SURVIVORS ARE WE!!!

Every once in a while this country reminds us of just how great it is. And that greatness was on display this week.

On Sunday, the island - well the southern coast of the island - was hit by Hurricane Dean. And as Dean passed, the worry was that come Monday, Jamaica would have been under a pile of rubble and sand, mangled steel and blocks. Debris and water.

But alas, come Monday, the true situation revealed itself. And for many of us our only complaint was that water still seeped through our windows. A few trees were down, we had no light or water and the fridge reeked.
For some of us Hurricane Dean also meant a day off from work so there was time to survey the damage.

And still for others, the proud among us, it was time to clean up. Time to pick up the pieces. Many were seen throughout their communities, cutting up trees, some that had fallen across the roadways, sweeping up rubble. It was not time to wait on the National Solid Waste Management Authority- the able bodied put themselves to work and work they did.

It was also time to check on the neighbours and there were many on whom Dean took a heavy toll. Hundreds of people on the south coast of the island, including Caribbean Terrace and Harbour View in St. Andrew, Portland Cottage in Clarendon, South Field in St. Elizabeth felt the full brunt of the wind and waves.
But despite losing home and property it was time to begin the process of starting over again because we are survivors.
This wasn't the first and it certainly won't be the last storm to hit Jamaica and as a nation, we've been the poster child for weathering every possible type of storm. Jamaica likkle but wi people tallawah. As usual when put to the test the majority of Jamaicans produced award winning performance.

And since Anansi feels like handing out awards, let's give one to the island's light and power company - the Jamaica Public Service (JPS). When in this country's history has there been a hurricane of any type and some customers get reconnected in less than 24 hours. By day three after the hurricane JPS had turned on the lights for almost 40 per cent of its customers, and this despite saying that damage to its lines by Hurricane Dean was worse than that caused by Hurricane Ivan.

Water Commission too - they've been busy piping water back to homes. Yes, NWC you get an award too. Getting water back to 80 per cent of your customers in four days. Good work.

And yes, Anansi had proclaimed doom and gloom. Anansi had visions of Katrina-like behaviour from many residents - but all this was prevented by very necessary State of Emergency imposed by the G.G.! Hence what could have become a potentially volatile situation - in many ways more damaging than Hurricane Dean - was avoided. For once, Portia did something right! Portia you get a badge of merit for doing what was right, despite those naysayers who will use any opportunity to politic. Maybe, just maybe, their might be hope for you yet!
Since we're giving out awards, let's hand out some bricks to those who still can't get right.

Digicel - Hurricane Ivan unnu pap dung. Hurricane Dean unnu pap dung. Anansi thought you were the "bigger better" network. Sorry, but I'll stick with "the true owners of the yard" - Cable and Wireless.

Di Damn Tief dem - How unnu fi a bruk inna people house inna di height of storm? Unnu should a drown, get electrocuted and di earth shoulda open up and swallow unnu. Unnu ole wukliss good fi nutten cruff unnu.

Wukliss Politrickician - Di storm was Sunday, and come Monday unnu a complain seh relief effort too slow. Anansi not calling no names, but here are two words fi unnu "New Orleans" and if unnu still nuh get it "Hurricane Katrina". Some times, people must engage their brains before their mouths start to move. Unnu mus get several bricks.

Anyway, since the country is getting back to normal - when's the election?

PS: Was it just Anansi, or did it seem a little more than just distasteful to be hearing political ads during the height of the onslaught of Dean. Imagine, Anansi is glued to the radio, and during every other ad break all that was heard was "me and me neighbour voting for Labour"!!! Like who really gave a ....

DEAN AH LICK WE AT CAT. 5

Not that we needed to hear this, but Dean will be hitting or passing very close to Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane.

Eternal Father, Bless our Land,
Guard us with thy mighty hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours,
To our leaders, great defender,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty's call,
Strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish,
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above,
Justice, truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love,
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love

"Dean pounded Martinique, St. Lucia, and Dominica yesterday, and the storm's death toll now stands at three. A 62-year old man died on St. Lucia while trying to save his cow from raging flood waters, and a rain-triggered landslide killed a mother and child in their home in Dominica. Martinique suffered the worst damage, with 100% of the banana crop destroyed, 70% of the sugar cane crop gone, and considerable damage to buildings on the south end of the island. Lesser damage occurred on Dominica and St.Lucia, and overall, it appears that the Lesser Antilles islands were fortunate to get off so lightly."

And Weather Underground's Jeff Masters also says - Jamaica is my greatest concern. A direct hit by Dean would make it the worst hurricane strike on Jamaica for over a century. Jamaica has not received a direct hit by a Category 4 or 5 hurricane since perhaps 1832. The worst strikes of the 20th century were Category 3 Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 and Category 2 Hurricane Charlie of 1951. The Cayman Islands also have much to fear from Dean. Dean could rival Ivan as the Cayman's worst hurricane strike of the past century.

HURRICANE DEAN WATCHING

Well folks, I guess by now you all know - Dean's a coming. Today feels eerie. Eerily like the day before a certain man I remember very well - 'Wa Wa Wild Gilbert'.

The Sunday before Gilbert hit was just like today. Nice and bright. It was hot but not overwhelmingly hot because there was a nice breeze - it was by any account a beautiful day.

Now country people always seh when storm ah come, is suh di day set up. Give you time fi guh bring een di goat dem, tie dung di roof, do some las' washing of clothes and clear up wha fi clear up.

What's giving Anansi pause though is that Hurricane Dean is taking the exact same path as Hurricane Gilbert. That was almost 19 years ago, Jamaica will celebrate that anniversary on September 12.

While infrastructurally, we are better off today than 19 years ago - socially we are not. Jamaicans, many of us, have become more selfish, more tiefing, more wicked than we were or have ever been.

Anansi is actually having visions of Katrina. Remember the looters who went on a rampage through Walmart. Big Screen TV's, guns, track shoes, cd's. And let's not forget there was some serious looting during and after Gilbert - "yuh see me fridge - ah Gilbert gimme, mi new tv - ah Gilbert gimme, me new stereo - ah Gilbert gimme, me new video - ah Gilbert gimme."

However, there are some pluses about the Jamaican mentality. Ever since Gilbert and recently Hurricane Ivan aka 'Ivan the Terrible', our people have taken to the mantra of 'its better to be safe than sorry', seriously. So this morning from about 8:45, nobody could get into either MegaMart or PriceMart (Jamaica's Sam's Club or Costco).

Of course not everybody is buying sensibly - cos what di hell people doing with chicken, and all kinds of perishable food inna Hurricane? JPS soon tun of di light switch. Di house dem haffi lock up tighter dan sardine tin, suh how yuh fi cook?

Then again, today, could be viewed as nuff people last Supper. Cos inna couple of days 'Bullybeef ah guh full up wi structure.' So maybe that is the use of di chicken and pork and beef. Me all see one woman ah buy Moet. She mussi plan fi toast Dean.

All we can do now is sit back and watch and wait. The island is now under a Hurricane warning and by this time tomorrow - Dean should be here. Anansi has never been one to entertain people at home - and especially an unwanted guest, so you know that right now Anansi is less than pleased.

To all continue to be safe, Anansi will publish the next blog as soon as possible, even ef - yes mi seh ef, even ef it mean seh me haffi go camp outta 'Careliss and Wukliss' or Chichicell. But eeda way blog ah publish next week.

Pray fi we and unnu walk good.

PS: We tink di election call off! But Sista P, Mama P, or whatever she name today - nuh announce dat yet. But all di same, she need fi fire Prophet Phinn. Unnu mean fi tell me seh big time spiritual advisor and prophet like him couldn't tell Portia seh storm ah come? No man, Phinn fi get pink slip.
Oh and Anansi not saying, but, Gilbert was '88. JLP call election '89 and ah PNP did win. And guess wha' PNP have been in power fi di las' 18 years. Now Anansi not into prophecy, but Anansi believe inna signs!