‘Since the Hurricanes of 2017, I have not seen one politician’- Helen G. Penn
It speaks volumes to how the Territory’s seniors are treated and how many of them continue to suffer in silence.
The story was first broken by the New York Times in an article dated September 24, 2018, about the condition of 74-year-old widow Mrs. Helen G. Penn of Horse Path on the main Island of Tortola, a year after Hurricane Irma.
Our newsroom reporter made a visit to the home of Mrs. Penn whose husband died a few years ago. Accompanying the visit was political aspirant Julian Willock whose company owns this news site.
“I wanted to see for myself if what the New York Times was reporting was accurate, before I placed a call to one of their correspondents who happens to be a friend” Mr. Willock said in an invited comment. Willock’s track record is one where he consistently defends the Territory against unfair and inaccurate characterization from the international media.
Shocking conditions for Mrs. Penn
The conditions as described by the New York Times (NYT) is real. In an exclusive interview with Mrs. Penn, she described her situation including lack of help, water, and electricity, making mention that she never received a visit from Government Officials.
Mrs. Penn who is originally from Montserrat, but living on Tortola for over 30 years said while she has no potable water nor electricity, the roof also leaks. The home, built in the 80’s was uninsured and now as a result of the power situation food preservation is impossible, bringing a new burden of having to buy food sometimes daily.
Following the killer storm that took the roof of her home, Mrs. Penn showed us a room she shared with family members to ride out the category 5 Irma in a quest for survival. A white roof tarp still covers the home she shares with her son and a sick relative, noting that even after the New York Times article, not one elected official came to see her.
No help from Government
What remains alarming is her confirmation of receiving “no help from Government”, she did however state that a Non-Governmental Organization helped with a temporary solution for her roof crisis. “I was also promised help under the roof programme from Rotary, but a year later, I am still waiting” she said.
Mr. Willock who was also on hand said “I am in disbelief…I would have thought at least after the New York Time article someone would have reach out, as there are programmes under the Ministry of Health and Social Development to help our most vulnerable.”
Mr. Willock said the living conditions of Mrs. Penn brought tears to his eyes and with the loss of her roof, it also affected the spouting. The solution now is to use buckets around her home to harvest rain water.
The suffering is real
Once she cooks, the family must now consume all the food to prevent spoilage and until the roofing situation is fixed, power will also not be restored to the home in accordance with safety policies.
BVI Electricity Corporation notes that if the roof of a customer is compromised or still detached, they cannot reconnect power due to safety concerns. Until then, Mrs. Penn must now live without modern essential appliances such as a refrigerator.
Whenever it rains, living conditions also worsen in certain parts of the main home, however, Mrs. Penn remains humble and optimistic for help having filled out government forms and given a number to call.
To date, Mrs. Penn has had her story told by the New York Times, and the issue being raised on “Honestly Speaking with Claude O Skelton-Cline” who was also on site.
“Nothing, no help no one came” she cried, hoping that by having her plight retold something will now happen to bring relief to herself and the immediate family.
39 Responses to “‘Since the Hurricanes of 2017, I have not seen one politician’- Helen G. Penn”
For those who can afford to insure their homes, I understand that insurance gone helter skelter through the ceiling. So life in these island will only get worse, bc insurance will now drive up the cost of living for residents who are already struggling. Sad, but true.
Montserrat
How can we be overspending millions, giving more to rich contractors, foreign consultants. Basically hand outs.
Yet have very very little to hand out to THE PEOPLE, wow.
I personally will love to see people struggling get hand outs, as the whole country was put under a burden.
People who had insurance are still not fully covered for the extent of their repairs. And there are people who had no insurance. There are many buildings which are still "blown up". DO we suppose helping to renovate these peoples places is overspending, or an 'evil' hand out.
What is the government there for if not to assure security and prosperity. Are they there to waste our money to make fancy moves that seem like its doing something, bi-water , airport, THE WALL, all these fancy things with no vision for how the people will prosper as individuals.
All it takes is a new minor disaster, a few lay off/business closures and we will then realize once we lose security, peace of mind, and prosperity, that it is the individual that matters, not the people who are willing to waste big money playing house and admiring their structures, while they cant even find their dollies.
And for those people who say where is this womans family ect ect. read the comments, and Learn to stop judging peoples situation.
it is mentally sick peoples first reaction to a cry for help is to think/say "where are her people". wow.
if anyone of them were to be assaulted for their life in a dark alley and cry out for help, would they want onlookers to say/think "where are their people? that man/woman is being assaulted, he/she must have some friends near by who will assist him".
reflect on the level of bad mind being put on display within everyone whose first thoughs are where are her family/son ect ect.
One thing for sure. BUY ADEQUATE INSURANCE!