" Steve, I have gone over the financials on the scuba diving
Operations in the Caribbean area and I am really pleased with the repeat booking deposits. When it is all said and done, when they have had a good diving experience and choose to go to another of our resorts, their satisfaction translates into success and into profits. You are really doing a good job with the internals of our business."
“Thanks partner, you run the diving end and I will handle the rest”
“Ray how about a change of subject over drinks and dinner and you tell me more about a trip you took to Venezuela years ago. I was really interested in your meeting with the Senator and the Venezuelan military which you discussed during our get together in Grand Cayman a few months back. Let me hear part two of the trip”
       Steve and I were in a pleasant hotel on the beautiful island of Tobago meeting with representatives from the tourist board, the
Airline, (BWIA), and the hotel. All these parties worked hand in hand with us to create a great atmosphere for the divers.
Ok Steve, all our divers are checked in and are being briefed by
our diving instructors on what they can expect to see and do on their early morning dive. We are clear.
        As I told you last time, Steve, the military phase of my trip was successful and the senator was very very happy with the outcome because he came out of the meeting with a large order for tire sealant and some respect from the Army. During a celebratory meeting, he told me that a group of senators were going on a weekend trip to visit an Indian village in the interior and asked me if I would like to come along to make the bus trip through the jungle area and to attend a native political meeting. I figured, Steve, that I would never see this scene again and I would get to hobnob with a group of twelve Senators who might be future business prospects so I said that I would be delighted to go along. As you will see I came to regret that quick decision later.
The next morning I boarded the bus along with my friend (Senator
X). He introduces me to the other Senators at that time. Remember ,Steve, I told you, I don’t speak Spanish and while some of them spoke English, the conversations swirling around my head were almost entirely in Spanish so I spent most of my hours in the bus looking at the jungle surrounding the partially paved road and dozing off and on.  I forget how many hours it took but we finally came to the village
and made our way to a large forty by forty foot pole building with a thatched roof. The floor was packed dirt and the seating was
about 30 rows of backless benches, all full with local residents. Facing us was 10 chairs which seated the village leaders. The meeting was typical of any political meeting anywhere .The leaders gave welcoming speeches to the Senators and then gave a list of requests for aid to the Senators. The Senators made thundering promises of government assistance to the leaders and the one hundred or tribal members who were present, questions were asked and answers were given. All In all, a scene played any where where there are government representatives and supplicants. Steve, it was the same bull you see and hear in Anytown USA.
          Toasts were made with a strong local alcohol beverage and away we went. The locals were honored by the government coming to hear their pleas and the politicians were able to orate. Perfect!
We then proceeded to the Orinoco River which runs between Venezuela and Colombia. Believe me, Steve, I had no desire to be anywhere near Colombia at all. You know the crap that was and is going on in that area. I didn’t even have my passport with me on this trip with the Senators to the jungle! I left it locked up in the safe deposit box in the hotel in Caracas. The Senators had a dugout boat waiting for us to go across the river and told me not to worry about the passport because I was with them. I told them the Columbians would have me for breakfast if they caught me in their country without my passport. They laughed and said “they will have you for breakfast either way” I could now see that they would think that I had no Cojones so I was in between a rock and a hard place and I got in the boat and crossed the river to a small town in the clearing. The town consisted of three dirt streets set up running along the sloping face of a hill One street at the river edge which served as the ‘business district’, a second parallel to it higher up the hill which served as the ‘red light and bar district’ and a third road up the hill which served as the town living quarters. The Senators and I went, of course, to the second street up the hill. They had a great time but I was worried out of my mind that Columbian soldiers would show up at any minute and finally this occurred .Two soldiers came in for a quick drink .I tried to slink down in my seat but my red Irish face is hard to hide in Columbia. They saw me immediately and we locked eyes across the smoky room. My Senator friend saw this and went over to the soldiers at the bar and bought them a round of drinks.
            He looked over at me and talked to them for a few minutes and bought them another round. They drank and left but I wanted nothing more than to get back to the boat Moy Pronto! I finally got everybody started back down the hill. Believe me, Steve, I could feel eyes on the back of my neck all the way down. I’m no coward but I could feel the bullet.
           I am not done yet Steve. When we got back to Venezuela, the dam Venezuelan border guard wouldn’t let me back in! It took a whole lot of loud conversation and hand waving by the group before I was safely in the bus. There is no love lost between the military and the politicians! They laughed afterwards and finally I laughed with them. What else could I do? 
             You would think that enough happened to me in Venezuela already Steve, but there is more to come. I will tell you about it when I see you in Bermuda in four months. Now let’s have a night cap and then check on our divers. They are going to have a busy day tomorrow.

Raymond Morrow