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  • MTW announces islandwide roadworks for coming week

    MTW announces islandwide roadworks for coming week

    A major week-long program of road maintenance, drainage improvements and infrastructure upgrades across multiple parishes of Barbados is set to launch on August 31, carried out by the country’s Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), and will run through September 4. This coordinated initiative covers everything from pothole patching to full road rehabilitation, alongside targeted safety improvements for local communities and schools.

    One key ongoing disruption for drivers remains in effect in the parish of St Peter, where Farm Bridge will stay closed to all traffic until the MTW issues a new update. Motorists traveling between the town of Speightstown and the Ronald Mapp Highway are being redirected to use Warleigh Road as an alternative route for the foreseeable future.

    Large-scale road rehabilitation and new construction projects are already progressing across multiple sites around the island, with work continuing through the scheduled upgrade week. These active locations include Chancery Lane in Christ Church, Cottage Vale in St Philip, Crab Hill in St Lucy, the stretch of Highway D connecting Lester Vaughan School to Content in St Thomas, the Ermy Bourne Highway in St Andrew, and the community of St Judes in St George.

    In St George parish, the MTW has planned targeted works beyond major rehabilitation projects: new speed humps will be installed directly outside St Luke’s Primary School to improve student pedestrian safety, while crews will carry out scheduled pothole patching in the Sweet Vale neighborhood and along the corridor connecting Newbury to St Judes.

    In the heavily populated parish of St Michael, preparation work for full paving is ongoing at Emmerton Lane. Other continuing works in the area include repairs to a damaged retaining headwall at Fontabelle, and replacement of worn manhole grilles along the Mighty Grynner Highway.

    System-wide drain cleaning, a critical preventative measure against flooding during rainy periods, is also scheduled for multiple high-traffic areas across the island. These include sections of the ABC Highway, central Bridgetown, Enterprise Main Road, Belleplaine, Passage Road, and Bay Street.

    Daytime work crews, operating between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (weather permitting), will handle multiple upgrades: MTW road marking teams will repaint stop lines and install new replacement road signs in St George, while crews will repaint retaining headwalls along the 2A Highway. Overnight crews, working from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday through Thursday, will handle a nationwide project to repaint faded school crossing markings, minimizing disruption to daytime school and traffic operations.

    In a public advisory released alongside the schedule, the MTW issued an urgent appeal to all motorists: drivers must reduce their speed when passing through active work zones. The ministry warned that speeding through construction and maintenance areas not only puts frontline road workers at severe risk of injury, but can also cause irreversible damage to freshly painted road markings before the paint fully cures.

    All works are subject to adjustment in the event of unfavorable weather conditions, the MTW confirmed.

  • Ministry of Education: Official reopening date for schools 31 August

    Ministry of Education: Official reopening date for schools 31 August

    A public notice from the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) regarding the start of the 2026-2027 academic year has prompted an official clarification from Grenada’s Ministry of Education, which is moving to clear up potential confusion among families, educators and the general public.

    The Ministry has raised concerns that the GUT’s independent communication could sow unnecessary uncertainty, noting that the official school reopening date was already shared publicly months in advance. To eliminate any ambiguity, the Ministry reaffirmed that all primary and secondary schools will officially reopen for student instruction on Monday, 31 August 2026 – this date remains the binding, official timeline established by the government education authority.

    The confirmed reopening date was not chosen arbitrarily. Ministry officials explain the decision followed a comprehensive review of relevant clauses in the national Education Act, pre-approved vacation windows, the annual national school calendar, and broad public interest priorities – chief among them protecting and maximizing critical in-person instructional time for students across the country.

    Addressing the GUT’s interpretation of the statutory definition of an “academic year”, the Ministry noted that the Education Act includes an explicit contextual caveat: all definitions hold “unless the context otherwise requires”. Officials stressed that all provisions of the legislation must be read as a cohesive whole, factoring in clauses related to school terms, scheduled breaks, and overall public education system administration. The standalone statutory definition of an academic year, the Ministry argued, does not on its own carry the authority to set the official reopening date following a scheduled vacation period.

    The Ministry emphasized it recognizes and respects the GUT’s right to advocate for its members and share its organizational perspectives on education matters. However, it drew a clear line between union advocacy and statutory authority: the power to formally set and announce official school start dates is not held by the teachers’ union, but rests exclusively with the Ministry of Education and the appointed minister for education, as granted by national law. As the administrator of Grenada’s public education system, the Ministry holds sole legal responsibility for finalizing, approving and disseminating the official national school calendar and all associated term dates.

    In closing, the Ministry called on parents, students, educators and all members of the public to rely exclusively on official government communications for accurate, up-to-date information on school operations. The agency expressed its expectation for collaborative cooperation from all education stakeholders to ensure a smooth, orderly start to the 2026-2027 academic year, reaffirming its core commitment to prioritizing the educational outcomes and overall well-being of Grenada’s children.

    *This report includes content from a public official statement from the Ministry of Education of Grenada. NOW Grenada disclaims responsibility for third-party contributor opinions and content, and provides channels for reporting potential content abuse.*

  • Wegenautoriteit pakt overwoekerde bermen langs wegen aan

    Wegenautoriteit pakt overwoekerde bermen langs wegen aan

    On August 30, the Suriname Road Authority launched a nationwide program of shoulder mowing and cleaning works across multiple districts and highway segments of the country. Rolled out in staggered phases to minimize widespread disruption, this initiative forms part of the agency’s ongoing regular road maintenance agenda, with three core public safety and infrastructure goals at its center.

    First and foremost, the project targets overgrown grass and dense shrubbery that frequently blocks motorists’ and other road users’ line of sight at junctions, bends, and high-traffic areas. Left unaddressed, blocked visibility is a major contributing factor to fatal and non-fatal traffic collisions, so removing excess vegetation directly eliminates this preventable hazard.

    Beyond safety improvements, the maintenance work also delivers critical infrastructure benefits. Clearing overgrown shoulder vegetation improves rainwater drainage along roadways, reducing the risk of standing water that can erode road foundations, cause hydroplaning accidents, and shorten the overall lifespan of Suriname’s road network. The project also delivers aesthetic improvements, creating a neater, more orderly visual landscape across all maintained road corridors.

    While the agency has structured the works to limit inconvenience for travelers, temporary traffic slowdowns or minor disruptions are expected at active work sites. In a public advisory, the Road Authority has urged all road users to exercise extra caution when passing working maintenance crews and mowing equipment. The agency specifically recommends that drivers reduce their speed in advance of work zones and maintain a safe distance between their vehicles and on-site workers and machinery to avoid avoidable accidents during the maintenance period.

  • FAES/MSPP : Signing of a MoU to strengthen access to essential health services

    FAES/MSPP : Signing of a MoU to strengthen access to essential health services

    In a significant push to upgrade Haiti’s ailing public health system, Haiti’s Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) and the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) formalized a new partnership this week with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paves the way for two major Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded health initiatives.

    The agreement, signed by FAES Director General Kesner Romilus and MSPP Minister Bertrand Sinal, outlines clear operational guidelines for the launch of the Community Program for the Promotion of Human Security in Haiti (project code HA-J0008) and Restoring Access to Essential Health Services (project code HA-J0012), both backed by IDB grant financing. The document codifies the respective roles and responsibilities of the two agencies, lays out standardized protocols for technical oversight, cross-institutional coordination, and progress reporting, and sets binding conditions for all health-focused program activities.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Sinal highlighted that the agreement represents a core priority for the Haitian government, and thanked FAES for its collaborative efforts to advance the initiative. Under the two programs, a series of critical health infrastructure upgrades are set to move forward, including capacity expansions and renovations for Haiti’s university-level and departmental hospitals, as well as local District Health Units (UAS). The MoU also explicitly authorizes FAES to lead construction and rehabilitation work on healthcare facilities across the country, aligned with the terms of the original financing agreements with the IDB.

    A key focus of the initiative is addressing the longstanding shortage of frontline healthcare workers that has crippled service delivery across Haiti. Sinal confirmed that the new program budget allocates funding for the recruitment of roughly 2,000 additional Multipurpose Community Health Workers (ASCPs), on top of the 3,000 healthcare staff already hired by the ministry through the Office of the Prime Minister.

    Structured around existing grant agreements between the Haitian government and the IDB, the new MoU is designed to streamline the two programs by integrating their activities under a unified institutional framework, eliminating redundant processes and strengthening collaborative ties between FAES and MSPP. Per the agreement, FAES will serve as the official implementing agency for both projects, leveraging its existing institutional mandate and operational experience to deliver results.

    At its core, the partnership aims to build long-term institutional capacity to meet the unmet essential needs of Haiti’s health system, with targeted investments in three core areas: healthcare infrastructure, community-focused primary services, and expanded human resources.

    With the formal signing complete, FAES and MSPP are now set to shift toward translating this institutional commitment into tangible, on-the-ground impact, continuing to work closely with the IDB to adhere to the implementation protocols laid out in the agreement.

  • Grenada’s school reopening dispute: 31 August or 1 September?

    Grenada’s school reopening dispute: 31 August or 1 September?

    A high-stakes clash over institutional authority and legal interpretation has thrown Grenada’s upcoming public school reopening into uncertainty, leaving working families and school-aged children caught in the crossfire of conflicting official guidance. The dispute centers on one seemingly simple question: when should the 2026–2027 academic year begin, Monday, 31 August or Tuesday, 1 September? At its core, however, is a far broader debate over who holds the legal right to set the national school calendar, and how far administrative authority can stretch against the text of existing education legislation.

    Under Grenada’s existing Education Act, the Minister of Education, the Hon. David Andrews, is granted broad oversight of the national education system and implementation of national education policy. The Ministry of Education published its official 2025–2026 academic calendar back on 22 August 2025, which explicitly listed 31 August 2026 as the first day of classes for the new academic year, with 25 to 28 August reserved as staff planning week. At a recent press briefing, Minister Andrews defended the scheduled 31 August reopening, arguing the adjustment was designed to maximize valuable instructional time for students and align with longstanding practical preparations for the first day of school.

    Andrews has anchored his position in Section 39(2) of the Education Act, a provision that grants the minister power to adjust vacation schedules outlined in Section 39(1) through official order, whenever such an amendment is deemed expedient for the public interest. From his perspective, this statutory clause gives him full authority to modify the official academic year start date to fit current needs.

    But the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), the country’s leading teachers’ representative body, has pushed back against the Ministry’s timeline, drawing on a different section of the same Education Act. The legislation explicitly defines the full academic year as running from 1 September to 31 August annually. In a public statement released to the community, GUT argued that this statutory definition means the 2026–2027 academic year cannot legally begin before Tuesday, 1 September 2026, and advised both educators and families to plan accordingly.

    The conflict has left two competing timelines in play: the Ministry’s officially published administrative calendar, for which schools have already completed weeks of advance preparations, and the union’s legally grounded demand for a 1 September start. According to the Ministry of Education, teaching staff already returned to their posts by 24 August, and orientation sessions for secondary school students were scheduled across 26 to 28 August to align with the 31 August reopening. This means the disagreement is not a question of whether schools are prepared to welcome students—it is a fundamental battle over whether an administrative schedule can supersede the statutory definition of the academic year laid out in national law.

    What makes this dispute more than a minor scheduling debate is the underlying question of governance: does the minister’s authority to adjust vacation periods extend to altering the official start date of an academic year that is legally defined to begin on 1 September? This is not just a legal technicality—it is a test of institutional boundaries and executive authority within Grenada’s education governance framework.

    Regardless of the legal strength of either side’s argument, the immediate human cost of the conflict is already clear. Families across the country are now left navigating contradictory guidance on a key date that was finalized and published by the Ministry itself months in advance. For households juggling work shifts, childcare arrangements, transportation planning, and household budgets, a one-day shift is far from a trivial administrative technicality. It creates unnecessary stress and logistical chaos that falls disproportionately on working parents and vulnerable students.

    It is understandable that government agencies and teacher unions do not see eye to eye on every policy decision. Teacher unions hold a legitimate role in holding education leadership accountable and challenging administrative decisions that they believe conflict with the law, just as the minister carries a formal responsibility to effectively manage the public education system entrusted to his care. But when competing public messaging on a basic, foundational detail like the start of the school year leaves the public confused, the burden does not fall only on the warring institutional parties. It is children and their families who end up trapped in the middle of a dispute that has nothing to do with them.

    Looking forward, the most meaningful outcome of this conflict would not simply be a last-minute ruling on whether students arrive on Monday or Tuesday. It would be a clear, binding clarification of the scope of the education minister’s calendar-setting authority before the next academic cycle is published. By codifying exactly where administrative discretion ends and statutory requirements begin, Grenada can avoid a repeat of this unnecessary uncertainty for families in future years.

  • René Depestre celebrates his 102nd birthday

    René Depestre celebrates his 102nd birthday

    One of the most towering figures in Haitian and global Francophone literature, René Depestre, marked his 102nd birthday with a heartfelt official tribute hosted at his long-time private residence, Villa Hadriana, on August 29, 2026. The ceremony was organized by the municipal government of Lézignan-Corbières, the southern French town where Depestre has resided for four decades, and featured a delegation from the Haitian Embassy in France led by Ambassador Louino Volcy.

    During the intimate event, Lézignan-Corbières Mayor Gérard Forcada presented Depestre with the city’s highest medal of honor. The distinction recognizes two core achievements: Depestre’s lifelong, groundbreaking contributions to world literature and Francophone cultural exchange, and his four decades of work building enduring ties of friendship between Haiti and his adopted French hometown.

    The municipal tribute follows a formal request submitted by the Haitian Embassy to France back in February 2026, as part of a year-long national series of events celebrating the iconic writer’s legacy. The embassy had additionally proposed that the city grant Depestre honorary citizenship and rename a local public space after the writer to cement his legacy in the community.

    In his address at the ceremony, Ambassador Volcy framed the medal as far more than a symbolic gesture, outlining three layers of deep meaning behind the honor. First, Volcy emphasized that the award recognizes not just Depestre as an individual, but the entire rich tradition of Haitian literature. It sends a powerful message that, even amid the severe challenges Haiti currently faces, the nation remains resilient — and its literary output stands as a lasting source of resistance, hope, and global influence. Second, the medal highlights the longstanding cultural bonds and friendship between Haiti and France, with Depestre serving for decades as a critical intellectual and artistic bridge connecting the two nations. Finally, Volcy noted that the tribute confirms Lézignan-Corbières is far more than just a temporary residence for the writer: it has become an integral part of his personal and professional story.

    Mayor Forcada echoed Volcy’s remarks, praising Depestre’s extraordinary, decades-long career that has inspired generations of writers across the globe. Forcada added that Depestre’s 40 years of living in Lézignan-Corbières has been a gift to the community, and has helped forge far deeper people-to-people and cultural connections between the small French town and the Caribbean nation of Haiti.

    For his part, the centenarian writer expressed deep gratitude to the mayor, the municipal government, and Ambassador Volcy for organizing the tribute. Depestre described the gathering of attendees honoring his life and work as a “beacon in the night of his 102 years,” a moving acknowledgment of the warmth and recognition he has received in his adopted home.

    The birthday tribute is just one of dozens of events taking place across France throughout 2026, all focused on celebrating Depestre’s remarkable life, reintroducing his expansive body of work to new audiences, highlighting his irreplaceable contributions to Francophone and global literature, and examining how his intellectual thought remains relevant to contemporary cultural and political conversations.

  • The IACHR is concerned about the end of TPS for Haitians

    The IACHR is concerned about the end of TPS for Haitians

    In a formal statement dated August 30, 2026, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) — an independent human rights body of the Organization of American States — has voiced deep concern over the grave risks facing thousands of Haitian nationals after the official termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by United States authorities. The alarm comes amid the catastrophic and ongoing humanitarian and human rights collapse that continues to grip Haiti, leaving the country unable to safely absorb returning deportees. First established under U.S. immigration law, TPS offers temporary legal protection and work authorization to foreign nationals already present in the U.S. when their home countries face extraordinary, unsafe conditions that prevent safe return. These qualifying conditions include widespread armed conflict, large-scale environmental disasters, public health emergencies, or other extraordinary temporary crises that leave the national government unable to accommodate returning citizens. The legal path to ending Haiti’s TPS designation cleared key judicial hurdles earlier this year: on June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted the termination to move forward, and a subsequent August 5 ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security had the authority to implement the end of the program. U.S. authorities officially marked the termination as effective July 22, 2026, concluding that conditions in Haiti no longer meet the statutory requirements to maintain the TPS designation. However, the IACHR pushes back against this conclusion, arguing that any assessment of conditions on the ground must reflect the current devastating reality of Haitian insecurity and governance failure. Today, armed gangs exert control over an estimated 80 to 90 percent of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, with their violent influence spreading outward into the Artibonite, Centre, and South-East departments. Data from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) lays bare the scale of the ongoing bloodshed: between March 6 and July 31 of 2026, even amid ongoing security operations to reclaim gang-held territory, at least 613 people were killed and 375 injured in gang-related clashes in the La Plaine de Cul-de-Sac region, which includes violence-plagued neighborhoods of Cité de Soleil within the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. The humanitarian fallout from this widespread violence is equally staggering. As of May 13, 2026, BINUH recorded 1.47 million internally displaced people across Haiti — equal to 12 percent of the country’s total population, a 1 percent increase just since December 2025. Women and girls make up 54 percent of this displaced population, while children account for 51 percent. Between the end of 2025 and mid-2026, authorities recorded 1,880 confirmed cases of gender-based violence, 71 percent of which involved rape and sexual assault. In its 2026 statement, the IACHR recalled its 2021 Resolution No. 02/21, which first recognized the multi-faceted nature of Haiti’s long-running crisis and called on all countries in the Inter-American region to adopt robust protections for Haitians on the move, rooted in core principles of equality, non-discrimination, international solidarity, and shared responsibility. The IACHR acknowledges that all sovereign states retain the authority to set their own immigration policies, establishing rules for entry, residence, and departure from their territory. But under binding international law and Inter-American human rights standards, the U.S. is legally required to uphold the peremptory norm of non-refoulement — a non-derogable rule that prohibits forcing any person to return to a territory where their life, physical integrity, or personal liberty faces a proven risk of severe violation. Beyond this core obligation, the IACHR emphasizes that all deportation and removal decisions must include individual risk assessments, uphold full due process guarantees, and guarantee applicants access to effective legal remedies. The body is calling on U.S. authorities to go further, reiterating that Washington should expand access to formal refugee status procedures and complementary forms of international protection for Haitians at risk. It also urges the creation of permanent, accessible, and affordable pathways to regularized migration status, including targeted humanitarian measures, expedited family reunification, and special amnesty and regularization programs for Haitians who have lived and worked in the U.S. for years under TPS protection. The IACHR is an autonomous, principal organ of the Organization of American States, drawing its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its core mission is to promote and defend human rights across the Inter-American region, operating as an independent consultative body to the OAS. Its seven members are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly, and do not act as representatives of their countries of origin or residence.

  • Appeal for volunteer mentors for Chapman Challenge

    Appeal for volunteer mentors for Chapman Challenge

    Barbados is launching a nationwide push to build a new generation of community-focused leaders, as the President’s Trust has opened applications for volunteer mentors to support its upcoming transformative youth initiative, the Chapman Challenge. Scheduled for an official launch on September 23 under the patronage of President Jeffrey Bostic, the program targets young people between the ages of 10 and 24, centering its approach on three core pillars: community engagement, hands-on service, and structured leadership skill-building.

    Organizers are actively recruiting committed volunteers from every sector of Barbadian society, ranging from educators, civil servants and skilled tradespeople to retirees and local entrepreneurs. These volunteers will step into the role of “support anchors”, providing consistent, positive guidance to young participants across the island. Captain Tevin Maynard, a spokesperson for the initiative’s Mentorship Task Force, emphasized the irreplaceable role that positive adult role models play in strengthening local communities during the announcement of the recruitment drive.

    “Every young person has the right to access encouraging guidance, meaningful encouragement, and life-changing opportunities,” Maynard stated. “When adults choose to serve as mentors, they do more than change the trajectory of individual young lives – they lay the groundwork for more connected, resilient communities across Barbados, and a stronger nation overall. The Chapman Challenge gives every citizen, regardless of which parish they call home or what profession they work in, the chance to build a lasting, positive legacy through dedicated service.”

    The initiative operates through a structured, community-rooted matching system: local municipal councillors first identify young people who stand to benefit most from the program, then pair each participant with a trained volunteer support anchor. Mentors take on a range of responsibilities, from offering one-on-one personalized advice and leading interactive group skill-building activities to arranging hands-on workplace exposure and providing ongoing virtual support between in-person sessions.

    Unlike many youth development programs that prioritize only academic achievement, the Chapman Challenge centers on holistic growth. Its core goals include fostering strong personal character, building practical life and leadership competencies, cultivating a sense of civic responsibility, and empowering young people to step into active leadership roles within their own communities through sustained service work.

    Organizers have underscored that the entire initiative is run on a volunteer basis, and operates under a strict, comprehensive safeguarding framework designed to protect all participants. Every successful volunteer applicant must complete a mandatory background check and undergo thorough training before starting their mentorship role, ensuring the program maintains a safe, supportive environment for every young person involved.

    By connecting experienced adults with motivated young people across its early stages, the Chapman Challenge aims to build a long-term, sustainable pipeline of civically engaged leaders who will contribute to Barbados for decades to come. Any resident of Barbados who is interested in volunteering their time, skills, and expertise as a mentor is invited to contact the President’s Trust through its official communication channels to learn more and apply.

  • Haitian gang releases 13 hostages ,including 6 children, following deadly attack and mass kidnapping

    Haitian gang releases 13 hostages ,including 6 children, following deadly attack and mass kidnapping

    A wave of brutal violence that left 47 residents dead and over 50 people abducted in a previously tranquil agricultural settlement on the outskirts of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince has ended with the partial release of captives, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has officially confirmed. Thirteen hostages, comprising six children and seven adult women, were freed from gang captivity late Friday in the nearby mountain town of Kenscoff, according to the agency. Among the released children are three toddlers under the age of 2, one 7-year-old minor, and two adolescent girls. Yannig Dussart, UNICEF’s deputy representative in Haiti, called the long-awaited release a “rare moment of hope” for a nation grappling with spiraling gang violence and humanitarian collapse. However, he emphasized that the mass abduction itself serves as a stark, urgent reminder of how widespread and frequent attacks on vulnerable children have become across the entire country. Once a quiet getaway for Port-au-Prince residents and a stable hub for small-scale farming, the targeted community has become the latest site of gang expansion, as armed groups extend their control beyond the capital’s crowded slums into outlying rural areas. Kidnapping for ransom has emerged as one of the Haiti gang’s most profitable criminal activities, with ordinary civilians, including children, increasingly targeted even in areas once considered safe from organized violence.

  • WEATHER (6:00 AM, 30 August) A small craft warning and a high surf advisory are in effect

    WEATHER (6:00 AM, 30 August) A small craft warning and a high surf advisory are in effect

    The northern portion of the Lesser Antilles island chain is currently facing disruptive and potentially dangerous weather conditions, driven by a powerful tropical wave that formed from the remains of former Tropical Storm Dolly. Meteorological assessments indicate that the system is highly unlikely to redevelop into an organized tropical cyclone, but its residual moisture and energy are set to trigger a range of hazardous conditions across the region starting from the end of Tuesday and continuing into the overnight hours and early Wednesday morning.

    One of the most significant threats posed by the system is locally intense rainfall, which has the potential to quickly overwhelm drainage systems and trigger flash flooding in low-lying and vulnerable areas. Combined with the heavy rain, the region will see gusty winds and frequent thunderstorms that could further complicate conditions for residents and travelers. Dominica is among the areas that will bear the brunt of this weather event, according to the latest forecasts.

    As of Tuesday morning, forecasters note that a formal flood watch or flood warning could be issued for parts of the region by midday if current rainfall projections hold. Officials are urging all residents who live in zones with a history of flooding, landslides and falling rock events to remain vigilant throughout the event, adjust daily plans to account for the hazards, and prepare for potential evacuation if conditions deteriorate rapidly.

    Beyond inland weather hazards, marine conditions across the affected coastlines are already worsening and will remain dangerous through the day. Forecasters predict moderate to rough seas across the region, with significant wave height expected to climb to as much as 7 feet along western-facing coastlines and up to 10 feet on eastern coastlines. Strong breaking onshore waves will create particularly risky conditions for anyone in or near the water. Currently, a small craft advisory and a high surf warning are active for all northern and eastern coastlines of the affected island chain. Small vessel operators are instructed to take all necessary safety precautions, including avoiding open water until conditions improve, and recreational swimmers are strongly advised to stay out of the ocean to avoid the risk of being swept away by powerful surf.