BUSINESS BYTE: L’Express des Isles – 30 Years Together (Part 1)

L’Express des Iles, the inter-island fast ferry service connecting Dominica with the French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes, as well as St. Lucia, celebrates its 30^th Anniversary on the 9^th July, 2017.  Thirty years of bringing our Islands closer together in tourism, trade and developing relationships of our English/French speaking peoples,  L’Express des Iles has enhanced Dominica’s rich French cultural heritage by providing such an avenue for the development of our people “30 Lanné Ansamn Ansamn”.

Dominica shares a rich and diverse cultural heritage that has placed our Nation in an important role in the history and the development of L’Express des Iles. It is this connection, this ‘Ansamn,’ that allows us to recognize two prestigious Dominicans who gave their blessings to the launching of L’Express des Iles – the Godmothers / ‘Marraine’s – Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, former Prime Minister of Dominica and Ophelia Marie, our very own Grand Dame de Chanson.

With the launch of ‘Turquoise Express’ in Marie Galante on July 5^th 1995, Ophelia Marie, with a delightful chuckle, explained to us that she became the Godmother of L’Express des Iles, then Antilles Trans Express and Caribbean Express, by default.  Tanya Saint-Val, one of Guadeloupe’s finest singers, missed her flight from Paris and was unable to attend the launching.  The Team from L’Express des Iles called her asking if she would consider being the ‘MarraIne’ of ‘Turqouise Express.’  Delighted, Ophelia Marie agreed.  On the day of the launch, addressing the gathering, Mrs. Marie charmed all those present saying, “One part of me was sorry that Tanya Saint Val was not able to be present as a fellow singer and friend, but the other part of me was not sorry at all!”  The true delight for the crowd came when she then delivered the same sentence in French; “Une partie de moi regrettait que Tanya Saint Val ne puisse pas être présente en tant que chanteuse et amie, mais l’autre partie de moi n’était pas du tout désolée!”

Ophelia Marie speaks highly of L’Express des Iles, noting their commitment to the development of tourism, trade and relationships with the French Islands and France, even pulling persons from as far south as French Guyana.  An appreciation of similar cultural elements such as music, food, and history, coupled with the natural beauty of our Island, has developed our tourism appeal to the Francophone Region.  As L’Express des Iles is a family, ‘Marraine’ Marie knows she always has a home with L’Express des Iles.  Passionately she tells us that “L’Express des Iles is ‘a home, a hospital and a party.  It is the ‘trait d’union’, the link of our islands.” 

Earlier, on January 13^th, 1993 the “Antilles Express” was launched at Woodbridge Bay Port, Roseau.   This service was the first to offer regular calls within the archipelago.  The Ceremony’s Guest List included His Excellency President Clarence Seignoret and Lady Seignorette, Dame Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica, as well as other Ministers of Government, Representatives of the Tourism Sector, the Dominica Port Authority, the Customs & Excise Division, Immigration Department, Presidents of Antilles Trans Express and Caribbean Express which would later merge to become L’Express des Iles Mr. Christian Munier and Mr. Henri Theuvenin, Staff members of H.H.V. Whitchurch & Co. Ltd. and of Caribbean Express. On that day in 1993, the role of L’Express des Iles in the development of trade, movement of people and bringing together our cultures were not fully understood but indeed, wished for by many.  Roland Bellemare, Marketing and Sales Manager at the time, commented:”Previous experiences of ferry services between our islands has failed.  Our Companies, with the help of H.H.V. Whitchurch & Co. Ltd. our General Agents in Dominica, are here to last.

Despite a light drizzle, there was no damper on the day’s event and it was marked with the breaking of a bottle of Champagne on the hull of the “Antilles Express” by Prime Minister Charles, the Godmother/Marraine of “Antilles Express”.

As the years have taken their toll on these two original vessels and L’Express des Iles has upgraded its fleet, Ophelia Marie, and the memory of Dame Mary Eugenia Charles remain and shall continue to be held in high regard as the ‘Marraines’ of L’Express des Iles continuing to secure the relationship between L’Express des Iles and Dominica as we celebrate 30 Lanné Ansamn Ansanm!