Employee of the Month: March

Sometimes an employee can go above and beyond their job duties without actually doing anything physically different day in and day out. Sometimes being an employee of the month is more about your attitude than anything. Employee of the Month is really about being a role model for the rest of the staff.

This month, I am proud to announce Armando Thompson, as Employee of the Month!

Thompson is a waiter and backup bartender at Popa Paradise. His warm, gentle nature, broad smile and positive attitude is a favorite of the guests. He is personable, eager-to-please, and though a bit on the timid side, happy to share a story or two with guests who approach him.

Thompson has been here longer than almost all of the staff. He started here when he was 16 years old. At that time, he was working the docks on the mainland, helping load boats. He saw the Popa Paradise boat come in daily for construction materials and cement and offered to help out. He has been here ever since.

When the hotel officially opened, his duties switched from laborer to pool maintenance and handyman. He seemed to know all the quirks about the resort, as he remembered where pipes and electric lines were buried, because he was the one that buried them.

Katie and I saw much more potential in him though and we wanted to showcase his great personality and warmth. Katie took on the difficult task of training Thompson to be a fine-dining waiter.

Thompson took right to his new position. He loved learning the intricacies of good service. He was an eager learner as he had absolutely no experience in this new role. I will never forget what he said to Katie during his first wine tasting (which she holds periodically, so the waiters can suggest wines). He turned to her after his first sip and said, "I didn't know wine had alcohol in it!"

These small bumps in the road have only made him a stronger server and his adaptability, his grace under fire ("Take it easy, take it light," he always says, when I offer help during busy service), and his warmth have helped him through many busy nights.

Thompson is also a great team player. He is the resident historian, regaling the newer employees with tales of how hard it used to be, like when they all slept in tents, during the early construction days. He is also quick with a compliment to other staff members, encouraging them to do their jobs well.

Congratulations Thompson, we could not be more proud!

Think Globally, Act Locally

Recently, we were made aware of a mandatory moratorium on the fishing, buying and selling of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster. It seems that after years of overfishing, populations of spiny lobster are decreasing in coastal waters. The Panamanian Authority of Fishing and Wildlife instituted a moratorium to last from March until the end of June on the fishing of lobster, coinciding with a Pan-Central American moratorium. It was the first time that every Central American country would be participating.

Lobster had been on our menu and a few days each week, fisherman come walking up with lobster. These fishermen are local indigenous islanders, where fishing and diving for lobster is their only income.

In the past we have used our "buying power" in order to influence our environmental impact through these fisherman and other local, indigenous suppliers. Executive Chef Ben Jones has visited local farms on the island buying organic and local harvests, designing his menu around these foods, rather than imported vegetables. We have encouraged the fishing of only adult lobsters, refusing to buy undersized lobsters and even turning away repeat offenders. We blacklisted a local fishermen once, when we found a dead sea turtle in his cayuco. Through our efforts, fishermen realize the motives behind our reasoning and buy into sustainable practices as well.

So although we knew the livelihood of many of our fishermen was in jeopardy with this moratorium, we also knew that it would be temporary and this could help them out long-term.

At the same time that the moratorium was introduced, we were made aware of the recent lionfish invasion. Allene Baker, editor of the Bocas Breeze, a local newspaper, printed her second piece on the population explosion of this invasive species.

Summing up her comments: the lionfish is found naturally only in the Pacific. It was introduced to the Carribean by aquarium owners who dumped their fish into the ocean. The lionfish has no natural predators in the Atlantic, has a voracious appetite and reproduces often and productively. These three factors have led to the eradication of other species of reef fish throughout Caribbean waters. The lionfish was first positively identified in Bocas waters in 2009. Now they are being spotted with frequency.

After reading this, we performed an unofficial survey of local fishermen. They all confirmed the recent and prolific appearance of the lionfish. Something had to be done.

With the news of the lobster moratorium, we explained that we would not be buying lobster and discouraged them from fishing for lobster until the summer. We also printed off pictures of the lionfish, explained the problem and offered a small sum for any fish that they could spear. Although the fish doesn't fetch as high as a price (it is not something we can serve on our menu), it was a welcome source of income to our lobster divers. They have already begun their efforts and are successfully defending the invasion of the lionfish. It may be a small effort but I am sure of it's effectiveness as these guys spend all their time in the water.

This is a photo of one of our fishermen, with a whole bunch of lionfish that he speared.