Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Caribbean resilience

Thomas C. Famous. Photo: Provided
Now, more than ever, we must look out for our elderly who need company and assistance. It is them that, through hard work and sacrifice, that have provided us with the lifestyles that we enjoy today. Photo: Provided
Now, more than ever, we must look out for our elderly who need company and assistance. It is them that, through hard work and sacrifice, that have provided us with the lifestyles that we enjoy today. Photo: Provided
Thomas C. Famous

Good Day to the Atlantic and Caribbean Family, those in the region and those around the world. Over the last few weeks, the world as most of us know it, has changed drastically. Even more so, for those of us living and working in the Atlantic and Caribbean region.

Slowing but surely, with the closing of cruise ports and travel from the EU and UK, we are now faced with the turning back of the hands of time socially and economically.

Without a doubt, our tourism industries will suffer as never before seen. Hotels will lay off staff, taxi drivers will go without the usual volume of work and restaurants will have less and less customers.

For those islands such as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Virgin Islands, that have financial services as a core part of their economies, the lack of business visitors will be an additional hard blow.

Yet, through it all, our respective governments and the regional collective body, of CARICOM, have made these hard decisions with one singular end.

The preservation of life.

As the Jamaican saying goes: “What don't cost life don't cost nothing.”

Our economies will rebound in time. Our respective governments’ first order of business is to ensure that our people survive. 

In these times of rapid and unknown change, let us always remember that our culture has always been and shall always be one of communal living.

Now, more than ever, we must look out for our elderly who need company and assistance. It is them that, through hard work and sacrifice, that have provided us with the lifestyles that we enjoy today.

Let us honour them and protect them in these trying times.

So too, we must look out for our young people who will be out of school.

Take this time to reinforce the timeless values of; love, community unity, island heritage and regional pride in them.

Landlords, who can afford to do so, please be understanding of the plight of those who work in the hospitality industries.

Where and whenever possible, please support the small retail stores and service providers, as they are an integral part of our economies.

The people of the Atlantic and Caribbean have, with the help of the Almighty, weathered centuries of; genocide, slavery, racism, classism and natural disasters.

We will survive this, in the same way we have survived all other catastrophes.

We will survive COVID-19, together, as families, as communities, as islands and as a region

Blessings and love always.

4 Responses to “Caribbean resilience”

  • pat (16/03/2020, 11:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    another good read
  • Diaspora (16/03/2020, 12:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Village concept,ie, it takes a Village to raise a child, has been a staple in the VI community; people lived in a communal setting. Nonetheless, with economic improvement,ie,transition from an agricultural base economy to services , the Village/communal was ditched. It went from collectivism to individualism. Now, once again, it is time for communal living. We must be our sisters and brothers keepers but we must do so safely and smartly.
  • FACTS!!!! (17/03/2020, 09:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS....


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.