Tropical Storm Melissa Forms, Consulate in Jamaica Ready to Respond

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Forecasters are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Melissa that formed on Tuesday in the Caribbean Sea.

A hurricane watch is now issued for the peninsula of Haiti and a tropical storm watch for Jamaica, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Consular General for The Bahamas in Jamaica, Alveta Knight, says they are ready, adding it’s not something they haven’t had to deal with before.

Alveta Knight – Consulate General, Jamaica
“We are is subject to earthquakes and hurricanes, natural disasters, so why is the first instinctive response is to advise the students at their location to follow the rules and regulations of their campus because the campus has evacuation and they have natural disaster plans in place when that now is unable to meet the needs of the students then the government’s response comes in that’s where I execute the government response which for hurricanes in the past has been evacuations.”

Hurricane Rafael was the last named storm to come close to Jamaica, the system passing just west of the island last year.

Knight says there are approximately 160 Bahamian students on the island, with between 30 to 70 Bahamian residents living and working there. She says as data is made available that number fluctuates.

Other than weather concerns, her office also has other challenges.

Alveta Knight – Consulate General, Jamaica
“Well, most concerned, sometimes our access to the renewal of their passports. That’s been a difficult because you have to come back to The Bahamas to have it renewed. The other concern. A pension pension is over there in a concern is accessing the pension fund, because if you if your bank card so for example, I have some issues happening now we’re buying cars have expired. They can come to The Bahamas to get them when your bank card so they can access their pensions so we have an issue now trying to get them get access their bank cards or get access for Bank of Bahamas so they can live.”

Alveta Knight – Consulate General, Jamaica
“Once you show proof that you’re a Bahamian, I have your passport, because remember a birth certificate guaranteed citizenship so once you show proof of your citizenship a passport, then at the obligation is on me as a as a mechanism of the government as a conduit of the government to help that citizen.”