Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2020 | Page 268

Union Island
Must-do List
Horticulturist, radio program founder, hiker, air traffic controller,
karaoke producer, visionary, husband, and father. Now, as the
new chairman of the Union Island Tourism Board, Stanton Gomes
envisions big things for the small, southernmost island in St.
Vincent’s Grenadine island chain. He faces the daunting but
exciting task of leading the team that will propel Union further
into the forefront of tourism activity in the Grenadines. On a recent
layover in Union, Stanton chatted with Shana Jones about his
plans for the growth of the island’s tourism sector.
Stanton Gomes
Union Island
Bigger and Better!
by Shana Jones
www.roamingaviatrix.com
1. Hop over to Happy Island, just south of Union.
This is a man-made island of conch shells and
concrete and the only one in the region! Enjoy
a swim and signature rum punch there!

2. Do an island bus tour and visit the salt pond, the
quarry, the water wells and forts.
3. Hike any of three mountains on the island, each
with varying levels of difficulty.
4. Look out for the Union Island gecko, only found
on Union island!
5. Learn the sport of kite-surfing from any of three
kite schools on the island.
Shana: Aside from air traffic
controlling, what do you do
in Union?
Stanton: I’m the founder of
Radio Grenadines, a non-profit
media organisation based on
Union Island. We work with
smaller groups and community
organizations to give them
public relations opportunities.
We are the only media outlet
based in the Grenadines.
In September of last year, I was
appointed Chairman of the
Union Island Tourism Board. In
this role I am required to lead
the six-member board and
also oversee the operations
of the Union Island Tourist
Information Centre, which
provides information and other
services to tourists.
Shana: Why did you decide
to involve yourself in
tourism?
Stanton: My work at Radio
Grenadines closely mirrored
that of the tourism office here
on Union Island. Promotion of
the islands in the Grenadines
[is] one of the areas I [have
been] engaged in over the
years. Because of this I had a
keen interest in using my skills
to further enhance the work
already done by the previous
leaders on the board.
Shana: What is the norm for
tourism in Union?
Stanton: Presently, the largest
portion of our tourists comes
from the yachting sector
stopping at Union Island for
clearance and restocking their
groceries supplies. We [also]
get a few visitors from cruise
boats and persons coming in
by air.
Shana: What is your vision
for the board? How do
you plan to bring this to
fruition?
Stanton: My vision for the
tourism board is to enhance
[Union’s] strategic position in
the tourism sector of St. Vincent