BAHAMAS NATIONAL TRUST APPEAL FOR INAGUA - September 18, 2008

photo by Derek Catalano

Dear BNT Members and Friends,

Hurricane Ike moved across the southern Bahamas and directly impacted Inagua, home to the Inagua National Park and Union Creek Reserve. Thankfully there was no loss of life and the people of Inagua are working to recover and rebuild their community. Taking advantage of a wonderful private relief effort organized immediately after the storm’s passage, BNT sent out an initial call for help for the people of Inagua - BNT members responded generously and quickly.

Further assessment and consultation with Inaguans and NEMA indicates that the greatest need to assist the community in getting back on its feet is building and roofing materials. Some BNT members have already donated funds which will go to purchase roofing and building materials. The Trust will be coordinating these efforts with NEMA.

Many persons within The Bahamas and internationally have also expressed concern about Inagua’s wildlife. BNT will send a biologist down to Inagua shortly, to conduct a rapid assessment of the effects of Ike on the wildlife, and make recommendations for a long-term monitoring and management strategy. While it will take considerable time to fully assess the full impact of the hurricane, initial reports are that the flamingos have returned to the lake, and that the Bahama Parrots are foraging on the ground for fruits and seeds. On the advice of our biologists we are not advocating a feeding programme for the parrots at this time. We will monitor the situation and if the parrots suffer significant losses, we will revisit our position.

The Bahamas National Trust is launching a further appeal to members and friends, to consider making a donation to purchase building materials for the community, and fund the Rapid Assessment of the hurricane’s impact on the park and its wildlife.

Please indicate how you would prefer for your gift to be used. Feel free to split between both causes. Please make cheques payable to the Bahamas National Trust: Inagua Relief Fund.

We thank all of you for your concern for the people and wildlife of Inagua.


Sincerely,

Eric Carey
Executive Director
Bahamas National Trust

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Annuder Haracane Comin'!

Here's a poem I wrote about the experiences of a Bahamian family in a hurricane. The father tells the tale.

It is written in Bahamianese which is a form of broken english or dialect that is commonly spoken here in The Bahamas, even though we are masters of 'the Queen's english'. :)

Annuder Haracane Comin'!

Anudder haracane comin
I can't take no more
Gatta battin-up ma windas agin
An' lock-down tight ma door
In dese crazy lass days
haracanes comin by da score

Dis' one comin' fass an’ true
No matter what I wish
Back agin to da corner shop
For water an' tuna-fish

I need more good plywood
For dis angry devil in da sky,
But dat greedy man daan dere
Done raise da price sky high

Need ta full ma car tank
Wit gas what scarce an’ so dear
Don't know what for anyhow
Cause I een drivin' no where
An da gas line so long
I feel I could hardly bear

Back home we finish battin-up quick
I hungry an' iss eatin’ time
Wife say "Haa yall 'spek ta eat tuna-fish
If yall een bring no lime!"
I say "Dese haracanes get me all mix-up
Cause I feel like I gern out my mine!"

We all done lock-down naa
In my house-prison safe an' tight
Dis one gon hit us like a boom
In da middle a da night

It reach! It reach!
It ‘pon top a us right now
Light off, water off
Who need dem anyhow
An' yinna chirren shut up
Dis een no time ta row

I peep tru one lil hole
An' see da rain an' mighty breeze
People even walkin' in da streets
Dey fool naa, mudda freeze!

Coconut tree dem ben' right down
Lord only you could help us, please
Ma crops done gone, so much I loose
Banana, corn an' peas

Water risin', shingle flyin'
Hope we make it till mornin'
Lord what kinda lan' dis is
I gone an’ get born in?

Naa dis a real haracane
Hope ma house could stand da proof
"Stop up dat water wit some towel
'Fore we hafta go in da roof!"

Lord please save us
Water comin’ in everywhere
Chirren, wife, grammy and da dog
All stanin’ up on chair

Erryting quiet naa
I gone outside ta spy
What dat man on da radio jess say?
Oh Jesus! Dis only da eye

I haul-hip back inside
For more safety an' protection
Naa da breeze blowin' twice as hard
An' comin' from da nex' direction

Lord dis me agin
I gern ta see Pastor Lundy,
‘Cause Lord if you get us tru dis
I gon be in church erry Sundy

Vell da sun up an' it over now
Look like we bin' tru war
Hear me now Fadda Jesus
Doon sen’ no haracane no more.

Cutlass chappin’, chainsaw buzzin’
A familiar soun’ in da air,
Time for us to go an’ pick up
Half-ripe hog plum an’ pear.

Tings gettin' back in order
It gon be a good day
Whatchu say Mr. Wedderman?
Anudder one on da way?

Vell I gat plenty experience naa
Cause dese haracanes doon play,
An' tanks for hearin' my prayers Lord
An' sparin' us anudder day.

derek catalano (c)2004.