Update from Vieques

Thom Denton from the Bravos Boyz posed this on Facebook, and I thought it would be good for you to also take a look at what I can only describe as encouraging news from within Vieques.

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“Another very helpful update from Vieques.

“Alvin Lee Gsmd gave an excellent and accurate update earlier post…I left on the last VQS – Fajardo 430 ferry yesterday. The boardwalk Malecon getting cleaned up really well and a good bit of manpower working on carpentry for all Esperanza….Morales & portales are very well-stocked of course with the exception of fresh vegetables and the Meats are spotty but then again aren’t they always on Vieques? The 2 o’clock meetings in the Square are very good…Jay Gonzalez, Mark Martin and his crew are doing an excellent job relaying information to resident and addressing concerns as they come up, compassionate understanding and listening manner. I went to 4 meetings and multigenerational as well as gringo residents walked away having any questions answered or a promise of being looked into. Extremely professional. Vieques Love is truly impressive beyond any doubt!!!!

“There are just a few spots on the hills without water mainly due to pipes. Kuhns sombrero & Yate are up and running, Als should be by today, Tsunami closed but green store, Mambos and lighthouse all good too.. the gas lines are long but NOT as angry / tense as I witnessed on mainland… VQS is showing their true colors and sense of community.. many small businesses and food trucks popping online every day. I think this is the first time in my life I’ve ever made a trip to see my parents in not had Lydia’s cheese bread 🙂

“the Val office downtown is not open yet you have to go out to the airport butCape areo taxi and Val all have someone downstairs ready and able to answer questions. The post office should have finished sorting out the backlog and I believe were beginning to distribute yesterday. The banks are slightly touch and go and I think you may be able to make deposits by now… I have a Verizon phone and was able to jump on Claro at the fort and make two calls to my wife…the temporary Tower downtown which will cover a 2 mile radius was in progress of being built… The entire island seems to go a little better as long as the ice plant can keep their generator up and going. It’s a big morale boost for a cold beverage at home as well as keeping the coolers cold… absolutely everyone is cleaning up their yards but also waiting for the hopeful convoys of electrical repair trucks which other than a half dozen guys I did not see unfortunately…

“ALL VQS residents continue to amaze me with resilience…

“TRAVEL- a flight VQS- SJU would be the least painful as always….taxis are tough to find in Fajardo at the 430 crossing… I befriended some locals that live in Condado and gave me a lift…there are zero hotel rooms in San Juan / isla verde due to FEMA and federales getting all the rooms…. on the way to VQS we slept outside in SJ until we found a ride to Cieba in the morning…on the way home I slept in SJU for 11 hours waiting for my flight which got out without a hitch at 10am however I noticed.. almost 90% of flights leaving SJU prior to 730 were canceled Just an FYI USDA opens up lines 5 o’clock and 6 o’clock… you can get cell service in the terminal but Wi-Fi was definitely a longshot. Plenty of food and stores open at the airport.. I suggest camping out near a wall outlet 🙂

“I’ve heard mixed rumors about the W, whether they’ll reopen again or not ( I only care due to tourism $$ and local employment) a new friend of mine Lalo (spelling?) a very hard Vieques worker was let go under the impression they wouldn’t reopen… driving by cosmetically other than the outside Wall, it ‘looked’ not bad at all… looks can be deceiving I know but for the island sake I hope they reopen… can’t believe their roofs held…

“I (my family) has been through Hugo, Georges, Irma & Maria on Vieques… if I know one thing it’s that Vieques is a survivor and it’s solely because of its residents sense of community and faith, both of which they have in spades. God bless Vieques!”

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Latest from the Municipality after Irma

Below is the communication in Spanish circulated today by the Municipality and which I received through the City Council Facebook page. The translation into English is by me.

This was posted September 12, 2017.

I hope you find this helpful.

Yours, Santiago F. Lampón

MUNICIPIO INFORMA
MUNICIPALITY INFORMS

En este momento tenemos al Cuerpo de Ingenieros de la Marina, FEMA, Departamento de la Familia, Departamento de Vivienda y Cruz Roja los cuales están haciendo una inspección ocular en áreas de las comunidades afectadas, se atenderán estructuras críticas. La OMME y personal municipal se encuentran haciendo la ruta para estos trabajos.

At this time we have the U.S. Navy Corps of Engineers, FEMA, the Department of Family, the Department of Housing and the Red Cross which are conducting visual inspections of the affected communities, and will help with critical structures. The OMME and Municipal staff are preparing the route for this work.

Según información de la AEE se espera que entre la tarde de hoy y el día de mañana se restablezca el servicio de energía eléctrica por lo menos en un 80%.

Pursuant to information provided by the Puerto Rico Power Authority, it is expected that at least 80% of the electric service will be restored by this afternoon.

Las comunidades que aun no tengan agua deben pasar por las oficinas de el Sr. Wilberto Conde a la AAA.

Communities which remain without water, should be reported to Mr. Wilbert Conde at the AAA.

Al momento tenemos en espera la ayuda de alimentos por parte del Gobierno Central, solo hemos recibido artículos de aseo personal los cuales fueron provistos por la Oficina de la Primera Dama Beatriz Roselló. Bajo ninguna circunstancia el Municipio de Vieques ha recibido ALIMENTOS por parte del Gobierno Central. Los alimentos que llegaron a Vieques fueron a través del Banco de Alimentos y los mismos fueron despachados por la Iglesia Fe que Transforma y sus miembros para aproximadamente 150 personas. Pendientes para mas información.

At this time, we are waiting for food assistance from the Central Government, and we have only received personal articles which were provided by the Office of the First Lady, Beatriz Roselló. Vieques has not received food assistance from the Central Government. The food assistance received in Vieques came from the Food Bank and where distributed by the church Faith which Transforms and its members to approximately 150 persons. Please standby for more information.

END OF COMMUNICATION

How to Help the BVIs from Vieques

I read an interesting and encouraging post on Facebook which Kate Cole from El Quenepo shared.

The original post came from Jillian Anderson  and she is coordinating with Christian Evans the delivery of goods to Tortola and, miraculously, they are also airlifting Americans who are stuck on the island over to Vieques with the authorization of the US Boarder Patrol.

These individuals are magicians and are bringing true and effective help to the most needed.  This is how you and I can help them to continue to achieve their desire to help.

Here is the post from Jillian:

“Hello Everyone – It’s really hard for Christian Evans and the crew to accept monetary donations (PR Taxes ect are way to complicated) It would be best if you could donate physical supplies by either dropping them off at the Shanklin Farm in Esperanza or shipping them here to Vieques via Amazon or Ebay. PO Box 1262 or PO Box 1084. Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765.  I’ll be here at the Shanklins collecting supplies, emailing and coordinating all day.  Thanks so much!!!!”

This is all I have except for one tidbit more.

I believe I did see another post in which they were accepting money to pay for fuel.  This you would have to verify with Jillian herself, and she should be easy to find through Facebook.

Well, there you have it.  Another way in which you and I can help notwithstanding the distance.

Very truly yours,

Santiago

 

“Radio Vieques Needs Help”

Here is a post from ViequesBlog.com on a request from help coming from Vieques Radio.

RADIO VIEQUES NEEDS HELP

Please take a quick look.

Yours,

Santiago F. Lampón

Vieques Festival to Benefit Cancer Patients

Go over to http://www.ViequesBlog.com and checkout the article on the event scheduled fro September 3-4, 2016.  Here is the link:

Vieques Festival to benefit local cancer patients, Sept 3-4

Yours,

Santiago F. Lampón

 

Lionfish Hunters of the Island Vieques, Puerto Rico

Patronales in Vieques 2013

Check this out from our friends at http://www.ViequesTravel.com

http://vieques.travel/events/vieques-fiestas-patronales-carnival.html