THE people of Waya and Viwa, we are told on the next page, mark their Passover each year on February 17. For them it is special because of at least two things.
One, it reminds them of God’s abundant love which saw them being saved from the measles epidemic which swept through the world between 1918 and 1919. It also allows the older generation to tell the younger ones of what happened. And as they pass on, the younger ones become the elders and will, in time to come, relay what they have been told to their children and grandchildren.
Unlike the people of Waya and Viwa who were unscathed then, we took a beating from Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Yet we, as a country, have a commonality with the people of Waya and Viwa. Despite the extent of the damage wrought by Severe TC Winston, we are still here.
There are some among us who will remember Hurricane Bebe. Some can still remember the destruction caused by cyclones Meli and Kina, among others. And there have been the floods.
Yes, we have had, some would say, more than our fair share of natural disasters.
Whatever we make of these disasters, there is a question we must all ask: What have we learnt?
It does not stop there.
How do we ensure the lessons learnt are transmitted to those who will come after us? The question and its answer should be of importance to each and every one of us.
As individuals, communities and a nation, the knowledge we now have of the destructive power of nature should be used as we plan our progress.
Part of this knowledge will be in the form of stories. For years to come, children some of whom might not be born yet, will be told of how their elders survived this monster cyclone called Winston.
Some of these stories have been documented by the news media. We have to make sure these and other stories are more than just stories.
As we begin the process of rebuilding after Winston, we have to pose the question to whatever structures we erect: Will it be able to withstand another cyclone with the power of Winston? Or will we be rebuilding yet again after the next powerful cyclone has torn through our country?
Apart from buildings and infrastructure, farms have been destroyed. Do we have knowledge about long-term food storage without electricity?
And since there is almost always a monetary cost, what have we learnt in that aspect of things?
Members of the international community have reached out in our hour of need. And for that we are thankful.
But we must start preparing now for when the next disaster strikes.
