Cruise liners during Haiti crises

[shootingstar]

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2461445

Egads. It'll be interesting how this all plays out and still coming after the 2nd aftershock in Haiti?

[arielmoon]

An interesting dilemma. I can see both sides.

[smilingcat]

Royal Carriabean could be lot more tactful. Never mind they are donating money and injecting money into the economy. The fact is, their display of excess just rubs salt into the emotional and physical wound of the Haitians. The money flowing in doesn't do a thing to relieve the pain it is creating.

Their (Royal Carribean) private beach is heavily guarded with armed guards in tower is what I've heard. It reminds me too much of apoclyptic movies of the future.

The mass has become so narcisstic. Oh one of the soft drink company sent in pallets of water. They were selling rather than just giving it away. Blood money. Again this is what I heard.

Also heard that US military denied Doctors Without Borders from landing in Haiti. The airplane had to go somewhere else. They didn't want a socialist doctors there... If this is true, I am really ashamed of our country. Who cares about your political conviction. People are hurting. People are dying... So go over there and flaunt the fat wiggly body and gorge on bar-b-que? just what we need.

I hope these stories and others are not true.

[Tuckervill]

Not the doctors. A cargo plane was denied entry three times, but it is claimed to be a logistics issue. Haiti and the UN control the traffic in he airport, not the US.

Karen

[Cataboo]

Haiti doesn't have much to begin with - if cruise ships stop there, that is at least some tourism dollars going into the country and some of the Haitians have jobs and are getting paid from it...

Losing the tourism dollars & port charges doesn't help Haiti any... and if the cruise lines are willing to deliver supplies... that's a good thing.

One of the articles I read quoting some of the passengers said that a lot of them were making sure to buy a lot of the local crafts from the market without bargaining to try to contribute more to the economy.

[shootingstar]

Find it hard to believe that alot of locals who are suffering, even destitute could benefit directly from the cruiser liner passengers for the next few days.

There would have to be a large supply of undamaged local goods to sell. Would only benefit very few locals for the next few days.

Better passengers donate even their own clothing right out of their suitcases and leave the port. Give away some of the cruise liner mattresses or extra pilows. ( I cannot sleep on double pillows in hotels.)

Too hard to redirect cruise liners for next few days from emergency areas in Haiti?

It's not safe, the buildings are unstable, utilities,etc. in chaos.

People there need time and immediate medical attention, housing.

[Irulan]

.

Also heard that US military denied Doctors Without Borders from landing in Haiti. The airplane had to go somewhere else. They didn't want a socialist doctors there... If this is true, I am really ashamed of our country. Who cares about your political conviction. People are hurting. People are dying... So go over there and flaunt the fat wiggly body and gorge on bar-b-que? just what we need.

I hope these stories and others are not true.

Wow maybe you should read some of the interviews with the air controllers? I did, on CNN and the BBC and what they said is that they don't always know what is on the manifest of the planes. The airport there is beyond a major clusterf**k, by all reports. Certainly there are accusations of prioritizing troops over aid, but again, the whole thing is such a mess, I really truly wonder if it could be handled any better.

As for doctors with out borders being prevented from landing because they are socialist, I would really, really like to see a reference to where you are getting this stuff. Care to provide a source?
FWIW after I read your post I googled, "doctors without borders + socialist" and got nada.