Entrepreneur looking to find his roots in St Vincent

Barbadian entrepreneur Alvin Payne came to the shores of St Vincent and the Grenadines in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone.{{more}}

Visiting last week as part of the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) trade show, the certified fabricator, who heads A.P Solutions Inc., said that his objectives for visiting are very dear to his heart.

“First… I need to find my roots here in St Vincent, anyone who can assist me in locating my heritage.

“The second objective is to assist the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines with improved living standards, based on what we have created for our people in Barbados.”

With regard to the objective number one, Payne said his paternal grandfather was originally from St Vincent, and was born in Chateaubelair.

“His name was Charles Manderson Craigg, born on July 17, 1903.” His family moved to Grenada, but he came to Barbados and settled down.”

Payne’s grandfather married a Barbadian citizen, and the union produced his father, Alvin Payne Senior.

He said that he was informed that his grandfather was a very private individual, who did not disclose much about his past.

“The only person who knew him was a sister who lived in the United Kingdom, but unfortunately she died before I could get to speak to her,” Payne disclosed.

“Somebody got to know.”

Payne indicated that he would be grateful for any information which could lead him back to his roots on the island that he is willing and ready to make his second home.

He said that the natural affection which he has developed for the island has caused him to seriously consider planting business seeds here as well, and hinted that his company, which specializes in kitchen and bathroom solutions, will be partnering with local companies in that venture.

“The products which we create, we classify to be simple products, based on seamless solutions… we build cupboards, seamless showers, seamless floors, so our objective here is to offer the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines such solutions as we offer back home in Barbados.

“The first time here has shown me where, as a Caribbean person, all of us have the same objectives. There is no difference in Barbados as it is here; whatever we can achieve in Barbados we can achieve here.”

At a cocktail hosted by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel

and Tourism Association last Tuesday, June 26, Payne handed over a vanity and towel rack, on behalf of the BIDC, to Hospital Administrator Cuthbert Knights of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, to be used in the Maternity A ward.(JJ)