We wish to thank everybody, past guests, friends family for their concern how the Mockingbirdee team survived Hurricane Sandy that hit Portland last Thursday.
We rode out the storm with a cookery lesson for our guests led by Junior as well as our some warming cocktails, Tschuss Sandy and Sandy Shocker against the cold rains and winds that lashed the island before it headed off to Cuba, Haiti and the north East coast of the US.
Thankfully our investment in green, renewable energy paid dividends when this big one struck  as the rest of the area, which includes banks and internet providers are still waiting to be reconnected to traditional energy suppliers.  Our solar panels are showing what should be a long-term investment island wide by our government to ensure that Jamaican companies can get back up and running asap after such ‘weather on steroids’ storms.
Sadly we have lost trees from our gardens, but we are hoping to save those who have had half their roots exposed with some rich mulch part composed of those who we sadly lost. Our birding friends will be relieved that we’ve heard the Jamaican Owl, one of Jamaica’s rarest endemics for the last 2 nights and a friendly Mocking Bird has started popping into the office. Hopefully the lush vegetation in the gardens that the birds thrive on for either nectar or for insects and grubs will soon grow back. That is an advantage that the Caribbean does have over the US, a warm winter sun that encourages organic growth.
Tragically members of our team have lost homes and belongings and we would urge anyone who wants to help support rebuilding the area and families and schools who have been badly affected to return or make that visit to Portland, Jamaica in the near future. Unlike the US, whose federal government can afford to help those who most need it the Jamaican government do not have the finances to support the fallout from the storm. The latest estimated report on damage from the hurricane is circa $5 billion overall; with damage to infrastructure at an estimated $2.6 billion; schools at $170 million and health facilities at $160 million. The damage to the country’s agricultural sector is estimated at close to $1.5 billion. Approximately 31,000 farmers and 3,000 hectares of crops across the island have been affected by the hurricane. Demand stimulates supply and we’re open for business!