Archive for the ‘Ragga Crew’ Category
Vito (or Evaristo Rosado) joins the crew!!!
On January 09, 2012 in Ragga Crew
So for a long time we have had our eye on Vito and we have often used him as and when he has been available. Just before Christmas we managed to persuade him to commit to Raggamuffin and indeed since then, he has become a fully fledged member of our our crew!!
Born 16th September 1955, very much raised in Caye Caulker in one of the largest families here on the island (the Rosados) – Vito has been raised on the sea and therefore he is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his environment. He has been in the tourism industry for over 20 years, guiding for snorkeling and fishing and therefore the move to Raggamuffin was obvious for us!
Vito comes to us as a Captain that can also sail, which is a bonus to us of course and therefore he will be both Captain and Guide for both day trips and overnights. Already (over Xmas) he has made a welcome contribution to those who have had the pleasure for joining him on tours – extremely popular with both young and old – and very much a favorite of the crew!! Welcome on board Vito!!!
The Queen gets new sails!
On December 30, 2011 in Ragga Crew
In our endeavors to keep a high quality standard on all our equipment we have just had made three new sails for our Ragga Queen. Now clean, white not rust stained and patched like before, the sails look absolutely beautiful on the freshly renovated boat!
It has taken time, and far too much expense but we are finally happy with our finished product! Go Ragga Queen!!
Merry Christmas One and All!!
On December 24, 2011 in Ragga Crew
There is nowhere better (unless you love the snow!) to spend your Xmas than Caye Caulker. Today the sun is shining, the wind is absolutely perfect – our very natural form of air conditioning – and the streets are filled with locals and tourists alike!
The festive season is in the air … there are new businesses open on the island offering us all more variety, 88 West (located at Belize Dive Services) offers a simple menu of burger, fries and wings absolutely which are to die for!! The Chat n Chill, perfectly located on the beach and the center of town allows you to both watch the reef and the world go by! And finally, Herbal Tribe has been re-opened as ‘The Dice Box’ not to mention the the split having its additional layer!
The streets are flat and smooth … the Village Council have acquired a new ‘toy’ that assists them in grading the streets and for those on foot, bike and especially vehicles it is a sandy joy to travel upon!!
Businesses are busy – hotels are fully booked, Tour Operators are enjoying the beautiful weather and scuba diving and snorkeling trips are overflowing with happy passengers! During the night the streets are alive with everybody celebrating Christmas in all the restaurants and bars.
This is Christmas Caye Caulker style and, if you are not here to enjoy it with us, then we wish you a Merry Christmas and we hope you enjoy yours as much as we are enjoying ours!
Raggamuffin Crew Xmas Party 2011!!!
On December 20, 2011 in Ragga Crew
Due to the fact that many of the crew will be out on the high seas this Christmas, we orchestrated the one night in Xmas week (last night, Monday 19th December) for everybody to be in town for our ‘family’ Xmas party. The get together involved a few drinks, plenty of turkey dinner and our 2011 Raggamuffin Crew Awards!! The venue was the fantastic new ‘Chat n Chill’ bar, located beach-side (opposite the Happy Lobster). The party opened the new bar – you could say that Raggamuffin christened the location!!
The Awards are our annual way of the crew rewarding those who have done well or improved over the year. Each member of the crew gets a voting sheet that they nominate their colleagues. It was no surprise that everyone’s favorite Captain Kevin won Employee of the Year – in fact, Kevin received more votes than everyone else put together!!!!!
Mr or Mrs Personality went to Captain Jerry – for once Jerry was absolutely lost for words when he won the Award – very amusing!! Our ‘Un-Sung Hero Award’ went to Chris and the Most Improved for 2011 was jointly won by the two Shanes! Congratulations boys … well deserved!!
Happy Birthday Sweet Adela
On December 09, 2011 in Ragga Crew
We want to say a huge ‘Happy Birthday’ to our newest ‘honey’ in the office, Adela Chavarria, sister of our beloved Edith turned 27 years of age today!!!
Adela is not one for pomp and ceremony she actually wanted her birthday to go un-noticed … can you imagine that, at Raggamuffin!!! Her gift to herself is her ruby red scooter that she prizes above all other possessions, other than say her sweet daughter Joannie. Adela is proud of her sweet baby girl as she (most of the time) tops her class as Mummy keeps her very much in check – average is not part of this families vocab!!
The day was miserable and rainy so there was not much to get excited about – other than her ceviche at the end of the day!! Do not worry, we know that Adela likes to ‘break out’ occasionally .. we will make sure that she does just that at the Raggamuffin Crew Xmas Party!!
Happy Birthday Adela … may you are blessed with many more!!
Introducing Ish and Maday!
On November 22, 2011 in Ragga Crew
It is with great pleasure that I introduce two of our newest recruits into the Team Raggamuffin – Maday and Ish!
Maday Barrera joins Edith and Adela in the office, making Raggamuffin firmly one of the most professional and efficiently run Operators in Belize (not to mention beautiful!!!). Maday’s huge smile has been warming up some of the best restaurants on the island and her desire for change was to find a role that would give her the same interaction with people but during the day and not the evening!! Raggamuffin to the rescue!
Maday is 27 years old and I am proud to say was born and raised here on Caye Caulker with all her family around her. She has a strong passion for the ocean and our environment and loves all that Raggamuffin stands for! Maday is famous for traveling around Caye Caulker on her scooter, a hobby that she is passing down to both Edith and Adela (both of whom are acquiring scooters of their own) starting a trend that we can call the ‘scooter girls’!!!
We have had our eye on Israel Badillo or Ish as we know him, for quite sometime. Ish, son of the late and great Rally Badillo (one of the most regarded fisherman and sailor on this island), is more than qualified for the job! Again, he was born and raised in Caye Caulker, he has been working as a Dive Master but the attraction of the fishing and the spearfishing (his greatest hobby) on the overnight tour has made him cross over to Raggamuffin! Ish is not only extremely talented Tour Guide and fisherman, but one of the most genuine people that you will meet on this island – it is a true pleasure to be on a boat with him!
We want to give a huge Raggamuffin ‘welcome’ to our newest members of the crew – Ish and Maday!!
Gone, but not forgotten – 1 Year on …..
On November 18, 2011 in Ragga Crew
It is a year to the day when our trusted friend Reynolds Felix Miranda passed away. He left a huge hole, that can be filled by no other, and yet it has brought us closer together and made us what we are today!
For those that had the pleasure in knowing him, he was larger than life, his smile so very infectious lit up the room (or the boat!). Reynolds was every bodies friend – a favorite with the crew, villagers and with tourists alike – there is nothing he would not do for anyone – he was truly special!
Every day we think of you our dear friend, and every day we know that you are watching down on us, guiding us and listening to our prayers! And even though you are not with us, we talk of you often as though you are here – probably because we wish you were! One year on … you are gone, but not forgotten – all our love, THE RAGGA CREW!!
Happy Birthday Ellis
On November 17, 2011 in Ragga Crew
Yes, it seems to be that most of the Ragga crew are having birthdays this time of the year. We just want to say a big shout out to our friend Ellis Nicholas or ‘Lil Wayne’ as we fondly call him!!
Ellis is celebrating his birthday on the boat … coming back with the invincible Ragga Queen with his crew mates Little Shane and Kimani – we will hear the details on his return!!
Ellis has been part of our crew for more than 2 years now and has worked his way up to Captain Ellis only recently – congratulations my friend! Ellis is a firm friend of many who come here … he is probably the most social of all of our family, incredibly popular as where Ellis is at, the party is at!!
He is fantastic Tour Guide, an excellent Chef and one of the best friends that you can have in the world!!!
Happy Birthday to the Boss!
On November 09, 2011 in Ragga Crew
Yes, it was Captain Jimmy’s birthday on Monday 7th November and at the ripe old 38 years of age the Ragga Crew celebrated in style! (We would have written about this yesterday but the hangover was far too big to cope with putting hand to keyboard!!)
The chosen venue was ‘the reef’ on our one and only Ragga Queen! The night was a beautiful one with clear skies and a bright moon to guide us. At 8.30pm 40 persons which included the Ragga Crew and our extended family, met at the main dock to ‘cruise and booze’! I am not sure who was the designated driver for the night as all Captains on board were not in any state to be in charge of a boat, however, only fun was had!!
For those who do not know it but Captain Jimmy Jones is the owner and founder of Raggamuffin Tours. Jimmy grew up on Caye Caulker and learned his trade (sailing) from all the local fisherman, including his own father) as he assisted them from a young age. Raggamuffin Tours was formed 9 years ago, designed to push forward the overnight tour (one he designed himself) to allow the budget traveler to see an extended and less trafficked part of Belize’s reef.
We thank you Jimmy for the party (and indeed the hangover) … roll on your 39th birthday!!!
Happy Birthday – Shane Sho
On November 06, 2011 in Ragga Crew
We have to say a big Birthday shout out to the one and only Li Shane. Some of you may know him as Gaza or even just Shane Sho, but Li Shane as we fondly call him is hardly smaller than Big Shane as many people point out!!
Shane has been working at Raggamuffin for 2 years now and, like many of our favorite team members, he carved his role through dedication and hard work. Shane came over from Belize City to escape the increasing trouble. Having an uncle like our very own Captain Jermain, he watched work on an every day basis. He found himself being used from time and time again and before we knew it, we found him a pivotal member of the team.
Less than a year ago he had earned sufficient ‘stripes’ to allow him to go on the actual tours where he has grown in his success. For those that know Shane they would agree that he is one of the most humble and genuine characters you have met. His diligence, his attention to detail and his drive for himself to become a Captain one day, make him excellent team member at Raggamuffin!
Today we want to say a huge ‘Happy Birthday’ to one of our favorite persons – Shane!!
