They will rebound, but it will be a lengthy process. There is tons of aid heading to the impoverished country at this very moment. Fortunately, the runways at the major airport are still functional. The U.N. is sending troops and supplies. Germany is sending millions in emergency medical supplies. Hillary Clinton has promised food, supplies, and troops. Even China is sending a contingency of search and rescue specialists to assist in the effort. I hope that they don't waste too much money right now trying to restore the presidential palace. There are far greater needs to be addressed than national image. It's a shame that it takes a disaster to rally other countries to come to the aid of fellow humans rather than sending engineers to help design and build structures that could have withstood the earthquake in the first place. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected as well as displaced family members of victims around the world.
We are due to go out on the Navigator of the Seas on Saturday, our first time cruising with Royal Caribbean. I was told this morning by their customer service we will most likely spend the day scheduled for Haiti at sea or the captain may choose to dock both days in Jamaica.
My heart and prayers go out to all the people affected.
If you want to donate to the Red Cross international relief fund for this tragedy, text "Haiti" to 90-999. A $10 donation will be charged to your cell phone bill.
Thats great Dave, I heard this same info today on one of the radio talk shows that I listen to while on the road in the mornings.
The USA jumped in to do the right thing for Haiti, one on the poorest countries out there, but our image to so many countries never changes, no matter what we do as a nation of giving people.
Haiti's president claims hundreds of thousands of deaths. I heard a report from someone who flew to Miami from Port-au-Prince about 90 minutes after the quake hit. He said they were the last plane out, and the airport building had huge chunks falling down. I hope the airport can accommodate incoming aid. What a horror.
According to RCI, they have asked Haiti for permission to resume stops at Labadee on January 18 with the Indy.
That is a tough one. On one hand you don't want to see the locals who work there lose out on pay, but on the other hand as a tourist I'd have a hard time having fun there while so much of the country lies in ruins.
just so very sad to watch. I think that the earthquake may be just the beginning of the tragedies the people will suffer. Disease is going to tbe the next killer and we really need to move fast to get some food to this people. God Bless them.
That's quite a quandary there, Dave... You want to help the people in Haiti who depend on the tourist cash flow to support their families... On the other hand, I couldn't, in good conscience, be anywhere close to a festive mood when there are reports of thousands of bodies piled up in streets less than ten miles away. RCCL should just donate a lump some of money to the Labadee workers and the local red cross and let the port stay closed until further notice. (I wouldn't advise any cruise line to temporarily donate a ship to let rescue workers and refugees have a place to stay. Katrina almost killed the Holiday.)
I does evoke a "Nero fiddled while Rome burned" image, doesn't it?
I remember when Cozumel was trashed by Hurricane Wilma cruise ships from RCI, Princess, and Carnival, anchored and delivered emergency supplies. I'm not sure how that would work if they sent the ships to Port-Au-Prince to do the same. Given the scale of destruction and death, anything a cruise ship donated, while appreciated, wouldn't make a dent.
Labadee does have infrastructure. Perhaps open it as an emergency shelter, or marshaling center for emergency workers? You have kitchens, running water, toilets, electrical generators.
I vote for RCL to by-pass Labadee and go to Nassau...I couldn't celebrate at one of the country when so many have died or have been injured at the other end....Peace to all of the people of Haiti.....
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