It’s hard to talk about beautiful Union Island without feeling grief over the destruction that Hurricane Beryl caused to its people, property, and personality. We visited Union prior to the devastation of the hurricane, and then after its dismantling — the differences are night and day.
Union Island is the southernmost island of the 32 islands that make up St. Vincent and The Grenadines. It is only three miles long and approximately one mile wide, but its landscape and hills make the island look much larger. Prior to the hurricane, close to 3,000 people lived on this little isle, but now an estimated one-third of the residents have vacated, mostly to St. Vincent, at least until their homeland is livable again and they are able to make an income.
When we first visited Union Island, we didn’t have an opportunity to discover all that the residents had come to love and cherish about their home. We were on our way to Grenada from Martinique, and only had time to stop at Union for a day and a night. We anchored in Chatham Bay on the leeward side of the island, which had become a favorite for cruisers. The waters are beautiful, clean, and teeming with marine life, and the beaches “were” sensational. Even locals and tourists would go to Chatham for the day to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving, good food in the restaurant and beach shacks, and marveling at the beautiful sunsets.
When we were anchored at Chatham Bay, the fishermen were active, selling fish to the local cruisers, and bringing it back to town to sell as well. We bought some amazing tuna steaks from one of the fisherman and made a couple of fantastic meals with it. Upon our return, all of the fishing boats had been destroyed and their livelihood was gone, at least for now.
We took our dinghy to shore to walk along the beautiful beach and enjoy lunch at Sunset Cove restaurant overlooking the bay. The people were friendly and happy to have patrons. Today, this restaurant has been flattened, along with almost every other structure along this beach. It now looks like a pile of sticks and rubbish. It truly is sad.
Chatham Bay is on the opposite side of Clifton, the main town of Union Island where most of the businesses and hotels are located, with the town of Ashton being the second largest and most populous. So, I imagine that rebuilding this village around Chatham Bay will be far down the line. We were thankful to be able to see it the way it was before the hurricane destroyed it, and we’re hopeful that it will be just as special when it is revitalized in the future.
For quite some time, Union Island had become a favorite spot for sailers cruising the Caribbean. But it also became a top designation for tourists from all over the world due to the development of JT Pro Center Kitesurfing School located on “Kitebeach” in Clifton. As I understand it, the owner, and professional kitesurfer, Jeremie Tronet, lost his home and business due to Beryl, and is currently working with the the French Navy and suppliers to build his business back up again. The hotels and marinas are also working hard to rebuild. It is unknown if, or when, Union will agin become a tourist hot spot, but its residents are optimistic that their home will be restored, and they will be able to share it with the world once again.
However ruined and devastated things may appear, God can rebuild, restore and renew. I pray that the precious people who live on Union island will know that if the tent that is their earthly home is destroyed, they can have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1). This promise comes through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 24:9-10