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Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Navigate
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News, Articles and Poetry: Some commentary by a faithful reader of
Tarpum Bay Today. Read and send us your commentary and your regards to this
essential issue of dialogue concerning the Bahama Islands and Eleuthera. Go to Our Forum on the Main Page and leave your commentary for further involvement at this website. Thank You. Dear
Tarpum Bay Today, I
read with great interest your article regarding what you describe as the
financially dis-proportionate treatment of the Out-islanders by the government. Unfortunately,
it is a natural and understandable
progression (or regression depending on your perspective) of any democracy
and capitalistic system. Financial investment gravitates towards were the
people and jobs are and visa versa. While I
personally sympathise with your perspective, how would any
government or
national population ever
reasonably expect 85% of the country’s population to support a significant proportion of capital
expenditure to be distributed to 15% of the country’s population? I
suspect you would respond as I would if I were in your shoes: that not increasing investment
in the Out-islands is short-sighted. Unfortunately that’s the nature of
governments, and most
businesses. Something which is nothing more than a direct consequence of the human
condition: people
having short-term memories and being self-serving, i.e. “what’s in
it for me”. I
note that since I originally
travelled to Eleuthera
in the early 70’s, the population of Nassau has literally exploded. I
can’t imagine how crowded it must be, perhaps like Jakarta, or some other Asian
cities I’m
familiar with. However, there are trade-offs to everything in life. I doubt
you would want Eleuthera to become another Nassau, which had as its social
core and conscience only
one thing: the almighty
dollar --- and that was 35 years ago! The
breakdown of the social fabric which you describe occurring in Eleuthera is
unfortunately global and I doubt it will revert back during my lifetime. However I
can, as hopefully you will, gain strength and confidence in knowing there are
pockets of
people throughout
the world where individuals
are beginning to place
“quality of life” before “quantity in life”. I
wonder how many people
on the Eleuthera Newsgroup web site who extol the
virtues of
the Eleuthera, its
people and experience would be
prepared to in
mass sell
their homes and/or businesses in the US and shift to Eleuthera? It would undoubtedly
lead to an economic revival. We both know the answer to that and the reasons why
it won’t happen: the
human condition of people
being self-serving, i.e. “what’s in it for me” as well as the seemingly
endless quest
today to “have your cake and
eat it too”. Had I decided
to stay in the US and not travel the world as I have, I am more than
confident I
would easily be a millionaire. I selected ‘REAL quality of life’
over ‘quantity
in life’. I have friends who are millionaires who describe me as ‘richer in
experience’ than
themselves ….
and I
smile. The
reality George is most
people talk the talk, but rarely do they walk it and take the required road less
travelled. Consequently governments, and the businesses which keep them in
power, behave in predictable ways that reflects nothing
more than human
nature. I’m
going to post this on the News group web site. I suspect we both know the
reaction it will receive…… Regards Bill Our Response at Tarpum Bay Today: Bill, Thank
you for taking the time to weigh in on the matter of the socio-economic state
of Eleuthera and the Bahamas. This is a part of the picture I see and wish
some change for in my existence. I perhaps wish for a miracle but every great
movement has its beginning as I attempt to prick the conscience and the good
sense of our government and other influential members with some effect on
them. I am
disheartened mostly by the decay in the social structure. The security and
stability of our Out Island communities have been rocked so substantially in
the not so distant past that we must take some measurement of change into
account in my estimation. There
have been some suggestions and announcements targeted at our economic growth
this year and in the few years to come. These economic changes are very
positive but are suspect because of their idealistic nature. I suspect that
not many of them will survive since they include at their core a financial
committment directly toward the local population as a part of their promise
and maintainence of the island. Its
just that as these grandiose announcements by government are being made, I
see us slipping further and further behind socially. I fear that where we
might end up in the end if we are not prudent and responsible when it comes
to our solution for the entire Bahamas is a further proclaimed thirld world
country. Bringing
the entire country up to a central level of infrastructure is one of the
things I hope for. Unlike the past I hope to see the government of the
Bahamas see the wisdom in developing each of the major Out Islands of the
Bahamas equivocally in order to give choice to the many who feel necessarily
trapped in the crowded city of Nassau. This is about longterm financial
planning not unlike a boy who plans to become a man. He eventually arrives at
his destination in most cases when human nature rights itself and he becomes
a responsible, informed man. Some
insight into the restructuring of our Out Island landscapes as a choice
location for Nassauvians unwilling to support their present substandard
social environment is the necessary part of my own personal plan for the
Bahamas as a whole. Life is about making the right choices and reaping the
rich benefits of having made the right choice. The Bahamas has a future to
look forward to. How we percieve and effect the outcome is what is at the
heart of my own contention. We can come out of this as a massively well
developed country as a whole. We
must continue to plan positively for the entire movement of the entire
country of Bahamians. The Out Islands have the potential in this light to
play a major role in the development of the entire country. There are a
limited number of right choices to be made. Perhaps I may be able to inspire
some spark of equivocal investment policy and some dispersement of the
faithful Out Island inhabitants and government officials of Nassau. I agree its a long shot but I have always been a dreamer and it hasn't turned out all bad. I feel the impulse to share my thoughts and future plans for Bahamians instead of hiding them. They may eventually get us somewhere. Right now elements like political bias and economic/political privilege hinders us most. Small favoritism and these other short comings are analogous of most of the black third world nations of the world. I just have a much brighter expectation of our leaders and political groups. Their heads are still buried in the economics of Nassau alone. They do not have a master plan or an insight for this type of overall national equality for Bahamians. Please write us and weigh in on this issue.
More Daily News from Tarpum Bay Today
Tomorrow. Monday, September 20, 2004 Thursday, September 16, 2004 It’s another beautiful Monday Morning in Eleuthera today and the good news is that tropical storm Jeanne is several miles to the east of Eleuthera out in the midst of the Atlantic today. It appears that the storm might make a turn again towards us possibly or it could go north to Bermuda. The deal is though for Bermuda. I learned that they invite hurricanes and tropical depressions due to the fact that it is a source of fresh water for them. They have sparse supplies of fresh ground water you can imagine so they invite hurricanes and rainy weather to make up as an external source for a fresh water supply. That a little dangerous if you’d ask me but it’s just the way things are in our neck of the woods. The weather today in Eleuthera will be hot later this afternoon. The skies are clear with occasionally scattered clouds and little chance of rain today. The high today is expected to reach 91degreen fahrenheit, the low tonight a low 78 degrees. Today is a great day for the outdoors, fishing, farming, gardening any outdoor activity, which you can use to take advantage of the climatic conditions on our lovely island today. Touring and beaching would be ideal activities for a day like today. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. News, Articles and Poetry: Road work continues today in Eleuthera. Symonettes Enterprises of Rock Sound, Eleuthera continues to rip and prepare the Queens highway for a new broader coating of tar topping. The company has made its way more than forty miles down the highway from Deep Creek where they began the project more than a month ago. The needed repairs will continue on until the company reaches the Glass Window bridge just north of Gregory Town Eleuthera. We wish them well in the noon day sun as they perform the much needed repairs to our Queens Highway. The company was awarded a more than three million dollar contract by the government of the Bahamas more than a month ago in a national press release by the minister of Works, Mr. Bradley Roberts. This single project has brought some much needed jobs the South Eleuthera area and is, for the moment, filling the unemployment gap to a little degree as many South Eleutherians remain still unemployed and a part of the national non-employment scheme. It is estimated that unemployment in Eleuthera is in the range of more than 14percent with scores of Eleutherians taking to relocating over seas in cities like Nassau, Freeport and the US for education and employment opportunities. This sad state of affairs has and will continue to take a significant toll on the social/family structure of the islands. Too often family groups and marriages are separated by the unemployment situations. It is not known at this time whether the national government plans to address this very serious matter as it pertains to the family islands. Any change in the family structure will affect society. Unfortunately the effects are quite negative. The fact is that right here in our little community of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera many marriages have been broken by mostly fathers immigrating to other cities for employment. Several couples are battling the effects of such activity at this moment. Several Wives and husbands have separated and are quarrelling about the family property because of extramarital affairs by both husband and wife. People get lonely after months of being separated and it takes a determined mind in today’s society from straying outside of the marriage for some comfort. Many single men especially prey on lonely housewives whose husbands have left the island and village to seek employment. These husbands in many cases may not be adequately taking care of the family financially and by frequent enough visits home. This activity has taken a major negative
effect on all islands of the Bahamas and will continue if not addressed with
a view to turning around the local employment and educational systems of our
Out Islands especially. Our Nassaucentric national government and private business systems continue to target Nassau, the nations most crowded city and home to more than 85% of the Bahamian population. More than 90% of national resources are invested in little Nassau and our government and private business houses continue to burden the little island with their total investment capital. Apparently both Government and the private business sector do not see the wisdom of growing an entire country especially in the Out Islands where 90 percent of the undeveloped land mass is located. In our estimation some time soon a mass exodus of the city of Nassau needs to take place with Out Islanders relocating back their original homes in the family islands. This followed by private business and government will have t he very positive effect of relieving the massive crime and over crowded conditions of the nations smallest developed island. Nassau was originally back in the late 1600’s chosen because of its central location and its deep water harbour. The technology exists today to build harbours wherever necessary at comparatively minimum cost. Why not choose a larger more productive island like Andros or Eleuthera to be the seat of government in the Bahamas while equally developing each major Out Island as a viable business center? Government and people of Nassau do not realize the pains Out Islanders go through to access essential government and private services taken for granted by those who live in Nassau. It cost Eleutherians an additional $150.00 to take any medical exam in Nassau no matter how necessary. They first have to purchase a plane or boat round trip ticket for this purpose. Any little investigation, be health, legal or otherwise costs Eleutherians and other Out Island residents immensely. We have always contended that the government needs to establish a central representative agency on each island. The existing satellite offices on the islands do not work effectively as it is. They are ill equipped with communications technology and are inadequate for the purposes for which they exist. The problem is that they cannot access the stored analog information stored in the central government files in Nassau. They are without the authority to make final decisions in matters of local and national interest. Many of these problems have to be addressed if
Out Island communities are to be brought up to equivocal national standards
on par with their contemporaries in the little city of Nassau. The weather in Eleuthera today is typical
summer weather. The high today is 90 degrees and the low tonight will fall to
75 degrees. Jeanne is expected to take a significant
toll on the weather over the next few days. Hurricane Jeanne has been
estimated by meteoroligist to have taken a sharp turn to the north. If
continuing on this path the eye of
the storm is expected to be several miles off of the east coast of Eleuthera.
This is significant good news for the residents of Eleuthera. We are battening up our businesses and
homes and hoping for the best to happen in this situation. News, Articles and Poetry: Weather: Beautiful weather in Eleuthera today.
Another typical summer day except for the news of the coming of Jeanne. The
storm Jeanne is coming our way in the next few days and the Central Bahamas
to which Eleuthera is a part of is under a Hurricane watch. By tomorrow all preparations for the
hurricane are asked to be made. This is not the right time but the time
nature has chosen to hit us again with its giant hurricane force. It was a hot day today. The temperature got
up to the low 90’s with a low of 78 degrees tonight. The winds are calm with a slight breeze
over the landscape. This will change as the hurricane comes near. Already hammers on roofs and windows can be
heard preparing the homes and business of the community for Hurricane Jeanne.
Again, we hope to be ready and boarded up
to meet the more than 80mile per hour winds. News, Articles and Poetry: My Devotion If I had my way I would be the leader our society But I am a child of this generation And I have but ill fated temperament. The revolution found me sleeping And I live only to cause myself Propulsion into the future. I am seeded with the choice Stock of Socrates,Tolstoy, The golden eves of Walcott, Naipaul And the birth of the new generation Of Caribbean genius. Its up to us to shape the future In all that we provide for consumption. To this list I add illusions of grandeur, Corruption, malice and hatred for Our fellow man and other malevolent acts. Each of us has a cause, each of us Needs the steady hands of our brothers To help us on our way to safety and security. There is no other way to make it in this world. Truth, honesty and beauty are at hand. I hope you appreciate this compilation. For as for me it is of the products of my generation And I am to absorb and portray as much of the learning As was left by ten generations of fishermen, farmers and Mothers with whom contact was possible along the way. Steadfast into the future with silent, graceful sailing As we propel the ships of this generation to greatness; Unheard of but proclaimed on other Afro, Caribbean shores. We’re all ready for the sound of acceptance and logic. The calling of great fame in the great halls of justice Within which we have no seat. Polish the marble floors, lay the red carpet of fate Success in most measures is on its way. Though I hear gently to proclaim the uprising Of a new Caribbean generation. Tuesday,
September 14, 2004
It Hurts To Say Good Bye
Cradled through the storm We came filled with life and liberty Now the future rushes on for us Filled with triumph and mystery. We faded from the past Our present we have to live. We’ll spend much time in correspondence. Why did God set us free, To roam the earth aimlessly, Searching for a home to call our own? Why did we flee the one great place That keeps us returning for more? We demand more than tourist do We demand the absolute treasure This earthern home has to give, What’s more we demand the love Of our family and friends. No one knows when we’re coming again Only plans we lay not set in stone Encouraging and ravishing the hearts Of those left behind in the tyranny of the sun. The sun rules here. There is no other future but to depend upon the sun. In the Bahamas this is the life of reverence To nature we were given. When we were ripped away from the breasts of our mothers And carried off to foreign lands In search of another means of survival. The harshness of mother earth; I share my pity with the many souls Abroad and see the irony in returning Home for a period in the sun. Let us free to receive these treasures For a week or so. Then back to our busy metropolis worlds With broad streets and distinguished people Free as a bird and ready for the eve of winter. When main time our ancestors lay In the sun at noon time sipping on the salt of the earth And sharing an empty womb. Off we go without delay to the greatest Cities of the north. We’ll spend more time in the winter. The sun you see, time for surprises Celebrations of love. Junkanoo is a fine thing Diminished from the Mind until That blessed Christmas morning When Nassau comes alive with the Greatest celebration in the world. Come to and fro from Hither here to see the spectacle Of men dressed for children’s serious play As rushers dance up and down the Main streets and commerce is closed Until the New Year. What a time of spectacle, grace and beauty this is To the eyes of the beholder. If there is one thing that defines The Bahamas it is Junkanoo at Christmas time. To shudder the hearts of thousands on parade Dancers go up and down the streets with Cowbells and horns to celebrate the Freedom of the slave from captivity. Booming the hearts of many with beauty, Grace and the proud color of competition. Undulation, adulation and divinity in one place An eyeshot from the soul of humanity. You must see the drums on Christmas morning As children play for the prize of victory. The pride of competition for the greatest Beauty of all. Some imitation of life. Some sample of the minds of Bahamians ideal Christmas. How Christ must be alive on this day To judge why Halloween did not make it this Far in the hearts of men. The beauty, the heart and the spectacle of Junkanoo Too diminishing to the soul that breaks with tradition. Sons must see their mothers on this day Fathers their daughters and sisters their own. Have faith to leave the capital of north to see the Winking eye of tradition on these souls. Come with me now to the Bahamas on Christmas day. Don’t deny yourself the greatest treasures I have found In my killing. Today in Eleuthera it is cool, sunny and breezy. Hurricane Ivan didn’t come our way as expected and Eleutherians are recovering from the shock of Frances. The high today will get up into the lower 90’s. The low tonight will be in the middle 70’s. There is little chance of rain today. It is mostly a day for the outdoors, snorkeling, beaching or just doing some work outside. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. News, Articles and Poetry: It has mostly been an uneventful week since the passing of hurricane Francis and the close call of Ivan. Eleuthera has been recovering ever since. People haven’t taken down their boards from the windows yet as if in anticipation of another threat by hurricane. That is how difficult this issue is. Having to sit up in a closed, hot house is the price we pay for comfort and peace of mind from hurricanes for now. Most companies are back to work, although there has been a weeks delay in the primary school and a continued delay in the opening of the special children’s school in Governors Harbour. In Governors Harbour the previous head teacher from last semester left the island and is now studying and living in the United States. The search is on for a new special schools administrator and up to now none has been found. Business doors in Eleuthera are open again and slowly the island is beginning to put the memory of hurricane Francis aside. All of the debris has been moved from the highways leaving only in a few areas like Jame Cistern a almost complete decay of the paved roads. Traffic is confined to only one lane in these areas. The glass window bridge is open to the public again. Pass at your own risk is implied. Engineers do not know the extent of the damage done to the bridge. As one Engineer stated over national radio,”That bridge is a disaster waiting to happen.” The government needs to re-engineer the thirty-year-old bridge and ensure the safety of Eleutherians and other travelers. The community of Gregory Town is back in shape with all of its seaweed removed. There is some signs of the damage that occurred there but all in all things are OK. The Methodist church in Gregory Town was scheduled to be dedicated but has postponed the event until next month. Spanish Wells with its large population of Lobster fishermen are safe and back to normal after Frances. The evidence of the storm can be seen in the missing of several or many, in some cases, of roof tiles. Other than that the island is back in business and awaiting the seas to clear up before the fishermen can take to the waters again. So the message is clear. Eleuthera is back in business. Hotels are once again open. The shops and stores are once again open and ready to serve. Most of the restaurants are back in operation and most of the telephones. All are welcome once again to enjoy this tropical paradise. There are some signs of the coming of Frances however. The forests are no longer a pristine green. A brownish decaying tinge of color covers the forests and is a constant reminder of the passing tragedy of Frances. The dead leaves on trees all along the island leave an eerie reminder that a large, island wide force was here and that one may come again. Hopefully next time we’ll be just as prepared. Wednesday, September 08, 2004 Hello, My name is Rachael Aberle and I am a massage therapist living in Eleuthera. I was educated at Educating Hands school of massage in Miami. I specialize in Swedish Massage and also studied Reiki. I am also a Yoga instructor, certified at Yoga Inner Peace in Lake Worth, Florida. I have a table and travel to people's homes and hotel rooms, or they can come to my place near Gregory Town. Yoga and massage is a fantastic combination, and most of my clients enjoy a yoga session followed by a massage. I do group classes or private, whichever you prefer. Please send a email or call me if you are interested, my number is 242 333-3282. My cell numbers are 427-3263 and 359-7053. Have a great time in Eleuthera! Warm Regards, Rachael Aberle Neil & Rachael Aberle Bahamas Out-Island Adventures Eleuthera BAHAMAS Tel: 242-333-3282 Fax: 242-333-3297 Web: http://www.bahamasadventures.com/ Email: info@bahamasadventures.com Wednesday, September 08,
2004 Ivan churns in the lower Caribbean sea far away from Eleuthera and the Bahamas, thank God. The storm has chosen and alternate path and hopefully will wear itself out in the gulf stream of the United States. Our weather in Eleuthera has recovered and has turned to the usual, hot weather conditions we are accustomed to this time of year. The high today rose to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The low tonight will get down into around 78 degrees. Its another good day for the outdoors. It’s a nice day for cleaning up debri left behind by Frances which continues to dump rain on the mid eastern United States. The beach is certainly an option for today as well as a nice barbecue or fishing. Do enjoy our Eleuthera weather
today. News, Articles and Poetry: Paradise Today I listened to the birds this morning Resurrect after the storm And said within my self Find me some peace today. I listened to the surf this morning And as I lay I say find me some peace today Take me away from the terror of cities Take me to paradise where I can rest my brain Where I can dream of beautiful people And sweet cool rain, Green forests windswept and delightful Honey bees and bright yellow flowers in the meadows I found them today. I found a place resembling glory And rested on this side of paradise No one called at my door Nothing eluded me today I found such peace I found such flowers Here in paradise I searched for water, sustenance And found some today The sun brought warmth The skies a canopy of blue undisturbed and beautiful My mind brought a well of dreams to tell And all was well Today where I lay I found paradise Telephone service is returning to the island. Most of the settlements have telephone service except a few customers. The microwave links between Green Castle, Eleuthera and High Burns Cay Exuma have been damaged by Frances. This link serves as the return path for telephone service to Eleuthera and once repaired will mean the resumption of global telephone service for Eleuthera. Batelco technicians are working on this problem now. We are told it won’t be long before the service is restored. Island Relief: In other news Island Relief continues to organize and collect donations internationally for the relief effort in Eleuthera. The relief effort is underway. The website is partially
complete and can be viewed at www.islandreliefinc.org Lisa
Krupp is the president of this group who work in conjunction with other
Bahamian relief agencies including, The Briland Modem and Habitat for
Humanities led by Shawn Ingraham. Fishing Report: Fishing has resumed. Several local fishermen took their first journey today into the clearing waters to ascertain how much of the sea life is available and ready for consumption. Local legend has it that more sea life returns to the lower waters during such a disturbance in the ocean. Fishermen hope to reap the benefits of hurricane Frances by harvesting some of the abundance of fish products. See you at the docks today for
your supply of fresh fish. More Daily News from Tarpum
Bay today Tomorrow Back to top
of page Back to
home/start page Tuesday, September 07,
2004 Todays weather is back to normal in Eleuthera today. It’s a hot, sticky, calm day here today. The skies are overcase with little chance of rain. The temperature today got up to a high of 90degrees Fahrenheit. The low tonight will be 78 degrees. Residents are recovering from the shock of the intense Frances which passed through the community with furious winds up to 125miles per hour and left, surprisingly, very little damage. Our roads and roofs are safe with only a few damaged. Some seaweed scattered in some settlements. News, Articles and poetry: In the news today it’s the movement of Hurricane Ivan that is the big issue today. After Frances no one would welcome such a gigantic uncontrolled force back in their lives again and then came Ivan. Ivan, thankfully, has taken a different course than Frances. Barbados, Trinidad, the grenadines are now taking the full brunt of that storm. We are still tracking it though, like South Florida, since there is some potential that it may come our way after crossing over the three major islands in the North Western Caribbean, Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola. Eleuthera is getting back to normal. Since there was not massive destruction our people have their regular jobs and our economy to return to. The Bahamas government has been assessing the damage in the entire islands since the day after Frances left our region. The damage is estimated in the millions with Bahamian farmers suffering the greatest loss from the loss of their vegetation. One local farmer proclaimed that he isn’t returning to his farm as yet since the sight might have a negative affect on him. He had just transplanted a number of lime trees a week or so before the storm organized. Another farmer lost his entire crop of watermelons. The young melons lay in the field without the vine which had been blown away. Yet another farmer in the community lost more than one hundred producing, mature banana trees. Fishing report: Fishermen are preparing to
return to the waters to asses the changes in the ocean life soon. The waters
are still murky so they have to wait until they clear. Soon you will be able
to purchase supplies of fresh fish from the docks in Tarpum Bay and a few
other places along the island. More news from Tarpum Bay
today tomorrow. Monday, September 06,
2004 The calm after the storm exists in Eleuthera this morning. The atmosphere is over cast with a slight breeze. There is a chance of rainfall today. The temperature will climb up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit by mid afternoon. Tonights low is expected to fall into the mid 70’s. The weather in Eleuthera has settled since hurricane Frances, leaving behind the cool morning pleasantries that we are accustomed to. The birds are chirping beautifully in the trees as the sun rises amids the red, blue sky. Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today as much as you can. John Bennette reports his
house totally damaged in Double Bay, Eleuthera. He reports that a few more
houses in the Governors Harbour, James Cistern area are also damaged. Damage
reports slowly coming in. No injury or loss of life reported in Eleuthera
thus far. News, Articles and Poetry: It has been a harrowing few days during hurricane Francis in Eleuthera. The furious storm Frances blew into the Bahamas with much warning by the national radio station www.ZNSbahamas.com Bahamians heeded the warnings by the national station from beginning to end and were rewarded by the unfortunate circumstances of only two people deceased as a result of the hurricane. Many people think it is our building codes, which saved many lives from the potential destruction. The present building codes, with some amendments, date back to the 1950’s when our then Bahamas Commonwealth under the leadership of Her majesty the queen of England themselves adapted similar building codes in line with South Eastern American building codes. This one act has brought much stability and less loss of life to the Bahamas than any other similar standard set in The Bahamas. Presently during Francis there was practically little structural damage to be repaired and virtually no loss of life as compared to other similar strength storms in the Bahamas. Eleuthera still stands victorious above the direct hit of Frances. There is little in the way of tradgedy and damage to report. Eleuthera is fastly getting back on its feet. The major damages were some shingles lost off of the roofs, a few electrical poles broken or leaning and some flooding in the James Cistern, Governors Harbour areas. Other than that we are thankful that there is not much damage to report. The blessing that today is a normal day, back to the way things were weather wise, is a blessing. We can now get back to the things that drive and motivate us instead of the things that are breaking us down, although many Bahamians feel that this is a cleansing process. There are lots of local myths about hurricanes. One in particular is that God sends the hurricane as a judgment on society for its level of sins. One cannot conversate on that unproven issue. How can that be the case when hurricanes are so destructive? This time around it seems that the utility companies were prepared to work after the hurricane. Many essential services like water, electricity and phone service were on only two days after the hurricane was over, although my own personal phone is not in service yet. The majority of customers were treated with the concern and the level of service their hard earned utility dollars deserve. It would appear that in this regard the Bahamas and Eleuthera might be on the move. Yes, it’s the calm after the storm when nervous people gather in their work places to regroup and organize the business to withstand such pressure in the future. A complete day of nerves as they return to famialiar faces, of regular customers and employees. Government workers return to the old norm of work a day living without the motivation and reward that private jobs and business offers. So the Bahamas is almost back to normal. Almost back to the way things used to be. Only the fact that the environment looks like a war zone with many trees fallen and without leaves still exists at the roadside and wherever one can see is both alarming and awakening, a reminder that so much more could have happened to our environment. They’ll soon be out for the crabs and the fruit still remaining on the trees. But hey were back to normal without much loss of life and all is well in Eleuthera. How much of a blessing can we have asked for? Possibly to be rich but hey, money doesn’t grow on trees. Stay safe. Stay calm and clean
up some of that mess caused by the storm. Fishing Report: Fishing is suspended until the still murky seas restore their near crystal qualities. It is believed that such disturbing qualities on the seas produce more fish and opportunities for hungry fish to be caught. If so we should have a lot of fresh seafood on the docks in the coming weeks. More News from Tarpum Bay
Today, Tomorrow. Back to top
of page Back to
home/start page Aftermath Between a wilderness and
purgatory My mind drifts with some
worry After the wrath that came
our way How can we stay unblemished by the events
of the day it foreshadows all of our
sins this malady we are in how will we compromise this
time? Only our prayer can set us
free Only this desire wanting to
be Cleansed from righteous
indignation Thursday, September 02,
2004 Weather Report: http://www.caribbean-weather.net/weathertoday.html 9/2/2004 11:23:38 AM As you see in the above photo Frances is progressing in a West/North/West direction. It is currently moving at 14mph east of the island chain in the Bahamas. Hurricane winds, 140mph, extend 80 miles from the eye of the center. Tropical force winds, up to 75 mph, extend more than 180 miles from the center of the hurricane. It appears to all that the storm will continue to make its tracks through the archaeological chain of the Bahama islands. Currently our skies are completely overcast. Some rain has fallen for the first time from this hurricane. Wind gusts as a result of Frances are currently up to 50 to 60 mph in gusts. These gusts appear occasionally and then calm down again. It is still currently safe to go outside for last minute repairs. There is now great movement of the trees surrounding the community. Our seas are presently quite choppy and in a storm like condition. All boats are out of the Bight of Eleuthera, Caribbean sea and secured on land. Most stores in the community are now closed. There is one reliable store in the community where persons can purchase last minute hurricane supplies. They will be open as long as conditions allow. The full force of Frances is expected to take effect by 8pm this evening as she moves into our area moving at around 14mph. It is quite evident that she is here. Hopefully there will be no fatalities as a result of this hurricane and a minimum of damage to buildings especially our sea front homes and businesses where traditionally most of the damage occurs near the beach. The last hurricane left a significant amount of damage. Hopefully the reinforced infrastructure repairs like a new dock and several seawalls in several communities along the island will stand up to the storm and emerge with little damage. More news from Tarpum Bay
Today at a later date as the network permits. Back to top of page Back to home/start page Wednesday, September 01, 2004 9/1/2004 6:50:07 PM As you see above in this hourly satellite photo hurricane Frances is getting closer and closer to Eleuthera. According to radio reports at ZNS Bahamas by reporter Marcellas Hall, the storm has now hit the island of Inagua and the southern Bahamas. Marcellas reports that the buildings and people in the southern Bahamas are adequately prepared and damage is expected to be minimal although this is a major category 4 hurricane. Some essential services like electricity and telephones are now out in that area. Reports will resume when the storm has passed and these services resume. Nassau International airport will close as soon as the winds reach 40 mph. That is expected to take place mid day on Thursday 3rd of September. Eleutherians here in Tarpum Bay and elsewhere are getting prepared. Buildings are now boarded up and citizens are about the community assisting others with their preparation needs. In other community news, there has been one alarming report of price gouging in Rock Sound Eleuthera where citizens report to this news service that the price of essential plywood has risen over the last few days from $26.00 per sheet to the high price of $42.00 per sheet. MP Leslie Miller over ZNS radio alerted the nation that his ministry is on the lookout for such despicable unfair business activity and will deal harshly with the perpetrators of such unconscionable activity. His ministry will impose the maximum penalty on such bad and illegal business activity once reported and investigated. In the northern end of the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas the community of Spanish Wells is reported to be in great shape also since residents there have properly prepared their homes for the intensive hurricane activity. The homes of this fishing village says ZNS Bahamas reporter Martin Albury are built with such hurricane activity in mind. They are designed and out fitted automatically with hurricane window shutters. These descendants of the American southern loyalist group immigrated to the Island of Eleuthera in the middle 1800’s and still maintain certain loyalist traditions. House building in a traditional loyalist style is on of those traditions. This entire community takes great pride in their loyalist heritage. Spanish wells is the lobster fishing capital of the Bahamas since they bring in tons of lobster during the eight month harvest period annually supplying the United States and Europe with tons of freshly frozen lobster, grouper and other varieties of fish caught by their fishermen in the fishing areas around the Bahamas. Presently weather activity in
Eleuthera remains calm with the occasional rain. However at this time the
skies are quite clear and the weather is pleasant as we await the arrival of
Hurricane Frances by midday tomorrow. More News on Hurricane
Frances activity in Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow. Back to top
of page Back to
home/start page This link below has
satellite photos of the hurricane up to the hour. Right now in Tarpum Bay, South Eleuthera the wind is beginning to pick. We are experiencing 30-40 mile per hour gusts of wind. Trees are beginning to rock. Skies are presently clear with occasional scattered clouds. Presently there is no rain in sight. By late this evening the wind may be higher as the storm is approximately 24 hours from our area. Its high time to batten up and make preparations for the coming of this Storm Frances. More reports as the day and
the hurricane progresses. Tuesday, August 31,
2004 Hurricane Frances is scheduled to come our way by Thursday. Some predictions of the track she will take places the storm directly over North Eleuthera and Abaco on Thursday evening. This morning our skies are overcast. The high today is expected to be around 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Tonights low will fall into 76 degrees. Eleutherians are expected to
be securing their properties in expectation of a visit by hurricane Frances.
We do hope the hurricane takes or changes course into a less fatal pattern. News, Articles and Poetry: Today we heard from Island Relief Inc. They are keeping us in their prayers and hoping that all goes well for us in this storm. Mrs. Lisa Krupp, chair person of Island Relief Inc. informs us that they will be getting their website on stream over the next two days and will begin to provide relief efforts for the island of Eleuthera and in other areas where they can if such and effort is necessary. Island Relief Inc. has contributed more than 100 computer systems to the South Eleuthera area community centers and public schools during the period from 2002 till now. They continue to assist the islanders of Eleuthera where and when they can in order to foster improving the outlook and forecast of the area. Island Relief Inc. is working with other Eleuthera organizations in order to bring as much of a measure of relief as they can in such tragic events. Point your browser to www.islandreliefinc.org in two days time and sign up to assist their efforts where you can. Those persons in the immediate area, continue to monitor the activity of this hurricane and pay attention to the advice given by the weather, national and community officials. |
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August 19th to September 3rd (Sea Shells At Cotton Bay and other community Articles)