by Chris Doyle
Editor’s note: This was originally posted in the Doyle Guides Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doyleguides
In a magnificent show of humanity overcoming bureaucracy, Trinidad officials did everything they could to help those cruising yachts fleeing Beryl. It was spectacular!
As Beryl approached Grenada, many yachts wisely decided their safest option was to get out of the way and head south to Trinidad. It was amazing to see their AIS tracks as they formed solid blocks heading south.
There was ample time to react, but with human nature and various boat issues, not all had time to clear out of Grenada. It did not matter: ” Come anyway. Even if you have pets on board, just come, and we will take care of you when you get here.” (Don’t try this without a hurricane!)
As nearly two hundred yachts headed for Trinidad, Trinidad prepared. Jesse James, Vice President of MSATT (previously known as YSATT), winner of quite a few tourism and yachting awards, and the mainstay of yachting information in Trinidad, was at the center of coordinating the response with all the incoming yachts fleeing from Beryl.
An Operation Centre was set up in the Power Boat conference room. Instead of everyone trooping down to customs and creating a mighty people jam, Jesse set up an Operation Centre, where a combined effort with Immigration, Customs, Port Health and the Government Vets to take care of pets, all came together to work together to have all the necessary papers filled out in advance, and all the documents photocopied. This saved everyone the hassle of filling out all the necessary forms as we recruited volunteers from the local business community and cruisers to assist with filling out the arrival forms.
Fees were low to nothing. Customs kindly waive all their overtime fees.
To make things even easier, the Coastguard announced that any yacht not wishing to land could take safe shelter as the hurricane went by and then return to where they came without formalities. They wanted to know who and where they were, but there was no paperwork.
This influx of yachts involved a lot of extra work for customs, immigration, health, the Government vets, the coastguard and the police. The yachts had to spread out to find places to anchor, and they found spots all the way down to Carenage. These are not normally yacht anchorages, and the coastguard, customs and police put on extra patrols to make sure all anchorages were secure as well as landside extra security were provided.
News of the hurricane was all over the local TV as Jesse went on 2 morning shows and explained what was happening and then lobbied to get relief supplies to assist the islands that were devasted by Beryl and the population of Trinidad responded tremendously. Cruisers in Trinidad, NGOs, local community groups, ODPM, local businesses, individuals, the business community in Chaguaramas, and church groups all responded. The cruisers even set up a Gofundme fundraiser which helped raise funds to assist.
About 45 of the sheltering boats stayed to help ferry supplies back to the affected islands. These included four large Catamarans from TradeWind Yachts in St. Vincent, and many private yachts.
Trinidad has set a new and excellent standard in dealing with yachts escaping a hurricane and facilitating their departure with emergency supplies for the devastated islands. So. who can we congratulate on this complicated and perfectly coordinated effort?
On the government side, The Honorable Senator Paula GoopieScoon, Government Minister of Trade and Industry, who came in person and paid the cruisers and everyone at Operation Center a hands-on visit. Captain Don Polo Head of Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and his right-hand man Commander Daniel Castagnie. The tireless and ever-available staff at North Post Radio Station. The Customs (Mr. Ian, the Officer in Charge of the Chaguaramas office, even came and assisted at the Operation Centre with helping with donations relief. He even purchased hamper bags when they ran out). Immigration Officers, The Port Health authorities and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Then, for those who had pets to deal with, Dr De Leon and Dr Lambie, the government vets who came and made themselves available.
Helping yachts that broke down while fleeing from Beryl, Captain Jasper Frazer of Fishing Vessel Perseverance who braved the sea conditions and weather and went out and helped rescue several yachts that had motor and sails problems as they approached Trinidad all coordinated by Jesse with the assistance of Coast Guard and North Post Radio Station Team.
On the yachting side, the entire Board and staff, Sue Ann of MSATT, Jesse and Sharon Rose James and the staff of Members Only. Then all the visiting cruisers both near and far, who stepped up and volunteered to help at the Operation Center in Chaguaramas for Phase 1. (help to the Cruisers fleeing Beryl) and Phase 11 (the mission to help the islands devastated by Beryl). All the cruisers who volunteered to use their boats to take relief supplies to the islands, all the contractors and businesses in Chaguaramas and all those Trinidadians and others who donated relief supplies to help the devastated islands.
What an amazing effort! And how powerful it is when we all pull together as one.
