Virgin Gorda: Life After Hurricane Irma with Gumption

I’ve had the honor and privilege of not only meeting Allington Creque, more fondly known as, Gumption, but spending time with him in the beautiful Virgin Islands, on Necker Island.  Gumption and I first chatted on the phone with me begging for the opportunity to do a Necker Island Tour.  It’s something that not everyone gets the opportunity to do when visiting The British Virgin Islands.  As it’s Sir Richard Branson’s private island, where often celebrities come to escape and relax. 

I chartered a catamaran in June with family and friends and we got to spend the day with Gumption learning about the green initiatives Branson has been putting into place as well as meeting and interacting with many of the wildlife on the island.

After Hurricane Irma ripped through the Virgin Islands, Gumption, like lots of Virgin Islanders, lost everything: His house, his business.  But he never lost his spirit and love for the beloved islands and home in the Caribbean.  Here’s a video clip of what was left of Gumption’s house on Virgin Gorda.  It’s hard to believe today, December 6, 2017, marks the 3 month anniversary of Hurricane Irma hitting the islands as a Category 5 storm.  

A gofundme was started on behalf of Gumption by his past customers and followers to help rebuild his business and his home.  But when your heart is as big as Gumption’s, he wanted to help his community first, before helping himself.  With permission from his donators, he purchased generators, school supplies and food for both pets and people; with his focus on the super needy, low-income families on Virgin Gorda. 

Gumption is currently traveling to various parts of the world to help bring awareness to the difficult circumstances in the Virgin Islands and raise funds.  He’s been in Boston, New York, London, and The Bahamas. 

A family in New York had the honor of having Gumption over for Thanksgiving Dinner, after winning the bid at $4,570, all of which is being used to help the communities in Virgin Gorda.  The famous NeckerCup, which takes place on Necker Island every year, was forced to relocate due to the hurricanes, was a huge success at Baha Mar, Bahamas, with Gumption raising over $150,000 for aid in Virgin Gorda. 

Gumption is one of the most interesting people I’ve met, giving a TEDx Talk in 2016, becoming an entrepreneur in his 20’s, overcoming dyslexia, and exhibiting many more amazing attributes.  The Virgin Islands are extremely lucky to have Gumption as their voice.  If you’re looking to meet him or donate to his gofundme cause, his next scheduled stops are Miami and San Diego.

The BVI’s and USVI’s continue to get stronger each day, with more beach restaurants and bars opening every day.  With yacht charters in full swing and the cruise ships returning, life is slowly returning to a sense of normalcy.

If you’ve never been to Necker Island or are just curious what the beautiful paradise that Richard Branson calls home looks like, feel free to check out my youtube video, ‘Necker Island Tour with Gumption.’  And for information on booking a fantastic Virgin Islands charter contact me, your Caribbean Charter Yacht Broker.