“The storms are coming.  It is September and, for us, the most active part of the hurricane season.  

We are, understandably, frightened.  A breeze raises our blood pressure and a drizzle disorients us.  Erin with its significant payload of water, although, thankfully, minimal wind, has already set us on edge.

Eight years on and we are still living in the shadow of Hurricane Irma.  She stripped us of a lot that we had diligently worked for over the years.  She threatened our livelihood and our very existence, even our dignity.

Our infrastructure was severely compromised and we feared for the future of our children.  The schools were destroyed; some have not even been rebuilt.  For others, the private sector helped.

The British did what they were good at; Restoring law and order.  We tremble to think of what may have happened without that intervention.

For the first time we realized that having a runway from which we could connect to the mainland US was a matter of national security.

Our sick could not get to their doctors outside of the Territory.  Our children could not get back to school and we could only move if the USVI, Antigua or Puerto Rico nodded.  They could not nod. They were equally compromised.

(Certainly, the American flight is a game changer but a wet runway has repeatedly delayed flights; Sent them to wait in Puerto Rico or even return to Miami to the deep disappointment and anger of the passengers.)

We were fortunate that the barges found their way in after Irma because we were concerned about food despite assurances.  The banks were unavailable for some time.  Cash was king and where power resides, danger lurks.

So, we were left to the mercies of those who had private jets and vessels.  And although we were, in the past, unkind in sentiment to them, they did not repay the favour.

Of course, the Territory never said ‘thank you’ in any organized way.  That would have been too difficult.  After all, we had already destroyed a government and a Party by making it seem that it was a bad thing to get along with all groups and all classes of people in the Territory.

But with Irma, a new word entered our lexicon.  Underinsured.  After collecting our money for decades, insurance companies became ingenious about not honoring their commitments.

Still, we were glad they stuck around.  Others would have fled by night.

The cash strapped got shafted as they usually do.  They understood that time was not their friend and were forced to hasty settlements.  After all, a little bit of something trumps a lot of nothing.

And our own government ensured that we did not receive the redevelopment funds under a loan guarantee by using spurious arguments that no one has taken the time to explain or justify.

And, of course, not being independent, Aid from the international community was proscribed.  Nevertheless, we received about $35M in a combination of cash and services from the British.

We were jealous of the quantum of assistance our neighbours to the West received from their overlords.  But London says we are too rich because of that artificial construct, the per capita income, although Irma knew better for she took only hours to rip asunder our soft underbelly and we have been struggling ever since.

What frightens us the most is the possibility of losing tourism.  It is centered on sun, sea and sand and some of our competitors have strong environmental laws, which they enforce, to protect sea and sand but we moved in a different direction.

Filling in the ponds was detrimental.  Cane Garden Bay is paying an especially high price for that.  Look at that beach that was a wonder of the world.  Now, at high tide and low, it is a shadow of its former self.

Will the Representative have the courage to lead the charge to ‘un fill’ the ponds?  Would there even be an apology to the people for that piece of folly?

We have Elton John’s words in song to jerk us back to reality; “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.”  

Regardless, there is now no natural filtration system to protect the beach which is the centre of commerce for that community.  And if nothing is done, one day when the rocks appear, they will remain.  

And our tourism offerings may become nothing more than sun, sea and, possibly, silt for the mud plumes, the runoff from the land, are visible for all to see after heavy rains.

If only the brain power of the 13 could shift from self to ‘country,’ we may yet save this territory that we all so dearly love.

But the people must demand of their Representatives that they rise to a higher calling than personal ambition.

Demand it on our Fridays.

Happy Friday!”