“Sometimes it is easy to overlook how things work and why they work.  At the heart of it may be pure capitalism, the pursuit of profits.  

But in the end, we are with Adam Smith that as we each pursue our own self-interests, like an invisible hand lifting everything, the standards are raised.

They do not call it the playground of billionaires for nothing.  The North Sound of Virgin Gorda is a gem and its beauty and development arrests the attention of even the casual observer.

And for those who understand how precious it really is, it may even disturb emotions and reduce the dreamer and thinker to tears.  

Sometimes we are encouraged as we travel outside of the Territory to overhear strangers in casual conversation saying that they visited the BVI and sailed in the North Sound.

And at other times we are awed when we realize that eventually, a growing number of globally recognized names are also repeat visitors.

Speedys opened up Virgin Gorda to economic opportunities on Tortola.  The predictable and daily schedule allows workers, students, merchants and business owners amongst others to be on Tortola as required.

We should, posthumously, thank him and we should also thank his family for their continued investments, sacrifice, and perseverance.  However, we are not good at saying ‘thank you;’ Hardly interested in giving recognition.

Perhaps that is where Hull and his Team come in.  They seem determined to recognize those who have contributed to the BVI community.  Some will be forgotten but it is a start.

But apart from the runs made in its day by the North Sound Express, we have not succeeded, on a sustained basis, in opening up the North Sound to commerce on Tortola and vice versa if we discount the regular and consistent barge traffic without which the North Sound could neither be built nor maintained.

The job market in the North Sound alone is significant.  All the needed skills do not exist on Virgin Gorda and the establishments constantly bring in guest workers to fill the roles that some on Tortola can fill but for reliable transportation.

And then there is the issue of housing.  Housing is a scarce and extremely expensive commodity on Virgin Gorda.  Supply and demand!  

If Virgin Gorda workers could have access to the Tortola housing market and to its schools without children having to take a ferry daily, that would be a game changer.

So, it would benefit both sides if a regular ferry run from Trellis Bay to Gun Creek were possible. The idea is not novel but the courage to pull it off may very well be.

And the notion of that predictable transfer would encourage casual visitors to move between the two destinations which will enhance their experience.  

It happened when the North Sound Express plied the sea and it could take place once more.

Even though we have not done our absolute best for tourism, it continues to be the gift that keeps on giving because of the natural beauty of these islands.

Of course, we have no idea if the skirmish between Israel and Iran, with big brother looking on, will escalate to global levels but it is concerning.

Still, as our tourist industry goes, it does not take much to make a difference and we are confident that with a little planning and a blueprint to take us from here into the future, (the tourism strategic plan?) we could be on a trend setting pace.

Thankfully, we have Fridays to think on these things.

And to plan.

Happy Friday!”