel that delivers 5-star quality service, features 115 contemporary cabin-style rooms and suites, reminiscent of luxury cruise cabins, with a nauticalinspired design, including a bespoke swim-up room enclave with its own private pool. An affiliate of management company Aimbridge Hospitality LLC, the largest independent hotel management and investment firm in the United States, the Harbor Club’s target market is the premier business traveller used to a superior guest experience and bespoke service. As Executive Chairman & Founder of Kingsdale Advisors, Wes who left Saint Thomas Jamaica for Toronto Canada in 1985, has been named one of Canada’s most powerful business people. He is the owner of QM Environmental, a leading environmental and industrial services provider, and Titan Supply, a top manufacturer and distributor of rigging and wear products serving industries in the oil, construction and transportation sector. In 2009, Wes was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Ontario, Canada and, in 2011, Wes received the designation ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors’ (ICD) in partnership with the Rotman School of Management of the University of Toronto. RIVÉ 52
You know the Caribbean islands well, what made you
we are untrustworthy, which is not a laughing matter.
choose to make Saint Lucia your vacation home?.
But we’re not all like this, there are many fantastic pro-
In 2007 I got to the stage in my life when I wanted to
active and professional businesses here and I often
find a vacation home in the Caribbean. At the time
say to people that I meet of our culture that it’s their
I didn’t want to have a home in Jamaica because it
responsibility to prevent people from thinking that way
was too close to home, as in where I’m from,
about you and when you see people giving in
I have a lot of family there and whenever
to that stereotype it is your responsibility to
I visited I always came back to Canada
stop them. If you’re on a project and
broke. When I’m on vacation, I want
you see somebody stealing, it’s your
to be on vacation, I want to relax,
responsibility to stop them, if you
I don’t want to be known, I want to
see a tourist getting ripped off in
be treated like a tourist. I know
the market don’t just let it happen
Barbados and Antigua well but
say this is wrong , because if you
wanted somewhere that I hadn’t
don’t you become tainted by it.
been to before, after doing my research and talking to friends I
Many here now see you as a role
decided to visit the island and take
model, how do you feel about that?.
a look around. I was initially a bit put off
You know it’s one thing when you hear
by all the red tape and complications around Aliens License to buy property but I loved the place. At the time they were still finishing parts of The Landing, I met the builder island, I mean the whole island North to South, by helicopter and car. Then when I saw a piece of land for sale up at Cap Estate I bought it on the spot, first visit. How do you find doing business in the Caribbean? I had a number of business ventures and investments in the Caribbean particularly in Barbados and Trinidad and now here in Saint Lucia, which is important to me as I want to give back. But as you know there is a different cultural mindset and way of
“
looks like them owning a luxury business, but you know sometimes the treatment I get from people that look like me is worse
I am excited to not only have built a world-class luxury hotel but to help bring jobs to the community and increase the profile of St. Lucia internationally
doing things here which comes with its own problems and stereotypes. Which is unfortunate because even when you want to prove people wrong about the negative stereotypes, for example, “Caribbean time” or construction material going missing, they end up being proven to be true. What this says to the business industry is that we are unreliable,
“
who was a Canadian, he and I toured the
people say it’s great to see someone who
than those that don’t look like me. So yes it’s nice to hear it but we need to start showing support and giving each other the due that they deserve. If we are proud of our achievements and successes, we should elevate each other not bring each other down. It’s nice to give back and be seen to be employing locals but I’m not just investing in the Caribbean because I’m from the Caribbean, at the end of the day it got to make financial sense otherwise I end up loosing money. If I succeed I’m the celebrated Canadian owner, if I fail I’m the black man who couldn’t make it work. That is one of the reasons why it doesn’t matter how successful I am I never take my success for granted, I don’t go to work late, I make
sure I make all my meetings, I don’t squander what I have and I am always smart about the decisions I make.
53 RIVÉ
With that in mind how hands on where you with the completion of the hotel? Good question, it’s well documented that the project was in bad shape it had a lot of issues, predominantly financial and when you take over a project you inherit those issues. At the time all the smart money said no, the financial institutions, the local banks, the international banks, there was no way they were going to touch another greenfield resort/hotel project in the Caribbean particularly here in Saint Lucia. Banks don’t take risk, particularly in this current market, so it’s the entrepreneur who has the capital, the willingness to take on that risk and financial commitment to see the project through to completion. It’s easy to say, “oh he got a break”, but there are no breaks, not until you make a profit in the future, until then it’s all risk….all my risk. In the beginning I was very hands off, I sat back and observed, which was a big mistake as I observed some of the challenges we already talked about, that I saw in other projects I have worked on in other parts of the Caribbean. So I became very hands on, which meant allot of time, commitment and money, which meant being disciplined and making sure all costs were accounted for. Remember I’m not a hotelier, so I had to do my due diligence, I talked to alot of people that knew the industry and that would give me the right advice, I had to bring on new people that I trusted. It was an emotional decision to invest but I could see the potential, that it could be something different, something unique and if managed correctly, successful and as you can see the Harbor Club is open for business, now the hard work begins.
What advice would you give to young people starting out in business? Don’t over extend yourself, spend less than you earn and live below your means not beyond it. And finally Wes, who would you say has been integral to your success? My Grandmother Julia Vassel, a selfless and hardworking woman, she was the one who put me on the path to be in the position I am today.
RIVÉ 54
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RIVE Reviews
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Best Bars&Restaurants RIVE’s Top 10 best bars & restaurants rating is based on those that scored the highest positive reviews within the 4 below categories
Customer Service. Consistency. Value for Money. Experience The results are based on first hand customer feedback from both tourists/visitors and local residents as well as from a mystery professional food critic and writer.
The Guide to being the best The best restaurants aren’t the best just because of the food, they’re the best because of the service. It doesn’t matter how great your menu, customers always remember the service.
First impressions are everything, how your staff greet the customer sets the tone for the evening. Make sure the staff knows the menu, have tasted the specials, and understands the preparation and ingredients.
Customers want eating out to be an “Experience”, they want to tell their friends and share it on social media, so give them something memorable to talk about.
Look at your staff’s attitude, behaviour and desire, bad attitude can be contagious.
Keep updating your staff training methods, material, skills and standards. Standards create Consistency, Consistency encourages Professionalism.
The face of your business is not just you, it’s your staff. Staff that get to know and treat customers well, build trust and loyalty, which creates repeat business.
Customers look at VALUE as good return for the money spent, so when setting the prices of your dishes consider the size of your portions with the value of the ingredients.
Your staff need to feel invested in the success or failure of the business, value them and they will value the customer.
56 Magazine © 56 RIVÉrive
Note The Bars and Restaurants selected in this list are the ones that made it into the final Top 10. Upscale Fine Dining Resort/Hotels were not included.
2018 Best Bars&Restaurants Top 10 1. Naked Fisherman Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money............................................ Experience ........................................................
2. Razmataz
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Best Staff Member Customer Service WINNER
Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money............................................ Experience ........................................................
3. Big Chef Steak House Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ........................................... Experience ........................................................
4. Spice of India Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ........................................... Experience ........................................................
5. Tapas on the Bay Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ............................................ Experience .........................................................
6. Jacques Waterfront Dining Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ........................................... Experience ........................................................
Congratulations to Annekia Shanekia Pryce from Matthews Rooftop Restaurant
7. Matthews Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ............................................ Experience .........................................................
8. Buzz With only a few years experience in the
Customer Service ...........................................
industry Annekia has proven herself to be
Consistency of Standards .........................
an outstanding member of Matthews staff.
Value for Money ............................................
When it comes to good customer service,
Experience .........................................................
the lifeblood of any business, Annekia ticks all the boxes. She greets with a smile, has a friendly manner, is proactive, anticipates needs and does her best to ensure guests are satisfied.
9. Coal Pot Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ............................................ Experience .........................................................
10. The Bread basket Customer Service ........................................... Consistency of Standards ......................... Value for Money ............................................ experience .........................................................
57 rive Magazine 57 Š RIVÉ
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The Naked Fisherman
Take the 92 steps down to Smugglers Cove just below the resort and you’ll find the laid back and fun fuelled Naked Fisherman Beach Bar located right on the beach under a rustic thatched Caribbean style roof with raised veranda and a fully equipped open grill kitchen. Whilst the atmosphere may be more informal than the Cliff, the food is taken just as seriously with the same attention to detail and presentation. Here the equally skilled team serve up the very best in lunch time bar grills that include juicy steaks, ribs and fresh, locally caught Snapper, Lobster, Grouper and chilli Crab claws plus Creole Seafood ‘Boils’. There’s also a myriad of freshly squeezed juices and wonderful rum concoctions to choose from. This is a perfect place to unwind, relax and enjoy the Caribbean beach vibe.
Fmi www.nakedfishermanstlucia.com email: reservations@stonefieldvillas.com tel: +1 758 457 8694 Lunch | 12:00pm to 3:00pm - Dinner | 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Behind the Scenes
Saint Lucia Carnival
2017
Coming in Issue 2
“
Living in Saint Lucia is somewhat like living in a frontier town. We are at a crossroads where all these cultures collide. It is chaotic, colourful and dynamic.
Saint Lucia through the Lens
Magazine
“
Photographer
iving
in Saint Lucia
Here are some useful contact information details you may need to help you live your new life in Saint Lucia.
Police - 999 Fire and Ambulance - 911
Banking First Caribbean International - Tel: 1 (758) 456-1000
Police Headquarters - Bridge Street, Castries,
www.cibc.com/fcib/
Tel: 1 (758) 456-4047 or
Bank of Saint Lucia - Tel: 1 (758) 456 6000
request the Police Rapid Response Unit,
www.bankofsaintlucia.com
Tel: 1 (758) 452-2854 ext.167
1st National Bank - Tel: 1 (758) 455-7000
Hospitals
RBC Royal Bank of Canada - Tel 1 (758) 457-6300
www.1stnationalbankonline.com In an emergency call - 911
www.rbcroyalbank.com/caribbean
Victoria Hospital Tel: 1 (758) 452-2421/7059
Scotiabank - Tel: 1 (758) 456-2100
St. Jude’s Hospital Vieux Fort Tel: 1 (758) 454-6041
www.stlucia.scotiabank.com
Soufriere Tel: 1 (758) 459-7258/5001 Tapion Hospital Tel: 1 (758) 459-2000
Business Investment Invest Saint Lucia
Medical Centres
www.investstlucia.com
Dennery Tel: 1 (758) 453-3310
Tel: 1 (758) 457-3400 Rodney Bay Medical Centre Tel: 1 (758) 452-8621 Gros Islet Polyclinic Tel: 1 (758) 450-9661
Consulates & Embassies British High Commission
Utilities
NIC Building, Castries
Lucelec (electricity supplier)
1 (758) 452-2484
Castries: Mon - Fri: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Tel: 1 (758) 457-4400
Fax 1 (758) 453-1543
Vieux-Fort: Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tel: 1 (758) 457-4854/5
Email britishhcal@candw.lc
Rodney Bay: Tel: 1 (758) 457-4440/5 Wasco (water supplier)
United States Embassy
Tel: 1 (758) 457-3900
Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for St Lucia)
Cable & Telecommunications
+1 (246) 227 4000.
Flow (phone and cable services) Tel: 453 9000 (free) Digicel (mobile phone services) Tel: 1 (758) 728-3400
Canadian High Commission
Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority
(also responsible for St. Lucia)
Tel: 1 (758) 457-6100
+1 (246) 429 3550.
Bridgetown, Barbados
Customs and Excise
Airlines
Tel: 1 (758) 468-4800
US America American Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue, & United Airlines.
Immigration office
Canada
(Passport extensions)
Air Canada, Sunwing Airlines, Transat & WestJet.
Lamar Building, Bridge Street
United Kingdom
Castries
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic.
Tel: 1 (758) 456-3787
Caribbean
Monday to Friday: 9am to 12.00 - 1.30 to 3pm
Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, Caribbean Airlines & LIAT.
Property Sales & Leasing
Corporate Relocation Services
Short Term Vacation Rentals
Tel: (758) 725-6325 www.caribbeanhabitats.com
Property Management
Live Where Most Vacation info@caribbeanhabitats.com
Business & Services Directory
To satisfy the many requests from the international expat and returning from overseas community, as well as from those planning to move here in need of information, recommendations and contact details for the best home and business service providers we have introduced the RIVÉ Business & Services Directory. The RIVÉ B&S Directory is the one place that references and promotes the island’s tried and tested best small businesses and services to help make the lives of those living in and moving to Saint Lucia all that it should be.
Computer Repairs CPR is a phone and computer repair and service outlet owned and managed by 5M Solutions Inc. We provide a high standard of repair and maintenance services for mobile phones, laptops and other electronic office equipment. 75 Brazil Street Castries Tel: +1 758-453-0558 email: cprslu@gmail.com
Rive
The above “Directory box” is yours. You have the flexibility to choose the text and images as well as the opportunity to change the images. For more information contact us at rive@cocotraie.com
l
Business & Services Directory
Home Furnishing & Decor If home furnishing and decor is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here. To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
Yoga & Fitness If fitness and healthy living is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here. To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
Spas & Wellness If spa, beauty and wellness is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here. To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
Restaurants & Bars
Builders & Construction
Legal & Law
If restaurants and bars is your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here.
If building and construction is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here.
If the legal sides of things and law is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here.
To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
Weddings & Events Planning
Car Rentals & Vehicle Imports
If weddings and event planning is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here.
If car rentals or vehicle imports is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here.
To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
Shipping & Freight If shipping and freight is part of your business then come promote your products, business & services here in RIVE Magazine and reach people not just living here and the newly arrived but also those planning to make the move to Saint Lucia before they even get here. To promote your business and services in RIVE contact us at email: rive@cocotraie.com Tel: 486-0077 or 718-3530
The RIVÉ B&S Directory provides international market reach and exposure to the right audience and demographic.