When development was commenced in June 1966, after signing a 99 year lease with St Vincent and Grenadines Government, and with the help of the $10.000 saved by the family, the first job was to clear the island which was covered with dense vegetation including two massive mangrove swamps, and inhabited by several million mosquitoes.

 
Ten workmen were hired from Union Island, covered in diesel oil and a generous tot of rum, they went to battle.
John and Johnny tackled the manchineel trees with reversed chain saws to avoid the deadly manchineel sap when cutting down the trees.

By cutting a swath East to West by compass enabled the fresh trade winds to assist in the cleaning.

It was necessary to transport rocks and soil to fill the mangrove swamps that had been cleaned of trees. This was to build the first airstrip in the Grenadines.

A change from the first comments, on construction of the airfield:” Are you building that for the mosquitoes to land?”

In the meantime the clearing continued and the airstrip was gradually taking shape.