Times of the Islands Summer 2020

Rainbow after the storm
The island community has pulled together during the
pandemic and the government has done an outstanding
job at keeping the people safe. Deciding to completely
close the country for four months was no doubt a difficult
decision, as it severed the economic blood-flow. But with
the TCI Government’s goal of protecting the people’s
health as the priority, it has worked.
When it is safe, visitors will be itching to return to the
TCI’s “Beautiful by Nature” paradise as soon as possible.
While what is normal may look and feel different, we will
adjust and continue to move forward with the TCI Strong
fortitude that has held the country together through
many a storm.
My whole life, I’ve heard and seen proven the saying,
“A rainbow follows every storm.” The COVID-19 storm has
definitely been a rough one, but the rainbow is coming.
Sometimes in life we take things for granted, not
because we are ungrateful, but because normalcy tends
to breed complacency. Losing those things can bring back
into focus how precious they are, and regenerate appreciation.
Being able to go outside, get in your car and drive
to the beach, or a restaurant, or a friend’s house, used to
happen without a second thought. Now that those liberties
are no longer available we realize how precious they
are, and how badly we want them back.
There is no question that this pandemic has caused
unprecedented damage across many aspects of life, but I
believe it will also bring about positive change. People are
communicating more, on a level deeper than a quick text;
college kids are back home with their parents and sitting
down to dinner and actually talking; families are making
home-cooked meals together instead of going out. We
realize that it isn’t the material things we miss the most,
but people and the togetherness of community.
When have you ever NOT looked at a rainbow? When
have you looked at a rainbow and NOT thought, “It’s so
beautiful—must be a sign it’s going to be a good day?”
The storm creates the rainbow, the rainbow creates a
magnificent display of natural beauty, and that beauty
instills optimism and hope. I call this the “Rainbow Effect.”
The storm has been rough and it isn’t over yet, but
the clouds are starting to clear, the damaging winds are
slowing and the light is starting to shine through. My
hope is that we use these lessons to move forward with
a new appreciative direction and outlook and continue to
care for each other and our planet, keeping in mind the
freedoms we lost, and the good that grew from the loss
of those freedoms.
Learning from this difficult time and making the
world a better place will give comfort and purpose, along
with a sense that the lives lost were not in vain.
It is imminent that in the near future the most beautiful
beaches in the world will be speckled with tourists and
locals, boats will head back out to sea and the Islands will
once again be alive with the sounds of human activity, the
enjoyment of life—the rainbow is coming! a
A huge “thank you” to every health care worker, public
service worker, and “essential” person who has worked to
keep the rest of us safe, while putting themselves at risk.
This includes grocery store workers, the folks ensuring
food and supplies get to the country, and even the public
for respecting the new rules and participating unitedly in
the solution.
Times of the Islands Summer 2020 63