Andrew Mudie

Andy Mudie is General Manager of Caribbean Technology Ltd., established in 1986, which is "the longest-established company for Power Generation and Switchgear, Water and Waste Water Treatment Systems & Satellite Systems in the B.V.I." (http://www.caribbeantechnology.com/). Caribbean Technology is a land-based operation, providing desalinization and sewage solutions to customers, as well as UPS power solutions for businesses. “An uninterruptible power supply, UPS or battery backup, is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source, typically the utility mains, fails” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply). The company operates in partnership with Cay Electronics (established in 1982), a marine engineering, sales and service company, at Wickham’s Cay II. Andy Mudie currently lives in Greenbanks, but has also lived in Shannon and “on boats” while in the British Virgin Islands.

Andy comes from Abersoch, North Wales, a village on the Lleyn Peninsula – just down the road from Pwllheli (see http://www.abersoch.co.uk/). Absersoch’s web site says it has “become a very popular village seaside resort. Great beaches, internationally recognised sailing waters, pleasant climate and beautiful scenery, all set in the heartland of the Welsh language provide a special combination.” Given this description, it isn’t too surprising that Andy made his home on Tortola!

After leaving school in Wales, attending catering college, and training in accounting Andy left the UK in 1974. He sailed to the West Indies, visited many islands (including the BVI in 1976), spent two years in the United States rebuilding boats, worked in Antigua running boats, and then (in 1982-83) came to the BVI to do a job on a boat he had previously skippered. He decided to stay. Tortola was already considerably changed from 1976 when it had one marina at Village Cay and one dock, and Andy was to see, and be involved in, much more development over his next twenty-five years.

Tourism has of course changed the BVI, with bareboat chartering being a significant factor in the growth of water sports. The cruise ship dock is also part of this development, although Andy feels that it could have been better located in order to cause less disruption in Roadtown’s traffic patterns and traffic density. Land, sea, and cruise ship tourism do not appear to successfully coexist at present in Tortola. Tourism, and especially high quality land based tourism, Andy feels, has been somewhat neglected, and he feels that some larger resorts should be encouraged.

Offshore finance has also been important. It has contributed immensely to the country’s GNP, but as the last two years have demonstrated there are also dangers in a dependence upon such industries. However, this ‘pillar of the economy’ has led to many ‘spinoff’ businesses, which have helped the BVI flourish. Hopefully the recent changes will not be part of a spiral downwards, and the new international ‘transparency’ agreements that are being signed will not discourage businesses from coming to the BVI. Many people want to use countries such as the BVI to avoid taxes in their home country and they may not be able to operate as easily in the ‘modern BVI’.

Although tourism and finance have grown as the economy’s “pillars”, other areas have not. Commercial fishing is almost non-existent, and agriculture has declined. Manufacturing has not been very successful in establishing itself in the BVI perhaps in part because it might exacerbate the immigration challenges in the BVI. The possible effects of the new labour code are still unclear. It is important to train workers over a fairly lengthy period of time in Caribbean Technology Ltd. and many other businesses, and it is not yet clear who might be designated as “key personnel” and allowed to remain in the BVI for longer periods of time.

Andy feels that the College (HLSCC) has been a positive move more the BVI. But there are also negatives. Planning has not been entirely successful Wickham’s Cay I should have been better planned (Roads, utilities etc.) before building was initiated. There are many buildings in Roadtown that could have been better – including the provision of parking, for instance. The electrical generation in the country is problematical. Rather than being in Pockwood Pond, it might have been better situated in Fish Bay. The equipment that has been used has not always been good enough.

If Andy were to be coming to the BVI now, he would find it much harder, with more bureaucracy, rules and regulations tied up with work permits, business licenses etc. And at the present moment the economy is not doing well. For a person wanting to take a chance Cuba might be a better bet, as it offers more opportunities. Andy is due for ‘official retirement’ in eighteen months, and he hopes to take this opportunity to do less work and at least partially retire from his business. Time and money allowing, he would like to travel to other places – especially during the extremes of the BVI summers.

Draft of March 17th 2010, of interview of March 12th 2010.

Builders of Tortola Guide
Builders of Tortola Contents
Back to the Main Contents Page