Noel Victory “Goatie”
Humble, Hardworking, Helpful and Happy By Sally Miller When Petit St. Vincent’s new, chic beach bar was opened in 2011, owner Phil Stephenson named it ‘Goatie’s Bar’, in honour of the resort’s longest serving employee. It was to recognize Noel Victory, a good man who had devoted over 50 years of his life to hard graft in nearly every aspect of PSV’s development. In 1966, after a day’s hard sail, the boy of 17 who had been recommended by the Central Housing Planning in St. Vincent arrived in PSV in the dead of night: “At that time there was nothing on PSV but bush. Haze Richardson met us off the boat, took us to our tent, sat with us and offered coffee and sandwiches. I was so scared I didn’t go to sleep for fear that this stranger might sell me to the devil.” Goatie survived that first night, PSV quickly became his home, and he and Haze, the resort’s co-founder, whom he refers to as the Skipper, grew to regard each other like family. His main responsibility was masonry and plumbing, but during his free time he also worked in the kitchen, behind the bar, growing lettuce, transporting garbage by boat, meeting guests, anything that needed to be done. Once the resort was open and fully operational, Goatie’s life took on a new dimension: “In the early days it amazed me that many of our wealthy guests came on their own super yachts. I got a real eye-opener the first time I saw “Gitania” – especially when Mr. Bud, the owner of Budweiser, started shooting the water cannon or setting off massive firework displays at night. I’ve met so many interesting people and seen so many incredible things over the years that I could write a book about it all. And I will one day.” Just as Goatie was good for PSV, PSV was also good for Goatie: “The Skipper sent us on trips around the world in groups of 10. Everything was paid for and arranged in advance, right down to the finest detail. I have tickets to places like Miami, Colorado, Martha’s Vineyard, Cancun and Margarita, tucked away in my drawer as souvenirs of wonderful times.” Despite his full-time commitment to the resort, Goatie still managed to attract a devoted wife, Winifred, who bore him three sons. Married for 45 years, they now run a bakery together – yes, he also learned to bake in PSV! Today, his workload for the resort is much lighter. He manages the guests’ arrival and departure in Union Island, which entails them commuting through the attractive yellow waterfront building in Clifton Harbour which, as it happens, was built and is owned by Goatie - fruits of his humble existence and hard work. Goatie is still a loyal ambassador for PSV. He proudly relates how PSV donates books and equipment to primary schools in the region and pays for 90% of the education of their employees’ children, right through to university. PSV currently sponsors one student at university in Grenada and another in Trinidad. Goatie and his wife have adopted the same philosophy of giving, by paying for the education of bright children from disadvantaged families. Education has also been a key factor in his own family’s life: “I worked hard to give my sons the opportunities I didn’t get. Dominique is an electrical engineer in the UK and Darel is at college in Canada. Our middle son Dillon helps run the family business in Union.” So how did Noel Victory become Goatie: “I looked like a little boy when I first came to PSV, so I grew a beard to try to look more manly. But all it got me was a lot of teasing from the fellas and a nickname!”. Well, now it’s the name of a very trendy beach bar, in his honour, and Goatie has certainly proved himself to be a fine man. Photo courtesy Jeremie Tronet
Meet An Union Islander 145 MAYREAU