It has been quite a while dear readers, and for that, I apologize.
There hasn’t been much to report. Caught up in work, and photography projects. I didn’t want to post about them until they have been finalized, which they should be soon, and then you’ll get the 411.
The reason I am writing again today is because I feel like venting.
Again.
So today, our lovely little island of Curacao was visited by Tropical Storm Tomas during the wee hours of the morning.
Now before I carry on with this little rant, let me state that I am not the most informed on the matter, but I feel I am informed enough to have an informed opinion on the matter.
Now here is the gist of the situation.
People have drowned, as far as I know the count is up to 3.
Streets are flooded, many businesses are in ruin.
Roofs caved in.
Weak structures tumbling down all over the place.
Cars dead all over the place.
Now that is the gist of it.
Here’s my gripe.
The government on this island has dealt with this in a very very shitty fashion. I blame them for adding insult to injury.
What do I mean by “Insult to injury”, you ask.
I mean that besides the very obvious local disaster. Despite the technology available to warn a place when something like this is about to happen, days in advance.
We have reacted to this, the way people would when your strolling through the mall and someone let’s off a gunshot.
We fumbled the ball and what ensues is bullshit.
Every measure we have taken in order to address this situation has been half assed, and way too late.
Sure, you got some of the less fortunate ones to “shelters” but you did so way too late.
And everything since then, has been chaos.
No coordinated efforts, just a bunch of big hearted vigilantes taking things into their own hands, and there was no order, nothing.
Just more bullshit.
You know what is the closest thing we have to an official emergency broadcast system?
Facebook and blackberry messenger.
The same gossip that fuels everyone’s little lives from day to day, has also fueled this disaster.
Facebook pictures and panicky opinions from the bewildered minds of overzealous teenagers.
That was out emergency broadcast systems.
Each radio station and media outlet stirring up their own stories of what is to be done, and what has been done.
No congruency whatsoever.
Here’s sort of what the news looked like as it came in, in waves of comments and mass blackberry messenger posts posts.
“there will be no work or school tomorrow”
“there will be no school, but there will be work’
“there will be work, but its understandable that people may arrive late”
“Our bridge has weakened, don’t use it!”
“Nah it ain’t weak, you can go right over it”
“It’s weak, but good enough to use, but if it continues to rain it might be unsafe”
And then a variation of reports from various neighborhoods saying that this and that neighborhood i flooded, while simultaneous reports say that these same neighborhoods are fine and have been unaffected by the situation.
Now the first thing you do is keep the radar on standby during this time of year for shit like this, why? Because it’s known as the hurricane season for a reason, not just because the name sounds epic.
Secondly, you assign an emergency broadcast system, one television station, one radio station, the go to place for all official announcements concerning the situation, where the general public is addressed and given directions on how to proceed throughout.
That would certainly put a damper on all of these media outlets clucking like chickens with rumors and theories.
Secondly, you issue a curfew. What do I mean by “curfew”?
I mean no one goes to school, no one goes to work, all businesses are closed for at least 24 hours.
This would avoid much widespread confusion! Which is what we are dealing with now. What is true, what is not, and what to do?
How hard is it to shut down the economy for 24 hours?
I mean mother nature has already done so for us right?
But no, we wanna keep the motor running right? Money has to be made!! Money money money, at the end of the day capitalism must prevail!
Well guess what, banks are closed…
If the banks are closed why would anyone else work. The main finanacial institutions in our country, are closed. They have taken this upon themselves to remain closed today. Why would anyone else have to go to work, and risk their car, or maybe even their lives, for a days pay. I say…fuck that.
You issue a curfew, everyone knows what they have to do. Simple. Stay home and wait for further instructions. It’s not like ANYONE in their right minds are gonna go out and shop today anyways geniuses. Why would they!?
Now, people call up their work, and if you’re unlucky enough to have a shortsighted boss, who is money hungry and a bigot, you are fucked, because you’ll have to drive through the reenactment of the movie “2012” to get to work, and if something happens along the way, “ho hum” too bad.
While if they issued a curfew, these bosses can say “well if it were up to me, you’d be in here slaving your ass off, but since it ain’t up to me, you’ll have to stay home, because it’s technically against the law to leave the house and prance around today” Simple as a pimple folks.
All in all, we handled this poorly.
I’d like to personally congratulate our government for doing a sterling job of looking our for their own.
Oh and by the way, you want to know where all these government officials and shot callers were when all of this went down?
They were at a party, livin’ it up. And then suddenly shit hit the fan, and they didn’t even know what it was. Until they received word, and it was too late.
They took late, half assed measures which cost lives and money.
Great job! God bless every last one of you.
I hope you enjoyed your apple martinis assholes. Because you just FAILED!
Being a leader means to be empathetic, putting the needs of your people before your own.
And if you want to be a successful leader, your gaze has to reach further than your reach. Be prepared. Cover your bases. Be vigilant. Be on time. Be humble.
But it would be very difficult to get this through the concrete skulls of crooks, thieves, liars and fools.
Good luck steering this ship into the great unknown “leaders”
Till next time guys. I wish you all luck out there with the situation.
I myself am fine, but I’m required to go to work, which might change that fact, but we’ll see. Because as far as I know, the neighborhood I’m in right now, is flooded, and I cannot drive through it.
I wish you all strength and luck, God’s speed.
Rob.
ps.
Click here! if you wish to see some of the damage done by Tomas here in Curacao.
