Local News
Ernesto Upgraded to Hurricane, Significant Flooding Expected Across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
The Caribbean region faces heightened threats as Tropical Storm Ernesto has now intensified into a hurricane, bringing with it the risk of significant flooding across Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra, as heavy rains persist and dangerous conditions loom.
Early Wednesday morning, August 14, Ernesto was upgraded to a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center as it moved through the Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico. The upgrade occurred around 11:00 AM local time when Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph, as forecasters had predicted. The storm is expected to strengthen further, potentially becoming a major hurricane in the next couple of days.
As of 11:00 AM AST (1500 UTC), Hurricane Ernesto was positioned near latitude 20.5 North and longitude 67.6 West, approximately 175 miles (280 km) northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and around 835 miles (1340 km) south-southwest of Bermuda. The storm is currently moving northwest at 16 mph (26 km/h), with a turn toward the north-northwest and then north expected later today and tonight. The storm is forecasted to continue a generally northward motion at a slower pace through Saturday.
Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 mph (120 km/h), with higher gusts reported, and the storm’s minimum central pressure has dropped to 991 mb (29.27 inches), signalling further intensification. Hurricane-force winds now extend up to 35 miles (55 km) from the storm’s center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach out as far as 230 miles (370 km).
The forecast track indicates that Ernesto will continue to move away from Puerto Rico today, gradually shifting across the western Atlantic over the next few days. The hurricane is expected to approach Bermuda by Friday and Saturday, potentially strengthening further as it progresses.
For residents in the affected areas, the combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds presents a serious threat. The persistent rains are likely to lead to significant flooding, particularly in low-lying areas and regions already saturated from previous downpours. Flooding could become widespread and severe, prompting local authorities to urge residents to remain vigilant and prepared.
The U.S. and British Virgin Islands, along with Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra, are advised to continue monitoring the situation closely, heed all warnings, and take necessary precautions to protect life and property. As Ernesto advances, the situation remains fluid, and updates from the National Hurricane Center and local disaster management agencies will be critical for ensuring safety.
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Local News
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission Welcomes New Leadership
The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced new appointments to its governing board, with Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC stepping in as Chairman and Ms. Patlian Johnson as Commissioner. The appointments, confirmed by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, mark a new chapter for the commission as it seeks to strengthen the territory’s financial services sector.
Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairman, effective August 1, 2024. A seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career, Farara currently serves as a Commercial Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and leads the litigation team at the BVI office of COLLAS CRILL, formerly Farara Kerins. Farara’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 1996, cementing his standing as a leading figure in the Virgin Islands Bar and the broader Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Patlian Johnson will serve a one-year term as Commissioner, also beginning on August 1, 2024. Johnson, a Strategy and Policy Advisor with extensive experience, currently holds the position of National Coordinator for the UNDP Project Office. She brings an impressive academic background, including a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The pair will replace outgoing Chairman Mr. Robin F. Gaul and Commissioner Mr. Melvin A. Turnbull, whose terms have concluded. Minister of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), praised the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Farara and Ms. Johnson to the BVIFSC Board of Commissioners. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the financial services sector.”
Smith also expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their significant contributions to the growth and stability of the territory’s financial services industry. According to the Government Information Service (GIS), these appointments underscore the Virgin Islands’ commitment to maintaining a well-regulated and competitive financial services sector.
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