Dear Editor,
I have been a prison officer for 22½ years and have been through many hurricanes while working.
As Hurricane Irma was coming, being the main breadwinner of my family I did my best to prepare. However, the roof of the apartment that I am renting blew off. My family and I covered the roof and tried to secure what was left of our belongings.
Having done so, I reported to work and reported my situation to my superior officer. Actually, after not coming to work no one came to see what was going on.
Having worked for a few days and no one had approached me to enquire about my situation I asked one of the directors if the Ministry had anything in place to help those of us who had received damage. His response was the Minister of Justice was aware and had not met with them as yet, nothing is in place for us.
As Hurricane Maria came and went, due to the fact that my roof is tarpaulin I again got damaged so this was a big setback which I reported to my superior. To say the least, up to now no one has offered temporary shelter, social aid or at least counseling for my family and me. Being a civil servant should have its benefits. This has not taken place.
There are quite a few of us at the prison who have been affected one way or another and we need help.
My reason for writing this letter is 'to get some attention for those of us that need.
It’s not easy to be working and having to worry about your family, when it rains, if another hurricane is coming, if your landlord is going to fix back the place that you are renting, the health of your family for those members that are already sick, etc., etc.
To my colleagues who stayed at the prison until relief came: GREAT JOB.
To those inmates that assisted in the time of need, Thank you all.
Antoinette C. Blanchard
