September 6, 2017
By Andrew deGrandpre
In Puerto Rico, (click here) some residents are preparing to be without electricity for between four and six months.
In St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, people are praying their roofs hold.
Throughout these American territories and on other Caribbean islands in Hurricane Irma's path, there was widespread fear Tuesday night and early Wednesday, even in the face of preemptive emergency declarations, that this ferocious and possibly historic Category 5 storm will bring with it a devastating storm surge, destructive winds and dangerous flooding and lead to a long, painstaking journey back to normalcy....
I AM SICK OF POVERTY!
The only way I know for people to survive such storms is to huddle in solid buildings with doors open. Watching the wind pass through the building is all they can do. Irma is moving so their residency in such buildings/homes will be limited to hours and not days.
This is not minor advice. This is a testimony to me from people in Guam that have survived 200 mph winds. Terrifying? Of course. Survived? Yes, with children. A disaster to life's assets? That is a question?
The USA has a responsibility to it's neighbors. We responded to an earthquake in Haiti. We need to respond to the islands. We need to INVEST in the lives of these people to be sure there is no prayer of survival that is not answered!
This is so typical of the USA's lack of oversight to societies so very close to our borders. Poverty is not to be tolerated anywhere in the western hemisphere. If our neighbors are strong, we are strong.
These islands is a primary example of how Wall Street investment is only partly successful in providing for the needs of people. These islands are a vacation hot spot for Americans. While Americans see only happy faces in those that work in vacation resorts, there is profound poverty among the people. That is also and especially true of Bermuda. It takes government investment to have outreach and improve the lives of the people. The politics in these islands are silly. Governance is so easy if there were simply enough change in the lives of the people. Their lives can be automatic and without worry while living in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Kindly make island communities in the USA an election issue. Be real. Have ideas that will work and push for improved lives for these folks. Mistakes are not allowed. I love efficiency without sacrifice of life, wellness and quality of life. Think about it. There are lots and lots of volunteers in communities on these islands. They are hungry for quality of life and better futures for their families.
I AM SICK OF POVERTY!
The only way I know for people to survive such storms is to huddle in solid buildings with doors open. Watching the wind pass through the building is all they can do. Irma is moving so their residency in such buildings/homes will be limited to hours and not days.
This is not minor advice. This is a testimony to me from people in Guam that have survived 200 mph winds. Terrifying? Of course. Survived? Yes, with children. A disaster to life's assets? That is a question?
The USA has a responsibility to it's neighbors. We responded to an earthquake in Haiti. We need to respond to the islands. We need to INVEST in the lives of these people to be sure there is no prayer of survival that is not answered!
This is so typical of the USA's lack of oversight to societies so very close to our borders. Poverty is not to be tolerated anywhere in the western hemisphere. If our neighbors are strong, we are strong.
These islands is a primary example of how Wall Street investment is only partly successful in providing for the needs of people. These islands are a vacation hot spot for Americans. While Americans see only happy faces in those that work in vacation resorts, there is profound poverty among the people. That is also and especially true of Bermuda. It takes government investment to have outreach and improve the lives of the people. The politics in these islands are silly. Governance is so easy if there were simply enough change in the lives of the people. Their lives can be automatic and without worry while living in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Kindly make island communities in the USA an election issue. Be real. Have ideas that will work and push for improved lives for these folks. Mistakes are not allowed. I love efficiency without sacrifice of life, wellness and quality of life. Think about it. There are lots and lots of volunteers in communities on these islands. They are hungry for quality of life and better futures for their families.
