Relief Supply Boats Held Up By Gun-Toting Locals
The Virgin Islands were pounded by Hurricane Irma, but as bad a hit as the islands took, the worse is actually happening in its aftermath.
With no food, water, electricity, cell service or essential elements or services, the place is turning chaotic as some residents are taking up arms and making a bad situation borderline impossible and also dangerous.
“People are running around with guns, holding people up at gunpoint.” one local source told PubClub.com. “The cops on St. John are afraid to get out of their cars so they are just sitting in their cars.
“The relief ships are staying in the harbor because there’s people on the shore with guns. They won’t unload the supplies because it’s too dangerous.”
“It’s armageddon.”
We are withholding the source’s name for his safety. He is a local entertainer who plays many of the bars and restaurants in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
St. John’s blogger Jenn Manes agrees, writing “we need help. We need the United States government to step up. We need military. We need security.”
There are other issues, as well. While there have been several relief funds set up, not all of them are legitimate. “Some are fake; they will just pocket the money,” our source said.
PubClub has a list of legitimate relief funds posted here.
Then there is the issue of misinformation.
“There’s a lot of fake news out there,” our source said. “Someone put on Facebook that Bomba’s Surfside Shack was untouched. I called Bomba myself and he said it’s destroyed. Even the road in front of it is destroyed.
“We need people to report the news, the situation here, as it is, not fake or untrue information.”
Bomba’s was hardly the only place to get hit. Many of legendary bars in the BVIs sustained heavy damage, with a few being completely destroyed. Here’s a rundown of the post-Irma status of those bars.
Regarding recovery, he said, “Bomba says he will rebuilt. All the bars will rebuild. We need tourists to come back as soon possible. Heck, some places can put up a few coolers with ice and serve cold beers, and make rum drinks.”
But, he warns, none of that will happen immediately, due in large part to the current crises.
“Its bad, ” he said.
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