Went on my 1st "Hash"!

Every Saturday, the Locals arrange a 'Hash' which is an organized hike where anyone can join in. Some run & many walk the designated trail that the organizers scope out in advance.  They usually post the location 3 days ahead & it can be anywhere on the island.  I was amazed that ~100 people showed up - all ages, locals & visitors alike.  Here's a picture of the group hashing...



 

The climb was steeper than expected - it even involved 'ropes' at one point.  The view from the top was worth it.  This is Woburn Bay and the surrounding area in the southern part of Grenada. A neat way to see the country.

 

The climb down required major braking with my old tennis shoes (very little treads left).  Needless to say, I'm recovering from stiff thigh muscles!

 

So Nice To Have Visitors From Canada

Friends from Canada have arrived to get a sense of life in Grenada &... no doubt, escape the cold for some R&R.  It also gives me a chance to see things I haven't visited.  For example, went to the Nutmeg Factory in Gouyave where they dry & manually sort 5 grades (sizes) of nutmeg for export.

....the Diamond Factory in Victoria where they process the cocoa beans into chocolate branded Jouvay (this is 1 of 2 Grenadian brands - the other is the Grenada Chocolate Company). The factory and land was a former plantation built in the late 1700's. 

 

...even saw local farmers pick the cocoa beans along the roadside & another, delivering it to the Diamond Chocolate Factory

 



 

Ended the day by returning to St. George's via Grand D'Etang, a rainforest up in the mountains with no monkeys to be seen - likely hiding during the rain mist we had. 



February 7th... Independence Day!

This is the 41st Anniversary "Independence Day" in Grenada.  A national holiday similar to Canada Day.  Lots of red, green & yellow on the streets with loud music & huge pots of 'oil down'.  These are school kids outside the house and Sabrina and I dressed up in Grenadian colours.  The last picture are the marching bands going up and down Melville St. - the oldest street in St. George's.

 



Market Research Fieldwork Begins...

So far we have interviewed 8 Purchasers (ie. hotels, restaurants, grocery stores) on specific fruits, vegetables & root crops to understand their local needs and in turn, help bring these products to market with local farmers.  One of the Purchasers we interviewed was Belmont Estate - previously a plantation & now an operating organic farm with a restaurant that is a wonderful setting for meetings, conferences or, weddings.  They grow cocoa beans, some vegetables and, goats.  Here's pictures of cocoa beans being dried, the Factory they partner with (The Grenadian Chocolate Factory) &, the end product that is very yummy.

 

Took a trip to Carriacou - a Parish of Grenada, much smaller (population 6,000), & a less rugged island that is a 90 minute boat ride to the north.  This is a picture of Hillsborough - the largest town on Carriacou, a fishing trowel being built and to the north about a 20 minute boat ride away is Petite Martinique - another island (or Parish) under Grenada.  In the distance you can see the many Grenadine Islands of St. Vincent.  So many little islands dot the sea... it's no wonder there is piracy in this area of the world.   

 

 



Prime Minister Comes to MAREP

All staff (including me) were summoned to attend the MAREP RIF (Rural Investment Fund) cheque transfers to 9 rural micro-entrepreneurs.  The RIF program offers funding to local small businesses providing a business plan is submitted & then, reviewed & passed by a Steering Committee.  As part of this program MAREP coaches these entrepreneurs with proposal writing, business plans, & accounting training to help build sustainable (new) businesses.  A ceremony was held this past Thursday with an invitation extended to the Prime Minister - the Right Hounourable Keith Mitchell (in coral shirt).  The ceremony took place outside of the MAREP office in Sauteurs (see pictures).



Staff scrambled with last minute details to pull this event together.  Imagine printing and then gluing 24 sheets of paper like a jig-saw puzzle onto cardboard (from boxes) to create this poster & another one for the large cheque used in the photo above. 

 

 

This is Sabrina (left) who I am mentoring and Sheivlyn who finally told me to call her 'Boney' because I can never remember her name and it works.  Many Grenadians have nicknames and it can get very confusing.

 



Every Bit of Space is Precious

Whether it's the Conductor on the Public Bus packing in people or, Shopkeepers stocking goods in little stores... every ounce of space is utilized.  Here are pictures of Linda at her friend's Donna's Variety store in the market - no space wasted...

Donna popped over at the house one day while I was hanging laundry.  She was aghast at how much space I left between clothes.  So, I now pin clothes more efficiently - see no space wasted with my laundry hanging now! 

 

BTW... my sheets dry in 15 minutes (no kidding) and towels take 30 minutes!  It's faster than a Dryer!!

 



Life at the Office in St. Georges

There is little in the way of "art-work" on the office walls except for the odd banners like the one behind Sabrina (see pic below).

I work in an open office concept & often hear others say 'Bless You' but no sneezing.  Then I realized that's their way of saying goodbye on the phone.  That's me at my 1970's style desk... curiously there are few filing cabinets but then again, paper is very limited (& expensive).  O-oh wait until I have to put a request in for photo-copying (b&w only) 40 copies of a 15 page questionnaire! 

 

 

Paper is not the only thing that is rationed, so are pens, pencils, paper clips, staples, and yes.... toilet paper!  Most staff have their own pencil cases that they bring to meetings (that's mine below) & toilet paper is a must to have in your desk drawer because there are none in (any) washrooms.