Stephen Vasciannie
AS I write 7 o'clock on Saturday morning - Hurricane Ivan continues on a west-northwesterly direction off the south coast of Jamaica. The expert reports indicate that the hurricane is now 70 miles south of Montego Bay, and just about 37 miles south of Black River. They say, too, that the hurricane is moving away; and thus, we are led to believe that the terror is almost over.
But it certainly does not feel that way! The stretch from 12 midnight to the strokes of this pen has been the longest night. Strong winds continue to pound away at my windows, there is water in inappropriate places, and, even now, the prospect of living without a roof weighs heavily on my soul.
Early indications are that we have been spared a Category 5 catastrophe at its worst, but this "we" is not shared by all. There is devastation in various communities; trees, lightposts and other external aids to living have become identifiable but dangerous flying objects. Those living by the sea are particularly imperilled, but, so too are those on the hill, as the threat and reality of landslides assume prominence. There is flooding, there will, in all probability, be loss of life, and the callous have already been involved in episodes of violence and looting.
MEDIA
Throughout the longest night, members of the media have been helpful and reassuring. Ivan is my first real hurricane: '51 mi neva born; Flora was too early for my full consciousness; Gilda was a mere storm; Allen was not a direct hit in my part of town; and the touchstone, Uncle Gilbert, found me in another place at another time. As a hurricane virgin, therefore, I did not know exactly what to expect, and even as I gathered the flashlight and other recommended accoutrements, I was largely clueless about the emotional aspects of the hurricane.
Against this background, I give thanks to those media workers (announcers, technical operators and all concerned) who sacrificed their own personal and family interests to bring information about Ivan to all of us: Cliff Hughes, Emily Crooks and Ronnie Thwaites on Power 106 maintained their standards in difficult circumstances; the RJR team made positive use of that station's nationwide contacts, and the metaphorical fires of Hot 102 were not quenched by the waters of Ivan. Love Radio, too, was calm and collected when I turned to them.
Naturally, given that we were all under stress, some media comments were misplaced. Thus, the announcer who repeatedly described his more knowledgeable colleague as his 'sidekick' did himself no favours. Similarly, the CVM cameraman who absorbed a splashing on the Palisadoes Road could have chosen his words of ejaculation with greater circumspection.
But not to worry, these are minor blemishes on an outstanding canvas. Information was presented promptly and accurately, and those presenters who accepted telephone calls were patient, understanding and duly solicitous. Arthur Hall humorously suggested that people were busy carrying their "dog, cat, rat, and granny" to the Arena. Surely, he intended no disrespect to the many grandmothers who run this country, but why, I wonder, would anyone carry Ben to a rainshelter. One programme took a call from a spouse, searching for her spice named Romeo, and another sensitively conversed with a lady who was just "liming" in the midst of a high wind in Jamaica.
POLITICS
Perhaps, it is inevitable that some people have sought to politicise the disaster. Ivan, after all, is a part of our lives, so naturally, those who live by politics would seek to link Ivan with our political fortunes. The Prime Minister, in the face of impending crisis, advises the Governor General to declare a "period of emergency". Obviously this is in order, and if the Prime Minister had not done so, many of us would have wondered why not. And yet the proclamation of an emergency situation is made into a cause for innuendo and scepticism.
Sometimes even the confirmed cynic needs to realise that not every human act is sinister and insincere. The Prime Minister has recognised where the buck stops, and has acted correctly. We can only hope now that wonderful acts of voluntarism and organised efforts from the relevant authorities will ease the pain and suffering inflicted by Ivan, the passing terror.
Stephen Vasciannie is Professor of International Law, Head of the Department of Government, UWI, and a consultant in the Attorney-General's chambers.