Honourable Promotions

✒️🇻🇨 Small Island Big Dreams 🇻🇨

🌴 Lesroy Noel: Champion of Marine Conservation and Community Growth

Born and raised on Union Island, Lesroy Noel has always had a deep connection to Union Island and its surrounding waters. Rather than seeking opportunities abroad like many of his peers, Noel made a conscious decision to remain in his community, first in the financial sector and later dedicating his career to the development and protection of its natural resources.

Through education, leadership, and innovation, he has become a respected figure in marine conservation, particularly through his transformative work at the Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP).

🌊 Leadership and Enhanced Enforcement

Cracking down on illegal fishing: As Park Manager, Noel has led efforts to combat illegal fishing activities, such as the unauthorized placement of fish pots within protected areas. His firm stance and educational outreach emphasized the long-term harm these practices cause to marine biodiversity and the legal consequences that follow.

🧭 Building Park Capacity

Ranger Development: Recognizing that effective protection requires trained personnel, Noel championed advanced diving certifications for TCMP rangers. By equipping staff with PADI Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications, he ensured that the team was better prepared to monitor and respond to underwater threats.

Scientific Monitoring Programs: These enhancements allowed for more structured observation of key species like conch, coral health, and sea turtles, critical data that feeds into smarter park management.

💻 Innovation: TCMP PAY Electronic Payment System

Modernizing Visitor Management: One of Noel’s standout contributions was the introduction of TCMP PAY, a digital payment system that allows visitors to pay park and mooring fees online before arrival. This reduced ranger workload and improved transparency and convenience for visitors.

Efficiency and Accountability: With automated ticketing, digital receipts, and real-time reporting, the new system enhanced financial oversight while promoting eco-tourism in a contactless, efficient manner.

🤝 Community Support & Education

Investing in Youth: Beyond environmental work, Noel has shown a commitment to the people of the Grenadines. In 2023, he facilitated a donation to support secondary school scholarships for students in Mayreau, showing that education and environment go hand in hand.

Summer Programs for Youth: His leadership in running youth-oriented summer camps under the theme “Building Future Conservation Leaders” has left a lasting impact. These programs instilled environmental values in young participants and taught them how to care for the marine world around them.

🌪️ Leading Through Crisis: Post-Hurricane Beryl Recovery

When Hurricane Beryl devastated parts of the Grenadines in July 2024, Lesroy Noel stepped into a crucial leadership role, becoming part of a Core Emergency Response Group on Union Island. Drawing on his experience in logistics, environmental coordination, and community engagement, Noel helped organize immediate relief, damage assessments, and resource distribution in the aftermath of the storm.

Coordinated Relief Logistics: Noel worked alongside government agencies, NGOs, and local volunteers to ensure that aid reached the most vulnerable residents in an efficient and organized system.

His inclusion in the Core Group underscores his status as not just a park manager, but a trusted community leader and disaster response coordinator.

🏆 A Steward of Island and Sea.

Lesroy Noel's journey is a testament to what happens when dedication meets purpose. Born in Union Island, he chose to give back to his roots, not only preserving the pristine Tobago Cays but also empowering the communities that depend on it.

Whether it's through technological innovation, education, or direct conservation action, Noel’s leadership continues to shape a more sustainable and hopeful future for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.