Dominica PAYS Shoutout

[krafthaus]

There is lots on the forum about security the last few months and especially with the the recent unfortunate death in Vieux Fort.

So for a positive, we moored in Portsmouth Harbour, Dominica a week ago and had a very positive experience. We moored in the Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (PAYS) area that extends from the Purple Turtle restaurant a ways south. PAYS is an association of boat boys in the area that assist with the needs of yachters and provide security in the area including nightly patrols to watch for people who shouldn't be there. They are very well organized and nice guys.

On Sunday night they host a beach BBQ at their open air building they constructed for the purpose and are raising funds to add washroom facilities which are nearing completion. Providence gave a nice speech before dinner was served and we met the PAYS President. All around a fine group and the Rum Punch tasted great and we had a fun time dancing to the music after dinner was over.

I saw their president the next day when he collected mooring fees and I told him how impressed we were and how they were an example for the other islands in the Caribbean. He mentioned they have been approached by a group from St. Vincent and they are going to go down there to do some training with them.

Thumbs up to PAYS!!

[jozamom]

Great to hear.
How much was the mooring fee?
Thanks

[boatman61]

Good one them..
This is what I like to hear.. local people getting their sh*t together and creating a 'People's Corporation'...
Not just wealthy 'Estrangeiro Investors' building a marina that benefits no one but themselves financially.. and shuts out the locals..
I wish them all the best with their venture....

[a64pilot]

So long as it doesn't become "protection"

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

So long as it doesn't become "protection"

Thought that was what you guy's were screaming for...

[MarkJ]

There are great! But you pay for crap moorings, you get hassled by a myriad of them. We had 4 in the first HOUR!

I upped and left.

[sck5]

You dont have to pay for the moorings. You can anchor if you like. And if you buy even a small service from any of the boat boys they then "own" you and all the rest leave you alone. I "bought" 10EC worth of help anchoring and was never hassled by anyone the rest of the time we were there. I am happy to support them because they patrol and make the anchorage safe. Why not throw them a few EC for that?

[captain58sailin]

I am amazed, first you all scream it isn't safe! Then when they do make it safe, you holler about paying "protection" guess what, you can give it up to the polite people, or they can take it from you at gun point, and maybe take more than your money.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sck5

you buy even a small service from any of the boat boys they then "own" you


I am happy to support them because they patrol and make the anchorage safe. Why not throw them a few EC for that?

I worked my whole life so NO ONE OWNES me.

And paying for protection is the oldest mafia trick in the book.

So no I will not be involved in protection nor being owned!

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

I am amazed, first you all scream it isn't safe! Then when they do make it safe, you holler about paying "protection" guess what, you can give it up to the polite people, or they can take it from you at gun point, and maybe take more than your money.

Because there a zillion good countries to go to that are safe and polite, and have culture and don't try to rip you off.

Countries like dominica greatly need a tourism industry to drag them out of the poverty that lowers them to the lowers rungs on the Caribbean ladder. They can not get more than a very few who are going to like Portsmouth as the OP does.

Good for him! But not for me. Better for me to apply my cash to places that I enjoy.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I worked my whole life so NO ONE OWNES me.

And paying for protection is the oldest mafia trick in the book.

So no I will not be involved in protection nor being owned!

Own was the wrong expression methinks..
More like you've made your choice and no on else tries dabbing their fingers in the rice bowl..
Personally I'd make a deal to have one of em bring fresh bread to the boat every morning.. a wake up call and warm bread for brekkie... and its not protection for me.. its a service I ask for.
What dya think your taxes are if not 'Protection Money' to your National Mafia.. try saying NO.. see what happens...
Democratic crooks...

[a64pilot]

Guy's theProtection comment was tongue in cheek, as of course it is an old trick, don't pay and of course something bad happens.
This could very well be very well thought out and may be done by good guys, put yourself in their shoes, if feeding your family depended on tourist money and you were a good guy, what would you do?

[Teknav]

Are you guys forgetting that Chicago's Al Capone was in the insurance business?

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[1ercru]

Dominica has come a long way since my first cruise through there in the early 90s. Then you would be continuously swamped by boat boys, from sunrise to after sunset. Most all of them with the same offers or provisions or services, they just kept cruising the anchorages in their boats, asking if you needed anything, non-stop.

I was happy & surprised to experience last year, their now, professionally organized services. Now they wait their turn on the next inbound yacht, instead of swarming en mass. If you like the fellow who approaches you as you round Cabrits Head into the anchorage, he will be your service provider. If you know someone else or don't want him, he will generally call on the VHF for whom ever you want or the next guy in the queue. If you know who you want, a cell or vhf call will have this procedure all streamlined pre-arrival.

As the OP has said, the former "boat boys" have become yacht service businessmen. They'll help you select a mooring or anchor spot, take you to C & I, bring provisions, gas, COLD BEER & Ice, etc. organize shore-side & river trips, even scuba dives. As much or as little as you like. They seem bent on good customer service, and in my experience are not rip-off artists.

Chris Doyle lists a few of them in his guide to the Leewards. My pick was Cobra Tours & Yacht Services, from numerous personal recommendations. I was happy with the individual he assigned to us and had his cell number for anything we wanted or had a question about. No pressure.

A far cry from the old days, now if someone could just do the same thing to St Vincent.

[Zanshin]

Dominica is one of my favorite islands. The PAYS group is great, and once I mentioned that I'd already got one of them, the rest no longer came by. Many, if not most, of the PAYS boat boys are also certified Indian River Guides, which is a must for visitors. There are still one or two boats cruising the anchorage selling fruit and other items, but they are certainly low-key and not intrusive.
BTW, "Alexis" was recommended to me and I used his services and I'd recommend him to anyone. Here's a link to my blog pages when he took me and my friends from Germany up the Indian River: