Commentary: Thanks for supporting the TCI victims of Hurricane Ike
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| Published on Friday, September 12, 2008 |
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by Anthony L. Hall
Dear Readers:
On behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), I would like to thank you for your very kind response to my request for assistance for our victims of Hurricane Ike. I am especially proud of the generosity demonstrated by fellow islanders throughout the region as well as those in the Caribbean Diaspora. In addition, the outpouring of support from our friends in America, Canada, Europe and elsewhere has been truly heartening.
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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
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Hurricane Ike was the worst natural disaster in our Nation’s history and has caused devastation of biblical proportions. And, even though we thank God that we are measuring our loss only in terms of property, not in terms of life, those affected are suffering great hardship and face tremendous challenges in rebuilding their lives.
Nevertheless, you will be pleased to know that these TCIslanders are coping heroically under very difficult circumstances. This, notwithstanding restiveness amongst some that may require a more vigilant presence of law enforcement authorities. Thankfully, we are being aided in this respect by police officers who have been deployed to our islands from places like Bermuda and Cayman in the spirit of brotherhood.
Above all, however, I would like to thank my fellow TCIslanders who have given of their time, money and efforts in a manner that does our country proud. In fact, nothing has demonstrated our national resolve, sense of community and abiding compassion quite like the way residents - from businessmen to store clerks - have rallied to provide shelter, sustenance and hope to the victims of this hurricane.
Here’s how Clive Stanbrook, owner of Graceway IGA Supermarket, explained this national call to action in an interview with the Turks and Caicos Weekly News:
“We have customers on all of the islands and we are part of the community. When the community gets hurt like this it’s our duty to help in whatever ways we can.”
I quote Mr Stanbrook because, at the risk of offending the officious egos of TCI government officials – who have been trying shamelessly to take credit for relief efforts initiated by private citizens - I feel obliged to pay special tribute to him.
Because it would have been quite enough for Mr Stanbrook to donate containers of food - as he has done. Yet he went beyond the call of duty by becoming actively involved not only in packaging the food but also by traveling to ground zero of this disaster on Grand Turk to oversee its orderly distribution.
Frankly, if anyone could be heralded as a knight in shining armour for coming to our aid in this our hour of need, it is Clive Stanbrook.
That said, I appreciate that many of you were probably dismayed by yesterday’s “BREAKING NEWS”, which quoted the Deputy Leader of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM), Oswald Skippings, saying, amongst other things, that:
“People are getting restless and fighting has begun [and that] if things do not change there will be civil unrest.”
With all due respect to Hon. Skippings, however, his report smacked of an irresponsible politicization of this tragedy. After all, it clearly exaggerated the tensions rising amongst our displaced people – who are understandably hungry, angry and desperate. Worse, it seemed intended more to inflame partisan political passions than to inform people about the state of our national crisis. Not to mention the hopeful spirit of community it undermined...
Nevertheless, I am confident that our collective resolve to comfort and care for the victims (not only on Grand Turk but also on South Caicos, Salt Cay and elsewhere) will bring us together as a nation and render fleeting the tensions that some would have divide us.
But the living nightmare that Mother Nature has visited upon us is far from over. We have many difficult days ahead.
Therefore, your continued prayers and support as we get on with the business of rebuilding our country will be deeply appreciated.
Related Articles:
Hurricane Ike: A test of TCI leadership and our people’s resolve
Getting donations directly to TCI victims of Hurricane Ike
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