CALL JESSE

Listen to this calypso written specially for Jesse James
and the 'Members Only' Maxi Taxi Service.
Album: Calypsos for Cruisers
Calypsonian: The Mighty Yachtie
Music & Lyrics composed and sung by: Sylbert Jackson-Smith
Singer's website: www.themightyyachtie.com

'Members Only' Maxi Taxi Service was founded in 1997 by Jesse with encouragement from a cruiser who was living on her boat at TTSA, she was called 'Lady Charli', the same as her boat, her real name was Charlotte Holt. Jesse started out using his mini-van as his office, he began meeting with cruisers and doing some regular weekly trips to the Open Market in Port of Spain where you were able to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. He also negotiated a deal with Tru-Valu Supermarket to have them pay the transport cost for bringing cruisers to shop at their establishment. He went on to provide a 24 hour airport shuttle service, and was also available to provide transport at any time you needed it. Most important if you make an appointment with him, you can be guaranteed that he or one of his drivers would be there to meet you, no matter how late your flight might be, or how long your appointment ran.

'Members Only' Maxi Taxi Service also does a big variety of sight-seeing tours, including hiking, beach visits, cultural and sporting activities, shopping, visits to restaurants and he takes folks to any special events happening in Trinidad. 'Members Only' is very interested in helping cruisers experience the diverse cultures of Trinidad.

In 2001 when the business began to grow his wife Sharon Rose gave up her job and took over the administrative side of the business. They now share an office at Tropical Marine with Irena Trans-Continental Travel Agency. Jesse also has a network of reliable drivers that work with him.

As he became more involved with the cruising community he began to see a real need in the community for someone to provide not just a transport service, but also to give advice and assistance in other areas. Jesse's naturally friendly and compassionate nature has endeared him to many visiting cruisers. He has aided many of them over the years, not just by taking them shopping and sight-seeing but by being there to give of himself to the cruisers at their greatest time of need.

Valerie of s/v Norsille was in trouble on the day that 'Members Only' was throwing their Christmas thank you party. Her daughter dinghied across the anchorage and came running to Jesse for help, her mother was having a heart attack. Jesse and another cruiser went out to the boat while Sharon Rose (Jesse's wife) organized to have a car waiting at the dock to take them straight to the hospital as they came ashore. She survived and recovered well. Ed & Helen from s/v Thelequa will always be thankful as well to Jesse…one night they got a call saying their son whose name was also Jesse had died unexpectedly. Distraught they went to the front desk of Crews Inn to get help, the desk clerk could not understand what they were trying to say…but she did hear the name Jesse, and called 'Members Only' on the phone….it was 1:00am, when Helen took the phone and heard someone saying 'This is Jesse' she was shocked…but Jesse was able to calm her and establish what the emergency was and that she needed to get back to the US right away. He said no problem I'll take care of it, don't worry. He called Zorina of Irena Travel, she got on her computer and by 4:00 am they had confirmed tickets and Jesse took them out to the airport.

A young couple from the Falkland Islands arrived in Trinidad, she was pregnant and had little money, the birth was not easy and she had to have a caesarean section, the baby also had a serious medical condition. Jesse took the husband and later both mom and dad to and from the hospital to visit their son for free. He was also there for John Featherstone of s/v Feather's Touch in a real way. He was dying at a hospital here in Trinidad, far from his home, Jesse did his best to help make his last days comfortable, he took other cruisers to the hospital and blood banks to donate blood, and he visited John at the hospital and was there at the very last with John to pray with him before he died. Another cruiser lost all their boat papers while in France and once again Jesse was there to help. He went to Power Boats, Immigration and Customs and got copies of their papers and faxed them to the cruisers and was at the airport with the originals to get them through customs. No mention at all about compensation for his time.

When Hurricane Ivan hit Grenada in September 2004, the cruising community here in Trinidad headed by Joyce of s/v Mood Indigo organized help for Grenada. For almost a month without income Jesse provided free transport to gather food, water, clothing and money from cruisers and local churches. Jesse took Joyce and her team of cruisers as well as a volunteer from Nick Bruce who heavily contributed financial aid to Grenada to purchase medical supplies, food and material for rebuilding. He and his drivers helped to load the provisions onto boats bound for Grenada.

Every year for Christmas the cruisers here in Trinidad organize a drive to collect food stuff and clothing, Jesse then distributes the stuff throughout the island to the poor and needy.

Jesse is known throughout the cruising world for all his acts of kindness and compassion to the cruising community. The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) awarded him their Camaraderie Award 'For Compassionate Services on behalf of the visiting Trinidad Sailing Community' in 2001. In 2004 The Boaters Enterprise Ltd award for being among the top five businesses in Chaguaramas, this was an award rated by the visiting cruisers. In 2005 he was awarded the prestigious 'Seven Seas South Bound II Award for his exceptional volunteer efforts that have rendered a valuable service to the sailing community'.

We are always happy to share our beautiful island and our services with the visiting cruisers to Trinidad. Come visit us at Tropical Marine, Chaguaramas when you dock in Trinidad.

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