I don't want this to turn into a hurricane blog, so this will be the last I post about it (probably).
And it's because of the fraude that was committed with all the humanitarian help everyone sent us, that most of you may not know about and I feel like you need to know.
I think I've said here more than a few times that Puerto Rico's government is shit. But even I didn't think it would reach these levels of low.
Recently some reporters have been investigating lots of abandoned wagons full with humanitarian help and products that we needed to survive like water, canned food, first aid products, batteries, flashlights, clothes, a bunch of stuff people needed to survive.... all rotten and crawling with mice and vermin.
Yes... some of our government officials took them for themselves and gave them to their friends and people they know, while some of us were dying without the help we so desperately needed. Some officials were saying they were all expired goods they didn't know how to dispose, but how the fuck are batteries, water bottles, flashlights, clothes and portable fans supposed to expire??? How can you tell me you discarded those articles because they were expired, when my family received expired pudding cups and tortillas that we used anyway??? We know what happened. We know you gave the goods to people you know, people who had no real need for them so they could stock up on stuff because you knew how difficult it would be for us to recover and it would be months before things stabilized enough for us to get food and water regularly again. You wanted those people to be prepared just in case, and you didn't give a shit that we were dying.
Thousands died. Studies estimate between 2,500 to almost 5,000 deaths, and the "official" death toll remained at only 65 until recently, because our government refused to acknowledge how horribly they failed us. How many of those could've been saved if only help got there on time? We will never know. My heart hurts and I'm angry and helpless, even when it's been almost a year.
To everyone who sent their help, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was fortunate enough to receive prove of your kindness, and thanks to you, my family always had water. I wish everyone could say the same, as I know you poured your hearts into all the help you sent us and it was enough for everyone... But those who should've been in charge failed us. They failed you.
Even when I was able to see all the help we got (Thanks to our mayor who came to every house in every neighborhood in our town every week with supplies for us), it breaks my heart to see everything that got lost. I wouldn't blame you if you decided not to help us when we inevitably need it again. There's no excuse for this shit, and if it's all just going to go to waste, or into the pockets of the wrong people, you better donate it to a charity or something. Our government can't be trusted with it.
Hurricane Maria taught me many lessons. It was an event I will never forget. And the disgust I feel towards our government makes me feel sorry I ever called it "shit", since right now it feels like that's an insult to actual shit. There's not a disgusting enough word to describe a government that does this sort of thing.
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