Established October 1895 Evacuation Order issued as La Soufriere shows signs of eruption Page 2 Friday April 9, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive Separate protocol for NEW RULES vaccinated visitors By Cara L. Jean-Baptiste ferent set of protocols to those persons “Remember, these are vaccinated per- The Prime Minister went on to note who are un-vaccinated. The protocols sons. The chances of being able to be in- that Barbados has reached a stage FROM May 8th, 2021, a separate will be released to the public, but in fected after having received a vaccina- where we have over 64 000 persons vac- protocol will come into effect for essence it still requires that even though tion is still potentially there, but the cinated and with the additional vaccina- vaccinated visitors and returning you are vaccinated you come to the is- chances they believe are minuscule and tions due to come into the island this nationals. land with a PCR test that is negative to that extent we have tried to develop week, she stated that they would con- This was announced by the Prime within the last 72 hours and that upon protocols that meet the risk that the tinue with the vaccination programme. Minister, Mia Amor Mottley,during yes- arrival in the country on the morning country will face from those persons who With these additional vaccines, she terday’s press conference. after that you will do a PCR test, are vaccinated. revealed that an additional 10 000 per- The Prime Minister explained that a whether a rapid test or a classic PCR “We know these protocols will con- sons will receive the vaccine. vaccinated person was defined as a per- test and that you will have limited tinue to change, especially when we She went on to state that her admin- son who received both doses of the vac- movement in the hotel or in a reach herd immunity, but we are being istration was committed to ensuring cine plus 14 days or a person who re- Government facility, but we will con- conscious those persons once they re- that persons who already received their ceived a single dose plus 14 days. tinue to review these protocols to en- ceive a negative test result, will be free first dose will be able to get their second “As a result, they will now be permit- sure that they are functioning well,” she then to move about as a vaccinated per- dose and added that they already had ted to come into Barbados under a dif- said. son in the community.” those second doses on hand. Guidance needed for students on Public Transport AS children return to school, with the majority having to use public trans- portation, the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) is hoping that the next Emergency Management (COVID- 19) Directive places the “management of schoolchildren” as top priority. In-person classes, according to the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, will resume on Tuesday,April 20, for all class three and class four primary school students, as well as all fifth and sixth form sec- ondary students. “There is need for guidance for chil- dren who don’t have a luxury of having their parents own a car and being dropped off at school. Thus, the major- ity of schoolchildren take public trans- port, and we as a society have a role to Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael and AOPT’s Director of Government Affairs play in providing a safe environment for Shadia Simpson speaking with PSV operators. them,” AOPT’s Director of Complaints, Craig Banfield, expressed. safety of minors who take public trans- Along with the standard health pro- “There is no room for era at this par- He was at the time speaking to the port, but this goes even beyond the AG tocols of wearing a mask, and sanitising ticular point in time. Parents are put- media on the sidelines of the handing- because it also touches on the Ministry on entering public transport, the AOPT ting their trust in the government of over ceremony of 50 hand sanitising of Education, Ministry of Health, and will be pushing to have monitors trav- Barbados as well as our public service dispensers to AOPT from the Barbados the Ministry of Transport. These min- elling on their vehicles to ensure the sector, to ensure that their children re- Light & Power Company. istries together have an interest, and enforcement of COVID-19 regulations, main safe while going to school and re- “I feel that the Attorney General we would love to have discussions with as well as for the use of temperature turning from school,” he further needs to draft Directives to manage the them on the way forward.” guns. stressed. (TL) 2 • Friday April 9, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Evacuation order issued as La Soufriere shows signs of eruption ONE of the worst fears zones in the country sending a wave of panic of the UWI Seismic Council and once again that has changed since the of residents of St. yesterday evening. across the island.The alert Research Centre, pre- called on Dr. Robertson to last briefing though is that Vincent and the La Soufriere volcano, level has moved from dicted that there could be give his professional as- last period of tremor was Grenadines became a which last erupted in Orange to Red, which indi- explosive activity from the sessment of the volcano. accompanied by periods of reality yesterday as in- 1979, has been active since cates that an explosive volcano within hours or Dr. Robertson confirmed venting gas, significant creased volcanic activ- December of 2020 with eruption is imminent. days. that the conditions had pulsing of the volcano, ity prompted Prime seismic activity intensify- There are some 20 000 per- Just before 5pm, Prime further deteriorated at La where it looks clearly like Minister Dr. Ralph ing within the last few sons to be evacuated. Minister Gonsalves hosted Soufriere since the press ...for want of a better word Gonsalves to issue an days. In fact, smoke/steam During a press briefing another press conference briefing just a few hours like it’s trying to clear his Evacuation Order of could be seen billowing yesterday afternoon, Dr. with NEMO officials and before. throat. areas identified as red from the site yesterday, Richard Robertson, head the National Emergency “The significant thing Continued on Page 3 Vincentians on high alert VINCENTIANS are on Water supply could be morning,” said Greaves. high alert as they make disrupted the necessary prepara- Although his family is in Loud explosions heard tions for the pending erup- the safe zone and may The husband and father tion of the La Soufrière only experience periods of said that early in the day volcano. falling ash from the vol- he heard loud explosions Speaking to The cano, Greaves noted that and the visibility deterio- Barbados Advocate late there was still a need to rated to the point that it yesterday evening, one prepare. He explained was difficult to see the resident, Vonley Greaves, that with the water com- neighbouring island, who lives on the south side ing from the hills, the Bequia. of St.Vincent and the water lines could be shut At 10 am yesterday, the Grenadines, revealed that down to protect the sup- National Emergency There is increased seismic activity at La Soufriere volcano. on his way home, he saw ply. Management Vincentians in the City As his large family lives Organisation (NEMO) is- rushing to pick up sup- close to each other,he said sued La Soufrière Bulletin plies at the local super- they will have to use a No.49, which maintained markets. He indicated water tank, store as much its orange alert while re- that the gas stations were water as they can, as well minding the public that no also busy as people filled as stock up on bottled evacuation had been is- up their tanks in case of water. sued. emergency. “I will have to buy some By Thursday afternoon bottled water (Friday) however, the region was hearing reports that resi- dents in the north of the island were being evacu- ated. One local newspaper stated that people on the northeast and northwest of St. Vincent were being evacuated and the NEMO had also raised the alert to red. Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Dr. Ralph Gonsalves also de- clared a disaster alert for the island as noted Professor Richard Robertson of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre suggested that an event could occur in the next 24 to 48 hours. Areas to be evacuated included Georgetown, north to Fancy, on the east coast, and Richmond, Chateaubelair, FitzHughes and Petit Bordel on the west coast. Director of NEMO, Michelle Forbes indicated that emergency shelters This map of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shows are available to the af- the red zone and the area where persons must be fected residents and ves- evacuated for their safety. On Thursday after- sels are also on the way to noon, with increased activity at La Soufrière, the Chateaubelair to remove Prime Minister of SVG, Dr Ralph Gonsalves issued individuals using a sea a disaster alert for the island. route. The Barbados Advocate Friday April 9, 2021 • 3 Cruise lines, countries in region offer help Continued from Page 2 “So it indicates to us that we can have explosion. We cannot say for sure, and give any further clear warning that noth- ing would happen within the next 24 to 48 hours...So, right now, we would not be surprised, for example, if sometime in the Dr.