By Alexander Britell

In a major sign of strength for hard-hit St Barth, the island’s famous Gustav III airport is officially open for commerical operations.

The airport has begun taking commercial flights from carriers like Air Antilles (out of Guadeloupe) and Tradewind Aviation (out of San Juan).

The latter, Tradewind, has been at the forefront of the island’s relief efforts, regularly flying free relief flights for the first three days after the runway was cleared.

The island also got a boost from France President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Wednesday to assess damage and discuss restoration efforts.

“St Barths was hit hard but there is strong will there and desire to rebound quickly,” Tradewind Aviation Co-Owner David Zipkin told Caribbean Journal. “I am encouraged by the progress we’ve already seen and optimistic that a great winter season is still possible and indeed likely.”

The airport’s reopening comes as several other milestones have been reached in the island’s climb to recovery: water production is at full production, as is production at the electrical plant — with Gustavia and St Jean the first to have electricity restored.

The island’s Garbage treatment center is at full production, while all roadways have been cleared and are now accessible.

The island’s commercial harbor is also functional, having received its first shipment on Monday including generators, food and supplies for residents.

“St. Barts is thankful for any support France may provide, as well as volunteers sent by Guadalupe, Martinique and others,” says Nils Dufau, president of the Territorial Tourism Committee of St Barts. “The population of St. Barts has shown great courage and exemplary solidarity in the response to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.”

A relief flight this week.

The state of the island’s hotel stock is still not clear; most hotels were closed at the time and have not yet released completed full damage assessements.

The post St Barth Airport Reopens appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hurricane Irma passed through the Turks and Caicos last week, but the island of Providenciales was spared some of Irma’s wrath.

Indeed, some of the island’s top resorts are already planning to reopen this month.

Hartling Group Resorts, which has three of the island’s leading resorts, has announced a timetable for the reopening of its properties.

The Shore Club, The Sands and The Palms sustained “no major structural damages” during the storm, only extensive landscaping and some water damage.

While they will be closed to allow time for necessary repairs, they are all reopening within a few weeks.

The Sands at Grace Bay and the Palms will open Sept. 23, and The Shore Club will reopen on Sept. 30.

The company said it would be contacting guests and travel professionals who were booked to arrive during the next few weeks to reschedule their stays.

Irma did not leave the island unscathed however, and Hartling Group said it would be working to help staff and local community members who lost their homes and belongings due to flooding and wind damage.

“We are committed to assisting those persons as we all work together to restore this great community,” the company said.

The post Turks and Caicos’ Sands, Shore Club, Palms Reopening This Month appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of Barbuda was totally devastated by the passage of Hurricane Irma last week

Almost 95 percent of the island’s buildings were destroyed, with both private properties and government facilities either destroyed or extensively damaged, while one life was lost.

The situation is severe, though relief and rebuilding efforts have begun.

“The Government will do whatever it takes in the short term to get Barbuda on its feet again,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael. “However, the best way to help our islands as we return to normal is for visitors to continue with their vacation plans or make plans to visit us soon to experience at first hand the warmth and hospitality of our people.” (It should be noted that the island of Antigua was spared from Irma’s wrath, and is already “open for business.”

But you can help with direct donations to Barbuda, too.

Antigua’s National Office of Disaster Services is also working with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross on Barbuda Relief and Recovery; donations can be made either via the Ticketing app here or made either directly to the Red Cross here.

Antigua and Barbuda’s government has also set up special accounts exclusively for Barbuda donations, information for which can be found below.

For more information on making donations via those accounts, visit Antigua and Barbuda Tourism.

The post How You Can Help Barbuda appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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On Oct. 9, 1780, the Great Hurricane came to the Caribbean.

Huracan San Calixto lasted 11 days in the West Indies, pummeling the southeastern Caribbean with terrifying winds as high as 200 miles per hour, destroying homes and livelihoods.

Almost 22,000 people died across the West Indies in islands including Barbados, Martinique, St Lucia, St Eustatius then northern islands like Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

This terrible tempest remains the deadliest recorded hurricane in the history of the Western Hemisphere. Everything was washed away. Or so it seemed.

Just about every island in the Caribbean has its own hurricane story, from Omar in Nevis to Ivan in Grenada to the Great Storm of Cayman Brac in 1932.

But all of these islands are still here. And they are not going anywhere.

Because that’s the thing about Caribbean people: they cannot be defeated. They rebuild, they restore and they live again.

It is the cost of the region’s unimaginable natural beauty that, by the caprice of fate, there is the periodic risk of ruin, an intermittent reminder of the supremacy of Mother Nature.

But after each storm, after each tragedy, the Caribbean waves its finger at Mother Nature; “storms may come and go, but we are here to stay.”

There is nothing to be said of this past week’s tragedies that has not yet been said, and our hearts go out to the people who died.

What needs to be said is this: the Caribbean will rebuild.

It will not be easy, it may not be quick, but it will happen.

And then think of the destinations that escaped Irma’s wrath: the vast majority of the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Punta Cana, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, the Colombian Caribbean, the Venezuelan Caribbean, Belize, Panama, Honduras, the Mexican Caribbean … the list goes on. That’s along with islands like Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Croix and Providenciales, places which were “largely” unscathed and quickly getting back to business.

So what should you do, as someone who loves the Caribbean?

Come back.

Of course, you should donate to any legitimate charity, send money to those in need, donate items for relief and recovery, something we’ll continue to highlight in the coming weeks.

But the biggest thing you can do for the livelihood of this whole region is to keep coming back to the Caribbean.

For now, keep traveling to the islands that were unaffected. Then, stay updated as islands rebuild and recover, and then travel there when they’re ready to welcome you.

Because tourism remains the life blood of the Caribbean — it is the way this beautiful region makes a living, and without it there is no oil or copper or large industry to fall back on.

It is the fundament of the Caribbean economy, and it is a direct conduit to the pocketbooks of the people of this region.

Hurricane Irma put the Caribbean in an unfortunate global spotlight. But in a few weeks, the spotlight will dim and the news cycle will forget.

You cannot forget.

Keep coming back. Because the Caribbean is still here. And it is not going anywhere.

Alexander Britell, Founder and Editor in Chief, Caribbean Journal

The post Editor’s Note: The Caribbean, After Irma appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Above: a British relief flight

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Anguilla was devastated by Hurricane Irma, but the island is beginning recovery and relief efforts.

Anguilla’s Governor and Chief Minister are continuing to assess the damage, they said in a statement, with aid from the UK already beginning to arrive on the island as Anguilla begins what will be a massive cleanup campaign.

The airport is now open and receiving charter and relief flights.

And what about the island’s vital tourism sector?

Some properties have offered updates, which you can find below:

Carimar Beach Club

Management and staff are fine and Carimar is standing strong.  The garden looks worst and a few doors and windows.  The team has started the clean-up process and will advise of their reopening date, now that Hurricane Jose has passed.

CeBlue Villas & Beach Resort

CeBlue’s staff is safe and the resort had no guests as it was already closed for the season. The villas and resort buildings held up strongly against the hurricane and they are all structurally sound. The resort has begun the clean up process as the damages sustained are repairable and they look forward to welcoming guests for the season.

Fountain Anguilla

The Fountain buildings and grounds are structurally intact. A few of the units suffered some damage from debris hitting the windows and they are currently assessing the clean-up and repair. They anticipate being open for the season.

CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and The Reef by CuisinArt

This property was significantly affected, and their engineers are presently assessing the full extent of the damage. The ownership and management are steadfastly committed to restoring, rebuilding and reopening, as well as doing everything possible to help and support their employees through this most difficult time. They look forward to welcoming back all their guests as soon as possible, and greatly appreciate the extraordinary outpouring of encouragement and support during this difficult time. Additional information will be posted on their website and social media networks as soon as it is available.

Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort 

Upon preliminary review there appears to be no major structural damage to the resort. The team is now assessing the extent of the clean up required in greater detail and once this is completed they will advise on their proposed reopening date.

Quintessence Boutique Resort

The property sustained a fair amount of damage, but nothing that can’t be repaired; however the proposed November 1 opening will be delayed.

Zemi Beach House 

Zemi Beach had closed to guests in advance of the hurricane. The property held strong during the storm so they will be able to welcome guests back before long, although the timing is still uncertain, as they are still assessing the situation. The owners, management and staff of Zemi Beach House would like to thank everyone for their kind words and concerns during this heart-rending period for Anguilla and Zemi Beach House. For any further inquiries, please contact Frank Pierce Director of Sales & Marketing at frank.pierce@zemibeach.com.

The post An Update on Anguilla Tourism, After Irma appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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