By NAN ET Editor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Sept. 15, 2017: Celebrities and the rich and famous frequent many of the Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma often, especially St. Barts. Victoria’s Secret shoots there and the island is a known celebrity hot spot. So much so that it is often snobbish in its promotion even as it boasted of its celebrity draw.
But since Irma’s wrath has been wrecked on St. Bart’s and other nearby islands, few celebrities have bothered to send even a Tweet on the tragedy or raise a finger nail much less donate to help those struggling to survive.
The region’s own celebrities have been largely MIA too, with the exception of a Tweet from Rihanna on Friday, Sept. 8, days after the tragedy struck, that said she was praying for the region. On islands where many celebrities also own homes that may have been impacted by the storm, few are even speaking out or up. Sports Illustrated even went as far as posting sexy photos from Barbados where it is shooting without bothering to spare a word from the devastated islands. Incidentally, the British army is conducting relief operations from there to help the TCI, BVI and Anguilla but SI could not be bothered beyond posting tits and ass!
The exception being of course Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson, whose Necker Island was decimated on the British Virgin Islands and who is stepping up to help.
The British billionaire rode out the storm in the wine cellar of his home on his private Caribbean island, then wrote in a blog post that he had “never seen anything like this hurricane.” The region needs a ‘Disaster Recovery Marshall Plan’ for the BVI and other territories that will aid in recovery, sustainable reconstruction and long-term revitalization of the local economy,” he has said while launching a huge fundraising appeal to re-build hurricane-hit islands.
The few others stepping up are:
Country Music Star Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney who owned a home on St. John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands that was destroyed in the storm, said his only basis for comparison is a war zone. In response to Hurricane Irma’s devastation, Chesney has started the Love for Love City Foundation, and people can donate money to benefit those affected by Hurricane Irma in the Virgin Islands. The foundation is named after a nickname for St. John. Those interested can donate money using PayPal, purchasing Love for Love City merchandise. Chesney also said on a Facebook post Monday that he is recording music to help those affected by Hurricane Irma.
Rock Band Phish
American rock band Phish responded to the destruction of Hurricane Irma by establishing the Tortola Relief Fund, which benefits the British Virgin Island in the Caribbean, a favorite destination and “second home” for guitarist Trey Anastasio and his family. The jam band will match donations to the fund, launched via the WaterWheel Foundation, in order to aid Tortola’s rebuilding efforts after the hurricane “devastated” their land. “I love Tortola,” Anastasio said in a statement on the Phish website. “I’ve written so many songs there. It’s where I’ve gone in the winter to slow down, write, and to bring new song ideas to completion. Songs that were born as little germs of ideas elsewhere, often were crafted and came to life in Tortola.”
Former NBA Star Tim Duncan
The former San Antonio Spurs player and USVI native said he will donate $250,000 of his own money to go toward the islands’ relief as well as match donations up to the first $1 million. More than $2.2 million has already been raised, and donations continue to come in to go toward the $5 million goal.
Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg
Mike Bloomberg was on the ground in the USVI with Tim Duncan and USVI Gov. Mapp, seeing the devastation firsthand & the resilience of those affected first hand and helping to hand out donations. On September 6th, Hurricane Irma tore through the U.S. Virgin Islands, causing untold damage and devastation to the once idyllic islands of St. John and St. Thomas.
