The Montserrat Reporter

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 18, CMC – Hurricane Maria was rapidly intensifying into a major hurricane with weather forecasters predicting that the eye of the storm would move through the Leeward Islands later on Monday.

In its 11.00 am (local time) weather bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the Category 3 storm moving towards the west-northwest near 10 miles per hour (mph) and this motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through Tuesday night.

“On the forecast track, the center of Maria will move across the Leeward Islands late today and tonight, over the extreme northeastern Caribbean Sea Tuesday and Tuesday night, and approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on Wednesday,” the NHc said.

Hurricane Maria, which is coming less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma swept through the Leeward Islands killing more than 40 people and causing millions of dollars in damages, is now located about 60 miles east of Martinique and 95 miles, east south east of Dominica.

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and NHC said “additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

“Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea,” the NHC said, warning that hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles.

A Hurricane warning is in effect for Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat , St. Lucia and Martinique, while a hurricane watch has been issued for Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra, U.S. Virgin Islands,  British Virgin Islands, Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy and Anguilla

A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda, Saba and St. Eustatius while

Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been placed under a tropical storm watch.

The regional airline, LIAT, has announced the cancellation of 23 flights for Monday in the wake of the hurricane. It said most of the cancel flights are between St Vincent to St Lucia, Antigua, Dominica and St Kitts.

Dominica and St. Lucia have already announced a close down of businesses, schools and other non-essential services while in St. Kitts-Nevis, banks have advised customers that they would be closing from midday.

NHC warned that hurricane conditions are first expected within portions of the Leeward Islands by late Monday, with tropical storm conditions beginning during the day.

It said hurricane conditions are possible within the hurricane watch area by Tuesday, with tropical storm conditions possible tonight.  Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area through tonight.

Hurricane Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of six to 12 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 20 inches across the central and southern Leeward Islands, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, through Wednesday night.

“Maria is also expected to produce total rain accumulations of two to four inches with isolated maximum amounts of eight inches over the remaining northern Leeward Islands from Barbuda to Anguilla, as well as the Windward Islands and Barbados.  Rainfall on all of these islands could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,” NHC added.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Sept 15, CMC Adapted – An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 jolted St. Lucia on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages.

This when St. Lucia prepares to join other OECS territories in the North Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles already suffering from the onslaught of Irma in defending itself against 90 mph winds and hurricane conditions when Maria passes by on Monday.

The Trinidad-based Seismic Research centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) said that the quake occurred at 6.58 am (local time) and was also felt in the neighbouring islands of Dominica and Martinique.

It said the quake, which was recorded at 112 km north-north east of the capital, occurred at a depth of 29 km.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders, on Wednesday met with the Inter-American Emergency Aid Committee and representatives of major countries to discuss the devastating impact on Barbuda by the recent passage of Hurricane Irma.
Sanders made “emotive presentations to the representatives of both groups who were visibly moved by a video presentation of the destruction of Barbuda and the evacuation of all its residents to Antigua,” according an Antigua and Barbuda Government statement issued here.

The Emergency Aid Committee included the Pan American Development Fund, the Inter-American Defence Board, the Pan American Health Organisation and the Inter-American Committee on Agriculture.

Major countries at the second meeting included Italy, Japan, Monaco, the European Union, the United States France, Spain and Switzerland, the statement said.

Sanders described the present situation in Barbuda as “uninhabitable”, including the possibility of disease resulting from dead animals and unclean water infiltration.

“It is very fortunate that Antigua had only relatively minor damage from Hurricane Irma and is now functioning normally, with the result that it could take in the inhabitants of Barbuda and provide for them on an immediate basis,” he said.

“But there is a natural desire by the Barbudan community to return to the island – something that is difficult until basic services can be restored,” he added, stressing that even these basic services “have a high cost that is beyond the resources of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda alone”.

Sir Ronald said that Antigua and Barbuda has a US$1 billion economy “but is facing a rebuilding cost of in excess of US$250 million.” a

The statement noted that  donor countries pointed out that, “in order for Barbuda to face up to future storms of this kind, it would have to be rebuilt differently and to higher standards that could resist hurricanes.”

In agreeing with this observation, the Antiguan envoy said: “This is precisely why the country requires international help.”

He said that Prime Minister Gaston Browne is already engaged about the need for a “careful and well documented plan for the rebuilding of Barbuda that is sustainable, viable and ‘bankable’ to attract the necessary funding.”

Several agencies, such as USAID and the Pan American Health Organisation, indicated that their emergency response teams are already sending in relief material to help cope with immediate needs, according to the statement.

Later on Wednesday, Sanders made a presentation to US government officials and Congressional representatives at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the statement said.

“It is vitally important to knock on every door, to speak to everyone, to spread knowledge,” Sanders said. “I am painfully aware that the devastation of Barbuda could become yesterday’s story to the international media.  It is crucial to act now and at all levels.”

Meantime, the Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda in Miami said on Wednesday that it is opening a warehouse in Miami for the receipt of hurricane relief items for Barbuda.

Consul General Gilbert Boustany said items needed include pampers, baby formula, wipes, personal hygiene items, canned foods, medical supplies, and rolling beds with mattresses.

“Once the rebuilding effort begins, the Government will then enter into a secondary phase of requests, whereby items such as building materials would be essential,” he said.

by Kenton X. Chance

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Sept 14, CMC — The St. Vincent and the Grenadines government says it will use the feedback from meetings with its nationals in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to determine the course of action it will take regarding repatriating them in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Irma last week.

Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar, who along with Minister of Economic Planning, Camillo Gonsalves, Wednesday visited the BVI, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that they were here to do critical assessments of the circumstances affecting their Vincentians.

About 10 per cent of the residents of the BVI are nationasl of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and some of them have lived in the British Overseas Territory more than three decades.

Caesar said that the Ralph Gonsalves government is particularly concerned about the education of the children, especially since Premier,Dr. D. Orlando Smith, informed  the delegation that it could take some time for school to reopen.

“It is going to be a bit more time and we will converse with the parents and see what is really best in the circumstances for the students,” said Caesar whose delegation was scheduled to meet with Vincentians on Tortola and Virgin Gorda.

Hurricane Irma, a destructive Category 5 hurricane, impacted the BVI on September 6 with winds of 185mph, causing widespread damage to the road infrastructure, housing stock, ports, telecommunications, electrical infrastructure and critical facilities.

The storm claimed seven lives and left an indeterminate number of injured persons, disaster management officials said this week.

An estimated 351 people are being accommodated in 10 temporary shelters throughout the BVI and prior to impact, 106 of them were evacuated from Anegada, another island in the archipelago.

Preliminary assessments indicate that 60 to 80 per cent of the buildings in the BVI are damaged or destroyed with a large percentage of the building roofs being severely compromised.

Electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure has been severely damaged and electricity is only being provided through generators.

Piped water facility is not functional due to the lack of electricity and there is a limited stock of potable water available

Caesar told CMC that he is aware that a lot of Vincentian parents in the BVI will be very occupied in the reconstruction process and it is going to be very difficult to sustain the welfare and the well-being of children at home if they are not in school.

“So I see that, in appropriate measure, we may have to accept more students at home,” Caesar said.

He said a number of Vincentians in the BVI have contacted the Ministry of education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to inquire about the transfer of their students.

“And we will make sure that if there is going to be a movement of students into the system in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in fact we have a representative from the Minister of Education is here, … who is here to do that assessment to make sure that if there is a movement, that it is seamless.”

Gonsalves told CMC that Kingstown has to ensure that whatever it does is in the best interest of the individuals.

“St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as I indicated earlier, has a significant population in the BVI — about 10 per cent of the population. We don’t have, frankly, the capacity or the resources to instantaneously accept 2,5000 residents or more into St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Sustainable Development.

“So we don’t want to make blanket commitments at this point. We want to do an evaluation,” he said, adding that Kingstown was heartened to know that most of the Vincentians want to stay in the BVI and rebuild.

“But we also know that there are particular instances of the children in school, or the elderly, who may require special care, of people who have constructed homes back in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with money that they have earned here in the BVI and have family members and it may be better for them to be in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We want to do that assessment and approach it in a systematic, structured manner with some data. We don’t want to make blanket statements. We want to have some formal decision making and that’s why we are here,” Gonsalves added.

The ministers’ comments came one day after Vincent Whatley, a senior official of the BVI government with responsibilities for Virgin Gorda, Jos Van Dyke, and Anegada, suggested that non-nationals who cannot find work should leave the territory.

Gonsalves said that was happy to learn that most of the Vincentians in the BVI see themselves as BV Islanders and see themselves as part of people who want to assist in the reconstruction.

He said that arrival in the BVI on Wednesday, he asked members at the team to make an assessment at the airport regarding the persons who were queuing up to leave and he was heartened that Vincentians are not among them.

Gonsalves said that most Vincentians have been significantly affected by the storm but want to stay to help in the recovery process.

“BVI has been kind to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and we see that as an opportunity to repay that kindness,” he said.

The authorities in St. Vincent said that a a boat will leave the island on Friday to take supplies for nationals in the BVI. It will also make a stop in St. Lucia before arriving here four days later.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Sep. 14, CMC – The government of St. Kitts Nevis has offered to accommodate secondary school students from islands that were severely affected by the passage Hurricane Irma, and who are registered to sit Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams.

The Dr. Timonty Harris led administration has offered to temporary accommodation in response to  the needs of those affected countries, as they seek to rebuild and return to a state of normalcy.

Harris was part of an OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States) Monetary Council delegation that visited the storm-affected island of Anguilla on Wednesday where he met with over 100 St. Kitts and Nevis nationals  and identified focal points of assistance.

One area of concern identified during that consultation was the consideration for students of those affected countries, particularly those who are registered to sit CXC exams.

As a result, Harris announced that accommodations are being made for displaced students in Anguilla, St. Maarten and the British Virgin Islands who are registered for upcoming CXC exams.

“These persons will be offered free enrollment in our schools until their own high schools are ready to accommodate them. We have prioritized those who are about to write the CXC exam…because the only high school in Anguilla has been significantly damaged – maybe 90 percent of it. The Government of Anguilla has said that they would be ready for October. That is as it is a prediction, an expectation, but the parents and guardians are concerned that they may have a long time and they are rightly concerned if they think that their students will be disadvantaged from a long closure of the high school,” said Harris during a press conference on Thursday.

In addition, the Government has made its hospitals available to residents of neighbouring islands should the need for health services be required.

St. Kitts and Nevis has also offered the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport as a staging platform for relief efforts to St. Barths, St. Eustatius, French St. Martin, Saba and Dutch St. Maarten, and has also provided diplomatic clearance for foreign vessels that could not safely get into the waters of French St. Martin.

The Prime Minister also revealed that the federation has provided entry to 251 persons, who were processed at the sea ports.

“Of this number, 81 persons held U.S. passports, 42 of them held St. Kitts and Nevis passports – so those were our nationals coming back home – 42 held French passports, 36 held passports from the Netherlands, 15 held passports from India, 7 held passports from Guyana, 1 held passport from Trinidad and Tobago, 4 held passports from Taiwan, 7 held passports from Ireland and 2 held passports from Russia. All passengers were processed by Immigration Officers, Customs and Excise Officers, health officials were on hand including Veterinary Officers, and officers of the K-9 Unit were also on hand,”  Harris stated, adding, “Immigration officers have reported that all these passengers had adequate documentation.”

He also said that the government is prepared to assist in the restoration of electricity supply to Anguilla and to any other island that requests such assistance.

“In our moment of great need, when persons here were becoming impatient after a hurricane…when electricity had gone out as a result of fallen pole lines and poles etc., it was the good Government of St. Lucia that volunteered – they didn’t let us come to ask – it volunteered the services of several persons to assist in the restoration of our electricity supply. We are grateful for the assistance of the Government of St. Lucia. We want to return the favour to other countries similarly displaced, as we were the recipient of the good graces of another country,” the prime minister said.

He stressed that these outreach efforts being made available by the St. Kitts and Nevis Government are manageable and “will make a significant difference in the efforts to restore those countries now impacted to a state of normalcy.”

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Sep. 14, CMC  – Regional airline, LIAT on Thursday started limited flight operations into St. Marteen and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, both of which were  severely affected by the passage of Hurricane Irma.

The Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten and the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport in Tortola suffered extensive damage and have been  closed to commercial operations.

With the relief flights, LIAT is only transporting passengers out of these destinations.

“We will not carry any commercial passengers into these destinations. This is in accordance with the conditions established by the authorities in St. Maarten and the BVI that prohibits the entry of commercial passengers,” the airline noted.

Meanwhile,  LIAT will continue to assist the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in moving personnel and relief supplies into the affected area.

Passengers in the affected destinations are being urged to contact LIAT’s Reservations Department for more information on the flight schedule.

CMC/kb/2017