What's Happening

Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica has suffered major damage from Melissa. It will take years to rebuild those communities. Older folks need to tell their children stories about the past. I wonder how many parents have told their children about Gilbert. Many believe that a hurricane is a joke. One gentleman said on television that he did not take Melissa seriously.

Bark Di Trute has been issuing words of caution since October 18. This was when it was referred to as Invest 98L. I became very concerned about the level of damage this hurricane caused, and I discussed it with Dr Barbara Carby the former head of ODPEM. She made it clear that the hurricane was a category 5 hurricane and it would cause serious structural damage to even buildings.

I asked her to record a voice mail with her concerns, which I posted in a blog. That blog did not get the type of attention and action that it should have generated.

Melissa has come and gone. We all must help out brothers and sister in the hurricane ravaged areas. I contributed my part by dedicated hours around the computing sending out information and also sharing information on radio.

The Catholic Church 

Pope XIV meets students

Pope Leo challenges students participating in the Jubilee of the World of Education to work for a better society through education, which is “one of the most beautiful and powerful tools for changing the world.” 

Pope Leo XIV meets with the President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, in the Vatican on Thursday. 

Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu, President of Fiji, meets with Pope Leo and Vatican diplomats for talks on the socio-political situation of his country.

Chaos In Sudan

Sudan and surrounding countries

I received the following message from Suzanne Ehlers Executive Director and CEOUSA for UNHCR:

I won't sugarcoat this. The escalating violence in Sudan is devastating.

In Sudan's North Darfur region, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have entered El Fasher, the last remaining unoccupied city. This has forced tens of thousands of people to flee, as brutal violence has escalated after 500 days of relentless siege and conflict.

Because of the support of this powerful community, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, staff on the ground are meeting thousands of people fleeing — they are sharing terrifying stories of threats and violence by armed groups, and extortion. Families, especially children, are arriving malnourished, sick and traumatized by their perilous journey to safety.

The political climate is very unstable in Sudan, and that has resulted in hundreds of people losing their lives due to internal fighting between military groups and political groups. There are horror stories of even young children being raped during the war. Why has the world forgotten this African country? Why has Jamaica forgotten this country? The only people who seem to remember them are those who profit from the sales of weapons.