Ag PM Colm speaks out about Irma

Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert says the Government is monitoring the activity of Hurricane Irma and its impact on countries in the region.

In a brief statement issued yesterday, Imbert said he was deeply concerned for the members of our Caribbean family who were affected by Irma.

“We are grateful that some of the islands under threat yesterday were spared, in large measure, from the full force of the hurricane. We are also cognizant of the fact that others were severely battered and are still assessing their losses,” Imbert said.

He said as the powerful weather system continued on its trajectory, their thoughts now turn to those nations still situated within its projected path.

“We have been in contact with some of our neighbours and will do what we can to assist should that occasion arise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jose was upgraded to hurricane status at 5 pm yesterday. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, Jose was moving toward the west-northwest at 26 kilometres per hour. The TTMS said the forecast track showed that the centre of Jose was expected to continue moving in a west-northwest path over the next few days. They said a change in direction is expected as Jose approaches the Caribbean over the weekend which will likely steer Jose just north of the Leeward islands. The TTMS said the data indicated that Jose had maximum sustained winds near to 120 kilometres per hour which made it a minimal Hurricane. They warned that during today to Friday, this system was forecast to become a major Hurricane with with maximum sustained winds near 176 kilometres per hour.