In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, nearly three-quarters of those in Puerto Rico remain without power. The now-Category 4 hurricane (the first one of the season) has also hit the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos. According to Weather.com, the storm will “brush Bermuda and then pound Atlantic Canada in the coming days.”
Across the northern Caribbean, there have been at least five deaths attributed to the storm, according to AccuWeather.com, while the economic impact in Puerto Rico alone is roughly $10 billion. Hurricane Fiona made landfall as a Category 1 storm on Sunday, September 18, on the extreme southwestern coast of Puerto Rico, near Punta Tocon. Roughly 12 hours later, Fiona made landfall at a similar intensity near Punta Cana, on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, becoming the first hurricane to make a direct hit on the D.R. since Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004.
Trade Response
Newly appointed chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Council of Ministers & Commissioners of Tourism, The Hon. Kenneth Bryan of the Cayman Islands, said, “I am confident that I speak for all of my ministerial colleagues in saying that our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters across the Caribbean that are being impacted by the ravages of Hurricane Fiona.
“I sincerely hope that you, your loved ones, and colleagues are safe and secure.
“I recognize that the needs of your family, friends and communities are your top concern right now, and I want you to know that the CTO stands ready to assist in whatever ways we can, if and when you need us in the weeks to come.
“As Islands in the Caribbean situated in the hurricane belt, we have all faced the impact of tropical storms and hurricanes and can relate to what you are going through. We know that there will be many difficult months ahead for those for those who have been most affected.
“But with our strong faith and commitment to one another's well-being, we will get through this. As a region, we have strength in our collective support systems and those of us who are unaffected by Hurricane Fiona, stand ready to help our regional neighbors who are in need.
“On a personal note as chairman, my heart is with you as we move from impact to recovery.”
The Hon. Bryan was elected to his post unanimously, with the announcement made on Tuesday. Along with him, Rosa Harris, the Cayman Islands director of tourism, will serve as chairman of the CTO Board of Directors for the next two years.
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), said in a statement of its own that it “voices our solidarity with the resilient people of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic as they recover from the effects of Hurricane Fiona, which initially made landfall in Puerto Rico’s southwestern region, causing flooding in remote and rural areas of the island, before affecting the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.”
The association added: “We are committed to hosting both the inaugural CHTA Caribbean Travel Forum and the 40th Caribbean Travel Marketplace in San Juan, October 3-5, 2022, and look forward to seeing our friends and business associates at the dynamic face-to-face sessions planned for the event.
“CHTA also extends our prayers and support to those who have been impacted, including the island of Guadeloupe, and others in the storm’s path.
“While a small part of the Caribbean has been directly affected by the storm, most of the region’s 30 destinations have not been impacted and we anticipate those which have will be welcoming visitors in the coming days.”
Looking forward: Fiona will reach Bermuda by late Thursday/early Friday morning. Heavy rain and strong wind gusts are expected, as is pounding surf and storm surge. As for Canada, peak impacts are expected to arrive Friday night into Saturday, with some impacts lingering into Sunday. Damaging winds, flooding rain and storm surge are expected in parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, regardless of whether Fiona is still a hurricane or if it has transitioned into a non-tropical low by that point.
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