Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter

ALL EMERGENCY shelters have been activated and relief personnel put in place as the island braces for Hurricane Ivan, which is expected to hit the island by Friday.

This, according to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who, at a meeting of the National Disaster Preparedness Committee at Jamaica House yesterday, said that directives had been given to alert all government ministries, departments and agencies to put their relief plans into place immediately.

CLASSES SUSPENDED

The Prime Minister also said that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture had been asked to have principals make schools available for shelter where necessary, while churches have been requested to make room wherever possible and suitable in the event that they have to be used.

Both the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology have suspended classes for the remainder of the week because of the threat posed by the hurricane. The UWI has asked that members of staff report for work today to ensure that their departments are secured. All Jamaican students who are resident on campus are required to vacate their rooms by 10:00 a.m. today. Special arrangements are being made for non-Jamaican students to remain on hall.

Dr. Barbara Carby, director-general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), who was present at the meeting, said that all parish disaster co-ordinators and emergency shelters have been put on alert.

SECURITY FOR BUSINESSES

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has also activated its relief system with the mobilisation of its team of 200 officers.

"We have activated our relief system. We have ordered basic supplies... just as we speak these things are being put in place," said Alvin McIntosh, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.

The police also reported that contingency plans would be put in place to secure businesses from being looted in the event that the hurricane hits Jamaica.

The Red Cross has also put its parish branches on alert. Director-general, Yvonne Clarke told The Gleaner that "in terms of our preparedness, we have been making contact with all our branches and putting them on the alert. We have also renewed contacts with our suppliers and we have activated emergency operations centres at our offices."

Back to Lead Stories

Go-Jamaica | Jamaica Star | Go-Local Jamaica | Sports Jamaica | Letters to the Editor