Why I celebrate 'Butch' Stewart and Sandals

'BUTCH' Stewart once told an interviewer that money meant little to him. That's not true.

With his money, Stewart has changed the lives of legions of Jamaican and Caribbean persons, most of whom receive this assistance away from the often self-serving glare of publicity.

But a Rastafarian fisherman, Jahrena Hiopia, has decided to shed the cloak of anonymity to celebrate the largesse of 'Butch' Stewart and his Sandals hotel chain which is this year marking its 30th anniversary.

Hiopia, who is affectionately known on the White River and throughout Ocho Rios, St Ann as 'Spider', attributes his start as a licensed tour guide to Sandals and Stewart's personal interest in his welfare.

"Butch was different from the other hoteliers. They used to see me as a pimp when I was trying to make a bread. They were in their high shoes and couldn't see the little man. Mr Stewart was not like that," recalls Hiopia.

He met Stewart 10 years ago on a chance encounter. He was fishing, but not making enough to take care of his family and started soliciting hotel guests to take sight-seeing tours.

"One day I was in my boat outside Sandals Ocho Rios when 'Butch' rode up on his jet-ski. I went over to him and said 'hi'. We spoke for about five minutes during which I told him that I was doing tours operating from his hotel.

"He said: 'Rasta, you are a part of the system too. All I need is that you take care of the guests from my hotel. Treat them right.' Then he got a phone call and rode off."

That was to be the beginning of a 10-year friendship which the fisherman says has made a great difference in his life. Perhaps, he believes, it was the fisherman in Stewart that was coming out.

Stewart as a teenager caught and sold fish to hotels and carried guests in his boat from land to their ship anchored in the harbour.

Hiopia, shortened from Ethiopia, describes himself and the meaning of his name as a good public speaker and a man of dreams. He says he does not regard himself as a Caribbean man, but as an African. His boat, named Rasta, flies the Ethiopian red, gold and green flag.

Hiopia is usually found on the White River at Exchange where he was born and from where he goes fishing or takes groups sightseeing on the way to Dunn's River Falls, as well as fishing. On his second encounter with Stewart, he came upon the hotelier speaking with some Azans whom he knew.

Ocho Ríos, Small Fishing Village into Beach Resorts with Adequate ...

Ocho Ríos is a fishing village in Jamaica who is now a popular vacation destination in the country, especially for diving and other water sports. this place has grown from a small fishing village into beach resorts with adequate facilities, ranging from villas, hotels, rental equipment, restaurant, Shaw Park and a souvenir shop in downtown. for visitors from cruise ships, Ocho Ríos also provides a port. This is heaven for those of you who are looking for a beach holiday on the Caribbean island, has white sand and clear water suitable for swimming and interact with dolphins at Dolphin Cove, this place also offers beautiful views of waterfalls and rain forests, and your experience not complete if you did not do a tour of the Fern Gully.

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