Hurricane Matthew Destruction today, Rebuilding Tomorrow

What I love about software development is the process of designing a system, trying to think about all possible permutation of what could go wrong, the edge cases then design and code for it. I also love the feeling of unleashing my creations on the world, in that regard I suffer from a little bit of the god complex, knowing that my children, my creations are still running, still alive and still changing the world.

What I love about the permaculture method of agricultural is the process of designing a food production system that mimics nature. Hijacking the natural world and using it for food production because nature has everything figured out, it is the most efficient system. This method requires patience and a deep respect for the natural world because what nature gives you on one hand, nature can take back with the other. But it is all part of the natural plan, it is nature’s way of replenishing the earth. What looks like destruction today is a rebuilding process tomorrow as nature rises like a phoenix from ashes. Everything comes from the earth and as such must go back into the earth to carry on the natural cycle of rebirth.

Jamaica was created and exist in what is known as hurricane alley and a part from the yearly threats from storms and hurricane we also suffer threats from drought and yet we design nothing, plan for nothing, prepare for nothing except the nightly merriment. After studying how water flows around our yard due to flooding, we excavated the top soil and design a drainage system to manage the flow of water out of the yard. We hope we designed for every permutation of water flow to eliminate flooding but one never knows. However I believe in planning and designing, I enjoy that process and feel satisfied when it all works out. I love it when a plan comes together. I must ask the government when they were planning for a growth program did they take the reality of Jamaica into consideration, our global position as a bowling pin in the hurricane bowling alley of life. Did they plan for every permutation and edge cases or just created a growth program for that fictional country created by economist Utopia? Hurricanes are destructive yes but like the phoenix we can rise from the ashes better than we were before since the process of rebuilding after a disaster is in itself an economic stimulus.

Life always find a way

There will be an increase in demand for goods and services required to rebuild. In 1988 after Hurricane Gilbert Jamaica achieved 3.99% GDP growth, such was the effects of the rebuilding process. Already supermarkets have made record profits in days before the event and will make more after the storm passes. Farmers will not be that lucky, since crops could be destroyed but the people who must work to clear out the destruction, rebuild and prepare for replanting will be gainfully employed and the economic multiplier effect will kick in. We are too quick to use hurricane and drought as an excuse for failure, especially when we do nothing to plan and design for it. If you want failure then failure is what you will get.

Government Preparation and Execution Gets a B-Plus (B+)
The Government of Jamaica in preparing for the onslaught of Hurricane Matthew did very well with the planning, preparation and execution of their plans, to the point where I could have easily given a solid A if the hurricane had actually landed to see the real world application of the plan. The fact that at the last minute the Hurricane skipped around Jamaica really takes nothing away from the planning, preparation, execution and leadership shown by the Government. Everybody from the security forces to the thousand or people working throughout the night and day trying to batten down Jamaica and keep us safe really stepped up and played their part. Thank you and congratulation. We were not short of information and was kept up to date, Matthew could not make a move without everyone knowing exactly what he was up to.

The British Media continued dislike for Jamaica
The first rule when dealing with the British is that the British lie, it is also the second and third rule and as such the British should never ever be trusted. At no point during our 400 years relationship did the British did they gave us any reason to trust them. So I am NOT shocked when the British media decided to ignore the great work of the Jamaican people and instead focus their reporting on 2 suspected looters out of a population of 2.8 Million people. It was classic British reporting especially when it comes to Jamaica because for some reason I believe the British want Jamaica to fail because for centuries Jamaica represents uprising and a fight against British oppression. To the British media ALL Jamaicans are Genetically Predisposed to Criminality.

UK SKY News Headline: Looters arrested as Hurricane Matthew skims Jamaica. To top it off they showed a picture of some men helping a stranded motorist to push is car out of the rising waters but made it look like a crime scene as people’s opinion was that the people in the picture were animals trying to rob the motorist. Of all the stories the British media could go with reporting on the dedication and hard work put in my thousands of Jamaicans across Jamaica to prepare for the hurricane, from opening and manning shelters and risking their life to help others. I am NOT shocked this is the story the British press decided to sensationalize to the global public. The Police reported that there was only two arrested for looting and that everything was peaceful and quiet with people helping where they can.