As many of you know, my family is from the Caribbean with the majority living in St. Martin and Anguilla.
There have been plenty of articles in the international press, and videos, showing the complete devastation and aftermath. As of today, we’re still waiting to hear about one of our relatives. We are sick with worry but thankful that most of our friends and family are safe. Many have lost their homes, or have sustained major damage, and the non-retired members, their jobs (for now).
It may take up to three years for St. Martin to rebuild. I haven’t heard any estimates yet regarding Anguilla.
I know these are tiny islands so no one really cares what happens to them. I was speaking to a Hollywood exec friend of my mine whose parents are also from the Caribbean and she noted the overall silence from well known African-American celebrities, including the ones who are from the region (seriously?) and the ones have vacationed on the islands.
Perhaps this will change in the coming days.
I’m from the islands too, so I had a vested interest in researching relief efforts in the region after Irma. I’m annoyed. You have all these big stars who own property and continually vacation on these islands. Yet, not one of them seems to be helping. I’ve heard nothing about donations from anyone of them. No relief efforts or setting up GoFundMe campaigns. So far, I’ve only read about Richard Branson providing any kind of help. It’s disheartening.
Jannelle, I hope you and your family are safe.
I really don’t understand this complete silence. It is possible to ask for Harvey and Irma donations.
So so heartbreaking to see the images. I wonder how many consider them rich people’s playgrounds, forgetting the ones who live there, unseen by tourists, going about their daily lives. Here they are all fretting over Key West but the damage compared to the Caribbean islands doesn’t even compare. I hope your relative resurfaced in the meantime.
And now Hurricane Maria is causing more devastation. Thank you, all of our relatives were accounted for but now we’re worried about an aunt who was evacuated from the SXM hospital to the bigger one in Guadeloupe. I’m looking forward to the end of this hurricane season.