Tuesday, July 2, 2024
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FEARS among Bahamian students in Jamaica have heightened now that the country is under hurricane watch, with some calling on the government to evacuate them as soon as possible.
Concerned students expressed their anxiety to The Tribune last night after receiving a notice from the University of West Indies Mona Campus urging students, except non-Jamaican residents, to evacuate their halls by today.
The university urged them to carry their essential belongings, important documents and medications. They were told to expect updates from UWI Mona official social media pages.
Students told The Tribune they were uncertain whether they would be evacuated, noting that some countries, like the Turks and Caicos Islands, have already sent for their residents.
One concerned parent said the Bahamian government was moving too slowly to bring students home.
Their comments came hours after Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told the House of Assembly the government is closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl and will take “whatever emergency measures” are needed to ensure the safety of Bahamian students in Jamaica.
Beryl, the first named hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, made landfall in Carriacou Island, Grenada, yesterday as a powerful Category 4 storm with strong winds and heavy rains.
The National Hurricane Center said last night that Beryl was "even stronger" than when it made landfall as it moved across the southeastern Caribbean.
The storm triggered power outages and flooded streets in parts of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados, with reports of uprooted buildings and fallen trees. At least one person was reported dead.
Mr Mitchell said from initial reports he received, Barbados appeared to have minimal damage.
He said honorary counsel Selwyn Smith indicated that Bahamians are safe in Barbados as far as he is aware.
He said a team from his ministry left for Grenada before CARICOM meetings –– initially scheduled for July 3-5 –– were cancelled due to the storm.
He said the decision to cancel the meeting was made when they landed, and there was no way to get them out of the country as Grenada's airport closed until Tuesday morning.
He said the director general and two foreign service officers are in Grenada and safe at last report.
Forecasters say the storm is expected to move across the southeastern and central Caribbean later this week in a path toward Jamaica, with a hurricane watch alert issued for that country.
Mr Mitchell said officials have been in contact with students there and have urged them to heed the advice of Jamaican authorities.
He said some have requested equipment like flashlights in case the electricity goes out.
“But everyone, insofar as we're aware in Jamaica, is safe, and we're taking the appropriate precautions with respect to being in touch with them,” he added.
"We'll watch events as they unfold, and if necessary, take whatever emergency measures are necessary to ensure that those students and Bahamians in Jamaica are safe.”
Beryl is the earliest storm with Category 4 strength on record.
Comments
bahamianson says...
Students in jamaica can book a flight, jusy call the airline and book the flight. Does the bahamas government fly students from florida, georgia, and the rest of the states when a calamity is experi3nced. Why do bahamians whine all yhe time. My goodness, you mean to tell me you cany afford to buy a plane tickey to come home while texting on your apple phone?
Posted 2 July 2024, 12:32 p.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
Amen.
Posted 2 July 2024, 2:05 p.m. Suggest removal
Sickened says...
I'n not sure how the government is being named in this. If you are away and you want to leave go to expedia, book a flight and go wherever you want to go. If you're in no financial position to get home then you are in no financial position to leave home.
These are the sorts of emergencies that you save for. STOP BEING BEGGARS!!!!
Posted 2 July 2024, 2:07 p.m. Suggest removal
moncurcool says...
> One concerned parent said the Bahamian
> government was moving too slowly to
> bring students home.
This parent needs their head checked. This is not the responsibility of the government.
My child was in Florida when a hurricane was about to pass through. I went online, purchased a ticket for her, and brought her home. That is my responsibility and not the government.
Posted 2 July 2024, 2:35 p.m. Suggest removal
DonAnthony says...
What makes students so special and why is this the responsibility of the Bahamian taxpayer? Whatever the cost of the flight is, divide it by the number of students on the flight and let them pay their fair share. Why am I being taxed ( or more accurately why are we essentially borrowing the funds for this flight) so that people can have a free flight home? If you can’t afford airfare then you should not be going to college.
Posted 2 July 2024, 2:53 p.m. Suggest removal
actusreus says...
In the Jamaican Observer it is reported that the Government has arranged for the evacuation of the students. The track of Beryl has changed and it appears that there will be a direct hit. Keep in mind many if not all of those students are on Government subvention.
Posted 2 July 2024, 3:22 p.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
That's the EFFIN problem......the rest of us are being taxed to death so that this corrupt Davis led PLP government can shower our hard earned money on whomever they choose, whether it be their favoured beggars or their exceptionally greedy cronies.
Anyone remember whatever happened to the mega millions of dollars of delinquent student loans administered by the Bank of The Bahamas for government and guaranteed by the parents of the students? Vomit Christie, Stumpy Davis and Slo Mo Alfred Sears all played an instrumental role in that great giveaway scheme which saw many students from financially well-off families getting taxpayer funded loans which were never repaid.
Posted 2 July 2024, 6:21 p.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
One woman called jones talk show she is angry because the Government will not pay for her daughter to go back to Jamaica her child does not have to leave, the government is not forcing them to leave
Posted 2 July 2024, 4:38 p.m. Suggest removal
Socrates says...
An appalling abuse of power. I wonder who knows someone who has family/friends in Jamaica? This use of Bahamasair like some kind of private jet service when it sucks tens of millions out of taxpayers each year has to stop. These are parental responsibilities.
Posted 2 July 2024, 9:23 p.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
**BREAKING NEWS:**
Rumour on the street has it slimy Freddy Boy Mitchell was overheard saying to one of his favourite 'friends':
"These same people who are always crying for government to use Bahamasair to repatriate as many illegal Haitian aliens as possible, or for bringing Bahamians abroad home during a pandemic, should just shut up and pay their fair share of taxes."
Ouch!
Posted 3 July 2024, 10:26 a.m. Suggest removal
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