PÄYÄRoatan’s Beauty, Truth & Wisdom

October & November 2019

Vol. 2 No. 5 $ 4.00 The Johnny Water Going Deep, Changing Colors in New Dock in Story Going Blue French Harbour Santa Helena 0.0007 1 PÄYÄ October and November 2019

6 PÄYÄ Roatan’s Beauty, Truth & Wisdom

October and November 2019 17 4 • Table of content & Masthead Eleventh Issue

PERSPECTIVE 6 • Paya-in-Chief The Manipulated Migrants 19 • Jon’s World William Walker’s Roatan Adventure 23 • Straight Talk In Path of Hurricanes ­ IN DEPTH 8 • Feature - History The Undiscovered Mecca of Kiteboarding 17 • Helping Hands Painting the Future 24 • Business The Prophet of H20 27 • Hidden Corners Dock, Fresh Water & Electricity

PROFILES 16 • Island Sports The / Volleyball 18 • Island Senior Fruitful life of Miss Vida 20 • Lyfestyle Socials

WANDERINGS 28 • Off Island News Off Island Perspective 24 30 • Calendar Yearly & Weekly Events

COVER PHOTO: Kites lined up and ready to launch in Camp Bay 27 (Photo by: Chris Bergler) STAFF Editorial Staff Paya Magazine is published Copyright notice: Managing Editor Thomas Tomczyk bi-monthly by Paya Mag S. A. All text, graphics and photographs are Writer / reporter Opening Roatan, Honduras copyright of Paya Magazine. All rights History writer Jon Tompson reserved. No part of Paya Magazine can be PayaMag.com reproduced in any form without written Island perspective writer Keena Haylock [email protected] permission of the publisher. (504) 9764-5968 Editor’s note: Support Staff The editorial content of Paya Magazine is Office manager Opening independent from paid-for advertising. We Graphic designer Gabriela Galeas made every effort to ensure the accuracy of Printer Lithopress Industrial the information at the time of going to press, but assume no responsibility for errors or changes. Thanks to the many people that made the Eleventh edition of Paya Magazine possible: Chris Bergler, Kim Serrao, Jennifer Serrano.

4 PÄYÄ October and November 2019

PERSPECTIVE | Paya-in-Chief

­THOMAS TOMCZYK THE MANIPULATED MIGRANTS

recently attended a church service where we were asked nating from disintegrated families and fractured communities. to pray for “Honduran migrants on their way to chase their According to World Bank, Honduras has the world’s ninth larg- dream.”I for one decided to pray for someone much more for- est share of remittances as part of its GDP. In 2018 it reached 20.1% I gotten in this tragedy: the children, spouses and families these of the country’s GDP and continues to rise. Honduras has gradually migrants left behind. The irresponsible dreams of economic riches in joined the ranks of Haiti, South Sudan and Gaza as a place that ex- faraway lands are nightmares for Honduran families left behind. ports its people as a resource. Honduran migrants bring more cash Few of us question the lack of responsibility in attempting a pre- for government officials then coffee. Stateside companies like Western carious journey like that. Even fewer discuss the toll it takes to bring Union or Tyson Chicken benefit greatly from Honduran labor and re- up a child without a father or a mother. That youngster will most likely mittances. have low self-esteem, more likely will drop out of school, and more The systematic exploitation of Hondurans isn’t just happening likely join some of Honduras’ notorious gangs. The absence of these due to incompetence and corruption, it is in its nature malevolent. migrants from home contributes to the destabilization of the already These migrations are a manufactured phenomenon and migrants are weak fabric of the Honduran society. being used to destabilize traditional, family cen- The migrant’s children are taken care tered societies and debase whatever remains of of by extended family if they are lucky, or by Western culture. gangs if they are not. The migrants pay thou- The central American migrant sands of dollars to travel to the US and that caravans’phenomena are organized by nonprof- debt is guaranteed by families that stay behind. These migrations its, Pueblo sin Fronteras, and CARA, a coalition Irresponsible dreams of economic riches of four other NGOs (non-governmental orga- in far away lands are nightmares for Hondu- are a manufactured nizations) three of which are funded by George ran families left behind. Currently $10,000 is Soros. Soros, a billionaire currency manipulator being raised on Roatan for the release of two phenomenon and revolutionary agitator, who uses his front Roatan residents, Elvis Gutierrez and his son, groups to promote global social causes, useful to who have been kidnapped by the Zeta Cartel the oligarchs he serves. Soros’ NGOs have been during their trek across Mexico. Sadly, pay- promoting euthanasia and abortion since 1990s, ment of extortion money to kidnappers not drug legalization in the 2000s, and for the last only encouragers further kidnappings, it also offers no guarantee that seven years, the issue became open borders in selected countries: yes, the victim will be released alive. for Europe and North America, but not Japan, Israel or Saudi Arabia. The life of Honduran migrants with no language or professional In 2008 Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said at a Soros fund- skills that do make it to US is far from easy. Many women end up ed Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy conference working as cleaners, while men end up working at construction jobs held in Tegucigalpa: “Drug use ought to be legalized as a way to com- and chicken slaughterhouses. These “dream chasers” are often paid off bat violence.” Soros has been part of the 2009 upheaval in Honduras books, live in fear of immigration authorities and acquire no benefit of and continues is interest in the present crisis. US social security pensions. While we are told that economic wealth is very important to The disintegration of Honduran families, the of street our happiness, this is a lie. What makes us happy is family, fulfillment gangs and focus on material growth has caused a steady degradation of in our work and appreciation of our fellow neighbors and coworkers. the fabric of Honduran society and rise in the Honduran security state. What we should be discussing, is not how to help Honduran eco- While violence terrorizes Hondurans at home, the armed to the teeth nomic migrants get to the US, but how to keep their skill, energy and Honduran police and military patrol the streets and trolling facebook family obligations here. Hondurans have found themselves as useful posts. That is just part of the emotional and economic cost paid, origi- pawns in the global game of forced, coordinated population exchange.

6 PÄYÄ October and November 2019

IN DEPTH | Feature - History

THE UNDISCOVERED MECCA OF KITEBOARDING Consistent Winds and Pristine Beaches Make Roatan a ­Words by Thomas Tomczyk Perfect Destination for Kiteboarders Photos by Chris Bergler

Punta Gorda and Pigeon Cays, as the island turns completely east west, that is the best place to kite- board. All-in-all it is Camp Bay Beach that is the ideal overall place for kiters practicing surfboard, twin tip or hydrofoil. Camp Bay’s Pigeon Cay is another great long, two-kilometer beach has side kitesurfing spot for more advanced or side on shore wind conditions kiteboarders. While the two cays are For a couple decades, Roatan and is sheltered by the a cou- slowly disappearing, the left-over has been a place for sailors and ple hundred meters to the north. and bar is surrounded by turquoise “This spot is the best in the morn- windsurfers. More recently it has blue water and plenty of wind. ing, with super steady winds com- become a place to learn and en- ing from ESE and butter flat water.” joy kiteboarding. Located on the path of eastern trade winds The kiteboarders also go to Saint Roatán is one of Central Ameri- Helene harbor for their kite sessions. ca’s top kite boarding locations. “The spot needs to be handled sen- The prevailing eastern winds sitively because of its fragile shal- and the angulated, slightly curved Roatan offers many months of low water ecosystem,” says Chris. shape of Roatan create great con- solid wind throughout the year. The ditions for kitesurfing. Between dry months of May thru August of- fer great, strong predictable east- erly winds. January thru May are not bad wind months either. ‘That’s the big advantage of Roatán. Eight great months to learn and progress.” says Chris Bergler, the owner of Kite- surf Roatan, Kiteboarding School in Camp Bay. The trade winds are an ever present part of the Bay Islands weather and only stop during peak hurricane season in September, and rainy season in October & November.

8 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 9

The History

ompared to the Caribbean, of the extreme sports. “It [kiting] has sport,” says Chris. The typical kite- how to Kitesurf and often it becomes wind. “This kite session, it was just magic. of Kite Central America is practi- a steep learning curve, though a few boarder is between 30 and 60 years old. a life changing decision,” says Chris. Blue sky, blue water, great wind, beauti- cally undiscovered by kite- days are required to ride independent- Most kiteboarders will have a quiver Chris and Marilou found Roatan ful waves on the reef, outside huge ocean boarders. Over the last few ly,” says Chris, who taught children as of two to three kites allowing them to while looking over a Yoga magazine. It rollers which we shared with a pod of C years, kiters mostly focused young as 10 and clients as old as 75. surf in a variety of wind conditions. While was 2012, and someone was advertis- jumping pilot whales,” remembers Chris. on Punta Chame in Panama As the sport rewards riders with fi- kiteboarders can have fun at anywhere ing a yoga retreat on Rio Cangrejal, The couple took a rest at Wilks and Bahia Salinas in Costa Rica. Most nesse and good technique, it is attract- between 12 and 35 knots, the sweet spot outside of La Ceiba. The timing was Point under an Almond Tree. “How kiters from US or Canada that are for kiteboarders is 20 knots. “Most of the good as Chris was ending his work at a it can be that a beach as beautiful looking for warm waters and steady time I ride an 11-meter hybrid kite while kite school in Punta Chame, Panama. could be still so deserted,” Chris asked wind still go to Cuba, Bahamas, Turks Marilou prefers small freestyle kites,” In order to visit the resort Marilou was Marilou, looking around the desert- & Caicos, Dominican Republic and says Chris. Chris’ wife Marilou Lavallée, flying into Roatan as the island was a ed two-kilometer Camp Bay beach. BVIs. These destinations are now very is still sponsored by Core Kiteboarding convenient entry point. “I’ve never ever The only people they saw were a few well known by the kite community. so the brand is being used at the Camp heard about Roatan. One of my Pana- passing fishermen in their dories. There are also a few less known kite- Bay school. With many kiteboarding kites manian friends had visited it and he said “Mike,” the owner of Camp Bay spots in the region like Ometepe and Roatan offers being manufactured in Germany, Core is it’s stunningly beautiful,” said Chris. lodge was eager to sell, but Chris was Corn Islands in Nicaragua, and San An- an expensive option as far as kite gear. At first, they couldn’t find any in- cautious. It was a big decision and dres in Colombia. There is also Rio Dulce many months of While often-urban millennial launch formation about kiteboarding conditions something not to be taken lightly, or in Guatemala and various cays along the into the sport quickly, many older kite- on the island. Chris scanned the inter- on a whim. “I bought a Salva Vida that Belizean coast that offer nice kiteboarding solid wind boarders started their experience on the net and determined that the trade winds day... that’s about it,” remembers Chris. conditions. These are small destinations water with sailing, or wake- blew on the island most of the year. The After a couple more days the couple that haven’t developed yet to accommo- boarding. As they progress in their skills, couple decided to give it a look. “We grew increasingly enchanted with the date a growing sport like kiteboarding. ing a good share of female athletes. for many the sport becomes more like an place, its people and their hospitality. were set to discover Roatan’s kite po- Samuel Franklin Cody at The London While not inexpensive, kiteboard- While athletic abilities are not a addiction. For them, kiteboarding is not tential. Marilou booked her ticket and Chris’ journey to Roatan had many Pavilion Music Hall. ing is less expensive, and more conve- prerequisite in learning how to kite- just a sport, it’s a way of life, living in na- I hopped on the TICA bus from Panama twists and turns. He grew up in a little nient than other sailing sports. It uses board, deep pockets often are. “Kite ture, harnessing nature elements and be- to La Ceiba,” remembered Chris. Thus, Bavarian village in the south of Ger- the wind energy from a kite at a much gear, lessons and traveling is expen- ing in harmony with them. “Very often my the couples Roatan adventure began. many and was an amateur sportsman in larger atmosphere volume than a sail. sive, so a solid financial background students were in some sort of transition Once they set their feet on the is- track and field, and in football. Chris It all started when George Po- Kiteboarding is the least extreme is needed to afford getting into the in their lives when they decided to learn land, a Garifuna taxi driver took them graduated with a physical education de- cock used kites of increased size to straight to the island’s east end. “We gree and had a life lined up for him. ‘I propel carts on land and on booked a room at Marble Hill Farm, had the choice to work in a school in the water. Pocock used a four-line Marilou Lavallée after a day of kiteboarding. as we found out that “Brian, the man- Munich but I choose to pack my bags.” control system, not much differ- ager was a kiteboarder,” remembers says Chris. ‘I wasn’t happy with my life ent from what is used in kiteboard- Chris. “He used to kite but wasn’t back then so it was an easy choice and I ing today. His kite powered boats anymore as enthusiastic about it.” quickly booked a one way ticket to the were able to turn and even sail up- Chris and Marilou found Camp Bay Canary Islands to teach kids swimming.’ wind. The kites could be flown for and almost instantly jumped in to test the He had experience running swim- hours on end and the idea was kit- ing as an alternative source of power. Another kiteboarding prede- cessor was Samuel Cody, who in Marilou performs a jump in Camp Bay. 1903 built “Man lifting kites” and crossed the English Channel on a canvas boat powered by a kite. In 1977 Durchman Gijsbertus Panhuise, the inventor of kitesurfing, received the first patent for Kitesurf- ing. The invention described a person standing on a floating board and being pulled by a wind catching contraption like a parachute. The pilot had the kite tied to a harness on a trapeze type belt. It took the sport another twenty years to hit it big, but when it did, it mesmerized fans and athletes across the world. ‘The real heroes were the pioneers back in the 90s where most of it happened on Maui: Lou Wain- man, Pete Cabrinha.” says Chris. ‘The Maui crew already had experimented and pushed the limits.’ Today the kite- boarding equipment is safer, more durable and accidents are infrequent.

10 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 11

Junior, on of Kiteboard Roatan school’s instructors, goes full speed on his board.

ming schools in different hotels and befriended an owner of a kite school in Fuerteventura. Chris soon learned how to kite, and began working at the kite school. ‘I was standing in a big lagoon and starting my best life.” says Chris. For several years Chris was a journeyman kiteboarder. He worked in Egypt, Panama, South Af- rica, Dominican Republic and Brazil. He was always looking for a place to make his own mark, to put down roots. That place turned out to be Roatan. ‘You can’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, leave everything behind especially if you are not happy.” says Chris. ‘There is a journey ahead and why not flying through instead.’ Junior, instructor from Camp Bay. The transition was a bit trickier for Marilou who was still competing as a kiteboarder all over the world. ‘Mar- ilou is my absolute hero and I chased her around the world for many years boy, progress to rescue driver, learn how as a diehard fan. She finally fell in love to kite, be a kite assistant, then a kite in- with me.” says Chris. Before suffer- structor, hopefully head instructor and ing injuries Marilou, originally from maybe one day become a sponsored in- Gatineau, Quebec, was one of the top ternational pro-rider. “We started to hire freestyle riders in the world. ‘Mar- kids as much as we could, always with ilou could combine hardcore tricks Kiteboarding is not the goal to get them hooked,” says Chris. with a beautiful smile and great looks.’ In 2015 Elloncito was the first to The couple went back to Camp just a sport climb the tricky Camp Bay kiteboard- Bay in January 2013 and began teach- ing ladder. From Elloncito he became ing kiteboarding there. “Everything just Ellon and earned his respect with fell in place and step by step we were hard work and athletic abilities. Four able to live our dream,” says Chris. years into his life as a kiteboarder, El- Their first local kiter was Olwen, lon, 21, is the head instructor at the a local youth who was always there, learn something new made him over- school and Chris’s right hand man “I determined to learn how to stand on come the fear,” remembers Chris. can fully rely and trust” says Chris. the board, go upwind and jump. His The path to the kiteboarding career While many of the school’s instruc- lack of swimming skills didn’t hold Ol- Chris envisioned for the local youth was tors hail from Europe and the Americas, wen back. “His curiosity and will to the following: start them off as a beach the heavy lifting: the day -to-day teaching

12 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 is done by a team of Roatanians. ‘Local ty short and typical island conversation. see he got special talents,” said Chris. Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. “Of- crew has been always our backbone and Chilling… Sure… Ok cool.” said Chris. Ellon wasn’t just a natural athlete; he ten they would send me pictures when has become our island family: Ellon from Ellon first started as a beach boy was also a good teacher. “He’s been they were exploring spots on the coast (Camp Bay), Junior & Jordan (Helene), tasked with driving the rescue boat, teaching most of the lessons and adding between Tela and Trujillo or in the and Jardale (Camp Bay).” says Chris. packing kites, helping guests landing and new tricks. Currently he is in training to Gulf of Fonseca,” says Chris. The kit- Ellon has not only become Chris’ launching. Ellon picked up kiting quickly become the school manager.” says Chris. ing community is growing in Honduras. right hand, but the head instructor and and by the end of the year he did his first “I hope he inspires a few other fellow is- There are also several other good ‘chief rocker.’ To be closer to work and jumps. “First jump was a perfect. Power- landers especially the next generation.” kiters in the Bay Islands. There is a French do more kiteboarding Ellon moved back ful takes off… Boom. You could finally Chris has seen a lot of raw kite- kiter who lives and kites often in . from Pandy Town to Camp Bay in 2015. ‘I Guanaja was a place where an Italian had knew he could be very good at it. He had a kiteboarding school, but several years the perfect frame and athletic to become ago the Italian relocated back home. an elite kiteboarder.” remembers Chris, “He had done a great job over there, who stopped by Ellon’s grandmother to but left a few years ago to live with his ask if he was up for the task. ‘It was a pret- young family back home,” says Chris. After six years with Chris, the kite- boarding community has slowly devel- oped on the island. A few people from West End and several retired expats took kiteboarding classes. “It’s a slowly grow- ing tribe but we are getting there,” says Chris. Awareness of how precious Camp Bay, Roatan’s arguably most beautiful ‘Leave everything beach really is, has grown with it as well. As the island’s center of grav- behind especially if ity moves further east, Camp Bay will most likely become more and you are not happy’ more visited. The paving of the main road is being planned and cruise ships are scheduled to begin visiting the nearby Port Royal in October 2019. No doubt, development will bring A relaxing kiteboarding session. An instructor teaches at Camp Bay’s Kitesurf Roatan kiteboarding school. Kites and kiters prepare to launch near Santa Helena. the quickening of the pace of life on boarding talent among the island’s youth. “They speak two languages, but what most impressed me was their problem-solving capabilities and cre- ativity,” says Chris. His secret of how to develop skills among the locals is giving them opportunity to constantly progress ‘We were set to in their skills, responsibility and helps them to grow. “I give them full access discover Roatan’s to our kite gear, I’ve passed on all my tips and tricks whenever possible, since kite potential’ they are keen observers, they learned most of it simply by watching us do- ing our thing,” says Chris. ‘One day we Roatan’s east end. Several eco resort own- will see them riding on international ers near Camp Bay, like it just the way it competitions and represent Honduras is: unspoiled not easy to get to and quiet. at the Olympic Games.” predicts Chris. Also Chris is concerned that the Kiteboarding in Camp Bay doesn’t quiet, and not so easy to access Far East just bring a few hundred kiteboarders end of Roatan will turn into a night- to the East of the Island. Chris and Mar- mare, just like many other surfing and ilou also wanted to start up a local kite kiteboarding destinations in third worlds community. They looked for island kids did before. “Surfers discovered little fish- keen to learn kite boarding and even ing villages which turn into tourist hubs, ready to make it their living. “It took a leave the local community’s behind and little longer than I expected to light create a split society with crime, prosti- the fire but finally we have a bunch of tution and drugs” says Chris. Meantime vivid kiters with unlimited potential.” however, the flying kites off Camp Bay Over the last several years the cou- signal that the east of the island is still ple has taught a group of kiters from all about nature, wind and harmony.

14 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 15

PROFILES | Island Sports IN DEPTH | Helping Hand By Monique Tarée ISLAND VOLLEYBALL PAINTING THE TOURNAMENT FUTURE Island Volleyball Tournament Helps From a College Class to or the fourth time Roatan was and placed 4th at the Women’s Central Colorful Caribbean Homes hosting the ‘Roatan Beach Vol- American Beach Volleyball Tournament leyball Open 2019’. With two 2019. “They have made history, the Hon- sand courts at Sol Y Mar Beach duran female teams have never done so F Club, the fourth national tour- well,” said Dennis Hill, defender and nament, took place on September 8th the new coach of the BIBVA (Bay Islands and 9th. The previous tournaments were Beach Volleyball Association). Alejandra held in Parrot Tree (2015), San Simon Cruz and Soniva (aka Chubby) also per- Beach Club (2016) and Tabyana beach formed very well and competed at U21 (2017). Thirty teams competed from Central American Tournament in 2019. Puerto Cortes, La Ceiba and Roatan. Volleyball offers Roatan youth a way Roatan has a lot of young talented to stay away from drugs and crime and volleyball players and not surprisingly develops ability for them to stay focused. the island has been on top of the Hon- “Playing sports, in general, can rescue a lot duran Beach Volleyball Tour since 2015. of kids from staying out of trouble. It is a Shanna Rivera (aka Madonna) and Ceci- great opportunity for the kids to travel, to lle Johnson, are Roatan’s best represen- see more of Central America while play- tation in the female category. They won ing leagues,” says Giselle Brady, BICA’s 2nd place at the U21 Central American program director became part of the Bay Beach Volleyball Tournament in 2018 Islands Volleyball League (BIVL) in 2011. ABOVE: Two volunteers of the project paint two French Harbour homes. A volleyball player dives for the ball during a match. RIGHT: Aksinia Pozzi (on right) paints the trash collection bin in French Harbour.

rench Harbour is getting a makeover, one house at a time. French Harbour into an Instagram destination. The project com- The beauty of simple, wooden, functional island architec- bines old ideas of making things beautiful and new ideas of social me- THE BLUE ABYSS ture has given way to “development.” While Coxen Hole, dia. “Appreciation of beauty can change the world,” says Ronald. Los Fuertes and now Flowers Bay are turning into in- Pineapples, bananas, flowers cover the exterior walls of the first two Competition Brings 11 World Records F creasingly soulless assembly of scattered concrete build- French Harbour painted houses. In three-and-half-days two houses were ings, Oak Ridge, Jonesville and French Harbour have es- paintedby a group of 12 volunteers and 12 paid workers. “Juanita and Melva caped such fate. They aresome of the last urban enclaves where island were very, very open and gave us permission to do something crazy: paint reedivers push their bodies and Artnik from Slovenia shined setting a life goes on without the tourist buses, without the noise and traffic. their houses eclectic colors,” said Ronald Pozzi about the first two houses. mind to the ultimate limit. Every joint world record of 113 meters in the Arguably, French Harbour has remained one of the hidden jewels Ronald feels it is important to ask people not only for their per- time they dive it is like a little CWF- constant with fins catego- of Roatan and while the town is not a tour- mission, but for their vision. “We are paint- rediscovery of themselves. Over ry. “The new Queens of freediving”, says ist destination yet, a pair of young entre- ing it based on the colors these people love.” the last several years Roatan had Alex St. Jean freediver and underwater F preneurs, inspired by a University course, Rachel White, 28, was one of the paint- become the go-to-place to break freed- photographer of this event. want to change that. “We want color to be- ing volunteers who hoped her own French iving records. In 2019, 11 records were Alexey Molchanov from Russia come an important facet in everyday life in Harbour house would be eventually paint- made in the waters of West Bay. broke a free Immersion descending to French Harbour,” says Ronald Pozzi, who ed. “ and white. I love soccer, so may- In August 2019 Roatan hosted the 118 meters and staying submerged for 4 has been coming to the island for 32 years. be with soccer balls,” she said. “This is my 7th International Annual Caribbean Cup minutes 26 seconds. Ronald and Aksinia Pozzi, are the proj- neighborhood. It’s nice to be a volunteer.” Freediving competition, immediately fol- ect’s originators. The couple decided it’s too Appreciation of Ronald got the idea for the project from lowed by the CMAS World Cup Freediv- CMAS Apnea World Records complicated to set up a NGO organization in his collage course professor, Doris Som- ing Competition. “The conditions are Honduras, and focused on the goals they want beauty can change mer, Director of the Cultural Agents Initia- perfect here.The abyssal, dramatic steep Alexey Molchanov (Russia) to achieve. Ronald was in private banking and tive at Harvard University. “She kept saying: walls were an important part of the deci- Constant Weight With Mono Fin – 125 meter in fashion photography and Aksina is an entre- the world ‘if you want to be a cultural agent, if you want sion taken by the federations to hold the preneur from Russia. The Boston based couple to be an agent of change, especially in emerg- competitions here,” said Esteban Dar- Alexey Molchanov (Russia) Free Immersion – 118 meter hopes to create a tourist experience that is off ing communities you have to create projects hanpé, owner of the Roatan Freediving the beaten path. “We wanted to create a com- from the ground up,’” said Ronald. He wanted School. Alessia Zecchine (Italy) munity driven tourist experience,” says Ronald. “The Caribbean islands are to do something that was practical, manageable and low maintenance. For the Caribbean Cup there were Constant Weight With Fins – 113 meter all the same. You have nice beaches, nice water and what really makes the The main sponsor of the beatification project is The Buccaneer, 68 athletes from 26 countries, and for the island different and unique from one anotherare the people, the culture.” a culture center and tourist destination at the French Harbour water- CMAS World Championship, 60 athletes Alenka Artnik (Slovenia) Constant Weight With Fins – 113 meter “French Harbour, you just avoid it going on the main ‘Carret- front owned by Lizette Pozzi and Constantino Pozzi, Ronald’s parents. from 24 countries. In the Caribbean Cup era,”’ says Ronald Pozzi. Ronald says he didn’t want to compete to tra- In March 2020 the couple plans to return to Roatan to paint as Alexey Molchanov (Russia) four new freediving world records were ditional tourist attractions on the island like West End or West Bay. many homes as they can. “Six to eight houses are already lined up. If we Constant weight With Bi-Fins – 110 meter set and in the CMAS World Champion- “We want to see something unique: a city of color,” says Ronald. have five houses painted, we can have an impact on French Harbour,” A freediver surfaces after a record attempt. 7 new world records. Nataliia Zharkova (Ukraine) “Once it’s all cleaned up and looks beautiful a tourist will said Ronald. “It’s ideally a project that never ends as we will be paint- Italian Alessia Zecchini and Alenka (Photo by Alex St. Jean) Constant weight With Bi-Fins – 93 meter want to take a picture with it,” says Ronald, he wants to create ing houses on top of houses, until all of French Harbour is painted.” Alexey Molchanov (Russia) 16 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 Constant weight No Fins, – 85 meter October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 17

PROFILES | Island Seniors PERSPECTIVE | Jon’s World

[email protected]

FRUITFUL LIFE OF MISS VIDA ­JON TOMPSON Ninety Years Old WILLIAM WALKER’S and Vibrant as Ever ROATAN ADVENTURE

By Wilford James

oatan and the other four Bay Islands enjoyed the status of being a him, Britain and Honduras had hastily extended the handover date for Roatan to full-fledged British colony from 1852 until 1859, when Britain, April 22 of the following year. bowing to from the USA, signed the Wykes-Cruz Treaty, Infuriated, Walker made the biggest blunder of his career: an all-out attack R which handed the islands back to the control of Honduras planned on the Honduran mainland at Trujillo. With a of 91 men, including three for July 14. One hundred fifty Bay Islanders, saddened and perturbed about their new recruits from Roatan, Walkerarrived in Trujillo on August 6 and quickly Miss Vida Rose Greenwood at her home. future, attempted to thwart the handover by petitioning Queen Victoria with a took the fort. Six of its Garifuna defenders died; five men on Walker’s side were letter. Receiving no answer from Buckingham Palace, they turned to an unlikely seriously wounded, two of whom would later die. savior: the Tennessee-born man of manifest destiny, William Walker. Walker immediately declared the town a free port and confiscated $3,500 iss Vida Rose Greenwood has no problem climb- be so strong sometimes that it would take the paddle out of my Walker’s last adventure in Central America, as self-proclaimed President of from the town’s customs and excise office. Hismen encamped in the fort, where ing the more than 20 steps of city hall in Oak hands.” Ridge. If not for her two great grandsons, one In all, Miss Vida had seven children and has outlived two of Nicaragua, had ended in total fiasco. He also earned some respect among white they fixed its broken cannons and replaced their ammunition. nine and the other 13, who she if looking after for her three daughters and one of her four sons. While Miss Vida Bay Islanders, and in April of 1860 a representative was sent from Roatan to New His next move was to contact former Honduran President José Trinidad M a while, she would be home alone. moved to Lucy Point 11 years ago after her home in Calabash Orleans to invite Walker to help set up a new, independent Bay Islands republic, Cabañas about forming a coalition government, with the idea of joining to Miss Vida was born in Port Royal on July 30, 1929 and raised Bight burned down, her children moved away to Bonnaca and with himself as President. re-invade Nicaragua. Cabañas, however, engaged in setting up Honduras’s fledg- on Calabash Bight Cay, with her parents and four other siblings. La Ceiba. She still prefers the quietness of the place that saw her Unbeknownst to the islanders, Walker, backed by his allies, including ling education system, rejected Walker’s overtures. Meanwhile, British Com- Her father, Mr. Haldane Greenwood, married her mother Nina grew-up. “I don’t like living here, it’s too noisy,” she protested wealthy Southern plantation owners and the Masonic pro-slavery group The mander Nowell Salmon arrived from Belize on the “Icarus” and informed Walker Ebanks of Oak Ridge Cay and worked as a captain on a boat that with a frown and a chuckle. Knights of the Golden Circle, had been stockpiling weapons and ammunition that the money confiscated from the customs house belonged to Britain in lieu ran between Roatan and Belize. On most days she gets up at 5 am, and recruiting men in New Orleans since September of the previous year in of a debt; if Walker did not surrender the town, Salmon would order a naval The family did not have much, but washes her clothes, cooks and sweeps order to launch a new campaign in Nicaragua. There he intended to reclaim the bombardment of the fort. her dad made sure there was food in the her yard. By 7pm she is ready for bed. kitchen. “Dad would bring home sacks of “I don’t need anyone to mind me, maybe presidency,as well as control of Cornelius Vanderbilt’s transit company, which When Walker refused, Salmon confiscated the “Taylor,” and on August flour and other foods, but what we liked someone to help me clean the house and offered the quickest route from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast by way of stage- 26 General Mariano Alvarez, marching from Tegucigalpa with 700 Honduran most was the jars of stewed plums,” re- do the dishes but that’s it,” Miss Vida said coach and river steamer, generating some $6 million in revenue per year. troops, arrived in Trujillo to confront Walker on land. Outgunned and outnum- members Miss Vida. emphatically. With thismoney Walker planned to finance his campaign to conquer all five bered, Walker beat a fighting retreat some 80 miles to the east, losing 18 men She did not do much playing but had Miss Vida was baptized in the 80s of the Central American countries and unify them into a huge cotton, rubber and in skirmishing and disease before reaching Black River, where he hoped to find fun none the less. “We would all bathe in ‘I lived this long and is a member of the Oak Ridge Cha- fruit-producing region. Slavery was to be reintroduced and English was to be the another boat.Salmon set off in the “Icarus” in hot pursuit and soon reached Black the sea on Saturdays, after we finished pel Church on Oak Ridge Cay. “The official language. He had promised his motley band of soldiers of fortune that, River. While laid up resting on a farm along the banks of Río Sico, Walker reluc- our chores,” she remembers. “Mother because I was an Bible says that baptism doesn’t save you, once the expedition proved to be a success, each would receive 150 acres of land. tantly surrendered to the British marines after being promised protection and would take us to cake sales where there it makes the world see that you are not Starting in late April, Walker began sending his representatives to Roatan safe passage back to New Orleans by Salmon. was live music with someone playing the the person you used to be,” she says with accordion and another playing the guitar.” obedient child’ assurance. on fruit boats in order to await the handover date from Britain to Honduras, at However, instead of sailing to Louisiana, Salmon broke his word as an of- Miss Vida remembers Christmas “I lived this long because I was an which point he and his forces would strike. In June, he and 55 men left New Or- ficer and a gentleman and promptly delivered Walker and his men to the waiting with fond memories: “My dad would put obedient child, the Bible also says that. leans on the chartered “John C. Taylor,” while more men and most of his authorities in Trujillo. Walker was charged with piracy and violating international some rapadura (block off brown sugar If mama told us we could not go some- stock of weapons and ammunition were sent to Belize on the “Clifton” to await neutrality laws; in his defense, he claimed he was only attempting to “protect the cane) and pine skin in a drum and let it sit for a week before it where, we could not go,” she says. “Kids now a day are not obe- orders. Meanwhile, the arrival of dozens of American and German mercenaries inalienable rights of the people of Roatan, and protect them from tyranny.” This was ready; that was our Christmas drink. Each of us got a glass- dient. If you tell them not to do something, they do it anyway.” on the island had not gone unnoticed by the British authorities. They beefed up defense failed,and he alone was sentenced to death. ful, and Christmas was done,” she said. Her father passed away The grandmother of 27 and great-grandmother of 46 seems the island’s defenses with 40 troops sent from Belize, while sending 15 ships from He languished a further six days in the fort, while his remaining 75 men when she was eight: “My mother washed and sewed clothes to to be in good health with her only complaints being her declin- their West Indian naval fleet in Jamaica to patrol off Roatan. were deported on the British steamship“Gladiator.” The last throw of the dice to take care of usand the family helped with whatever they could.” ing eyesight, periodic bouts of weak spells and headaches. After the birth of her first child, Miss Greenwood went to Miss Greenwood never married and has no regrets. “Life is Upon arriving at Coxen Hole, the notorious Walker was refused permis- save Walker’s life came from the US consul, and a fellow freemason, in Trujillo work as a housekeeper and cook on Oak Ridge Point making what you make of it, sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad, sion to disembark from the “Taylor.” On also learning that all his ammunition who offered General Alvarez $10,000 to spare him. The offer was rejected, and 20 Lempiras a month. “I had to paddle from Calabash Bight Cay but you keep on living and doing what it is you do,” she says in a and weapons had been confiscated from the “Clifton” in Georgetown, he retired on the morning of September 12, 1860, Walker faced a three-man firing squad to Oak Ridge Point to get to work,” she says, “The wind would calm and gentle voice. north to the island of to await the handover of Roatan to Honduras. behind the fort. The first volley of shots did not kill him, but the coup degrâce Five weeks later he and his men sailed back to Roatan, only to discover an even blew away his face beyond recognition. The consul paid 10 pesos for his coffin and larger British military presence barring them from landing. To further frustrate he was buried in Trujillo’s old cemetery. 18 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 19

PROFILES | Lifestyle

Camp Bay - Dive Pangea October 6th to 11th Jonesville - Jonesville Point Marina - Trico Bar Milton Bight - Turquoise Bay Resort Stand Up and Be Counted! There will Cocoview Resort be 7 check in stations to check in your Celebrating Wally Bodden Brick Bay - Barefoot Caye The Bodden family members of Saint Helene gather on the is- lionfish Monday through Thursday 4 pm West End - Coconut Tree dock land’s new dock. Many of them wore t shirts celebrating the life to 6 pm each day. of Wally Bodden, a prominent leader of Saint Helena commu- West Bay - West Bay Mall nity. At the new dock: Raisa Bodden, Donalee Bodden, Carrlson Dibert, Terro Allas, Sterlin Stanley, Cheryl Diaz, Aaron Diaz. The 2nd Annual Roatan International Lionfish Tournament & Cook-off wants to express our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, without whom the tournament couldn’t happen. Thank you for your support to the island, the reef and its people! CocoView Resort Wendy Roatan Realty, Eagle Marine SA Hyde Shipping Corporation, Vegas Electric, Buena Vista Vacation Rentals Turquoise Bay Resort, Subway, Mayan Princess, Mayan Divers, Galaxy Wave Ferry Eldon’s Supermarket, Petrosun, Roatan Divers, Turtle Beach Dive Resort, Kristi’s Overlook Dip Shipping Co., Ginger’s Caribbean Grill, Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort, Paradise Computers Max stage Volleyball Island Blue Wave Radio, Paya Magazine, Las Palmas Resort, Bordifer On September 8 and 9, Roatan Beach Volley- City Dogs Sailing, Pangea Dive Roatan, Lone Star Dive & Fish, Jonesville Point Marina, Blue Planet Divers ball Open hosted teams from all around Hon- Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout, Roatan Conch Fritters, Roatan Executive Realty, Mundo Electrico duras. The competition in the men’s senior cat- egory was fierce, but finally Wilfredo Vega and Roatan Business Consulting, Amavi Charters, Arlie Thompson Insurance, Pirate’s ‘Cue Brew & Treasure Kevin Flores came out on top. The top dogs: Roatan Ocean Adventures, Intégra Architecture & Construction, Roatan RE/MAX, Lionfish University. First: Wilfredo Vega and Kevin Flores. Second place: Marty Wood and Tony Brown. Third place: Irvin Reyes and Manuel Serrano (Puerto Cortes)

The Crew of PMAIB PMAIB has been financing and providing over- sight on important infrastructure projects throughout the Bay Islands. The dock at Santa Helena, inaugurated on August 26, is a fourth such project funded by PMAIB. According to Ing. Santiago Hernadez of PMAIB the dock at the Bonnacca Cay was inaugurated in 2012, the dock in Utila was finished in 2014 and the dock in Guanja’s Savannah Bight was opened in 2018. The Utila dock is so far the biggest. The next in line for PMAIB is the construction of fire station on Guanaja. All smiles in Santa Helena: Barry Grogh, Lidia Medina, Sotero Medina, Carlos Flores, Santiago Hernandez, Julio Betancourt, Carlos Irias, Evans Mcnab, Carlos Toruno, Kaymie Bodden, Laura Bod- den, Kendra Jones, Ana Ortega, Danielie Pa- checo, Darline Raymond, Eva Anita Pavon, Oniel Nixon, Derra Raymond, Karen Aguilar.

20 PÄYÄ October and November 2019

PERSPECTIVE | Straight Talk

[email protected]

KEENA HAYLOCK IN PATH OF HURRICANES

he 2019 The hurricane season is going strong and The HMS Sheffield ended up coming to the aid of Gua- the Atlantic Ocean is very active. I was watch- naja. It’s crew quickly and efficiently removed the debris from ing and cringing at the destruction that Hur- the airport landing strip. They also loaned and then donated ricane Dorian wreaked upon the Bahamas. I generators for the health clinics. The British sailors established T could not help but remember Hurricane Mitch the water supply from the reservoir. In short, they saved their and its complete devastation on the island of Guanaja. bacon. I had the pleasure of flying over to Guanaja a week af- The sad part of Hurricane Mitch was the aftermath few ter the storm with the then British ambassador to Honduras. I want to talk about. There were bodies that washed up on thanked him profusely for the efforts being made by the crew beaches and in the mangroves. These remains were given a of that HMS Sheffield on behalf of the people affected. We Christian burial but never identified. There was the daunting landed on a desolated island with not even a green blade of search for survivors. There was the lack of clean drinking - grass visible. They were trees snapped in half by the high winds. ter, there were no medical supplies, and no electricity. Noth- Even their bark was stripped bare from the trunks by the sand ing was clean or dry. Roofs had been ripped from above you. and salt. I had never seen anything like it before or since. To top things off a special hybrid breed The Honduran government received of mosquitos appeared. More ferocious a pardon of more than 60% of the na- than any you’ve ever seen before, happily tional debt after the devastation left by sucking away your blood. All that as you are Hurricane Mitch. You would think we sick, you are tired, and your soul is weary. would be far ahead 20 years after this Then there are the heartwarming You are sick, extremely generous gesture, but alas we parts. That was the time when neighbors are not. We live in a third world country banded together to help each other. There you are tired, and at last check Honduras’ official debt were stories of the inhabitants of the small for 2018 was over nine billion dollars. community of Mangrove Bight on the and your soul is You may ask if Guanaja received any North Side of the island of Guanaja. Their government funds to help rebuild, any homes were on stilts over the sea and with weary of the pardon of debt or incentives to a massive storm surge their homes get rebuild the crippled economy post hur- swept away. The people tied themselves ricane. Let’s put it this way: none of the together with rope and wandered to high- major businesses that operated prior er ground. They ended up spending 72 hours lying flat on an to that hurricane are in business now. That includes the ho- old abandoned airstrip praying for Mitch to finally move on. tels that operated for decades on Guanaja prior to Mitch: The Hurricane finally did move on. On the mainland of Posada del Sol and Bayman Bay Club. These were premier Honduras there were exceedingly more casualties, than in dive resorts that boasted celebrity visitors in the 1980s and Guanaja, which took the full brunt of a category 5 hurricane 1990s. My heart brakes for the forgotten island of Guanaja. for three days and nights. As many as 7,000 Hondurans lost As we live in the path of these ever-increasing massive hur- their lives on the mainland due to flooding and moving debris. ricanes, we must all be prepared for a possible disaster. This is The humanitarian aid that came in was overwhelm- also an opportunity to discover the resilience of the human spirit. ing and not surprisingly, from foreigners. The unsung he- The Bahamas have my best wishes for a speedy re- roes of that tragedy on Guanaja are the crew members of covery and my condolences for the lives lost. There are so the HMS Sheffield, a type 22 that was in service many examples of neighbors helping neighbors and for- of the British Royal Navy at the time and was monitor- eign governments lending a hand. A catastrophe like this ing the hurricane as it was supposedly headed to Belize is also an opportunity for rebuilding and strengthening.

October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 23

IN DEPTH | Business

Mr. Johnny Bodden in front of his office in Utila.

THE PROPHET OF H2O Mr. Johnny Returned to Utila to Share the Knowledge he Acquired

Mr. Bodden in 1960s.

ld time Utilans are a resourceful and hardy peo- scattered all around the World after the war, so they could be ple. This is exactly how Mr. Johnny Bodden is. He rebuilt in the US ports. This was a boom time for all kinds of has a wealth of knowledge from captaining ships businesses. People had ideas, energy, and optimism. to driving trucks all over the world: Patagonia, His adventure of traveling around the world began as he O Saudi Arabia, and the United States. “He is the sailed all around during and after the war. In 1960s he boarded a first skin-diver of Utila,” says Gunther Kordo- Guanaja fishing boat and went out to Columbia’s Quite Seno and vsky. Bodden came to Utila in 1970, on a Serrano fishing banks. The banks, while treasure finding expedition and never left. claimed by Columbia, were teaming with Johnny Bodden was born on US Inde- fish life: gigantic lobster and sharks. As pendence Day in 1929, one hundred and luck would have it Bodden was wound- twelve days before the Wall Street stock mar- ed on a United Fruit Company ship and ket crash that started the great depression. a nurse took care of him. She was Con- Mr. Johnny is part of the Silent generation, chita, a young Honduran with German a cohort of people that worked hard and Everybody seemed ancestors. They soon married and started contributed greatly but were not given the a family. recognition they deserved and were basically to love Johnny After 30 years of not visiting the is- overlooked. land, he returned to Utila to visit his He left Utila at 11 years old to go to Water mother and family. He came back to his school on the Honduras mainland. He stud- island of youth to share his knowledge and ied at ‘First Panamanian Instituto de Minas de show islanders a better way. “I installed Oro’ in Yoro, at Zamorano, and then at the United Fruit Com- the first electric water pump on the island,” remembers Mr. pany school in La Lima. Bodden. It was the time when people were hardy, self sufficient Young Bodden’s age was falsified on a document and he was and a bit stubborn. They drank rain water without filtering it, presented to be three years older, just old enough to join the US but few got sick. merchant marine before the end of World War II in 1944. He Mr. Bodden began making water tests to educate Utilans sailed in the Mediterranean as a mate. He later salvaged ships about the pollution of the water they were drinking. He dug a

24 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 25

Roatan’s garbage dump in Mud Hole is situ- ated between the newly paved north side road and green mangroves east of Sandy Bay. IN DEPTH | Helping Hand IN DEPTH | Hidden Corners

The interior of the ice making plant and DOCK, FRESH WATER water purification of Jonny Water. & ELECTRICITY Santa Helena - Roatan’s Little Sister is Booming

inspectors from Tegucigalpa and La Ceiba appear on the island once a year to prove that the water is indeed first rate. Today the main part of the Johnny Water business model is filling, and selling five-gallon jugs of water. A staff of three S takes care of that. Robin Vigil has been working at Johnny Wa- ter for 16 years, and his coworker Walter Alexander Lopez, has worked at Johnny Water for 13 years. Twice a day they wash and fill 80-100 five-gallon containers with the filtered Johnny’s Water. “The hardness of the water is Key to good, healthy, life giving water,” says Bodden. The production spikes during Holy Week and holidays, but nothing like it was four or five years ago when Johnny’s Water was producing 200 jugs a day. The competition has gotten fiercer, and many of the fixed costs have climbed up. The plastic bottles and jugs used to pack Johnny Water are imported from Tegu- cigalpa, and their shipping costs have increased tremendously. So has the competition. There are now four private companies providing drinking water to Utilans. Bushes, Island Springs, and 68 foot well just a few meters from his house in Utila town. Arches now all make and sell their own ice. That well now is the drinking water for over a thousand Utilans. Not all water projects on Utila and Roatan are success “Majority of wealthy people-built tanks and cisterns,” says Bod- stories. The desalination plant funded in 2009 with Honduran den. But the not so wealthy were always short on water and de- tax payer money and financed by the high interest loan of the Tropical Wave docks at the Saint Helena 110-foot-long new dock. pendent on often unfiltered water. The business found a strong World Bank only lasted a couple years. “We lend the water to and needed niche and “Johnny Water” thrived. At the peak of show they were working, “says Mr. Bodden. He remembers the aint Helena has gotten its dock, and you hear five different opinions about Wave. “I feel proud. It’s going to change its success his “Johnny Water” bottles were shipped to La Ceiba day of inauguration. “When you put wrong people in wrong finally. The dock was inaugu- who owns what” says Harper. the island for good,” said Edward Eike, and Trujillo. Everybody seemed to love Johnny Water and the places it is finished.” rated on August 26 and comes Santa Helena would have had a dock owner of Island Concrete. as a culmination of efforts of much sooner, were it not for a failure Saint Helena, unspoiled and unde- Saint Helenians dating back to of the original winner of the construc- veloped island is home to around 1,000 Mr. Johnny Bodden at his office of Johnny Water S the early 1990s. “Back then a tion bid. Initially in 2017 a Tegucigalpa people and 250 homes. It is a 40-min- group of Saint Helene ladies” attempted based company won with the lowest bid ute ride from Dixon Cove on Tropical to bring well water to their island and in for the dock construction but was unpre- Wave. Safeway Maritime donated the order to do that they needed to transport pared and unexperienced in this type of a trip to Saint Helene bringing in govern- heavy equipment to be brought in, a dock project. Honduran law requires that the ment officials, press and many curious. had to be built. lowest bid be accepted, regardless of the Captain John McNab, owner of Safeway The newly constructed Saint He- experience or qualifications of the bid- Maritime, piloted the Tropical Wave east lene dock is set on the south side of the from Dixon Cove, along Roatan’s south- island in an area known as The Point, a ern coast all the way to Saint Helene. The short walk to town and a stone’s throw docking procedure took skill and the 147 from the town itself. The Bodden family foot Tropical Wave became the biggest donated the strip of land where the dock boat to ever dock on Saint Helene. meets land. The dock was built by funds The changes to Santa Helena are coming from PMAIB (Proyecto Manejo coming from other sources as well. Ro- Ambiental de Las Islas de la Bahia) at a ‘It’s been the best tary club financed construction of the cost of Lps. 6.4 million or $261,000 and three, badly needed wells on the island comes just in time for the island to open year in history of with $156,000. “Before, Islanders would to development and tourism. either drink rainwater or brackish wa- Santa Helena is booming, real estate Saint Helene’ ter. Helene has a high-water table.” ex- prices have doubled and tripled, there is plains Brian Blackwell, 63, an American now water and a brand-new dock. “It’s residing on Saint Helene. According to been the best year in history of Saint der. “They put maybe six posts,” says John Blackwell a five-gallon jug of water that Helene,” said Bay Islands’ Governor Tellford Bodden, a seaman from Santa costs Lps. 35 on Roatan is sold for Lps. Gino Silvestri. “Electricity, water wells, Helena. It took legal action, and over a 60. “Groceries [here] are the double the schools and now transport.” year delay, for PMAIB funds to be recov- price of that at Eldon’s. Its old Caribbean Sadly, according to several islanders, ered from the Tegucigalpa Company. style living. Unlike Belize it has not been most of the land shave been sold to out- A new bid was placed and Island corrupted,” said Blackwell. siders. “It’s a bit like West Bay, the best Concrete, a Roatan based Construction According to Mike Wittry, Roatan’s pieces of land are owned by foreigners.” Company with vast construction experi- Rotary past president, the next project says Mathew Harper, a businessman, who ence, won it. Within several months the for the community of Santa Helena is the has been living and coming to Santa Hel- 110-foot-long dock was completed. The construction of a 30,000 Gallon cistern ena since 1980s. Proving that land own- 20-foot-wide, 45 square meters con- that could provide water to most island ership of Santa Helena is especially dif- crete dock is supported by 45 pilings and homes. The life on Roatan’s sister island ficult. “You talk to five different people big enough for boats the size of Tropical is changing drastically.

26 PÄYÄ October and November 2019 October and November 2019 PÄYÄ 27

WANDERINGS | Off Island News OFF ISLAND PERSPECTIVE

Building Seven Mugabe Finally Out Eighteen years after the Fact Univer- Robert Mugabe dies, finally. The 95-year- sity of Alaska at Fairbanks study has old Marxist Leninist revolutionary tuned finally analyzed why during 9/11 president then dictator died at his house World Trade Center [WTC] event surrounded by 23 staff members. The Je- two planes caused a collapse of three suit educated University of London grad- buildings. The 1987 built 48 story uate Mugabe reigned terror, oversaw tall WTC Building 7 housed New murder, rape and hyperinflation that led York’s CIA, FBI and Secret Service millions of this once breadbasket African stations and Mayor Rudy Giuliani country to poverty. Uganda-born Arch- emergency command retreat center. bishop of York called Mugabe “the worst Building 7 collapsed into its footprint kind of racist dictator targeting whites.” in7 seconds at 5:20pm on 9/11/01. While 300,000 Whites called Zimbabwe Contrary to the US government con- home in 1975 today only 25,000 remain. clusions, the four-year University of Mugabe held power in Zimbabwe since Alaska study concluded that “fire did its independence in 1980. Only a 2017 not cause the collapse of WTC 7 on presidential coup d’état by his ex vice- 9/11.” The study titled the “Structur- president deposed him. al Collapse of World Trade Center 7” was led by Dr. J. Leroy Hulsey. Billions to Trash Senator Rand Paul is finding out that the US government is spending billions of crap not only stateside, but also abroad. The 2019 waste report points out some fascinating projects. $100,000 of US tax dollar debt went to subsidize Pakistani film industry. US National Science Foun- dation spent $500,000 to study differ- ences between frog mating calls in the Vaping as Gateway City of Panama and in the jungle. Anoth- It took a few years, but vaping - inhaling of hot water vapor in- er $10 million went to subsidize Peru’s fused with nicotine and many other substances has finally taken “Green New Deal.” In 2018 $800,000 its toll. Center for Disease Control has confirmed 530 cases of was spent studying sex lives of quails vaping lung ailment and seven deaths related to e-cigarettes. high on cocaine. Senator Paul says he has Patients show up in emergency rooms suffering from dangerous added up $114 billion of such waste in a respiratory damage as if exposed industrial chemicals. Vaping has country that is indebted106% of its GPD now been proven to have become the gateway to cigarette smok- to the tune of $22 trillion. ing, especially for millennial and generation Z. Since they were released for sale in 2003, 13% (by 2014) of high school students Silencing Assange reported using them. After spending seven years in Ecuador- ian Embassy in London, in April Julian Electric Porsche Assange was expelled to British authori- There were estimated 5.1 million tiesand now serves a 11-month prison electric cars driving around the world sentence for skipping bail. Assange is “be- in 2018 and now Porsche is challeng- ing subjected to every sort of torment” ing Tesla’s status as the dominant, at maximum security Belmarsh prison, performance car maker. Porsche Tay- AKA Britain’s Guantanamo Bay. He is can is considered a mainstream luxu- awaiting extradition to US where he is ry car similar to that of Tesal model S. facing 18 counts amount to 175 years Taycan can do 62 mph in 3.5 seconds for being an investigative journalist: re- and its range is 310 miles. Porsche porting US governmentunconstitutional is planning to add supercharging data harvesting, assassinations and illegal stations that would top up the car’s arms deals. US government is setting As- battery by 250 miles in 20 minutes. sange as a scapegoat to scare of any other Taycan is expected to be on sale by journalists from reporting on the state’s the end of 2019 and 40,000 units are agencies violating the US constitution. planned for production a year.BMW, Ron Paul said about Assange that “in a Mercedes, Nissan, Ford and Chevro- free society we’re supposed to know the let already have electric cars on the truth... In a society where truth becomes market. treason, then we’re in big trouble.”

28 PÄYÄ October and November 2019

WANDERINGS | Calendar

YEARLY CALENDAR

October 2-5: Morazanic Week October 5: Wine & Cheese Party at Henry Morgan Resort October 6: ‘Corriendo por una Esperanza’ race October 6-11: 2nd Roatan International Lionfish Tournament October 12: Columbus Day October 18: Arrival of Cruise Ships to Old Port Royal October 21: Honduran Armed Forces Day October 25-27: Reef race at West Bay October 31: Halloween Beach Party at Blue Bahia Resort November 1: All Saints Day November 18: Ratification Of Alfonso XIII Decree November 22: Jose Cecilio del Valle Birthday November 28: Thanksgiving Day November 29: Black Friday November 30: Honduras’ School Year Ends December 7: Rotary Club of Roatan Christmas Gala December 25: Christmas Day December 31: New Years Eve January 1: New Year’s Day January 31: Atlantis 2020 Roatan Festival Cruise Ship in Port Royal: February 1: Hondura’s School Year Starts October 18 is scheduled to be the first time a cruise ship will anchor in March 14: Seventh Annual Music Festival For The Angels at Old Port Royal and tender itspassengers to Roatan’s shores.The 144 March 17: St. Patricks Day passenger and 118 crew Silversea Explorer will continue to Guanaja & April 9: Holy Thursday April 10: Good Friday Graham’s Cay on the 17th and Port Royal and Pigeon Cays both on the April 11: Holy Saturday 18th. Another is scheduled to visit Port Royal in December. April 12: Sunday Of Resurrection April 12: Arrival Of The Garifunas To Honduras April 14: Day Of The Americas

Weekly Happenings

Blue Monday: 4-7pm Happy Trivia Night: 7pm with Brion Free Salsa Classes: 7-9pm at Sexy Thursday: 9pm-12am Live Music: 6:30 pm with Scotty Movie Night: 7:15pm at The Sunday Funday: 12pm live music hour! at Blue Resto Bar in WE Sundowners Beach Bar in WE. Kaluu Bar & Grill in West End Live music DJ Flames at Frank’s C at Sundowners in WE Pineapple Grill, French Harbour and BBQ at Barefoot Cay in BB Ladie’s Night: 8pm at Herby’s Movie Night: 7:15pm at The Hideaway in WE. Live Music: 6:30-9:30pm at Brion James & the West End La Palapa: 6-8:30pm food and Sunday Funday: 12pm-5pm at Sports Bar in FH Pineapple Grill, French Harbour Movie Night: 7:15pm at The Bananarama in WB Players: 7pm at Beachers in WE The Brewery in PB Brion James: 6-9pm at Caribe drinks! Music Jam With Patty Mc- DJ: 8pm-11 at Blue Marlin in Pineapple Grill in FH. B.J´s Friday: 1pm The Backyard Live Music: 6pm with The West Happy Hour All Day: food and West End. Tesoro in WB Scott Haynes band: 5:30 pm at Banned at B.J´s Backyard in OR Culla at Infinity Bay in WB Bay Players at Hangover Hut drinks at Blue Resto Bar: in WE. Music Trivia: 7pm Music Jam with Sunken Fish at Tranquil Seas: Sundowners in WE Piano Sets: 6:30-8:30pm with in WB. Island Happy Hour: 4-6pm at Live Music: 12pm Live Music Eddie Nakada at Bananarama 7pm-9pm- Live Music Garinago Nights: 7pm at Paya Bay Summer Dawn at Grand Roatan Live Music: 7-9pm Jensen & The Herby’s Sports Bar in FH in WB Karaoke Night: 6:30-9:30pm Sing Resort in PB in WB Boys at Splash Inn in WE with Jensen & The Boys at Latin Night: 6:30-9pm Music all night with DJ Tiger Tim James Music Jam: 6-9pm On the Pier at Karaoke Night: 6pm-12am Sing Bananarama in WB 2CanDoo: 6pm music mix of 60s at Bananarama in WB Paint Night: 4pm With Dip & Sip Jam with Joel Escalona at The Sunset with Kristofer Goldman at All Night at The Buccaneer Roatan at Bananarama in WB Live Music: 6:30pm Live Music & 70s soft & folk rock by Ron at SunkenFish in SB Music Jam: 5-9pm with Brion Caribe Tesoro in WB Restaurant & Bar in WE James & The West End Players at Lotus: 6-9pm Live Music with with Lisandro & Luis at Sund- Caribe Tesoro in WB Acoustic Night: 6:30pm Music Karaoke Night: 8pm-12am Sing Island Music: 7:30pm with Tommy Morris at Xbalanque owners in WE Jam with Brion James at Vintage Caribe Tesoro in WB all night with DJ Tiger Tim James Muddy at Herby´s Sports Bar & Pizza Of The Week: 11am-3pm Live Music: 7pm Delicious BBQ in WB Fire Show: 6:30pm Fire Show Pearl Restaurant in WB at Blue Marlin in WE Grill in FH Party Night: 6-9pm With DJ Tiger Mango & goat pizza at Banan- Trico Tuesday: 2pm Live Music + Live Music at Coconut Tree Live Music: 7pm With Grupo with Paul & Crab Races at Banan- in WE Karaoke Night: 8pm-12am Sing Tim at Bananarama in WB arama in WB with Diferrent artist every week all night with DJ Regis/Otta at Bahia & Fire Show at Infinity arama in WB Leche Con Canela: 6pm Music Live Music: 2-4:30pm Music Sunday Brunch: 10am Live Music Movie Night: 6-8pm movies at at Jonesville Point Marina - Trico night and more at Hangover Booty Bar in WE Bay in WB Bar & Grill in JV Summer Dawn: 6:30-8:30pm Friday Wings: 6:30pm Funky Duo with Patty & Luis at Cal’s at San Simon Beach Club in WB Bananarama in WB Hut in WB Cantina in FB Live Music: 6:30-9:30pm with Karaoke Night: 7:30pm Sing all music, food, drinks & more at wings at The Sunken Fish in SB Sunday Funday: 1-4pm Tommy Drink Specials: 6-11pm live DJ 7 Jimmy James at Bananarama Celeste’s Island Cuisine in WB Sunsets & Music: 5:30pm – with Pub Quiz: 7pm Live Music With Morris Live Music at Ginger´s night with DJ Alex at Herby’s Scott Chamberlain at Blue Marlin days a week at Booty Bar in WE in WB Sports Bar & Grill in FH Trivia Night: 6pm All night fun at Angie Rosa at Caribe Tesoro Caribbean Grill in WE Blue Tuesday: 4-7pm Happy Coconut Tree in WE in WB in WE Karaoke Night: 8pm sing all night Paint Night: 4pm With Dip & Sip Island Music: 7:30pm with Live Music: 2-5pm Live Music hour! at Blue Resto Bar in WE Roatan at Infinity Bay in WB Happy Hour & Paint Night: Karaoke Night: 7pm at Kristi’s With Jimmy James at The Jolly at Kaluu Bar & Restaurant in WE Live Music: 7-10pm West Bay Karaoke Night: 7pm Sing all night 5-7pm with Dip & Sip Roatan at Overlook Muddy at Herby´s Sports Bar & Grill in FH Octopus in SB Off the Hook: 7pm Music Trivia Players at Beacher’s in WE at La Palapa at Infinity Bay in WB Ibagari Boutique Hotel in WB Movie Night: 5-9pm Family fun at Off the Hook: 7pm Music Trivia Live Music: 6:30-9pm with Movie Night: 7:15pm The SOL y MAR Beach Club in SB Live Music: 6-8:30pm Music Live Music: 1pm food and w/ Irma Korb at Coconut Tree w/ Chloe Overstreet at Coconut Patty McCulla at Vintage Pearl Pineapple Grill at Pineapple Live Music: 6:30-9pm w/ Tommy Duo with Patty & Luis at Infinity drinks! Music With Scotty Cat 30in WE. PÄYÄ OctoberTree in WE. and NovemberRestaurant in 2019WB. Villas in FH. Morris at Vintage Pearl in WB. Bay in WB. Kristies OVerlook in FB.