Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - February 2021

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In 1998, Watson was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the
Queen. He became a Justice of the Peace in 2016. In the Barbados Landship
Association, he attained the title of Lord High Admiral.
Bequia Music Fest postponed
The Bequia Tourism Association and the Bequia Musicfest Committee have
postponed the Bequia Music Festival 2021, originally scheduled for January, due to
an SVG-wide ban on amplified music that was put in place following a surge in
Covid cases. The tentative new date for 2021’s “Homemade Edition” will be March
11th through 14th.
Visit www.bequiamusicfestival.com for more information.
Carriacou heritage aims for UNESCO status
The Grenada Tourism Authority reports: Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique
are working with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
JAN HEIN
Martinique Carnival 2021 cancelled
The decision was taken by Mayor Didier Laguerre of Fort de France, the leaders of
the Southern Parade, the representatives of the groups on foot and the Prefect of
Martinique Stanislas Cazelles that this year’s Martinique Carnival festivities, originally
planned for mid-February, will not take place, due to the Covid pandemic.
T&T yacht services await relief
The newly appointed president and board of the Yacht Service Association of
Trinidad & Tobago (YSATT) report: YSATT pleads with the government authorities of
Trinidad & Tobago to allow international yacht arrivals. Since the beginning of the
pandemic the yacht services industry in Trinidad & Tobago has been largely shut
down. The yacht services sector in Trinidad is world class and operates as a direct
foreign exchange earning industry; this income is being lost. The customers of this
industry directly and indirectly support several thousands of local workers and their
families; their livelihoods are being lost.
Many yachts owned by international customers are in storage in Trinidad.
Exemption requests to allow these boat owners to retrieve their property have been
submitted via YSATT and await response from the authorities, as borders
remain closed.
Caribbean nations such as Grenada and St. Lucia have successfully demonstrated
the ability to welcome yachting customers through their ports with extremely low risk
of Covid transmission. This has been achieved through testing, quarantine periods
aboard vessels in designated areas, or designated hotels, and other strict controls.
In May 2020, a joint proposal made by YSATT and the Port Health Safety System
(PHSS) for the safe re-opening of the yacht services industry was submitted to the
Chief Medical Officer. Since then, YSATT has met regularly with relevant government
officials and all requests for information were complied with. YSATT stands ready and
willing to take any further action necessary. It is imperative that any approvals come
ahead of the summer yacht-storage and hurricane season as many customers will
require time to plan their journeys and make reservations for their arrivals. Should
another summer season be missed or delayed, YSATT fears it could be the final nail
in the coffin for many in the industry.
The YSATT-PHSS Proposal to the CMO has been since approved but the final
decision is to be made by the Minister of National Security, which is now the main
focus and drive of YSATT. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been making strong
representation on behalf of YSATT.
Visit www.ysatt.com and www.membersonlymaxitaxi.com for more information.
(UNESCO) to record and highlight two of our heritage gems on the world stage:
Traditional Wooden Boat Building and Carriacou Shakespeare Mas.
We are collaborating with stakeholders on preparations to have these heritage
assets inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) of Humanity.
We invite you to contribute to this momentous project by contacting our GTA
Carriacou Office at (473) 443-7948.
FEBRUARY 2021 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 7
OUR SEA BORDERS ARE ALREADY
OPEN TO ALL BOATS
MARINA SANTA MARTA IS WAITING FOR YOU