Grand Manan to twin with African Islands
Appearing in The Saint Croix Courier, Tuesday, July 29, 2003
By BARB RAYNER
barbrayn@nbnet.nb.ca
GRAND MANAN - There are many similarities between Grand Manan and the small islands of Loos off the coast of Guinea on the Atlantic coast of West Africa but there are vast differences in the way of life they enjoy.
That is why Ken Keirstead, who was born and brought up in South Africa, of New Brunswick missionary parents, and is now building a home on Red Point Road in Grand Manan, came up with the idea of twinning the communities, because he feels the people here can help the inhabitants of the Loos Islands.
The twinning has been officially endorsed by the village of Grand Manan and the Republic of Guinea's Minister for Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Moussa Salano.
Letters will shortly be going out to island residents asking for their support for the project.
Keirstead's grandparents were missionaries from New Brunswick to South Africa at the end of the last century and his father was born there.
The family also has Grand Manan connections as his grandfather was pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church in North Head at one time while his father was principal of North Head School from 1929 to 1932.
A clinical biochemist, he is chairman and founder of Lyceum Research Company Ltd., a privately held New Brunswick corporation that is focused on pharmaceutical research and the development of medicinal products that are derived from natural sources.
He has travelled and done business in over 50 countries, and developed deep connections to Africa, where his expertise is utilized.
Lyceum's projects in Africa are characterized by sensitivity to the needs and development of the local people and this resulted in the Republic of Guinea government bringing the plight of the Loos Islands residents to his attention.
It is in the context of these dynamics that Keirstead and his group have been included to spearhead this project.
Lyceum's contribution will be substantial in time and energy, assisting to properly manage the project and making contributions of medical supplies and education.
The Lyceum group has already spent about $30,000 to bring the program to its present point and, in addition, its members have donated clothing, toys for the children and scarce commodities such as soap, sewing supplies and household items.
National and international companies are being contacted to donate hospital and school supplies or to provide them at a very low cost. These items will be used to upgrade the clinic (hospital) and schools on the islands and provide training to them with volunteers from Canada.
The idea of twinning Grand Manan and the Loos Islands came to Keirstead when he was visiting some government people and commercial dignitaries in Conakry - the capital city of about two million people in Guinea. He was wearing a Grand Manan T-shirt so they asked him about the island and he was told he should visit their islands.
The Loos Islands are an archipelago of three larger islands and three or four smaller islands about four kilometres off the coast of Guinea.
The islands have a population of about 2,800 residents, which is similar to Grand Manan and they too must travel an hour and a half to reach the nearest city - Conakry.
The trip in length is similar to a trip for a Grand Mananer going to Saint John but there the similarities end, as they must travel in hand hewn dug out canoes across shark infested waters that are often rough enough to cause them to capsize.
These islands are an internationally-recognized jewel of an isolated tropical ecosystem with abundant flora and fauna. One of the most recognized species that are internationally protected are giant sea turtles that breed on one of the out-islands.
There are also the ruins of a colossal slaving station at Fotoba on Tamara Island and ruins of a wharf where boats docked to load slaves for the New World. After the slave trade, the islands were served by the Church of England so a high percentage of the population is Protestant in a predominantly Muslim country.
The amenities on the Loos Islands are very different from those on Grand Manan. There are no roads, only one motorized vehicle, only one electric generator in the bauxite mine on Kassa and the people live in extremely primitive conditions. They have very little income - about $1 (US) a day and health care is virtually non-existent.
The hospitals and schools lack even basic supplies such as bandages and drugs, school books and writing materials. It is a subsistence living for residents who live mainly from fishing and abundant fruit growing on the islands.
"The country is poor and pathetically under-serviced. The islands have schools but virtually no text or exercise books. They have no toys - they drag around one of their father's slippers on a string as a toy. I took a lot of clothes over I had bought at Frenchy's and I think they thought they had died and gone to heaven. Their mayor celebrated our visit by giving us a bag of fruit which is all they have," said Keirstead.
While he realizes that twinning with Grand Manan cannot solve all the islands' problems he feels there is much the people on this New Brunswick island can do for the people of the Loos Islands.
One of the major goals of the project is to provide two seaworthy vessels such as refurbished fishing boats that could provide a safer mode of transportation to the residents of the Loos Islands.
Already restaurant owners in Hartland and Woodstock, Eric Johnston and Richard Boulier, have donated a 30 foot fibreglass boat (a Coronet) to the project and will fund raise the money to have it transported to Grand Manan for final upgrades and fitting.
An unused fishing boat on Grand Manan has also been identified and discussions have started to see if it could also be donated.
The two boats will be refitted on Grand Manan and they will be sailed to Saint John and then transported to Conakry.
The final service in Africa would be run and operated by a non-governmental organization and is expected to be self-funding from the collection of small fares from the business and local community there.
Keirstead said when he talked to Mayor William Daggett about twinning the islands, he thought it was a great isea and village council unanimously agreed. He said they could tie in schools, hospitals, churches, communities and governments.
He has even been in touch with the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs here in New Brunswick to make sure it was legitimate and they were very much in favour of the project.
Contact has also been made with the Grand Manan Rotary Club and they are in the process of twinning with the Rotary Club in Conakry and all the money will go through Rotary International.
Keirstead estimated the magnitude of the project to be about $200,000 and said already about $100,000 has been contributed in kind (boats, life saving equipment, etc.).
It will take another $100,000 to provide the background infrastructure training for people to make this project a success, he said.
He is looking at second-hand clothing drives, school books, school supplies, medical equipment and drugs to send to the Loos Islands.
He would also like to see people from the Loos Islands taking part in exchange visits to Grand Manan and vice-versa and is visualizing some tours as well.
"We see this becoming more than the donation of two boats. We want to create a book of life where everybody who contributes will be listed and that will be presented to whatever the closest thing to a museum or public display area they have on Loos Islands."
The village also wants to provide help to upgrade the clinic and health care facility and provide help for the educational system on the Loos Islands.
In the letter going out shortly to residents, signed by Keirstead and [Village of Grand Manan chief administrative officer] Andy Daggett, they say they also see the opportunity to assist by volunteers from Grand Manan helping with the technical and social work required and the gathering of clothing, toys and supplies to ship to the residents of the Loos Islands.
Any financial donation will help move this project forward and donors will be provided with a tax deductible receipt.
They say $5000 will see them through the summer and keep the momentum going so are appealing to everyone on the island to make a donation.
This will allow them to make phone calls, prepare a brochure, do multiple presentations and get their friends in Guinea mobilized as well.
They are forming a committee of five to run this program and currently the members are Andy Daggett, Keirstead and Kirk Cheney and they will be appointing two more.
A coordinating volunteer is being sought to accept clothing and much needed household items that will be sent to the Loos Islands.
A collection site and packaging location is needed on Grand Manan. A volunteer is also needed to put together and publish a newsletter and to manage a publicity program on Grand Manan.
A repair and upgrading location is also being sought on the island for the two boats that will be outfitted for shipment to Guinea.
In addition to the location for work to be conducted, volunteer boat builders and boat mechanics are urgently needed to contribute their time and services.
An outboard motor is needed for the boat already donated as well as life vests for about 60 people.