BWIA evacuates Trini students from Jamaica

As Hurricane Ivan, now a Category Five hurricane, gets set to slam into Jamaica, a group of Trinidad and Tobago students last night tried to flee the island on a flight sent by the Trinidad and Tobago Government.  But some students were barred from the flight, set to fly out at 8.15 pm yesterday.   BWIA Flight BW3419 was due to arrive at Piarco last night at 11.30 pm, carrying many of our 120 nationals who study at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The Boeing 737, which can hold 154 passengers, was set to fly from Jamaica to Antigua and then to Piarco. Minister of Transport Franklin Khan told Newsday, “We got a request from the Jamaican Ministry of Education to evacuate all Trinidadian students. The government instructed BWIA to move immediately.” Reports are, however, that students living off-campus were denied a place on the plane. One of those who was refused a place on the flight was Jan Martin, 20,  studying actuarial science at Mona. She spoke to Newsday from Jamaica with a voice shaking from fear. “The country is in chaos; you can’t get around. It’s hectic in the supermarkets. Everybody’s just rushing around. The roads are ridiculous.” Even before being refused a flight to Trinidad, Martin had tried to leave Kingston and head for Montego Bay on Jamaica’s North Coast.

“Where we are, Kingston, is the first place that will be hit, but we couldn’t get a flight. The airport is closed. All the hotels are booked.” Jamaicans were doing a lot of panic buying, she said. “As soon as bread was brought into the supermarket, people began picking up six or seven loaves. That was the only selfishness we saw.” Martin is staying at a private house in upper-middle class Mona Heights. She thought it was as safe an area as any in Kingston, and her main concern was flooding. She was also a bit worried about possible looting. She said UWI had evacuated its lower lying halls of residence, moving students either off-campus or to halls located higher up to avoid possible flooding. Newsday got an update on the general situation in Jamaica from Oliver Clarke of the Jamaica Gleaner.

“It is sunny and calm and a nice day, right now. But we are waiting for this terrible hurricane to arrive. We expect to have high winds and rain by tonight, and be in the eye of the hurricane by tomorrow afternoon.” He said schools, offices and businesses were shut. “Businesses are locking down for the worst hurricane to hit Jamaica since Hurricane Gilbert, which hit almost exactly to the day, on September 13 1988. Everybody is battening down. “Supermarkets and hardware stores are full of people buying things to secure their homes.” Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson warned citizens, “We have to prepare for the worst case scenario. Let us pray for God’s care.” A Category Five hurricane produces winds greater than 155 mph and/or a storm surge greater than 18 feet above normal. Complete roof failure will occur on many residences and industrial buildings and some complete destruction of small utility buildings can be expected. Major damage is likely to lower floors of structures located less than 15 feet above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline.