Full Report on Extensive Caribbean Recovery

From storm insurance funds to materials, personnel and supplies, private companies and international governments are stepping up to help the Caribbean islands heavily damaged by Hurricane Irma.

The diversity of assistance augurs well for the islands’ recovery as it begins to put the pieces back together.  

The destruction prompted visits by prominent foreign leaders. On Wednesday Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary flew into hard-hit Anguilla after arriving in Barbados on a military flight. Johnson was scheduled to visit the British Virgin Islands, also among the countries devastated by Irma, before returning to the UK.

Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, visited St. Barts Wednesday, joining Territorial Collectivity officials as they assessed damage and discussed restoration initiatives.

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Government and tourism officials, along with private citizens and investors with ties to the impacted islands, are also providing personal assistance. Gaston Browne, Antigua’s prime minister, along with Asot Michael, the country’s energy minister, contributed a combined $237,000 to a relief and rebuilding fund for Barbuda.

Browne said one young child was killed on Barbuda during Irma and 90 percent of the island’s structures have been destroyed. The island has since been evacuated.

Although only marginally unaffected by Irma, Puerto Rico’s tourism stakeholders are assisting their Caribbean neighbors grappling with the storm’s aftermath. Marriott hotels—including the San Juan Marriott, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and AC Hotel by Marriott—hosted approximately 700 guests from St. Thomas, St. Maarten and St. John.

The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Rio Grande welcomed approximately 300 guests from St. Thomas.

“Our Caribbean neighbors need support so we’ve been mobilizing our industry to not only take in travelers who have had their vacations disrupted but also help with relief efforts conducted by local and U.S. authorities,” said Jose Izquierdo, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Meanwhile damage assessment reports are emerging as wider communications are being re-established with islands wracked by the storm. Here an island-by-island roundup of developments:

Anguilla

Seaborne Airlines flew relief supplies donated by the airline and “the people of Puerto Rico” onto the island Tuesday.
The shipment was met by Cardigan Connor, the country’s parliamentary secretary for tourism and Hugh Riley, secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

Clean-up around the island is proceeding at a “rapid pace,” and “government is committed to restoring services including reopening the schools,” according to an Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) statement. “Hotels and villas are providing shelter and services,” the statement adds.

The Four Seasons resort was “ripped apart” by Irma and “probably sustained $20 million worth of damage,” said Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, in a CNBC interview.

“The government is saying we won’t have electricity until December,” he added. “They are going to have to rebuild everything here. This is going to be a U.N.-like air effort in the Caribbean,” he added.

Donations to the country’s recovery efforts are being coordinated by The Anguilla Progressive Association of New York, a non-profit organization sanctioned by the Anguilla government. Anguilla Beaches, working in conjunction with the Anguilla Red Cross, is also collecting donations.

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Antigua

Officials at Elite Island Resorts announced the Pineapple Beach Club Antigua & St. James's Club & Villas are open while the Verandah Resort & Spa will re-open for arrivals October 14 as previously scheduled.

The company is asking travel agents to advise guests currently holding confirmed reservations for the company’s resorts in St. Maarten or the U.S. Virgin Islands for travel through December 20 to “consider honoring their reservations” at one of the company’s Antigua properties or one of the company’s resorts in Barbados or Saint Lucia.

Though the Sandals Grande Antigua sustained superficial damage, the resort will remain closed and reopen December 20, due to Irma damage and earlier-planned maintenance. The Hodges Bay Resort & Spa remains on track for a December opening said a representative.

The Bahamas

Hotels and resorts in major tourist areas including Nassau and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, The Abacos and The Exumas, are resuming normal operations and welcoming more guests while visitors return to beaches and attractions, said Ministry of Tourism officials.  

However, the Bahamas’ southern islands were heavily impacted with cosmetic and significant structural damage to structures on Ragged Island, Acklins Island, Crooked Island, Inaugua and Mayaguana. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation is providing updates at www.Bahamas.com/storms.

The Bahamas Tribune reports territory will also benefit from a $234,000 payout from CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility).

British Virgin Islands

The territory’s government is continuing to assess the damage sustained and advising travelers in need of assistance to consult with the BVI Tourist Board office at Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour.

“The priority in the coming days is to ensure that all remaining visitors are safely transported out of the territory,” said Tourist Board officials in a statement. A curfew remains in effect on Virgin Gorda from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.

The Tourist Board office on Tortola is currently not in operation. Tortola visitors who require assistance on Tortola should visit the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) operating from Peebles Hospital in Road Town. Updates are available on the Tourist Board’s Facebook page.

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Saint Maarten

Recovery efforts continue in the Franco-Dutch island, which suffered widespread damage. Virtually every hotel and resort property was impacted and several were nearly destroyed.

The Beach Plaza, Hotel Mercure, La Playa Orient Bay, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Riu Palace St. Martin, Summit Resort Hotel, Westin Dawn Beach and the island’s three Sonesta properties all sustained substantial damage and will remain closed until further notice.

The French and Dutch governments have sent personnel and supplies to the country.

St. Barts

Reports from the territory are encouraging as roadways are reported cleared and accessible. Saint-Jean Airport is “fully functional” and receiving flights from commercial carriers including Guadeloupe-based Air Antilles and San Juan-based Tradewind Aviation.

“A great winter season is still possible and indeed likely,” Tradewind co-owner David Zipkin told Caribbean Journal.

Tradewind launched complimentary relief flights to assist in the island’s recovery. The island’s water production capacity and electricity have been largely restored. St. Barts’ commercial harbor is functional and received its first shipment of generators, food and supplies for residents on September 11.

“St. Barts is thankful for any support France may provide, as well as volunteers sent by Guadeloupe, Martinique and others,” says Nils Dufau, president of the Territorial Tourism Committee of St. Barts. “The population of St. Barts has shown great courage and exemplary solidarity in the response to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.”

Turks and Caicos

U.K.-based Army and Royal Marine soldiers arrived in Providenciales Monday to conduct initial damage assessments. Altough Providenciales airport is fully open, Grand Turk and South Caicos—where a state of emergency has been declared—remain open only to emergency services flights.

Hurricane Irma triggered a $13.6 million payout to the Turks & Caicos government from CCRIF SPC under its tropical cyclone insurance policy.

Some limited food aid was delivered by volunteers to Grand Turk on Monday. Utility companies are working to restore power, water and telephone service. Scattered areas had power restored Monday.

The Grace Bay Club resort will reopen on September 30; the West Bay Club remains scheduled to reopen October 1. Grace Bay Resorts has launched a fund to assist its employees impacted by Irma. The company is matching donations which will be used to help rebuild and repair employees’ homes and “provide for their families' basic needs,” said officials.

Following a damage assessment, Beaches Turks and Caicos will remain closed through December 14 said a Sandals Resorts International spokesperson.