Greaves, with PH Veira since 1966

Charles Greaves has been with the PH Veira and Company Limited since May 8, 1966, some 51 years.

Greaves started off as a wrapper at the supermarket when he was a 16-year-old boy and through hard work, honesty and dedication, is now a supervisor in the hardware department of the multi-million-dollar business.

Greaves knew Phillip Veira, founder of the PH Veira and Company Limited, personally and describes the businessman as full of insight, trust and kindness.  

The dedicated employee, originally from Richmond Hill, but who now resides at Queen’s Drive, said that his brother Cyril Greaves was employed with PH Veira and asked for a job for him.

Charles said when he was introduced to PH, the entrepreneur commented, “but he too short,” but “I proved myself and I did everything I knew was best for the company and here I am today.

“One day he (PH Veira) gave me a bag to take to the bank and when I got there, the banker emptied out the bag and it was filled with a huge amount of cash,” said Greaves.

What Greaves had transported to the bank was the deposit that would be used to start the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC).

“It never crossed my mind to take that money,” stressed Greaves, “PH was very good to me”.

Greaves, apart from working on mainland St Vincent, also worked at the PH Veira branch on Bequia. He worked in Bequia from 1972 to 1980. From 1980 to 1983, he worked in the wholesale department and bakery as a supervisor on the mainland. In 1983, he went back to Bequia, up until December 1987. When he returned to the mainland, he worked in the supermarket until 2004, after which he took up his present position in the hardware department as floor supervisor.

“I’m still holding in there once God give me the health and strength,” said Greaves, who added that to sustain a business, the employees must have a good work ethic and training.

“I always tell people when they come in to work, if we don’t have customers we don’t have a business. Always greet customers properly, be friendly and speak to them nicely. Even though a business might be big and beautiful and well stocked, if you don’t have customers, you don’t have a business. Be courteous to people,” urged Greaves.

He added, “When I think of the late Sir Phillip Veira, God blessed him with knowledge and wisdom. He invested in in a lot of things.”

Greaves said when he started at the company, it wasn’t modernized. He said the building was a wall and wood structure, built with good quality lumber.

“We sold anything you asked; all you had to do was ask. Back then in the supermarket it was always very busy, with six cashiers on a Saturday and four during the week,” remembers Greaves.

He also remembers that back in 1966, boats would dock where the Central Police Station is now located and that PH Veira was the first to reclaim land from the sea in the area where the bus terminal is now.

“PH Veira use to talk to God and God helped him to reach where he did with the help of good workers,” said Greaves. (LC)