COMMENTARY

Commentary: Hurricane Ike: A test of TCI leadership and our people's resolve... Published on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 Email To Friend    Print Version By all accounts, Hurricane Ike was “the worst natural disaster to hit the Turks and Caicos Islands in living memory”. Therefore, it is a testament to our people’s resolve (and God’s grace) that we weathered its fury with little or no loss of life. Preliminary reports indicate, however, that Ike’s 135 mph winds did considerable damage to property throughout the islands – with many homes being completely destroyed on Grand Turk and South Caicos. And it only compounded the widespread flooding that Tropical Storm Hanna left in its wake. Consequently, many TCIslanders will be looking to the government for assistance as we begin the long and expensive process of recovery and rebuilding. This, notwithstanding complaints that made the Misick Administration seem even less prepared to deal with Hanna last week than the Bush Administration was to deal with Katrina three years ago. All the same, I commend Premier Dr Michael Misick for ordering the airlift of all intensive care and special needs patients to Miami well in advance of Ike’s landfall.  Because chances are very good that many parts of the country, still waiting for electricity to be restored in the aftermath of Hanna, will now be without power for an extended period. Which makes me wonder why the Premier was pictured delivering raw eggs as emergency relief supplies to some residents...? Frankly, given that our government was teetering on the precipice of bankruptcy even before Hanna, it might simply be unable to render any meaningful assistance to our people in distress. Therefore, we should be exceedingly grateful that the British have deployed ships to the TCI with more appropriate supplies, including canned food, water, medical supplies, shelter-building equipment, a helicopter and, hopefully, a few marines to help enforce law and order.  This, notwithstanding the claims our Premier made recently about the British fomenting an indigenous conspiracy to destabilize our country and keep us mired in the “shackles of colonialism.” We should also appreciate that regional leaders, including Bahamian PM Hubert Ingraham and Jamaican PM Bruce Golding, have pledged significant support to help in our relief efforts. (I urge Premier Misick to request crews to help repair downed power lines and restore power as soon as possible.) Meanwhile, I’m especially grateful to the tens of thousands of people from around the world who have (and will) honour the request I made on The iPINIONS Journal and Caribbean Net News to make donations to the British Red Cross - specifically ear-marked for the TCI. That said, I agree with Premier Misick that: “We will recover in a way that will make us all proud.” Accordingly, my thoughts and prayers go out to all TCIslanders as we embark on this very challenging phase in our history.  But let us also pray for our brothers and sisters in Haiti who have suffered far more catastrophic losses in the wake of Hanna and Ike…. Anthony L. Hall is a descendant of the Turks & Caicos Islands, international lawyer and political consultant - headquartered in Washington DC - who publishes his own weblog, The iPINIONS Journal, at http://ipjn.com offering commentaries on current events from a Caribbean perspective.   Reads : 1318 Back... Comments: Peg Porter: In this great time of need keeping the political commentary to yourself might be the better thing to do. Politics have a very real way of separating people with negative impressions. So if you truly care about the Turks & Cacios people send positive and uplifting thoughts only! Sherry-ann: Sad to say it, Peg, but it is what it is. And when the proverbial ‘dust has settled’ it will all boil down to the government’s participation and the lack thereof in this natural "awakening". The politics was there way before Anthony wrote this article. In spite of all this, Our Father in Heaven has and will continue to bless these Turks & Caicos Islands. Genesis chapter 18: 20 - 33 Back... Send us your comments!   Send us your comments on this article for publication in our Readers' Forum or as a Letter to the Editor. All fields are required and in the interest of openness and transparency we will no longer accept anonymous submissions. 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