The centre of Tropical Storm Harvey is now located between Barbados and the Windward Islands and the Government has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Barbados.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Martinique
* St. Lucia
* St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Dominica

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
——————————
At 800 AM AST (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Harvey was located near latitude 13.0 North, longitude 60.3 West. Harvey is moving toward the west near 18 mph (30 km/h), and a continued westward motion with a slight increase in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. On the forecast track, Harvey should
move through the Windward Islands and into the eastern Caribbean Sea this morning.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Some slight strengthening is possible during the next 48 hours.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) mainly to the north of the center.

The minimum central pressure estimated from Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft data is 1005 mb (29.68 inches). The Grantley Adams International Airport on Barbados recently reported a
pressure of 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
WIND: Tropical storm conditions are spreading through the warning area at this time, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area today.

RAINFALL: Harvey is expected to produce rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches across portions of the Windward Islands from Martinique southward to Grenada. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

NEXT ADVISORY
————-
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM AST.

Former Miss Queen’s College (QC) Hayley Laurayne is proving that academics and extracurricular activities can go hand in hand.

Hayley is one of the 15 QC students to be awarded Barbados Scholarships on the strength of her performance in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), where she obtained all grade ones in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies.

She also led the school’s environmental club and the events committee for the 2017 graduating class, and is a grade 8 dancer at the Louis Woodbine Dance Academy.

News of her success brought tears to everyone’s eyes, even her dad in Trinidad.

“I only found out the news when I got my results and it was unreal really. Everyone was crying and I was in shock for the [entire] night”, she told Barbados TODAY.

“My dad lives in Trinidad, so when I called him on Facetime he was crying all over the place.”

Hayley will travel to the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom where she will pursue an undergraduate degree in medicine, with her eyes on becoming a surgeon later.

LONDON – A “serial liar” who made a series of bogus sexual assault allegations against 15 men has been jailed for 10 years.

Jemma Beale, 25, claimed she was raped by nine men and sexually assaulted by six, all strangers, in four encounters spanning three years.

One allegation led to the conviction of a man who was jailed for seven years.

Beale from Hounslow was found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice at Southwark Crown Court.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith told Beale, who was in a relationship with a woman: “This trial has revealed, what was then not obvious, that you are a very, very convincing liar and you enjoy being seen as a victim.

“The prosecution described your life as a ‘construct of bogus victimhood’.

“These offences usually began as a drunken attempt to get your partner’s sympathy or perhaps to arouse her jealousy.

“They each began impulsively, but what is particularly chilling is the manner in which you persisted in making allegations which you knew were untrue even to the extent of committing and repeating perjury.”

Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told the court police spent 6,400 hours investigating Beale’s lies at a cost of at least £250,000, and the trial cost at least £109,000.

“Cases such as this bring a real risk that a woman who has been raped or sexually assaulted does not complain to the police for fear of not being believed”, the judge added.

“False allegations are likely to have the perverse impact of increasing the likelihood of guilty men going free.”

In a victim impact statement, Mahad Cassim, who was wrongly convicted of raping Beale in 2010, told the court he had been hugely affected by the false claim.

“One of my goals is to be a successful businessman, to have a nice family and be happy,” he said.

“I am working on the happiness – I have a long way to go.”

Beale had also falsely claimed she was groped by a stranger, Noam Shahzad, in a pub in July 2012.

She alleged she was then gang-raped by him and other men, and even self-inflicted injuries to  wire. The following year Beale fabricated similar allegations against six other men.

She claimed two strangers sexually assaulted her and said she was gang raped again, by four others, two months later.

Evidence of Beale lying about the rapes came to light when police investigated a separate allegation

 I stand accused before you

I have no tears to cry

And you will never break me

Till the day I die.

These cold, defiant words, apparently directed at the justice system by a criminal, are among the opening lines of a 1980s pop hit entitled A Criminal Mind, that was written, recorded and performed by the Canadian artiste, Lawrence Gowan.

 It is unclear what motivated Gowan to pen these lyrics but his general treatment of the subject does convey the impression that he was attempting to explain and provide insight into a perplexing subject which has fascinated human beings from time immemorial.

Specifically, why some persons develop a mindset which drives them to commit crime, especially the heinous, violent type — like some of what we are witnessing in Barbados and across the Caribbean today — that outrages human sensibility, especially when the result is the unfortunate death of another human being.

 Perhaps the answer may be related to our socialization as children which more or less determines the kind of persons that we will grow up to be. This process, which involves inputs from the home, the community and certain institutions like the church and the school, defines certain behaviours as good and others bad. It inculcates in us that good behaviours are generally to be encouraged and rewarded while bad behaviours are to be reprimanded and, in some cases, punished with varying degrees of severity.

 Barbados is a society which has a fixation with meting out harsh punishment to offenders. Listening to public debate sometimes, it comes across as if offenders, and this is not meant to play down their crimes, are no longer human beings who like the rest of us are also made in the image of God. Criminals are not born; they are created largely as a result of exposure to various influences during their highly impressionable formative years.

 Amidst much concern about an upsurge in gun-related crime on the island, involving mostly youth, strident calls have come from some quarters for the resumption of hanging, in the case of murder, and, in other cases, bringing back use of the cat-o-nine tails as effective responses to the wave of  lawlessness. However, instead of continuing to take a reactive approach which generally characterizes our crime fighting, it seems being proactive may offer the better hope of a solution.

 Many of our criminals are hardened like the character in Gowan’s song and harsh punishment is unlikely to make much of a difference. As Gowan’s character defiantly says: “you will never break me/till the day I die”. He later goes on, quite unapologetically, to state: “I don’t regret a single action/I’d do the same again/These prison walls secure me/And I’m numb to pain.”

 Rehabilitating such a person is an obviously taxing proposition. As harshness is perhaps all that he may have been exposed to for his entire life, perhaps exposure to soft, gentle treatment, especially an experience of genuine love and caring for the first time, may be the turning point. Everyone, regardless of who he or she is, feels empty without an experience of love, acceptance and appreciation. And, interestingly, many offenders admit to feeling this way.

 Commenting on the crime situation in Barbados TODAY in last evening’s edition, veteran criminologist Yolande Forde predicted the problem is more likely to get worse unless Government changes its approach which emphasizes jailing young men as a solution to crime. She said: “We cannot have strategies without a strong law enforcement element. But a strategy that [lacks] a serious and strong crime prevention programme that deals with early indicators of criminal behaviour is flawed and will never, ever reap the kind of results that we would want in terms of crime reduction in this country.”

 What the average Barbadian sees as an effective crime fighting strategy, which is overwhelmingly reactive and heavily emphasizes punishment, may be actually be contributing to making a bad problem worse. The thought of going to prison, or actually doing so, is no longer an effective deterrent, as confirmed by the gleeful images of some young offenders, giving thumbs-up after receiving prison sentences as if they had just scored some major triumph.

To quote the character in Gowan’s song again:

Before you read my sentence

I’d like to say a few words

Here in my own defense. . .

Some people struggle daily

They struggle with their conscience

Till the end

I have no guilt to haunt me

I feel no wrong intent.

A more pro-active strategy offers an opportunity to save our young offenders from becoming seemingly lost causes in the criminal system like Gowan’s character. Fortunately, there is still some time.

Former educator of 42 years and newly retired principal of Lawrence T Gay Memorial Primary School, Beverley Parris has been lauded for her outstanding efforts in maintaining cultural initiatives in the St Michael community.

Member of Parliament for St Michael West Central James Paul, who yesterday evening hosted an award ceremony at the school in her honour, described her as an individual who has played a vital role in the development of the community.

“I really want to thank her for the contribution she has made in terms of the development of the people in the community; and that is why parents who have sent their children here [have] put their trust in you. [You] can see over the years that she has provided a calibre of students that we can be very proud of,” he said, adding that her appreciation of her African roots helped to influence people living in the school’s Spooner’s Hill community and its environs.

Parris felt humbled being the guest of honour last evening.

“The gesture was one that I appreciate, as it gave me the opportunity to thank those persons who worked with me in the last three years as well as the parents. I was blessed with parents and colleagues who went beyond the call and ensured that my stint at the school was one that was rewarding. [It] has been filled with friendships and relationships that are really positive and I will remember [them] for years to come,” the retired educator said.

Parris became passionate when she spoke about the changes she wanted to see in the educational system.

“Cognizant of what is happening in our society, I would just encourage our young people to try to have more leaders among themselves, to join forces with persons who have positive values, and in doing [so] they will be more motivated to be persons our community and country can be proud of,” she said.

Parris added, however, that parents must also instill “old-time values” such as honesty, trustworthiness and responsibility in their children.

“We need to have parents who understand the importance of old-time values. If we can get back some of these basic things which our children are lacking . . . we can see a turnaround for the positive. All is not lost, as we have some very good young people among us. Once given the right motivation and the right impetus, then I am sure that we will do well,” she said.

Police are on the hunt for a male suspect who was allegedly involved in a violent incident at Road View, St Peter this morning.
Acting Police Public Relations Officer Rodney Inniss told Barbados TODAY lawmen were called to the scene around 8:10 a.m. and discovered two women with chop wounds about the body.

They were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
Inniss said a man who was known to both victims reportedly fled the scene.
He urged anyone with information about the incident to contact police at emergency number 211, police hotline 429 8787, or the nearest police station.

Murder accused Damien Rommel Springer of St Judes, St George was today remanded to HMP Dodds until October 5.
But before going to the St Philip penal institution he first had to make a stop at the High Court for a Habeas Corpus hearing this afternoon.
Earlier,  the 28-year-old unemployed man appeared before Acting Magistrate Sandra Rawlins in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court on several indictable charges.
It is alleged that Springer murdered Shawn Taylor on August 21.
He was not required to plead to that offence as well as that of unlawfully wounding Pierre Small on that same date with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do some serious bodily harm to him.
Springer who is being represented by attorney-at-law Rasheed Belgrave is also accused of discharging a firearm along Gall Hill, Main Road which placed Reshawn Greene in danger of death or serious bodily harm.

He is also alleged to have placed Shakee Greene in danger of death or serious bodily harm when he reportedly discharged a firearm along Mullion Lane, Gall Hill on August 21 as well as using firearm without a valid licence on that same day.
He is also charged with having possession of a firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition on September 1.
He will appear in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court to face those charges on October 5.
Springer will also make an appearance in the No.2  District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on October 3 on the charge that he entered Divi Southwinds as a trespasser on April 27, 2016  with intent to steal.  At the time he also had a firearm.

One man is dead following a three-vehicle smash up at Salters, St Michael, involving a public service vehicle and two motor cars.

Two ambulances are on the scene and police have so far cordoned off a section of the road.

Details as they come to hand.

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is preparing to deploy personnel to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the Commonwealth of Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. 

The category 5 storm pounded Dominica last night, tearing off the roof of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s home and leaving much of the island, which has a population of 73,000, in ruins. Communication lines with the island have also been cut.

 In a brief statement today, the BDF appealed to the general public to donate items such as bottled water, medical/first aid supplies, canned foods, baby items ( including formula) and personal hygiene items. 

“The items are to be taken to the Barbados Coast Guard Base, HMBS PELICAN at Spring Garden, St Michael or to the Barbados Defence Force Headquarters at St Ann’s Fort, Garrison, St Michael,” the army said in the statement issued by its

Public Relations Officer Captain Maria Moore.

Barbadians have been told to remain on their guard for possible flooding.

The warning was issued by the local met office today as it downgraded its flood warning to a flood watch, which is due to remain in effect from noon until midnight Tuesday, following the passage of Hurricane Maria.

At 11 a.m., the system was located near 16.3 degrees north, 63.1 degrees west or about 115 miles (180 kilometres) west of Guadeloupe and was moving west-northwestward towards Puerto Rico.

However, trailing feeder bands associated with this system have been producing pockets of moderate to heavy showers, isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds across Barbados and the southern Windwards, with forecasters warning that there was still the possibility of some moderate to heavy showers and possible isolated thunderstorms during the late evening hours into tonight.

“Hence the flood warning has been downgraded to a flood watch from noon today Tuesday, September 19, 2017 until midnight,” the Barbados Meteorological Services said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

It also urged residents to continue to be on alert and to take the necessary precautions as some flooding was possible.

“In addition, large waves and dangerous rip-currents generated by the strong low-level southerly winds will continue to spawn high surf and dangerous rip currents, creating unsafe conditions for small-craft operators. Sea-bathers and other users of the sea are also advised to stay out of the water, particularly at times of high tide when these conditions could become even more adverse,” the bulletin said, adding that a high-surf advisory and small-craft warning will remain in effect until midnight Tuesday.

Lamenting the ignoring of clarion calls made over the years by Barbados and other leaders from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing climate change, Barbados has called on the United Nations and the World Bank to convene an International Pledging Conference on the Recovery and Reconstruction of Caribbean islands ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

“I urge all member states to support the recovery and rebuilding of the Caribbean,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Maxine McClean in addressing the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“For Barbados and other SIDS, whether in the Caribbean, the Pacific, Asia or Africa, climate change is a matter of life or death.

“It is not an issue for sterile debates and endless meetings,” she added.

“For our people, it is about loss of life and livelihood. For our economies, heavily dependent on tourism, it is about a cycle of constant recovery and rebuilding, which is a serious impediment to sustainable development.”

Still, McClean said Barbados remains committed to ambitious action on climate change, and continued to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, viewing the proposed UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in 2019 as “an important opportunity to take stock and to give additional impetus where necessary.”

“Today, I regret that I must report not on a potential threat but rather on the destructive impact of climate change on the globe,” the Barbados Foreign Minister declared.

“I speak most specifically of the utter devastation being visited on several Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean overwhelmed by an unprecedented wave of hurricanes.

“Barbados, by the grace of God, has so far been spared, but we in the Caribbean are one family; we are brothers and sisters, and, when one of us hurts, we all feel the pain,” she added.

McClean warned that the threat of disease from the destruction must be avoided, stating that one possible consequence of the recent floods and serious infrastructural damage in the region is the outbreak of diseases.

“Our ability to detect and respond to such biological threats must be strengthened,” she urged.

“There must be bilateral and multilateral cooperation to minimize and, indeed, eliminate such threats. A focus on Bio-security must be part of our response.”

McClean also urged that attention be paid to a global health security agenda, stating that, as an island state, the ocean is a priority for Barbados.

She said ocean governance and the promotion and conservation of marine resources are, therefore, among the island’s primary concerns.

The Barbados Foreign Minister said the road to recovery and reconstruction for Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, and the other islands affected by this year’s devastating hurricane season will be “long and difficult”.

“I take comfort in the spirit, will and determination of Caribbean people,” she said. “We are down but not defeated.

“Our neighbors in the Caribbean affected by the recent hurricanes can be assured of the full and unconditional support and solidarity of the Government and people of Barbados,” McClean added.

“However, our friends in the international community must accompany the Caribbean region on this journey to rebuild Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and the other affected islands. We are all morally obligated to do so.”

Barbados also took the opportunity to convey its solidarity with the Government and people of Mexico “suffering the painful effects of two deadly earthquakes in quick succession”.

A 54-year-old prisoner officer was released on $3,000 bail today after appearing in a Bridgetown court on several drug charges.
It is alleged that Robin Wesley Wiltshire of Coach Hill, St John had in his possession $1,314 worth of cannabis, which was intended for traffic and supply on September 26.
The warden was not required to plead to the charge which was read by Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court as it allegedly occurred in the District ‘C’ jurisdiction.
There was no objection to his bail and Wiltshire who is represented by attorney-at-law Sian Lange will make his next appearance in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court on October 19.

We continue our consideration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decision in Katrina Smith v Albert Selby [2017] CCJ 13 (AJ) which addresses the question of qualification as a spouse under the terms of the Succession Act, Cap. 249, for the purpose of inheritance of a deceased partner’s estate.

In last week’s article, we had looked at the rules of statutory interpretation and the method adopted by the trial judge, Court of Appeal and ultimately the CCJ in coming to its conclusion. In brief, section 2(3)(a) defines“spouse” as including “(a) a single woman who was living together with a single man as his wife for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of his death;” and “(b) a single man who was living together with a single woman as her husband for a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the date of her death.”

The CCJ examined other surrounding sections of the Act which pertain to the disinheritance of a married spouse who has not cohabited with the deceased for a period of at least five years prior to the date of death as well as the ability of a cohabiting partner who has not met the five-year threshold to apply as a dependent. The dependency section makes absolutely no mention of the word“single” either in relation to the deceased or the dependent partner.

The CCJ interpreted this as Parliament’s intention to provide for the survivor regardless of marital status. No resort was had to Hansard which, since the decision in Pepper (Inspector of Taxes) v Hart [1993] A.C. 593 can be employed as an aid to statutory interpretation especially since the CCJ had asked counsel for assistance on the very point and which no one had thought to provide.

Immediately from this point, the CCJ jumps to the conclusion that while the definition of“spouse” “could be interpreted” as erecting a barrier, that barrier “does not operate if the deceased is single immediately preceding death.” They went on to state that it was of “no difference whether the deceased had been divorced or widowed for more or less than five years.” Is that not exactly what this entire case is about? Is that not the reasoning that we were expecting in the course of this decision?

Having come to its conclusion, the CCJ then resorted to hypothetical situations: the single woman and a married man who gets divorced but dies one day before his marriage to the single woman is scheduled to take place versus the same scenario except that the man dies one day after the wedding. The CCJ’s reasoning, using its own hybrid rule of statutory interpretation to give “the right balance,” was that in the absence of the deceased partner being married to someone else at the date of death, then the cohabiting partner (affectionately or otherwise known as the “outside” woman or man in Caribbean parlance) inherits as long as they have lived together with the deceased for the five-year period up to the date of death.

The CCJ pointed out that the trial judge had“finessed” the definition of the word “single” in order to arrive at the conclusion that he wanted. Humbly, the CCJ appears to have engaged in quite a bit of finessing in the course of its own decision. Without explaining how or why, claiming that they resort once again to the natural and ordinary meaning of the words of section 2(3), while disavowing the approach of the trial judge and agreeing with the conclusion of the Court of Appeal as to the definition of single, the CCJ comes to the conclusion that it did. I literally cannot find the ratio decidendi of this case. Mind you, neither Smith’s attorneys nor Selby’s attorneys actually raised this issue of singlehood.

An English language student would perhaps tell you that the words “immediately preceding the date of death” relates to the calculation of the five-year period. The words “single woman who was living together with a single man” is one phrase. The use of the continuous tense, i.e. the word “living” relates to the duration and/or continuation of the status of the cohabiting parties. Nowhere in this judgment does the CCJ provide any discourse on the actual construction of the words and phrases as they relate to one another and or how they are used in the sentence.

If you will recall the three rules: (1) literal (2) golden and (3) mischief. The literal rule first sees the application of the plain and ordinary meaning of the words used and the golden rule or purposive interpretation is only applied where the literal rule would give an absurd result. It would be great if someone could identify what would be absurd about concluding that the parties must both be single for the full five years.

One understands that neither the trial judge nor the CCJ wished to turn the appellant away empty handed, but this affects the rights of so many other persons inclusive of estates which are already in the midst of distribution, that more explanation and clearer reasoning would have been singularly helpful. After four decades,we now have confusion. As a litigator, one looks forward to the spawning of litigation with people trying to distinguish their case from the facts of Smith v Selby. Hopefully any such litigation would lead to the refinement of this decision by the CCJ. That court can also overrule itself. However, it would be best if Parliament did some work and clarified the position on this section by way of amendment or otherwise and sooner rather than later.

…

As Hurricane Maria pounded the island of Dominica with 155 mph winds and heavy rains last week, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, fired off a text to a WhatsApp chat group of Eastern Caribbean leaders.

“The people of the BVI are in solidarity with the people of Dominica and will assist in any way we can,” Smith, still in the midst of his own hurricane recovery from Irma, wrote to Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.

In Barbados, about 494 miles to the south, the head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, Ronald Jackson, was placing search-and-rescue teams on standby in Antigua, Trinidad and Saint Lucia while readying engineers and communications specialists for deployment into Dominica. A Barbados Coast Guard cutter was being loaded with emergency relief supplies.

Jackson thought about what he saw unfolding: the islands rising to the challenge of responding to the second powerful hurricane in days. “Lord,” he wondered, “what is the reason for this particular test?”

While European countries and the United States have faced a wave of criticism over their handling of the response and relief efforts after Hurricane Irma battered their sandy tropical outposts in the eastern Caribbean, the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional grouping known as CARICOM is being noticed for its cooperation among governments.

“Everybody is pitching in,” said Colin Granderson, assistant secretary general of Caricom, which has had at least nine members or associated members affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria this month.

In an unusual show of solidarity and support, governments have stepped up to help, offering relief, refuge, police officers and even prisons to aid storm-ravaged nations. As of Tuesday, there were 150 relief workers in Dominica from across the Caribbean, including police and military contingents from Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. The officers and soldiers were deployed to prevent civil unrest amid reports of a prison break and looting.

Other military and aid workers have joined them, from Canada, France, the Netherlands, the U.S., Venezuela, Costa Rica and the United Nations. But it’s the Caribbean effort that is getting noticed both in and outside the region.

Maria hit Dominica as a Category 5 storm Sept. 18, leaving 27 dead before heading to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. By then, the Caribbean disaster teams run by Jackson were already stretched across four island-nations — Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands — struck by Irma.

Irma had been an extremely powerful Category 5 storm 12 days earlier when it decimated the French-Dutch territory of St. Martin, hammered St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and thrashed parts of northern Haiti, southeastern Bahamas and Cuba before making landfall in the Florida Keys.

Despite its overextended resources, the Caribbean disaster agency managed to get the first boots on the ground in Dominica, and the first aerial footage of the idyllic island’s devastation.

“Every time we do this, it reminds me … we can do this,” said Jackson. “For me, it symbolizes and signals the ability of CARICOM to work together to really deliver some support for our brothers and sisters across the region.”

For others, the response shows that in a region separated by language and geography, culture remains a strong tie.

“Caribbean culture understands that when a cousin or godson is hurting down the street, everyone puts in their little bit to make a pot of food,” said Marlon Hill, a Jamaican-born Miami attorney, who with the help of The Miami Foundation, is spearheading the U.S. Caribbean Strong Relief Fund with other South Florida Caribbean leaders. “Today it’s Dominica, but tomorrow it can be Saint Lucia, next week it can be Barbados and next year it can be Grenada.”

Watching the impact from the U.S., Hill said, he’s reminded that many of the island governments didn’t have much to draw on even before the storms. “They already have limited resources themselves in respect to their countries. So to see them give what they can both in human and financial resources, is inspiring to us in the diaspora,” he said.

Last week, St Lucian Prime Minister Allen Chastanet spoke about storms at the annual gathering of world leaders in New York during the United Nations General Assembly. His own government, days earlier, had announced it would serve as a base for relief efforts into Dominica. Antigua and Barbuda, still recovering from Irma, also announced a $400,000 pledge.

“Even in our destitution, we open our hearts and means,” Chastanet said.

Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who canceled plans to go to New York to help coordinate the relief effort in the region, said while the disasters are of “Biblical proportions,” the response demonstrates that CARICOM and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, a sub-regional grouping of countries, are working.

“There is a remarkable outpouring of love and caring in these difficult times,” said Gonsalves, who is now housing his mother-in-law and two of her friends, all in their 90s, who had been living in Dominica at his country home in St. Vincent.

His own struggling nation, Gonsalves said, has spent about $200,000 on barges to deliver supplies to St. Martin, the British Virgin Islands — with a stop in St Lucia to pick up additional supplies from citizens there — and to Dominica. St Vincent has also offered to take in medical students who had been studying in Dominica.

He also said that a regional airline carrier, LIAT, which is suffering from the damage in countries it serves, has been ferrying storm survivors for free from the British Virgin Islands and St Martin to Antigua.

But whether the new spirit of cooperation will lead to deeper integration among Caribbean nations remains to be seen.

Anthony Bryan, a Caribbean expert now with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said that while the recent hurricanes represent a “common disaster” that has pulled nations together, he isn’t optimistic that it will lead to anything beyond the current functional cooperation among many countries on matters such as a common high school exit exam or health initiatives.

“I think we tend to come together when there are either disaster responses or security measures and to coordinate foreign policies,” Bryan said. “Regional integration has been the hope for many years, but it takes political will. … Functional cooperation has always existed. But to carry it further to political integration? Not in my lifetime.”

Still, Jackson, the head of the regional disaster response agency, remains hopeful.

“We have shown that it is possible,” he said.

A female driver and her three passengers are assisting police with investigations into an accident at President Kennedy Drive, St Michael.

Twenty-nine-year-old Orlena Jordan, of 3^rd Avenue, Upper Goodland, St Michael, struck an unoccupied house around 3:35 p.m.

Jordan and her female companions, ages 31, 21, and 18 had attempted to flee the scene of the accident, but were intercepted by police.

No one was injured in the accident.