Ashfall Likely, Barbadians Told BARBADIANS Should Be Prepared to Since the Start of the Phenomenon, Comes,” She Said
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Established October 1895 SEE INSIDE Monday April 12, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive ‘STAY OFF THE ROAD’ FOR as long as this country contin- rious challenge to all categories of mo- vehicle ahead of you. We also want traction will be reduced with the ash and ues to be affected by ashfall from torists, and even pedestrians traversing persons to slow down; there really is with the added rainfall it would become the La Soufrière volcano on neigh- the country’s road network. no need to speed, especially in these even more slippery. bouring St. Vincent, an appeal is Moreover, she noted that as the ash conditions,” she told The Barbados “As visibility will be reduced at times, going out to motorists to limit their plumes passed over the island on Advocate. persons should make themselves con- time on the nation’s highways and Saturday and yesterday, ash blanketed With that in mind, the BRSA presi- spicuous by driving with their headlights byways. the streets, which she maintained dent is advising motorists who know the on. Headlights are not only for you to see The appeal is coming from President of made for even more dangerous driving tyres on their vehicles may not be in good ahead, but also for others on the road to the Barbados Road Safety Association conditions. condition, not to venture out at all. She see you. We do not want to see any acci- (BRSA), Sharmane Roland-Bowen, who “Because of what is on the road the said with the low visibility because of the dents on the road, and so the best advice said that persons should only venture tyre traction would be reduced as well, ashfall, coupled with the ash on the road, to persons is to stay off the road. If you out if it is absolutely necessary. and so it is going to take you longer to the probability of an accident occurring don’t have to leave home, then please The road safety advocate made the call stop. What we would advise then, if you is higher than normal. stay home, the safest place is home,” the as she said that the low visibility result- have to go out, is that you leave adequate Roland-Bowen stated, “If you need to road safety advocate contended. ing from the ash fall has been posing a se- following distance between you and the buy tyres leave that trip out, because (JRT) Scenes like this were the norm across the island yesterday. INSET: Director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, Dr. Erouscilla Joseph. More ashfall likely, Barbadians told BARBADIANS should be prepared to Since the start of the phenomenon, comes,” she said. possibly ride out the effects of the cur- Barbadians have been asking about the With winds in Barbados coming tra- rent ashfall from the La Soufriére vol- length of the event, and Dr. Joseph said ditionally from an easterly direction cano in St. Vincent for weeks. that there was no conclusive way to and St. Vincent lying to our West, Dr. This from Director of the University predict the end. Joseph explained that the height of the of the West Indies Seismic Research “Unfortunately, the worst case sce- eruption columns were taking the bulk Centre, Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, as she nario is that this can go on for weeks be- of the ash into the upper levels of the at- spoke during a virtual media confer- cause of the changes in the dynamics of mosphere. As the wind direction above ence held yesterday. the system. We just have to keep mon- 10 kilometres moves to the West and With the volcano experiencing a se- itoring the seismicity associated with sometimes even loops around, she gave ries of explosive eruptions since this the volcano and advise based on that. the reason for why the ash made it to past Friday,layers of ash have been de- But given the previous eruptions, they Barbados and was able to come from scending on Barbados since the wee have lasted six months to a year, so the all directions. hours of Saturday morning as a con- worst of it could be days to weeks, but ASHFALL on stant cloud hangs lazily over the island. we will update as more monitoring data Page 2 2 • Monday April 12, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Vehicle owners covered their cars to protect them from the falling ash. Mottley: No need for panic Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. from Page 1 type of eruption that is being affected in the way wear masks and long essary.I have led the foun- said that there was no The La Soufriére vol- evolving. This particular in which it is by the ash. clothing while cleaning dation for why we cannot need for panic. cano erupted in 1902 and eruption, while showing And, of course, the volume and to shovel or sweep the leave it any further or wait “We don’t need to panic 1979, however, the effects very similar characteris- of the ash that is being ash into garbage bags for for Seismic and others to and we certainly don’t felt in Barbados were not tics as the 1979 and 1902 generated by these verti- disposal. tell us that it is over before need to do things that as severe as they are now, eruptions in terms of ash cal eruption columns,” she “We’re not in a position we do anything. It must escape common sense. and Dr. Joseph hypothe- columns and pyroclastic said. to deal with knowing start as long as visibility The one theme through- sised that the increased density currents, what is Noting that the when this will end, but we allows and as long as out this is going to be that intensity was due to those different about this one is International Volcanic know that we have to start safety can be guaranteed we are going to fight this two eruptions creating an the jetting and the height Health Hazard Network the cleanup. And as a as far as possible,” she with common sense. It easier path to the surface of the ash columns that recommended cleaning in consequence, tomorrow said. may need a few cents and for gas and magma. are being generated. This small increments to avoid (today) must be seen as Adding that as bad as dollars too, but the first “The reason why this is was not seen in the previ- build-up of ash, Prime the beginning of the na- the situation was that it thing we need is common happening now and it is ous eruptions.This is why, Minister Mia Amor tional cleanup which may could be much worse, sense.” so much is because of the unfortunately,Barbados is Mottley urged persons to go on for as long as is nec- Prime Minister Mottley (MP) The Barbados Advocate Monday April 12, 2021 • 3 QEH Out-patient Clinics closed THE public is kindly asked Out-Patient Clinics will be Help Desk at 536-4800 to note that the Out- contacted by a member of or send an email to Patient Clinics of the their medical team to dis- [email protected] for Queen Elizabeth Hospital cuss their ongoing care. guidance before visiting (QEH) will be closed, and Affected out-patients the Accident and the Pharmacy Medication will also be contacted by Emergency Department Delivery Service sus- the Medical Records (AED). Given the climatic pended today Monday, Department and provided conditions, all necessary April 12. This interim with rescheduled appoint- precautions are to be taken closure does not include ment dates and times. to ensure you reach the patients scheduled for dial- We are aware that some QEH safely if advised to ysis treatments at the hos- persons remain ill at home visit the AED. pital’s Artificial Kidney while awaiting the date of The QEH regrets any in- Unit. their next out-patient ap- convenience caused, and As most out-patient vis- pointment. If you believe looks forward to your con- its are routine follow-ups, you require emergency tinued cooperation as we patients affected by the un- or urgent medical care, strive towards “Getting expected closure of the please contact the QEH Better Together”. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. BWA and BL&P give assurances GENERAL Manager of you need not fear about the Barbados Water contamination – it is not Authority (BWA) Keith- vulnerable to ashfall; it is roy Halliday has given the well secured. assurance that the coun- “We are aware that try’s “water quality is there is some misinforma- sound and our delivery tion that is circulating on services remain intact”. one or two viral videos that He sought to allay con- claim that our reservoirs cerns which stem from a are either contaminated, number of fake news posts or will be contaminated, circulating over the week- and that is not the case. end as volcanic ash from There’s also been refer- neighbouring St. Vincent ences to cave systems and the Grenadines being vulnerable or being hovers over Barbados. able to produce contami- “I want to assure nates into our system. We Barbadians that we have in fact only have one such closed network distribu- cave system which feeds tion system – what that our Bowmanston system, means is our system is and there is already a principally secured or procedure and protocol sealed. Our reservoirs are whenever we have heavy General Manager of the Barbados Water Authority Managing Director of the Barbados Light & Power sealed and because we rely rainfall or whenever we (BWA) Keithroy Halliday.