St Lucia and Barbados on storm alert
Published:Tuesday | July 9, 2013 | 10:55 AM
Regional carrier LIAT has been forced to cancel several flights in and out of St Lucia as a result of the government’s plans to close the George F. Charles Airport due to the impending passage of Tropical Storm Chantal.
LIAT says an assessment will be made by the St Lucian authorities at 11 a.m. today to determine the time for reopening the airport.
St Lucia’s Police Commissioner Vernon Francois has announced the cancellation of leave for police officers, with the exception of those already on vacation leave.
Prime Minister Kenny Anthony has also announced that all schools will be closed today and tomorrow unless advised otherwise.
In Barbados, local emergency services have been placed on full alert.
The National Hurricane Centre in its latest advisory said Tropical Storm Chantal is moving toward the west-northwest near 43 kilometres per hour and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days.
The centre of Chantal is projected to reach the Lesser Antilles early today and move into the eastern Caribbean Sea later in the day and be near the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.
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