Franklyn (Frank) Georges

I hit gold when I finally got a hold of my last subject, Mr. Franklin Georges. Frank, as everyone calls him, was amazing and basically saved the trip for me. He volunteered to pick me up at the airport, which is an hour away from the main town. On the way to town Frank asked me what I planned to do to move around town and I really had no plan other than to ask him to suggest a driver. To my surprise, Frank volunteered to do the job. This was crucial. I probably would’ve had to spend my own money for this
Frank was a mayor of a town in England where he spent well over 40 years after leaving Dominica as a young man to make a better life for himself. He had bought a parcel of land from a relative in Dominica and like many before him, decided to live out his retirement years back home. That’s what the story The Guardian hired me for was about, returnees.
After he picked me up @ the airport with his wife Veronica we took the hour long trip in his Land Rover, nicknamed “The Lady”. The hills were a challenge for the diesel powered SUV. A few days before my arrival her tank was filled with gasoline instead of diesel which I think would’ve messed up any regular car. Somehow she survived and according to Frank seems to be doing fine. Getting parts like a fuel filter for that car is a hassle in Dominica. Most goods have to imported from abroad and take much longer to arrive.
I shot Frank’s portrait the day I arrived to his house high up on a hill. When we were on the road down below he pointed to the house and said, that’s my house. I laughed ‘cus I thought he was kidding me. The place is huge and looks like a hotel ! He made it a point to tell everyone we met the story. My bad.
This portrait of Frank ran spread across two pages of The Guardian’s magazine.