Contact us

The Team also enjoyed discussions with Tour representatives of Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Barbados, which centered on the potential for renewed development of a dual island Tourism niche market, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the United Caribbean Trust.
	We met also, with Mr. Christopher Knighton, owner of Cassada Bay, the physical site of United Caribbean’s base of operations on Carriacou. Mr. Knighton has kindly donated the use of the Cassada Bay property, free of cost, for the duration of the pilot project, which is expected to run for approximately one year. A series of educational and rehabilitation projects are planned for Cassada including a children’s theatre initiative to be staged in the restored auditorium.

The Team paid a courtesy call on Grenada’s High Commissioner to London, the Hon. Jocelyn Whiteman. Mr. Whiteman welcomed the Team cordially and extended his country’s gratitude for the work undertaken by United Caribbean’s Relief Teams and discussed the considerable efforts of all concerned, during the first weeks following the storm. He has advised and encouraged the need for our efforts to continue, and the need for cooperation between NGO’s and the Agency for Reconstruction and Development to avoid duplicating efforts. The Agency is chaired by former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Sir Alistair McIntyre in consultation with stakeholders to implement projects geared towards the socioeconomic reconstruction of Grenada as a nation. A discussion ensued regarding some of the future projects of United Caribbean and he was specifically complimentary on the innovative Baby Survival kits and our work with the Health and Education Sectors.

Kayak Maroon Festival coordinator and musician Roots Jackson, a colleague of Mr. Winston Fleary, Big Drum, also joined the Team and the High Commissioner for tea; we discussed the efforts of Caribbean Nationals in London on behalf of family and friends. A discussion exploring the efficacy of recent fundraising initiatives ensued and it is hoped that the Notting Hill Carnival of 2005 will host a Big Drum contingent, while a major fund seeking event is currently in the planning stage.

The Team later visited Mr. Jackson’s London Recording Studio and met with PR Consultant, Lorraine Gabriel who will handle communications and public relations on behalf of UC Trust. During the Studio Interlude, we were exposed to an excellent remix of ‘Bridge over troubled waters’ and the plans for the CD launch to raise funds for Grenada. We also met with members of the Caribbean Development Trust Mr. & Mrs. David Roberts, where the discussion was dynamic and the synergy exquisite as many of the objectives of both groups were similar in nature but the project programmes complementary instead of duplicated. The Caribbean Development Trust is comprised of Caribbean citizens who are interested in the economic independence of affected countries from a socio-economic perspective and with an emphasis on entrepreneurial development. Chairman of the CDT, Dr. Christopher Johnson, a National of Guyana has obtained the significant support of the Lion’s Club of London and is currently formulating a series of outreach programmes to help assist the rebuilding of Grenada’s small business sector. In the spirit of mutual cooperation, United Caribbean Trust and the Caribbean Development Trust will partner in the areas of data base formation, fund raising and sensitization of the Caribbean Expatriate Community to the specific needs of their home-based brethren.

Additionally, contacts within the Health Care community will assist with seeking to supply the equipment needs of the Hospitals and health Centre Upgrade Programme in the Tri Island State. Mrs. Esther Fleary, Hospital Administrator of the Princess Royal Hospital will visit London in December and follow through with visiting the HMOs.

The Team also supported a number of Charity Shops including Oxfam, Cancer Research, and The Heart Foundation of Wimbleton, who returned our support by donating a large portion of the soft toys and other gift items we brought home, once they were appraised of our Grenada Christmas Mission, and feeling like elves we returned to Barbados with over 300 toys! www.UnitedCaribbean.com/happychristmasgrenada.html

It was with great sadness that United Caribbean members learned of the tragic sinking of the Lady Grace and the death of Engineer, Mr.Colin Olivierre; coming in the wake of the brutal murder of CARE executive, Mrs. Margaret Hassan, relief workers globally have been reminded of the nature of their commitment, which sometimes means “laying down your life for your brothers”.