...confusion on the mainland is likely to cause commodity shortages on the islands, as has already been seen with fuel...
A surprising majority of "commodities" are shipped to Roatan from Tampa. Really, not all that much comes from the mainland, not that the visiting NorteAmericanos consume.
Fuel? Roatan runs on diesel. Smaller dive ops use gasoline for outboards, so if you're worried about fuel, go with the ones that use diesel. Roatan burns diesel for the power generation, all the fishing boats burn diesel.
Diesel would be the very last thing they're going to run out of. CoCoView alone sits on about a 5,000 gallon supply of diesel at any given time.
I live on an island off the coast of mainland Panama ... the similarities between the Bay Islands reltionship with the mainland and our relationship with the rest of Panama. Sometimes the geographical isolation from the rest of the mainland is a blessing (as in the case with Honduras), but it can also be a curse.
After seeing that Trinidad (which is swimming in oil), produces electricity and sends it via underwater extension cord to Tobago, I shake my head every time I drive by the RECO (Roatan Electric Co) generators that grind away, 24/7, on diesel.
The mainland has sucked profits through airport exit fee taxes out of Roatan for long enough, but a few years back the airport had it's power shut off due to non-payment. (Remember- this
is Honduras!)
The mainland of Honduras is rich in hydroelectric power- if they would use preventative maint on the generator's water intakes that have become clogged with mud and debris from clear cutting. Why they can't run that big extension cord over to feed their cash-cow, Roatan, I can't figure out.
... among many other things about Honduras.
