Dennis McDonald

A New Englander from Needham, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston with a population of about 30,000), Dennis McDonald has lived in Havers since 1984. He previously lived in Hunthum’s Ghut, on a boat in Fort Burt marina, and in MacNamara. He ‘got into’ boats after leaving the U.S. Marines in the late 1960s and getting an Associate of Science Degree from Newtown Junior College. His early nautical experiences working with a man who wanted to do some “ocean sailing”, and this included a difficult November trip from Massachusetts to Bermuda that may have turned some of the crew into landsmen.

 He first came to the Virgin Islands in 1972. He was helping to deliver a boat to the UK where its owner was to sail it back to the USA as part of the Observer Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race (OSTAR). He then came for winters to work on a yacht based in Virgin Gorda yacht harbour (1973-75) before being asked to operate the Poop Deck restaurant/bar in Roadtown (1975-76) by the owner who also operated the Bath and Turtle in Spanish Town. This garnered him his first BVI job and first work permit. After the closure of the Poop Deck he returned home for the US Bicentennial.

 Dennis returned (“immigrated”) in 1979 with a new wife and stepdaughter. He had got a job as a chandler at the Fort Burt Marina with Bryden Marine Supply of Doncaster UK, bringing new competition to the market. He stayed with this company, later known as Island Marine Supply and Island Marine Outfitters, for 29 years, retiring in 2006, although maintaining his position as Managing Director (along with keeping the trade license which he still has). The company’s 15,500 square foot operation, then located in Road Reef Plaza, was closed by the American controlling partners in February 2009. This location had been the site of the J.R. O’Neal hardware store, and was located on O’Neal family owned land. Dennis had a great deal of respect for. J.R. O’Neal.

 In over twenty-five years, much has changed in the BVI in general and Tortola in particular. The infrastructure of the islands has been improved, and the roads in Roadtown are better, but for Dennis the major change has been to the government and civil service structure of the country, and thus the way the government does business. However, although the quantity of government jobs has increased considerably, Dennis is not convinced that the quality has kept up. He is frustrated by the lack of planning that has actually taken place over the years. For instance lay-bys (for taxis and others to drop off and pick up passengers) are needed, parking is terrible, and some buildings seem to have been constructed in the middle of roads. In addition, like many other people, Dennis has noticed a difference in people’s behaviour over the years. In his mind, the older generation were much more courteous.

 It was easier to operate a business when Dennis first arrived, especially if you brought in money and innovative ideas. Now it depends upon what kind of business you want to open. Trust companies are still, obviously, being opened by outsiders, but it is less likely that trade licenses would be granted to non-Belongers for car sales, grocery stores or to act as real estate brokers. Although many people point to an increase in crime and violence in the BVI in recent years – which is the case – Dennis believes that we have done relatively better in this regard than most other Caribbean nations. “It is a very peaceful country”. Although the community has changed over the years, it still has the capacity to “fix problems” and “recover more quickly” than other places – for instance after hurricanes. People still take care of one another – and this results from their heritage.

 Dennis thinks that the government and the BVIslanders are very concerned with asking, “What can you do for us” to outsiders. And “what can you do that we cannot”. And he thinks this is fair enough. People should give back to a country and immigrants should do more than locals. Dennis has tried “to make himself useful, and to contribute” to the BVI. He, for instance, ran a successful company for nearly 30 years that employed mostly BVIslanders, and enabled them to improve themselves economically – and get a mortgage to buy a house in many instances. He has been an active Freemason since 1996 (the St. Ursula Lodge No 8952 EC was founded in August 1980) where he is a “Past Master” and “District Grand Officer” as well as being involved with the Knights Templar of the Eastern Caribbean.

 Dennis was a long time member of the Board of Director of the BVI Chamber of Commerce & Hotel Association (CCHA) serving for 8 years. His portfolio was marine and environmental issues. Dennis represented the CCHA on governmental committees, such as the Customs Reform Committee. He served for 6 years as the Chairman of the BVI Spring Regatta Village Committee. The CCHA press release described this as ‘truly a Herculean task, which he …shouldered well”. He was careful not the mix this job with his Island Marine work and his RBVIYC membership, in order to avoid any conflicts of interest.

 In 2001 Dennis was given residency, and in 2007 became a Belonger, at the time when the BVI and British governments were trying to clear up a backlog of applications that went back many years. He is pleased to have his Belongership, but says that he is still a guest in this country, regardless of his status. If he was “doing it over again“ Dennis would change very little. He has no complaints. He wishes he had bought more land – but he didn’t really have the opportunity to do so. He plans to stay here “forever” although he plans to be buried next to his brother (who got him into the Marines) back in Needham, Mass. But that’s a few years off yet!
 

Draft of May 9th of interview of May 9th, 2011

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