And we will have much more from the Prime Minister later on - but we turn now to the seas off Jamaica where tonight - a monster storm - possibly the worst in that country's history is inching towards the island nation. Presently the center of the massive storm is 140 miles southwest of Kingston Jamaica and it is a powerful category 5 storm with winds of 175 miles per hour, making it the strongest storm on the planet this year.
It is truly terrifying and what's worse is the storm is still strengthening. At this hour, Melissa's outer bands are lashing Jamaica with wind and rain and mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for vulnerable coastal areas of Jamaica.
And apart from the massive winds, 30 to 40 inches of rain area expected and a 13 foot storm surge is predicted. Indeed, it will be a catastrophic storm.
And, caught up in the are the few dozen Belizean students attending universities in Jamaica. Students from other CARICOM nations have been flown home or put up in hotels, but Belizean students said that up to Saturday they had not heard anything from the government.
Since then statements have been issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education. And today the Prime Minister said provisions for their safety are being made:
Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me, why the government, the students say, has failed in reaching out to.when other Caribbean governments have reached out."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, I think that, the conditions are, are really different. The, the other Caribbean countries, they are neighbors. You know, a small little commuter plane like Amaya can just easily fly back and forth moving, moving their students."
"Ours is so much farther, so much more complicated. In many instances, we probably would have to fly through the United States. We do not have a fleet of planes that we could, we could send. But more importantly, we have been reaching out to them, ensuring that they are safe. And the latest report that we've had is that all of our students that are, that have remained are safe. Many of them are staying in the home of the honorary consul, I think a Miss Arthurs. And also and then, the others are either staying in their schools where it is safe or in an area that has been designated as, as, a shelter during this period, this, this, this hurricane."
"I wish we could bring all of them. Of course I wish. But we, we have to work with what we have."
Jules Vasquez
"Will you all be able to provide them supplies? It's, I'm told, over 100 students."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think it's about 70. I just checked with the Ministry of Education they tell me it's about 70 students. And yes, we will do everything as soon as a hurricane is over and if they need supplies, we will find a way to get those supplies to them."
Reporter
"So we've had direct contact with all the students?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, I don't think we necessarily get all of them. You know, one talk. Yeah usually you have some leader that would be sending out messages. And, but that's something more that the, I think the Minister of education can, can, can can better give you more information. But, one of the nurses, they reached out to me. I think there were 7 of them that were there studying. I think they're masters or something. And they quickly reached out to me and I said, okay, we'll help them. So they came to Belize, and then we work on how we can assist them in refunding a portion of what they spent to get out of Jamaica."
In a speech today, the Prime Minister said he has been in contact with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and that Belize will provide assistance after the hurricane.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I just got a message from Prime Minister Holness and already describing the horrors of what they expect, the amount of rain, and that's already engulfing Jamaica. Haiti, as we all know, it's in just dire states and then to be able to go north is quite likely a category five hurricane, going to have incredible effects on a country that's already struggling just to keep alive."
