Antigua & Barbuda’s CARIFESTA delegation arrived in Barbados tonight, hours before Tropical Storm Harvey is due to begin affecting the island.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Dominica.
The opening ceremony for CARIFESTA 13 due to take place on Friday has already been postponed.
The majority of Antigua & Barbuda’s 52-member delegation is already in Barbados with the remainder due to travel tomorrow. However, with a possible closure of the Grantley Adams International Airport, it is not certain whether those individuals will be able to travel.
In Barbados, Government offices closed from as early as 2:30 p.m. today, as the island remains under tropical storm warning.
In addition, the Transport Board has advised that the last bus for today will leave the terminals at 5 p.m.
The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also recommended that private sector entities employ a staggered shutdown approach.
Those recommendations follow detailed discussions with stakeholders in the National Emergency Operations Centre in light of the approach of the system.
The Antigua & Barbuda government spent over $300,000 to make its participation possible.
