标签： Antigua and Barbuda

Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 5 storm, continues to wreak havoc across eastern Cuba and is poised to advance into the southwestern Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center has issued urgent warnings of catastrophic winds, torrential rainfall, and perilous storm surges affecting multiple Caribbean nations. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its latest advisory at 5:00 am local time on Wednesday, underscoring the severe dangers posed by the hurricane. In Jamaica, authorities have implored residents to stay indoors, citing risks of downed power lines, flooding, and other hazards. Safety measures include proper generator ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and cautious clean-up operations. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are bracing for devastating flash floods and landslides, with Haiti’s communities likely to be cut off due to extensive damage. Eastern Cuba is enduring life-threatening storm surges and flash floods, with hurricane-force winds battering the region. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are also on high alert, with hurricane conditions, heavy rainfall, and storm surges expected. Bermuda, though farther from the storm’s core, may face hurricane conditions and heavy rainfall by Thursday. NOAA forecasters have emphasized that Hurricane Melissa remains a grave threat, urging residents in affected areas to take all necessary precautions.

The Caribbean, though small in size, embodies an indomitable spirit. Despite enduring the ravages of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and a soul-shaking earthquake in Antigua, the region faces not only natural disasters but also political and social upheaval. Cuba and Venezuela are ensnared in geopolitical tensions, while CARICOM’s unity is strained as Trinidad and Tobago steps away from shared regional commitments. Amidst this turmoil, the Caribbean stands at a crossroads of anguish and awakening, yet within this chaos lies a profound opportunity for transformation. Dr. Isaac Newton, a renowned strategist and scholar, calls for a shift from reactive politics to proactive, functional solidarity. He advocates for the creation of Flexible Solidarity Networks, uniting scientists, faith leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs to act swiftly across borders during crises. Regionalism must transcend rhetoric and manifest in shared action, ensuring that the Caribbean becomes the architect of its own protection. Innovation, too, must play a pivotal role. Dr. Newton proposes a Resilience Incubator Initiative, fostering collaboration among universities, youth innovators, and diaspora investors to fund climate-smart agriculture, digital entrepreneurship, and renewable energy projects. The Caribbean’s wealth of intellect and ideas, when integrated, can turn crisis into a catalyst for progress. Diplomatically, the region must embrace Ethical Realignment Diplomacy, grounding foreign policy in truth, transparency, and mutual respect. The Caribbean must resist being drawn into the ambitions of larger powers, asserting its sovereignty and moral voice. Healing the region’s soul is equally crucial. Dr. Newton envisions a Caribbean Emotional Renewal Project, leveraging culture, faith, and mental well-being as pillars of renewal. Education must cultivate wise citizens, and leadership must inspire as well as govern. The Caribbean’s history of resilience—from slavery to colonialism to natural disasters—proves its capacity for rebirth. Unity, wisdom, and compassion must guide the region as it rises from the ashes of ruin, not as victims but as visionaries of destiny. Pain, when transformed by purpose, becomes power, and the Caribbean’s greatest storms may yet birth its greatest strength.

Jamaica awoke to a grim reality this morning as Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm to hit the island in modern history, left behind a trail of devastation. Nearly three-quarters of the country is without electricity, and extensive flooding has submerged entire communities, particularly in the western regions. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a ‘disaster area,’ emphasizing the ‘devastating impacts’ on infrastructure, including hospitals, homes, and businesses. While no fatalities have been confirmed, the true scale of the destruction remains unclear due to crippled communication networks. Local officials described the aftermath as resembling ‘the scene of an apocalypse movie,’ with floodwaters reaching the roofs of two-story homes and rescue teams struggling to reach trapped families. Montego Bay, a tourism hub, was split in two by floodwaters, and the agricultural heartland of St. Elizabeth, known as Jamaica’s breadbasket, faces significant crop losses. Hurricane Melissa, which intensified rapidly due to abnormally warm Caribbean waters linked to climate change, has now moved on to Cuba, leaving Jamaica to grapple with the monumental task of recovery. The country’s catastrophe bond offers some hope for rebuilding, but the immediate challenges are immense.

The northeastern Caribbean experienced a sequence of moderate earthquakes between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, as reported by the UWI Seismic Research Centre (SRC). This latest seismic activity adds to a series of tremors that have recently affected the region. The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.9, occurred at 10:04 p.m. local time on October 28, approximately 52 kilometers north of St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, at a depth of 22 kilometers. A second tremor, measuring 3.8, was recorded at 12:13 a.m. on October 29, located 261 kilometers east-southeast of Antigua, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The third and most powerful quake, with a magnitude of 4.1, struck at 2:42 a.m., about 282 kilometers east of Antigua, also at a depth of 10 kilometers. All events were automatically detected by the SRC’s monitoring systems, which noted that these initial readings are provisional and may be updated following further analysis. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. The SRC has encouraged residents who felt the tremors to share their experiences to aid in ongoing research and analysis.