Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

Election postponed
Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall is expected today to announce a new date for the holding of the general election, following the unanimous recommendation by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) yesterday, to postpone the August 27 poll.

Prime Minister of Jamaica defends emergency call
The State of public emergency declared by Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall on the advice of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller might be shortlived if electricity is restored before the end of the week.

EDITORIAL – Lift the State of Emergency now
We must express serious concern with the undue haste with which the Government has declared a period of public emergency. The decision to advise the Governor-General to make such a proclamation was made without consultation with the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). We believe that a step of such enormous magnitude in the midst of a fiercely contested general election required some consultation. The Prime Minister’s justification for taking this step is presented after the fact and is completely unconvincing.

Canadian, US embassies suspend activities
The Canadian High Commission and the United States Embassy have suspended their services owing to Hurricane Dean.

The west all but escaped – Minimal damage to homes, farms
Except for damage to plant life and low-income homes, Hurricane Dean passed through western Jamaica on Sunday night without leaving behind the type of destruction many persons had feared.

One lane of road to airport cleared
OWING to extensive damage to the Palisadoes main road, in Kingston, caused by the onslaught of Hurricane Dean, only one lane of the highway leading to the Norman Manley International Airport was cleared up to press time last night.

Clean-up under way in Jamaica
The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) began cleaning up the Corporate Area and major towns across the island yesterday in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean, which battered the island on Sunday into Monday morning.

It could take weeks – JPS
Most of the country remained without electricity and water yesterday, following Hurricane Dean, which wreaked havoc upon the island, on Sunday.

Islandwide road update
An early assessment regarding the island’s road network shows that many have been blocked by fallen trees, utility poles and other debris. Yesterday, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management reported that the following roads were blocked:

Crime dampened during ‘Dean’
THE RISE in crime that usually accompanies a natural disaster did not materialise during the passage of Hurricane Dean, according to the police.

Courts overruled by ‘Dean’
With Hurricane Dean battering the island on Sunday, several persons who turned up yesterday to hear their cases in the various courts sitting in St. Catherine, were told to return later this week as none of the courts were in session.

No ‘Olive’ branch from ‘Dean’ – Tamarind Tree family stripped of possessions
Six-year-old Sarah Johnson was looking forward to attending the Gordon Town All-Age School for the first time when school re-opens September 3, but now her books and bag for the new term have all been destroyed.

Man dies in stormy accident
Hurricane Dean has reportedly claimed the life of at least one person in Manchester.

‘Dean’ takes down hospital fence – Staff afraid to walk grounds
The perimeter fence at the Spanish Town hospital was torn down by the heavy winds associated with Hurricane Dean on Sunday, leaving hospital staff scared to walk the compound to carry out their duties.

Massive numbers in St Ann shelters
Strong winds and heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Dean forced almost 1,000 residents of St. Ann to seek refuge in the 25 shelters now in operation across the parish.

Farmers hit hard
While it is too early to determine the extent of the loss suffered by the island’s agricultural sector, following the passage of Hurricane Dean, farmers will need substantial aid to recover.

Registration centres to open islandwide today
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will today open registration centres across the island for persons affected by Hurricane Dean.

‘Dean’ destroys Rodney’s Arm
SCORES OF curious onlookers turned up along the Port Henderson Road in Portmore, St. Catherine, yesterday, not for the usual fish, lobster and other goodies usually on offer, but rather to see the devastation of Rodney’s Arm, a popular dining and entertainment location.

Mixed bag at Sabina Park – North stand fends off ‘Dean’ – Kingston club bowled over
The historic Kingston Cricket Club, located at Sabina Park, in central Kingston, had its entire roof destroyed by Hurricane Dean, on Sunday.

… Trelawny stadium stands up
While the uprooted trees to the side showed signs of the impact of the hurricane, except for a few broken decorative lights, the US$30 Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Falmouth was left unscathed by Hurricane Dean.