TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Southern Caribbean St. Vincent Kearton Wallilabou Bay Warning!

Just got back from an extraordinary sailing trip to STV. I'll be posting a trip report shortly, but wanted to warn those who might be heading to either Kearton or Wallilabou Bay. A pair of boat boys in a blue wood boat are posing as working for Rock Side Cafe. They ask for your lines and claim they will set them up for you. Once you make it into the harbor, they demand $20 EC for the ball which should be free if you are having dinner at the cafe. The actual workers for the cafe didn't really do much to help us. We got our lines back eventually. I'll post a photo of them in a follow up.

Do yourself a favor and don't give your lines to anyone until you confirm via vhf that those helping are actually working for the cafe or restaurant you are visiting. The Rockside Cafe worker had a golden sash on with the name of the cafe on it.

Its typical to pay a boat boy 10-20 EC to take your lines and tie them back. For the $4-$8 US it buys some goodwill and helps them provide for their families.
We stopped overnighting in Wallilabou years ago, and now stop in Cumberland Bay, next bay to the north. Nicer, no cruise ship crowds and more restaurant choices.

We were happy to buy coconuts, t-shirts and jewelry from the vendors. Someone who lies and claims to be from an establishment in order to scam us is not someone I think should be rewarded. Better to spend your money on the majority of Vincentians who are honorable. Here is the image of the scalawags.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s4pdigzz1i5b21t/IMG_3120.JPG?dl=0