Barbados Advocate
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Established October 1895 SEE INSIDE Sunday April 11, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive La Soufriere eruption impacts travel as airport closes GIVEN the dire weather condi- cerned persons who either this morning and we have seen installations are secure, that we been some disruption as result of tions as a result of constant ash- had scheduled flights out of gloomy skies, ashfall, the vehi- have protected the equipment the cancellation of flights,” the fall over Barbados following the Barbados or those wanting to get cles are covered in ash and that that is based at the GAIA, and Minister added, noting that all recent eruption of the La into the island. She however has implications for our air that we have taken every meas- flights were cancelled yesterday Soufrière volcano in St.Vincent, noted that in the interest of space. As at 5:30 yesterday ure to ensure that there are no and all flights will remain can- a decision was taken to close the safety, the decision had to be evening, our air space was flight challenges coming into celled throughout the weekend. Grantley Adams International made. declared closed, on advice from Barbados, and that is the basis Meanwhile, Chief Executive Airport (GAIA) here in Bar- “Just (recently) we heard from the Barbados Civil Aviation on which we have closed the air- Officer of the Grantley Adams bados. the Minister with responsibility Department,” Minister space” Cummins added. International Airport (GAIA), Minister of Tourism and for Home Affairs, the Hon. Cummins noted. “There has been very little, to Hadley Bourne, said that avia- International Transport, Wilfred Abrahams, and he along She however added,“I want to low visibility in our airspace and tion equipment at the GAIA will Senator Lisa Cummins noted with his team spoke about what give Barbadians the assurance we have received many calls be monitored to ensure no dam- the above during a virtual press was expected to happen across that we have taken every possi- from Barbadians who are meant age occurs and systems are conference yesterday, while the island as a result of the La ble precaution to ensure that the to be travelling out or meant to ready to go once the airport is acknowledging that she had re- Soufriere eruption in St.Vincent Grantley Adams International have their relatives travelling operational again. ceived many calls from con- and the Grenadines.We woke up Airport and all of our aerodrome in, and we know that there has AIRPORT on Page 3 Barbados blanketed by ash PAGE 2 Air quality These workers tried hard to keep this building clean yesterday. being monitored EXPERT SAYS ASH COULD LINGER WHILE Barbadians may Meteorological Services, Sabu jections on Friday predicted the where the direction was head- wake this morning to clearer Best, said it is possible that while volcano's ash clouds would not ing north of Barbados. The wind skies, a weather official is upper winds brought several affect this island, a turn in wind pattern then changed slightly warning that cleaning up plumes of volcanic ash across patterns resulted in yesterday’s and has allowed some of the vol- volcanic ash from La Sou- this island yesterday, lower ashfall. canic ash from the mid to upper friere’s eruption may be a winds could very well bring it “A lot of volcanic ash was ex- levels to make its way direct common task for some time. back. pelled during Friday night, but from St. Vincent to Barbados. PAGE 3 Director of the Barbados He explained while initial pro- the trajectory changed from ASH on Page 5 2 • Sunday April 11, 2021 The Barbados Advocate This car owner made sure to cover her car. The impact of the falling ash was seen on vehicles all over the island. Barbados blanketed by ash BARBADOS was blanketed with west, which reduced visibility,and warn- volcanic ash from the erupting La ings were issued for Barbadians to stay Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent and indoors to protect themselves. the Grenadines yesterday. The Barbados Advocate was out and From early in the morning, the island about yesterday to capture some scenes was covered in dark ash clouds from the from around the island. BWA staff only worked on emergencies yesterday. The view in Trents St. Lucy yesterday. This was the scene at the Belle Junction of the ABC Highway yesterday. The Barbados Advocate Sunday April 11, 2021 • 3 Minister hopeful tourism activity can rebound Asthmatics AIRPORT from we took the decision to January through March, are continuing to be rolled Page 1 take them offline, they about 6000 people entered out aggressively, we here urged were in full working the island. However, she in Barbados continue to “At this point in time, I order and that is the main did acknowledge that have our vaccination pro- am keeping in close con- reason we did that and I plans are being made for grammes rolled out ag- to be tact with my engineering am sure that we will more tourism related ac- gressively and that at the and electronics team. be good once we return tivity down the road. same time, we are able to careful They are monitoring the to operations,” Bourne “So let’s hope that come see some resumption of equipment. We wouldn’t said. May 8th, we are in a the tourism industry” be able to give a definite As to the impact on the position to see a clearing of Cummins announced. By Marsha Gittens decision on that until we tourism sector, Minster the skies and that we are (RSM) go online. But within a Cummins acknowledged able to see our source mar- PRESIDENT of the three to four hour period, that given the ongoing kets in a position where Minister of Tourism and Asthma Association of once they are powered COVID-19 pandemic, not their infection rates International Transport, Barbados (AAB), backup, we will be able to many flights were coming are under control, their Senator Lisa Cummins. Rosita Pollard is urg- ascertain that, but when into Barbados; and from vaccination programmes ing asthmatics to use their inhalers when necessary and to stay indoors unless they need to go out. Her comments came Air quality while speaking to The Barbados Advocate on Saturday, as clouds of the volcanic ash from the La Soufriere being monitored Volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines EFFORTS are being currently monitor, as I that, to notify persons if blanketed the island. made to monitor the have indicated, the dust the levels of dust increase Throughout the day, air quality in Bar- at that location and since beyond the WHO (World dark skies covered sec- bados following the April 6th, we have seen a Health Organisation) tions of the country, recent eruption of the 66 per cent increase in standards, for dust in our particularly the north- La Soufrière volcano dust levels and that is as- current environment,” ern parishes, and visi- in St. Vincent. sociated with the current Headley added. bility at times became Director of the haze that we are seeing,” “These monitoring sta- poor. Environmental Pro- the EPD’s Director ex- tions would allow us to Pollard further said tection Department plained. monitor the dust levels in every precaution (EPD), Anthony Headley “We are going to be put- terms of concentration of should be taken by per- revealed the above in a ting another station into air against the WHO sons at this time, even recent virtual press con- operation and this will standards, which will if they are not an asth- ference. assist us in terms of un- allow us to put preventa- matic or have a respi- “Currently, the EPD derstanding the levels of tive measures in place, ratory illness. has an air quality moni- dust, if there is dust fall as well as particularly “I think everybody toring station located at from this particularly a warning system to has to be cautious now, the CIMH, the Caribbean eruption. We will also be inform persons when the even people who are Institute for Meteorology putting in place as a re- air quality has deterio- healthy and who don’t and Hydrology.We’ve ob- sult of the eruption and I rated below WHO stan- have respiratory prob- served over the last am hoping to work with dards,” Mr. Headley re- lems. Everybody has to month at least an in- Dr.Kenneth George marked. Director of the Environmental Protection be careful with this crease in dust levels. We (Chief Medical Officer) on (RSM) Department (EPD), Anthony Headley. ash, but asthmatics have to be more care- ful than anybody else. However, anyone with respiratory ailments Aviation officials explain airport closure should be more care- ful.” THE DECISION was He revealed that a flights. issued by the Trinidad around 3pm yesterday, She urged asthmat- taken yesterday to close number of flights were “The decision was taken and Tobago Civil Aviation British Airways on route ics to use inhalers at the Grantley Adams impacted by the closure. by the Civil Aviation Authority again today to Barbados made a very this time, especially the International Airport “It would probably be Department based on the (Saturday). The time has conscious decision to di- preventer inhalers (GAIA) as Barbados felt seven to eight a day both report received from the been extended now until vert its aircraft to which stops the actual the effects of the La inbound and outbound local MET Office. Sunday, the airport is ex- Antigua. attack from actually Soufriere volcano which from all the major carriers According to the MET pected to reopen if condi- “ Given the heightened coming on.