Page 5 - Annual Report 2017

The names Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria
will forever be etched into any review of the year
2017 for the Caribbean. These two hurricanes,
classified as category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Wind Scale, unleashed a path of Collin Cover
severe destruction on the Caribbean. Chairman

Most of the islands that saw the eye-wall of either -rebuilding for resi l i ence~ has become an
storm will take years to recove'- Anguilla, unending echo in our conscious minds, life goes
Barbuda, the Dutch province of St. Maarten, the on despite disasters. 50, the Board of Directors of
British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands, CARILEC, in response to the changing dynamies of
Dominica, Puerto Rico and Cuba were ail severely the business environment of our members, has
damaged, and other countries like the Turks and embarked on formulating a new strategie plan for
Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and French St. the organization; a forward-Iooking plan that is
Martin also suffered damages but not as severe. flexible and meels the needs of our members and
communities and the planet by extension. The
ln the wake of the devastation, we witnessed the Board thanks Luc and Rachell Roullet for their
solidarity of the peoples of the Caribbean and the facilitation 01 this process despite challenges of
generosity of the world. But in particular 1 am distance and the interruption of Irma and Maria.
proud of the CARILEC organization for the
technical and humanitarian relief that the 1 want to also mention that in May 2017 our new
members and Secretariat provided to the Executive Director Dr. Cletus Bertin, joined our
countries that were most devastated and in need organization, and has taken the leadership of the
of help.Although 1 thank everyone who helped in organization. We welcome him on board. He has
any way they cou Id, 1 must thank Frank Hoevertsz been working with the other members of the
for initiating a fund raiserfor humanitarian relief CARILEC Secretariat to deliver more relevant and
during the Green Aruba 2017 event. Frank, we responsive services to you the members, and to
salute and thank you. Vour efforts helped to bring make the organization more visible in the wider
some cheer into many shattered lives. Caribbean community.
1 also want to thank Mr. Andrew Thorington of the The issue of the poor state of our secretariat
CARILEC Secretariat for tirelessly leading the most building is still unaddressed, and the
challenging hurricane restoration effort, and of organization hopes to commence the
longest duration, that CARILEC has ever construction of a new block adjacent to the
undertaken in i15 23 years of service to the present building. We are hoping that our
Caribbean. He coordinated ail the logisties membership will assist in this venture to ensure
required in moving the linesmen teams of the that our staff is salely and adequately quartered
CARILEC Hurricane Restoration Program and as they are dedicated, industrious and fully
getting them into the member countries that committed to the organization and the office they
requested help. This hurricane restoration now occupy is sub-standard.
program is a mutual aid program and is available
to ail member utilities in CARI LEe. To M,- Finally, 1 must commend the members of the
Thorington and the members of the Secretariat's Board who despite these trying times have
staff who assisted him we say a heartlelt thank you_ worked long hours together, not only in keeping
this organization going but have had to put in
Although the effects of these hurricanes, and our extra effort and hours to hone the new strategie
fears about the approaching 201B hurricane plan so this organization retains its relevance in a
season dominate our thinking, and the phrase rapidly changing landscape.