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SIR PHILIP VEIRA

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THE LEGACY OF SIR PHILIP VEIRA

Philip Veira had many close friends who supported and encouraged him throughout his business development.  These included, but were not limited to, Sir James Mitchell, St. Clair Boyea, Milton Cato, Bassy Ferdinand, Othniel Sylvester, Verol Crichton and Ricardo Gonsalves.  Many of his weekends were spent playing cricket and engaging in his other favourite hobbies of fishing and gardening.

During an era when many businessmen were hesitant to invest in the manufacturing sector, Philip Veira embarked on two business ventures that his colleagues considered very risky; he sought investments in a flour mill at Campden Park on the leeward coast of the island in 1977 and later ventured to establish P.H. Veira Plastics Limited in Calliaqua in 1980.  The latter concentrated on providing the local and regional market with a variety of sizes of plastic bags and polyethylene sleeves for protecting bananas from damage during their growing stages.  It was around this time that he also established a bakery as an annex to his business location in Kingstown.

Members of his family recall that the idea to invest in a flour mill emerged during one of his vacations in Canada.  It is said that he was visiting a business house when the discussion evolved to encompass the possibility of establishing a flour mill in St. Vincent.  He is said to have found the topic very interesting and immediately commenced putting plans together to make the dream a reality.

Philip Veira jokingly commented on many of the negative comments that were thrown at him during the period when he commenced discussions about the establishment of a flour mill on St. Vincent.  Against the backdrop of a very high level of satisfaction with the quality of the Nelson flour being imported from Canada, there were nationals who felt that St. Vincent could never sustain a flour mill and that the island would never be able to produce a quality product.  However, he persevered and was able to influence an alliance between Maple Leaf Mills Limited, the government of St. Vincent and his company, P.H. Veira and Company Limited.  That alliance created many win-win synergies for all stakeholders and the company eventually evolved to invest in a feed mill, two rice mills (one in St. Vincent and the other in Guyana), and a packing plant that produces the polypropylene bags needed for the packing of rice, flour and animal feeds.  It is not surprising that the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw it fit to recommend to the Monarchy that they confer on him the Knight Commander of the order of the British Empire (KBE) for his significant contribution to private sector development.  He was knighted by Her Highness Queen Elizabeth II on July 27^th, 1988.

Sir Philip was considered to be one of the wealthiest businessmen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  However, he did not keep his wealth all to himself but shared it through many of the community projects that he sponsored.  He was especially fond of donating to the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School and the Cathedral of the Assumption (Catholic Church).

One of the spectator stands at the internationally acclaimed Arnos Vale Playing Field bears his name in recognition of his financing its construction via East Caribbean Flour Mills Limited.

Sir Philip Veira enjoyed reading the Reader’s Digest magazine and often did so while consuming his favourite local dish, the “one-pot-cook-up”, or listening to his favourite gospel music.

During his latter years he used every opportunity to encourage young people through some of his favourite sayings such as “save the pennies and the pounds will come”. He was also overheard telling a youngster “I wish I had your age with my experience” - a clear indication that he had so many dreams that he had not yet touched, so many journeys that he had not ventured out on.

Despite his busy schedule and the great responsibility he had in relation to the management of his various businesses, Sir Philip made time to travel the world.  He visited numerous cities on every continent.  He loved Europe in general but was especially fond of Germany.  He also held fond memories of his visits to Australia.  He is known to have derived great pleasure from accompanying his wife on cruises to various parts of the world.

Sir Philip was always very health conscious and exercised on a regular basis.  His regular medical examinations did not reveal anything untoward until December 1989 when he discovered a “lump in his neck”.  This was subsequently confirmed to have been cancerous.  After months of radiation he eventually succumbed to the dreaded melanoma and died on May 17, 1991.

The memories of Sir Philip linger on to remind us that if we are dedicated and determined to succeed we can do so regardless to the limitations that we may perceive that life has handed to us.  To have ended his academic pursuits at thirteen years of age and still accomplish these outstanding business feats provide ample evidence of Sir Philip’s strength of character and determination to success.  He has left a legacy that reflects the statement by Orrison Swett Marden who said that "Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds."

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