Trinis in Jamaica hunker down for Matthew

Jeffrey told Newsday yesterday that he was in touch with nationals and students who were registered with the high commission in Kingston. “Our nationals, who are registered with us, are safe. Our students on Mona campus are in good hands,” he said.

He was assured, he said, that nationals have stocked up on essential supplies including water.

Yesterday and into today, he said, they would be riding out the hurricane or storm indoors. They were all hunkered down in their homes.

Jeffrey was also at his residence.

The concern, he said, was that even though the eye of the hurricane had moved eastward of the island, it was moving at a slow pace which meant that the powerful winds could wreak havoc in one place the longer it takes to move.

Jeffrey, a graduate of UWI Mona Campus, and who rode out a less powerful hurricane while he was a student said, he was in contact with the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Student Association of the UWI Mona Branch Brigitte Affonso.

Meanwhile, Affonso told Newsday they were in constant contact with the TT High Commission and the university administration.

She said the buildings at Mona were built to withstand hurricanes.

At the time she spoke, she said, there was no need for students to move to shelters. She said they had also stocked up on supplies and were following the advice given to them by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.