BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ELROY JEFFERS, owner of the Federation’s popular party boat ‘Prince Devonte J’, used his time away from the public’s attention to provide a service to the elderly and churches in St. Kitts.
SKNVibes Business caught up with the bright smiling Jeffers at the recent Development Bank’s Business Fair, where he was among representatives of several business entities on display.
He told this agency that one of his plans moving forward is to have the boat be recognised internationally, as he continues to add features in making it more safety-friendly.
Jeffers added that, like many other small businesses, his own faces challenges, one of which he attributed to the boat docking at the Port Zante Marina.
He also said that docking the vessel at the Port Zante Marina is costly and plans are afoot to have it removed to another area so as to cut cost.
“For a young business there are a lot of learning curves that you have to go through in order to be familiar with this. But one of my biggest challenges is our docking at Port Zante and they are working with me still and I’m very appreciative.
“Right now we have to move the boat from there just to curve some of this expense that is really coming on us.”
He declared that some of his plans for the remainder of 2014 include discounts to churches, schools and non-profit organisations.
“These are the things that I want to give back to the people. We have schools on it already, we have senior citizens on it already, and it’s open to the entire public, from junior to senior,” he stated.
Jeffers however noted that plans are still on stream to build a second party boat, which is expected to begin in the latter months of 2014 with completion sometime in 2015.
“We are still on the plan of it. I still have the plan all in my head on how this one was completed. Definitely, as soon as I see that we can start it, then we are going to start building the other one.”
The boat was named after Jeffers’ son who was killed in a vehicular accident in the United States.
Prince Devonte J made its maiden voyage in February 2014 from Port Zante Marina to Charlestown, Nevis and back with a capacity load of 350 patrons.
