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.

* * *

“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!”

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

IMPORTANT MEETING WITH EPA REPRESENTATIVES

Dear Vieques Law Reader:

Please see the message below posted by Kathy Gannett and also shared through http://www.ViequesBlog.com and which is of HIGH importance for Vieques and its future.

If you are in Vieques on Monday, January 14, 2013, I encourage you to attend this meeting.

Yours,

Santiago F. Lampón

English and Español

Nota de Kathy: Esta reunión será una oportunidad decir a la EPA que queremos una limpieza completa de la contaminación militar en Vieques. No queremos que acepte la propuesta de la Marina de Guerra para lidiar con la contaminación en Punta Boquiquebrada por simplemente cercarla con alambres de púa. 

Note from Kathy: This meeting will be an opportunity to tell the EPA that we want a complete cleanup of the militarycontamination in Vieques. We do not want to accept the proposal of the Navy to address Punta Boquiquebrada by simply fencing it with barbed wire.

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Blog.com <no-reply@blog.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 8, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Subject: [Vieques Blog] New Post

The blog Vieques Blog, just received a new post.

Title: Message from Regional Administrator Judith Enck/ Mensaje de Judith Enck, Administradora Regional, EPA
Author: WBermúdez

Dear Viequense:

Please join us in a community meeting on
Monday January 14, 2013 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM at
the Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust Office in
Esperanza.

Michael Strautmanis,
Deputy Assistant to the President and I will be at the meeting. We will be
sharing information on the work that the  Vieques Sustainability Task Force is
doing and listen to your ideas for improving health and environment conditions
and promoting sustainable economic development on the island.

We look forward to a great meeting. Please
share this with any fellow Viequenses.

Thank you in advance, any questions please contact Claudia
Gutierrez. Claudia can be reached at 212-637-5036 (office) or 201-362-4935
(cell) and via email at gutierrez.claudia@epa.gov

Sincerely,
Judith
Enck, Regional Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Estimado viequense:

Le invito a participar de una reunión el lunes 14 de
enero, de 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. en las oficinas del Fideicomiso de Conservación e
Historia de Vieques en el Barrio Esperanza.

El Sr. Michael Strautmanis de la oficina del Presidente de los
Estados Unidos y yo participaremos de la reunión. Durante la reunión
compartiremos información relacionada a los esfuerzos del “Vieques
Sustainability Task Force”  y escucharemos sus planteamientos y recomendaciones
sobre como mejorar las condiciones de salud y ambiente, así de como promover el
desarrollo económico sostenible en la isla Nena.

Esperamos que la reunión sea de mucho éxito. Le agradeceré
comparta este correo electrónico con otros viequenses.

Gracias por su interés y de tener cualquier pregunta
comuníquese con Claudia Gutierrez al 212-637-5036 (oficina), 201-362-4935
(celular) o a su correo electrónico gutierrez.claudia@epa.gov

Atentamente,

Judith Enck, Administradora Regional
Agencia Federal de Protección Ambiental

You can check it online at http://viequesblog.blog.com/2013/01/08/message-from-regional-administrator-judith-enck-mensaje-de-judith-enck-administradora-regional-epa/

—
Kathy Gannett
Casa de Kathy
Vieques, P.R. 00765
www.casadekathy.com
787-741-3352
787-565-2717 (cell)

Important Announcement

As published by Mary Capra:

Dear friends,

To honor the memory of our dear friend, Susan, this Saturday, November 17th, a tennis camp for Viequense youth, boys and girls, ages 10-16, will take place at the Inn on the Blue Horizon, the success of which will provide the impetus to develop an on-going tennis program.

For the inaugural session, we will give the kids tee-shirts with a logo designed by Susan for a competition for the Vieques Tennis Club. (Please see attached flyer). Her entry simply had the initials VTC so they’ll stand for Vieques Tennis Camp. How cool that we’re able to use artwork drawn by her hand?

Some players from Chebeague as well as non-playing Vieques friends want to be included so this won’t be an official Vieques Tennis Club event although they will manage the funds and Ric Gifford, co-chair of the Club, is designing the camp program and coordinating volunteers.

We will provide equipment, instructors, transportation, snacks and lunch. The Hacienda Tamarindo, Duffy’s, Weddings in Vieques and the Inn on the Blue Horizon are making valuable donations to the event and Vieques Events will be on site to photograph the fun.

As an amazing coincidence, the high school’s physical education program is in the midst of a tennis section – without the benefit of play! How fitting a tribute; Susan would say it’s a no-brainer.

Ever since they came to Vieques, Susan and John supported every program developed to enhance the lives of Viequense kids and give them opportunities. This past summer Susan and I kicked around the idea of a tennis camp.

To underscore the event’s purpose, the great photo that accompanied Susan’s obituary notice has been blown up and mounted for the kids to see and her very good friend Mark Martin will translate words outlining Susan’s belief that with hard work anything is possible. The kids will also be informed of Susan’s infectious generosity of spirit and her tremendous love of the game.

Please consider a monetary or in-kind gift to support an ongoing tennis program for Viequense youth. We appreciate any assistance you are able to give to this worthy cause.

Heartfelt thanks to the island businesses that so readily pitched in to help and to all the Vieques Tennis Club volunteers whose encouragement will never be forgotten by the kids.

Warm regards,

Ric Gifford, Mark Martin, Mary Capra

Vieques Tennis Camp 2012
Sat, Nov 17th – 9 am to 12 noon
Court Time generously donated by the Inn on the Blue Horizon
Presented by the friends of Susan Wilson
in coordination with Vieques Tennis Club & Escuela Superior German Rieckehoff
Sponsored by Duffy’s, Hacienda Tamarindo & Weddings in Vieques
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE CALL 787-741-0462

Important Notice – Patente Municipal

Vieques Chamber of Commerce

English below
La Administración Municipal y la Cámara de Comercio de Vieques, les invita a una importante reunión en el Centro de Usos Múltiples el 23 de marzo 2011 a las 7:00 p.m. para ofrecerles una orientación sobre la Ley 172 del 15 de noviembre de 2010.
La Ley #172 le da autoridad al gobierno a proveer un período de gracia a aquellos que no han pagado sus impuestos o patentes o estan tarde pagandolas. El Municipio está usando esta ley, la cual es dirigida a los individuos, y la está aplicando al comercio de Vieques que no está pagando patente. Los comercios tienen hasta el 15 de abril 2011 para someter su papelería de actividad comercial de 2003-2009 y tienen hasta junio 30 2011 para pagarlas. De acuerdo a esta ley, cualquiera que sea elegible para participar en este proceso y opta por no hacerlo o falla en cumplir con sus impuestos o patente será sujeto a penalidades, intereses y recargos que con la nueva ley serán 200% de la cantidad adeudada. Normalmente la patente tiene una penalidad de 10% cuando la demora de 60 días o más.

 

ENGLISH

The Vieques Municipality and the Chamber of Commerce invite all businesses to attend an important meeting at the Centro de Usos Múltiples on March 23, 2011 ats 7:00 p.m. to receive an orientation about Law 172 from Nov 15, 2010.

Law 172 gives authority to government to provide a grace period to those who have not paid income taxes and/or patente or are late paying them. The Municipality is using this law, which is directed to the individuals, and applying it to commerce in Vieques that are not paying patente. Businesses have unti April 15 to submit their paperwork for business activity from 2003-2009 and have until June 30th to pay them. According to othis law anybody eligible to participate in this process but chooses not to o fails to comply with his/her tax/patente responsibility will be subjected to penalties, interests and fees which this new law says will be 200% of the amount required to be paid. Normally the patente late fee for payments over 60 days late is 10%.