Caribbean Beat — 25th Anniversary Edition — March/April 2017 (#144)

Plans to hatch
Found throughout the world’s oceans, but
critically endangered in all its habitats, the
hawksbill sea turtle finds a special refuge in
Bequia, thanks to the efforts of the Old Hegg
Turtle Sanctuary. Founded by retired fisherman
Orton “Brother” King, the Old Hegg sanctuary
collects hawksbill hatchlings at the moment they
emerge from their nests on Bequia’s beaches
— at the time of their greatest vulnerability to
predators. Normally, as few as one hawksbill
hatchling in a thousand survives to breeding
age. Reared in sheltered ponds until they grow
to fourteen inches, Old Hegg’s young turtles get
a headstart against those odds. And visitors’
donations keep the whole thing going.
czekma13/istock.com
Souvenir
As you’d expect in a small island with a strong seafaring tradition, Bequia is
home to numerous expert boatbuilders, as you can see at the island’s Boat
Museum (above). And though a full-scale vessel isn’t a very practical gift
to take home, Bequia’s woodworkers also create intricately detailed model
boats, replicating all the details of a seaworthy craft at miniature scale, down
to the sails and rigging. For examples, check Mauvin’s and the Sargeant
Brothers’ model boat shops, near the vegetable market in Port Elizabeth.
For such a small island, Bequia is also home to an unusually large and
active community of artists, local and expat, working in media ranging from
painting to textiles and ceramics, and often inspired by the lush landscape,
history, and traditions of the island community.
Many artists welcome studio visits, and the
Oasis Gallery along the Belmont Walkway is a
good place to get your bearings.
wilfred dederer
Co-ordinates
13.0º N 61.2º W
Sea level
bEQUIA
wilfred dederer
Port Elizabeth
Appetite
From elegant French-inspired cuisine to hearty, zesty creole fare, Port
Elizabeth and its surroundings have a more diverse dining scene than
you might expect on an island of just six thousand inhabitants. Seafood
is naturally the star attraction — especially lobster, in season, when
you can enjoy it at the upscale Auberge de Grenadines or on a pizza at
Mac’s. Frangipani is famous for its Thursday night barbecue — all you
can eat, with live steelpan music. For a memorable meal in breathtaking
surroundings, head out of town and up to Mount Pleasant, Bequia’s
highest point, where The Old Fort hotel is centred around a historic
French-built stone mansion, and dinner comes with a gentle breeze and
view of the twinkling lights of the other Grenadines in the distance.
From March 2017, Caribbean Airlines
operates direct flights to Argyle International
Airport in St Vincent, with connections via
ferry and other airlines to Bequia
WWW.CARIBBEAN-AIRLINES.COM 79