In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, there has been little news about Dominica, the small island-nation just 400 miles away from Puerto Rico.
Known as "the Nature Island of the Caribbean," its abundant natural resources attract adventurers, honeymooners, scuba divers and ecotourism enthusiasts alike.
Not your typical beach destination with mega-resorts, Dominica's strength is in it unspoiled natural assets-rainforests with lush flora and fauna, rushing waterfalls, hot springs, hiking trails galore and more than three hundred and sixty-five rivers. Dominica is also home to a UNESCO World Heritage site-the Morne Trois Pitons National Park-and is rated one of the top diving destinations in the world.
There is only one fast-food chain (Kentucky Fried Chicken) on the entire island, which prides itself on a stress-free, healthy lifestyle that contributes to having one of the highest percentages of centenarians (people 100 years of age and older) per capita in the world.
On September 19, Hurricane Maria displaced 65,000 people from their homes in Dominica, of which 20,000 were children. In effect, a complete rebuilding of the nation is required. Widespread devastation has upended the country. Agriculture, education, and geothermal energy are main sectors contributing to GDP. However, tourism is of critical importance in the development of the economy and as a strategy to offset declines in other sectors.
"Eden is broken" is how Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit described his country to the UN General Assembly in September. He explained that Dominica needs "water, food, emergency shelter, roads, bridges. . ."
While Dominica is several months away from being able to welcome tourists again, daily press briefings by the Office of the Prime Minister and Facebook posts from Skerrit now indicate optimism for the future.
Plans are underway to recover and rebuild Dominica in a manner that makes the island more resilient to climate change and its effects.
Water and electricity are being restored. USAID has coordinated closely with local officials to determine where to concentrate relief efforts. Immediately following the storm, USAID deployed an assessment team to coordinate disaster relief and to provide damage and needs analysis.
The team collaborated with local government, Disaster Management Officials, the Red Cross, Pan American Health Organization and other National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) officials. Two religious organizations, ITNAC (Is There Not a Cause) based in Trinidad and Tobago and the International Association of Scientologists are currently assisting with relief efforts as well.
According to Kevin Francis, Executive Vice President of the Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association (DHTA), most of the available lodging and resort properties are currently housing disaster relief staff and volunteers.
Skerrit stated at his UN address, "Dominicans are strong and Caribbean people are resilient."
More recently on Twitter, Skerrit he, "I continue to marvel at the sense of purpose and determination that characterizes the attitude and approach of the Dominicans. #DominicaStrong."
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