Students rescued from Jamaica (medical students choose to st

[azskeptic]

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/nat...7195732904.php

Friday, September 10, 2004

In the nick of TIME
Students rescued from Jamaica as Ivan looms

By Raymond Kongwa,Guardian Staff Reporter

Met by a welcoming party of parents and high-level government officials, 96 Bahamian students enrolled at various educational facilities in Jamaica arrived at the VIP Lounge at Nassau International Airport last night after being evacuated ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Ivan.

"We are so grateful to be home," said University of The West Indies (UWI) Bahamian Student Association President Cindy *****. "It was a frightful experience preparing for the hurricane, but so far everything is OK."

Describing the government's decision to evacuate the students as a "heroic act," Ms ***** said her role in organizing the students was an easy one, as "once the word got out that the effort had been extended, we were all just too happy to come."

Some stayed

While all of the students desirous of doing so were accommodated on the flight from Kingston aboard a Bahamasair Boeing 737 jetliner, some had opted to stay.

Minister of Education and Attorney General Alfred Sears, however, said that some, in particular, medical students, opted to stay for a number of reasons, including possibly rendering assistance where needed.

"The same concern that we have, that inspired this action, is the same concern that we have for those who have stayed," Mr. Sears said. He urged those remaining in Jamaica to take "every precaution, because it is a category five hurricane; it is headed directly for Jamaica, and we have seen the devastation of the hurricane in Grenada.

"We ourselves have just recently been traumatized and we cannot afford to lose one Bahamian," Mr. Sears avowed. He said that early on Thursday he had instructed officials of the University of The West Indies on his behalf to make an announcement on Jamaican radio and television, advising all Bahamian students of the exercise.

Although the number of students who remained behind was not immediately available, Mr. Sears said, they were mostly medical students in their clinical years. He said it had been determined during a meeting of the UWI medical school and other schools on Thursday that it would be in the best intersts of the students to stay.

Stayed to help

Mr. E.J. Bowe was one parent who felt the joy of having a child return home on the one hand, but on the other hand he also experienced the uncertainty of having another remain. His son Didrick, a first year student, whom he had escorted to Jamaica to enroll at UWI a week ago was among the evacuees, while his daughter Adina, a fifth year medical student remained.

"She opted to stay and she said she knew they would need her services because of causalities and accidents after the storm," said Mr. Bowe. He said that his wife had mixed feelings over her decision, but he was satisfied that her accommodation was secure.

Students from the University of Technology, Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts and Northern Caribbean University were also part of the exercise. In the case of Northern Caribbean University, located in Mandeville, students were bussed to Kingston after being assembled by Miguel Taylor who had been deputized by Mr Sears early Thursday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Fred ******** and Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt were also part of the welcoming committee. Welcoming students on behalf of the government, Mrs. Pratt told the group the entire nation was happy to have them back safe at home.

Ms ***** said Jamaicans were fearful as Ivan threatened, but did not show signs of panic as they prepared for the storm's arrival.

The category five hurricane devastated Grenada Thursday, leaving the island's Prime Minister homeless and prisoners on the loose after leveling the penitentiary.

Ivan is expected to touch down in Jamaica some time today