OCT. 99
ANTIGUA
HURRICANE JOSE DAMAGE REPORTS

It has been a week since hurricane Jose and now we have quite a bit of information available. I hope to put up more on the aftermath as time allows. I know you all want to know everything NOW! Please forgive me but the physical and emotional strain of picking up the debris around your home is sizable. Even when you know it's just a couple of weeks work. We don't have the resources that the hotels do..... we have to get out the shovel and do it our selves. We have no funding for these pages so now I need to ensure that my business, Island Arts, is fully operational.

It is VERY time consuming answering all your questions. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND THE SITE TO BE SURE THE ANSWER ISN"T ALREADY HERE then you can ask by email and I will add you to the mailing list and try to answer your question in that format when I have the answer.

These links will take you to various reports on different aspects of post Jose Antigua.
Overview * Accommodation * Beaches * Places and People * Jolly Harbour * English Harbour * Watersports * The Museum * Aiton Place * Harmony Hall

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines have cleared Antigua for the arrival of their vessels which will return on Thursday 28th. It will herald a much needed boost to our economy and is testament to the swift recovery here.

Bob Williamson of the schooner St Peter bobw@candw.ag highlights the problem of inaccurate and irresponsible press following a hurricane.

"Dear Nick,

Thanks for your positive message. The press does terrible damage to everyone in a situation like this. After Lu"s YachtingWorld, in two editorials, described Antigua as totally trashed. I wrote to the editor telling him that by far the worst damage to the island was from his editorials.He published my letter, bless him!

After Georges an old pal telephoned to ask what had happened - he'd just stepped out of a meeting of Canadian travel agents who were bleating about not sending anyone here. I put him right and back in he went with the good news. I guess it's human nature to wallow in anything bad."

Christiane Hansen of the Dalila shop in Redcliffe Quay has taken active steps to resolve that in France. She writes:

"Thank you Nick for your email regarding the situation of our beautiful island of Antigua after Jose ; I'm going to send it to France at the '' office du tourisme pour Antigua '' in Paris to inform my friends. And to the French embassy in St. Lucia who called me several times during and after the hurricane to know about our situation in our island."

THANK YOU Christiane for taking the trouble to make a difference.

If you are coming to Antigua the first week after the storm: Your hotel will probably be fine... otherwise they will relocate you somewhere that is. Power will be by generator which all the major hotels have. Weather is likely to be cloudy with showers... but you might still go home with a suntan. UV rays are strong out here.

If you are coming to Antigua the second week after the storm: Weather is likely to be better and hotel grounds will be cleaned up by then

If you are coming to Antigua a month after the storm: We will be totally back to normal!

You can read my diary of the storm here

 

This site is sponsored by Nick Maley's Island Arts

 

 

Check out our links to other sites in Antigua & Barbuda