Mr Mark A. Johnson and Mr Jordan B. Pastilloux are two tourists who, on their first trip to the Virgin Islands, have been pruning large trees around Tortola free of cost. Photo: VINO

Tropical Landscape is a local company owned and managed by Mr Sean A. Jobsz who is a born Virgin Islander that has spent most of his life living and educating himself in the USA but has constantly been returning home. Photo: VINO

Yesterday morning October 29, 2014 this news site’s attention was drawn to men rappelling to the extremes of one of the hugest trees found in the heart of Tortola, at the frontage of the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall and extending over to the Althea Scatliffe Primary School. Photo: VINO

As the duo are volunteers and they are just two in number Mr Jobsz said that they are only doing the main trees that need major works especially in the mainland areas of Tortola. Pointing from below as Johnson rappelled to the top of the tree aided by Pastilloux who was on the ground, Jobsz was able to quickly point out to possible potential dangers that lurked over the heads of those commuting the area and moreso the children in the nearby school. Photo: VINO

While Johnson was high in the tree Mr Pastilloux said that it was a pleasure for him to have given his volunteer service in the Territory as it has been his first trip. “Sean… it sounded like a good opportunity, I have been looking for a change for a while now, and how can you go wrong, it’s an absolutely gorgeous place and you know what! I don’t want to go home,” he said. He said that they are working on plans that would allow them to return to the VI on a much longer term to continue volunteering. Photo: VINO

Jobsz is a born Virgin Islander who has spent most of his life living and educating himself in Canada but has constantly been returning home. After his last three years stay in the Canada, it has been nine months since he has been back home and with the sole desire to run his company successfully and to a greater extent offer as much voluntary service as his part in securing the landscape in the interest of preserving the Territory.

This was demonstrated yesterday morning October 29, 2014 when this news site’s attention was drawn to men rappelling to the extremes of one of the largest trees found in the heart of Tortola, at the frontage of the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall and extending over to the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.

Investigating the men’s actions it was discovered that two of the three are specialist tourists who, on their first trip to the Virgin Islands have been pruning large trees around Tortola free of cost. They are the close friends of Mr. Jobsz: Mr Mark A. Johnson and Mr Jordan B. Pastilloux.

“I own Tropical Landscapes and I met these two guys in Toronto and we talked about tree healthcare and preventative maintenance and setting pruning for trees also we talked a lot about health care issues as far as pest control, disease control, fruit production, how to get larger yields in fruit production just by corrective pruning and these two pros came down and volunteer their time...” he said speaking to this news site.

He further said, “They paid for their flights, brought all their luggage down just to give a demonstration as to what arboriculture is about.”

As the duo are volunteers and they are just two in number Mr Jobsz said that they are only doing the main trees that need major works especially in the mainland areas of Tortola. Pointing from below as Johnson rappelled to the top of the tree aided by Pastilloux who was on the ground, Jobsz was able to quickly point out to possible potential dangers that lurked over the heads of those commuting the area and moreso the children in the nearby school.

“Dead wood – you see that branch sticking out over there that looks all rotted? That’s a piece of dead wood, that’s very, very dangerous. If that falls on somebody from that height it would kill them instantly,” said Jobsz.

He said that tree health care is something that is highly needed in the VI. “Tree health care boils down to overall health care of landscapes, your plants, reduction of pests and diseases, it would increase the trees beauty, sustainability for hurricanes if we do preventative maintenance with dead wood, if we ever get a hurricane, hopefully God would bless us and we wouldn’t, there will be no dead wood flying around landing on people’s cars, no failed limbs coming down and closing off street ways and taking out power line...”

He said that they are not doing this bit for any self aggrandizement but rather for the people of the VI. He said that all it took for them to get the requisite permission was to have spoken to a few relevant persons but it was the City Manager who ultimately was impressed of the intended good will and granted the permission with confidence.

“We did some of the trees by the plaza by the Police Headquarters and thin those out 15% crown thin which would allow a lot of wind circulation; we do some mold and helped with their disease and pests. So its crucial that we do these practices and we educate the people of the Territory as to why we are doing it and how beneficial it’s going to be, not tomorrow, not next year but five, ten, fifteen years down the line.” said Jobsz.

Sadly their stay comes to an end on Friday October 31, 2014 but according to both they are surely going to be back to further continue what they have started.

While Johnson was high in the tree Mr Pastilloux said that it was a pleasure for him to have given his volunteer service in the Territory as it has been his first trip. “Sean… it sounded like a good opportunity, I have been looking for a change for a while now, and how can you go wrong, it’s an absolutely gorgeous place and you know what! I don’t want to go home,” he said.

He said that they are working on plans that would allow them to return to the VI on a much longer term to continue volunteering.