The lack of high winds was no impediment to the strong tropical weather systems that buffeted these islands for several hours. Too many householders realized too late what was happening when they scrambled to plug sudden leaks in walls and find containers to collect rain coming through roofs. Some vehicle owners in the College Street area were hard hit as their property was completely destroyed in just a short while but the hardest hit were those who had to fight the elements to keep mud, debris and water out of their homes. Several homes, businesses and government buildings were inundated as poor physical planning policies resulted in mudslides in several communities around St. Kitts.

As if this was not enough, people had to try to save their property in the dark. Within just two hours of nightfall and the entire country was plunged into darkness. The already beleaguered electricity department proved incapable to deal with what, according to the experts, was not even a tropical depression. The whole infrastructure on St. Kitts showed its dilapidated state as landline and cell phone service in many areas disappeared and roads were impassible. Yet the lack of electricity for nearly a whole day in this time of high crime was simply inexcusable. Thousands of people were denied sleep on a rainy night for fear that the heavy downpours were no protection from determined criminals who did not even need the cover of night to terrorize citizens. In fact, there was a shooting incident in Carty Alley that same night.

The power plant has had explosions, fires, people fired for sabotage and overseas consultants at $80, 000 per month. Yet even with rented generators the capacity simply fails at a moment’s notice. Reports into the catastrophic failures at the power plant remain shrouded in secrecy while residents deal with the darkness. Suppose it was a hurricane not just heavy rain? Would electricity remain not working until Christmas?