Excerpt from Jamaica Observer column published Monday, February 22, 2021

By: Jean Lowrie-Chin

As we watched the successful landing of National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Perseverance on Mars last Thursday, and saw the first close-ups of the planet’s surface, we harked back to futurist Edie Weiner’s prediction that in 10 years we will be holidaying on Mars.

It was a thrilling event. However, much less thrilling were the scenes out of the state of Texas where an Arctic blast caused extreme hardship to citizens. Many lost power, water, and met empty shelves as they searched for food in the bitter cold. Over 30 deaths have been attributed to the harsh conditions.

The oft-repeated question, “Who is packing your parachute?” is one that should be a challenge to those leaders on whom citizens depend for their safety and protection. Clearly, that delicate parachute which gave Perseverance a soft landing on Mars was carefully constructed. The Texas power companies cannot claim the same level of performance. Reports of people using their furniture for firewood even brought compliments to oft-insulted Jamaica Public Service (JPS) on Twitter.

Thank goodness the weather in Texas has warmed up over the past weekend, and with US President Joe Biden’s declaration on Saturday of the winter storm being a major disaster for many areas of the state, communities in 77 counties will receive federal funding.