The Antigua and Barbuda government is finalizing plans to evacuate Antigua and Barbuda students who are studying in Jamaica and who are likely to be impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Latest reports overnight indicate that the hurricane was packing winds of up to 175 miles per hour and already at least one gust has been recorded at 241 miles per hour. In addition to the extremely powerful winds, Melissa is expected to dump as much as 30 to 40 inches of rain on the island before it is finished.
Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, who oversees the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme, spent Monday night reaching out to those students who had not moved to the Pegasus Hotel explaining the government’s intention.
Merchant is urging the students to take every precaution for their personal safety as they await the passage of the storm.
Hurricane Melissa has been dubbed ‘a super storm’ with forecasters indicating that its threat to Jamaica for potential damage is expected to be greater than for Hurricane Gilbert, the last major storm to affect the island.
Last weekend, Prime Minister Gaston Browne gave instructions to have the Antigua and Barbuda students in Jamaica moved to the Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston for their overall safety and well-being. The initial word was that their stay there would be up to Monday, October 27. However, with the hurricane slowing down to 2 miles per hour up to Monday night, landfall has again been delayed.
At 8:00 pm Monday, the storm was said to be about 150 miles off the country’s southern coast.
With this information, Merchant said the students’ stay at the Pegasus has been extended until further notice. He revealed that the number of students there has now climbed to 53.
PM Browne has urged the entire nation to offer prayers for the people of Jamaica who are under threat of catastrophic damage to property and potential loss of life. Antigua and Barbuda, he indicated, stands ready to offer whatever assistance that it can following the passage of the storm.
