BusinessGrenada.com BusinessGrenada2019-2020 Issue 8 | Page 90

In Pursuit of Excellence In Pursuit of Excellence Water Has a New Name in Grenada – Mount Pure Natural Mineral Water G “ Increases Mental & Physcial Alertness Regulates Body Fat Reduces Acidity Detoxifies Replaces Electrolytes Great Source of Calcium Improves Blood Regeneration Lowers Cholesterol Inceases Skin’s Sheen Eases Arthritis Remedies from nature have been a long standing tradition in most families and households. The country is also experiencing unprecedented growth - It’s booming; bringing with its success, the plagues of the first world, the seduction of processed foods and the destruction associated with plastic packaging. One name resonates the dangers associated with this boom: Rolanda McQueen; who reminds us that we are the stewards of this gift of nature. If we save it, it will continue to save us for generations to come. Rolanda McQueen, owner of Mount Pure Natural Mineral Water, likes to tell you she’s a Queen from a Castle and she appears to have a charmed life since she was born a McQueen in Mount Castle. It was here, in the lush agricultural parish of St. Andrew’s, where she learned about water from her ancestors. In her own words, she says, “I remember we would have to walk for miles to collect water. My parents would say, ‘don’t collect water where people are washing, be sure that you’re upstream’. I didn’t understand why we had to walk so far for water, and my parents could tell if the water was heavy or light; river, ravine or spring water. So I got to know a lot about water from a young age.” Like many Grenadians, following the migration patterns of the diaspora, her parents 90 www.businessgrenada.com The Grenadian public had no idea of the amazing health benefits of the water. It is now McQueen’s intention to rectify this situation with her newly re-branded product that has a name that speaks of what’s inside - “Mount Pure made their way to London, England during the Windrush generation. Growing up, McQueen entered the fast paced world of fashion. Her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for fashion led her to open a chain of high-end retail boutiques called “Rolanda”. She had a very distinguished customer base of young royals, fashion models and television personalities. In the year 2002, she was voted Black Business Woman of the Year by the European Federation of Black Business Women. As a daughter of the Grenadian soil, she remained passionate to her homeland and as she became more successful, she invested in Real Estate on the island. In her heart, she knew that she would return to her island home. McQueen had the opportunity of opening a fashion boutique at the prestigious Port Louis Marina, but she never expected to buy a water company, now rebranded as Mount Pure Mineral Water - previously Claboney Mineral Water – which was known for its healing minerals, was discovered by their ancestors but later brought to market by David Rainey, and McQueen claims “I give the credit to him, he knew of the goodness and benefits of the water.” www.businessgrenada.com “ renada is a very special place, a healing place with many medicinal plants, spices and fruits that grow abundantly. Rolanda used to drink Claboney Mineral Water every time she visited Grenada and she stated that; “when I was living in England I had high cholesterol and I went to the Doctor. They said I had an autoimmune disease. They did all kinds of tests, and put me on “statins”, to help control my cholesterol levels, which I wasn’t happy with so I stopped taking it.” McQueen continues “I decided to come home to Grenada for a vacation, and I drank the water daily. When I returned to the UK and took the same tests, the medics informed me that I had no problems with cholesterol anymore - the only thing I changed was the Water I was drinking while back in Grenada. This made me soon realize the therapeutic benefits of this wonderful natural mineral product”. We are taught from an early age that we need three things to sustain life: food, water and shelter: for which water tops the list. In 2016, McQueen heard that The Claboney Mineral Water factory was for sale. “I was told that there were foreigners interested in the water, but I think that maybe God wanted us to have the water.” 91