Caribbean News
TCI airliners cancel flights to Port-au-Prince amidst rioting, no official warnings from Govt
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday July 9, 2018 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has not issued any advisories or alerts despite the unrelenting chaos which continues in Haiti since Friday; the destructive protests erupted just hours before new, increased fuel prices were to take effect there. 
Border Control Minister and Deputy Premier, Sean Astwood overnight confirmed to #MagneticMediaNews that he had been in talks with the airline companies and at this stage there are suspended flights.
On Sunday, Caicos Express Airways explained that their company halted commutes into Port-au-Prince, the Capital of Haiti and the heart of the violent riots. Adding that they were watching the second city of Cap Haitien to determine if the same extreme decision had to be made for their more popular route. 
Today, we are informed that flights on board Caicos Express Airways to Cap Haitien in Haiti are still running as usual explained Stephane Meneles, Operations Manager of Caicos Express.
Longer serving interCaribbean Airlines has opted to discontinue flights to both Port Au Prince and Cap Haitien. In a Sunday issued notice, Magnetic Media was informed that flights are suspended and refunds are being given.
“interCaribbean announces the suspension of flights to Haiti until further notice. Due to civil unrest on the streets in Haiti, most movement in the cities of Port au Prince and Cap Haitien is not possible. As a result, the airports are closed and flights are suspended until further notice, when circumstances allow safe travel. Customers whose flights are for today July 8th, and potential the next several days, may seek a refund or reschedule for a later date. Flights for travel in the next two weeks will receive a waiver of change fees and re-book into the same fare class. Customers who elect to travel at a later time will receive the same fare class or higher, and the change fee waived.”
Although, Haiti’s Government has since suspended the increase due to the wild riots which have forced other countries to send out warnings and stop flights into Haiti, the unruly and deadly protests have continued. 
It was reported that tourists were barricaded in prominent hotels, that buildings, businesses and vehicles were being torched, rocks were being hurled at motorists and people were injured, severely.
The Haitian Police Force is described as being overwhelmed by the anarchy.
An inability to afford basic food items and the prospect of a 38% increase in fuel due to pressures brought upon the Haitian Government to comply with International Monetary Fund standards, are all key factors in this heated exchange, which is playing out in full view of the world.
The images and reports are damaging to the already fragile reputation of safety and stability in Haiti
Looting is also now widespread and the death toll has risen to four people killed.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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