The next year, an FA18 fighter jet unloaded its bombs just one mile from the civilian sector. And on Mother's Day this year, Dutch and Belgian ships glided into civilian fishing waters and dropped anchor close to shore, tearing apart the locals' fish traps. A shouting match ensued, which degenerated when both sides started throwing garbage and other detritus at the other. Seventy-two percent of the population here lives below the poverty line and receives public assistance from the U.S., mostly in the form of food stamps. The biggest employers on the island are the Navy and a General Electric Co. factory, which together employ about 200 people.
Fishing is another full-time occupation.
For the foreseeable future, though, the Navy is here to stay. Never mind that when he went snorkeling, he barely saw any fish at all. We were lucky to see five fish at once. It's too late to consult Jacques Cousteau, but I'm sure he'd say the same thing.