This is the lady that
wrote this column every month for seven years. I can never repay the good that
she has brought into my life. I can only try to continue to give back to the
island the way that she did. She has recently passed away, but lives on in
each of us whom she touched with her smile. the webmaster
January |
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2007 |
Hi everyone,
Unfortunately, I have very little to report as I am not actually in Vieques, but I will say, that I am looking for someone who would be interested in writing this column on a monthly basis. I am not expecting anyone to "replace Judy" or write by her standards, but I am looking for someone who cares about the island, and can remain unbiased in their outlook while many all around express divisive, negative or limited views of how the island should be. In the meantime, I will write a few positive thoughts.
If you do not agree with my thoughts or just want to know what's up for January, just scroll down.
Vieques is still in it's infancy with it's tourism industry. I know there are some who don't want to see tourism at all, but as long as there are people needing jobs and such is the case everywhere, tourism is probably one of the best ways to go. I am open to other points of view, but some that have been promoted to date are without merit.
Farming has been one industry that many have tried to promote, and has been a reason promoted to return all the land to the people. While this is a very egalitarian view, it does not really make much sense. Farms require a great deal of equipment to run properly. This equipment is not cheap. The ground in much of Vieques is a heavy clay soil, which is hard to till and easily washes away when it rains. Vieques is very arid. There is not enough to grow any crops that could bring in much income without additional sources of water. The water table in Vieques is limited and the wells even more limited, which is why our water is piped over from the main island via aqueduct and reservoir built by the US Navy in the 1970's. Farmer workers in Puerto Rico are paid much less than the minimum wage than those in other industries in the country, which makes housekeeping in a hotel or guesthouse not only more profitable, but also much easier on the body. The crops, if they were to come to full maturity must then be sold. On an island of 9,000 there would only be a limited market for the crops, and the remainder would have to be, through a wholesaler, marketed on the main island to grocers, or restaurants. Most of these are looking for prime, unblemished, fruit and vegetables. Anything less would be rejected before it left Vieques, because anything even borderline would not survive the ferry ride and the trucking. Which leads us to another problem. The ferry service is already difficult to get a reservation on. What would it be like trying to get highly perishable products off the island? It's been tried before and much has been rejected. The pineapple industry was the last to leave the island in the 1960's.
Then we could talk about the pesticides necessary to keep the fruit and vegetables perfect and the fertilizers required to grow the perfect crop. What that would do to the ground water and the toxicity levels of the groud can't even be measured.
Tourism is a clean industry that everyone can become involved in from the fisherman to the seamstress, from a quenepa picker to a whittler. The potential cannot even be measured at this point.
Have a great month, and thanks for reading!
Jim
PS: If there is anything you would like to see in the newsletter or have any feedback please email Ask Judy. Thanks. askjudy@enchanted-isle.com
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January 2007 |
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By Date |
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| Saturday, 6th | Three Kings Day! Kings Day Procession. Call the Catholic Church for information. 787-741-2241. |
| Monday, 8th | Maria de Hostos Day. Banks and government offices closed. |
| Saturday, 13th | art exhibit by political prisoners Carlos Torres and Oscar López:
“Without Enough" Fort Count Mirasol Museum. Poetry lecture with Guajana Poets.Fort Count Mirasol Museum, 7pm |
| Monday, 15th | Martin Luther King Day. Banks, government offices, post office closed. |
| Wednesday, 24th | Fourth Annual VCHT Pig Roast: appetizers, dinner and dessert, prize drawings; $30 per person, cash bar, at the Crow’s Nest, 6pm. Reservations and advance payment necessary. 787 741-8850. |
| Sunday, 28th | VYLI Fund Raiser: Sunset at La Chata. 5-7pm. |
| Last Week in January | Beginning of ten week Conversational English Classes at the Vieques Conservation and Historic Trust. 741-8850. |
Friday, Feb.2nd |
VYLI 2nd Annual Job Shadows Day. Call 741.2254 or email: info@vyli.com |
| Saturday, Feb. 3rd | Fused Glass Show at the VCHT, 8am. |
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By Day of the Week |
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| Daily | VINYASA YOGA at Hix Island House, 9:30am, 435-6850 |
| Mondays | REACH FOR SUCCESS- Support, counseling, and education offered at the
Youth Center in Isabel II. 12-5pm. MOVIE NIIGHT at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. Giant Screen TV. Various Snacks! 741-3318 MEDITATION FOR HEALING at La Casa de Yoga 6pm, 435-7510. |
| Tuesdays | REACH FOR SUCCESS- Support, counseling, and education offered at the
Youth Center in Isabel II. 12-5pm. HAPPY HOUR at El Jardín at The Crow’s Nest,5-7pm, chance to win free tab. 741-0011 ALL YOU CAN EAT Southern BBQ at the Island Steakhouse $23 per person TAPAS NIGHT at Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 5-10pm REACH FOR SUCCESS- Support, counseling, and education offered at the Youth Center in Isabel II. 12-5pm. VYLI CULTURAL-ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE - Youth make hand-made jewelry from Vieques' natural seeds and beads to sell on the Maleçon. 3-5pm MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours mat VCHT, 1-3pm |
| Wednesdays | YOGA CLASS on the beach at Sun Bay. 8:30am, 435-7510. RESTORATIVE YOGA FOR STRESS at La Casa de Yoga 6pm, 435-7510. VYLI-Young Leaders Club. 741.2254 TAPAS NIGHT at the Blue Moon Bar & Grill at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 5-10pm |
| Thursdays | MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm DOCUMENTARY FILMS -Vieques History and Peace movement, 8 pm. On the balcony of Casa de Kathy, 367 Calle Bromelias, Esperanza, free. 741-3352 SCIENCE OF MIND, interfaith meditation, 7-8pm; call 741-0321 for info |
| Fridays | LA CASA DE YOGA on the beach at Sun Bay. 8:30am,435-7510. MARINE LIFE EXHIBIT - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm MOFONGO NIGHT at Carambola Restaurant at Inn on the Blue Horizon. 741-3318 THE PALMS BAR, BBH...5pm - ??? PASTA at Martineau Bay Resort, includes soup, salad and desserts, 6-10pm |
| Saturdays | MARINE LIFE TANK TALKS - guided tours at VCHT, 1-3pm VYLI ECO-TOURISM INITIATIVE with Tania Cruz: Youth (11-17) collect and harvest local products and carve them into bird houses with beautiful Taino designs. 1-4pm VYLI BIKE REPAIR WORKSHOP with Carlos Belardo: youth learn how to fix their bikes. 11am-1pm AY, CHIHUAHUA! GO MEXICAN the Blue Moon Bar & Grill at the Blue Horizon. Sizzling fajitas, delicious nachos & more! 741-3318 THE PALMS BAR, BBH... PRIME RIB NIGHT at Paso restaurant, at Martineau Bay, KARAOKE at Mar Azul, 9pm |
| Sat. and Sun. | YOGA CLASS in the gazebo at Sun Bay. 9:00 am, 435-7510 |
| Sundays | RADIO VIEQUES transmitting 740am and on the internet
http://www.radiopr740.com/. PRIME RIB at the Island Steakhouse, call 741-0011 for reservations. |
| Wed. - Sun. | FORT COUNT MIRASOL MUSEUM Open 8:30am - 4:30pm |
If any of you would like to see something specific in this newsletter please contact the webmaster and I will do my best to investigate for you.
Email: whats_happenin@enchanted-isle.com
