Remembering Ken Boyea

Editor: I attended the official funeral for renowned entrepreneur Ken Boyea last Thursday. I think he had a great and fitting send off for a man who left a towering legacy on the business landscape of SVG, the Caribbean and the world. I am happy I had an opportunity to write an article about Mr. Boyea for my Entrepreneurs of SVG article series that was published in 2014. As I sat in the pew at the church, I reflected on that article.

I grew up admiring Mr. Boyea from a distance. He was many years my senior. Indeed, he was born in 1937 and I was born almost 50 years later in 1985. He was a very popular figure renowned for the fact that he brought the KFC franchise to SVG. In those days, KFC was definitely true to its slogan of being “finger-licking” good.

In 1996, Mr. Boyea was named the first ever Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. This was no mean achievement. He was aptly described in a tribute at the funeral as a force of nature who was born in the countryside, attended Grammar School and liked playing cricket and tennis.

He studied Mechanical Engineering in the UK, served as the Chief Engineer and General Manager of what is now VINLEC, was nicknamed “Chief”, spent time working in other OECS countries and was the General Manager of ECGC from around its inception in 1977 to 1997.

When I was writing my article on Ken Boyea, I had the honour and privilege of interviewing him and learning from his vast experience – it was no longer simply a matter of admiring him from a distance. I was able to sit with him at close quarters and drink from his legendary cup of wisdom.

I like the language which Joel Providence used to describe Ken Boyea in an article that was published in 2012 at the time of the 35th anniversary of ECGC. Mr. Providence said that Mr. Boyea had a clear and unique vision for ECGC, knew the mechanics of the industry along its entire value chain and engineered operational growth and development. I think that this language is entirely appropriate for describing a Mechanical Engineer turned CEO and entrepreneur. Mr. Boyea maintained high standards and had excellent negotiation, recruitment, problem-solving and team leadership skills. He knew how to bring out the best in his employees. Generally speaking, he enjoyed the respect and admiration of his staff. In 2012, Mr. Boyea opened a supermarket which he called the Aunt Jobe’s Market and which has evolved through change of ownership into what we now know as Massy Supermarket.

I am not saying that Mr. Boyea’s career and life was all smooth sailing. He went through difficult periods. He parted ways with ECGC on acrimonious terms, had a bitter separation from one of his sons who played a leading role in the management of his companies and encountered financial problems at the twilight of his career. He had an appetite for risks. He spent some time in politics and experienced mixed political fortunes. Nevertheless, he stayed the course and attained the business crown.

At a tourism event that took place on 4th July 2006, Ken Boyea said that he would like to see SVG become a unique and unforgettable tourist destination and he called for the development of a Marquee Hotel with large conference facilities on mainland St. Vincent. He lived long enough to see this dream come true.

Ken Boyea had a special personal style, charm, charisma and magnetic personality, He was one of the most distinguished sons of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Luke Browne