Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Jamaicans hoping to return home from Grand Cayman before Hurricane Dean, which is expected to hit that island on Monday, will have to wait until the storm blows over because of the absence of available flights.

The Jamaicans, many of whom are non-holders of United States visas, are reportedly stranded in the neighbouring Caribbean island, while many Caymanians and tourists have been evacuating to North America.

Cayman recovered, just over a year ago, from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, a nightmare many of its residents would prefer not to relive.

Prepared for onslaught

Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner from his offices there, Jamaica's Honorary Consul, Robert Hammaty, said the island's National Hurricane Disaster Committee was well organised and prepared for the onslaught of the storm, while shelters were being provided to house persons living in flood-prone areas.

"After the hurricane passes over, there will be many flights by Cayman Airways and Air Jamaica to take the people out," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

Checks made with Air Jamaica showed that the airline was overbooked, with passengers trying to get out of the island before the storm gets here. Questions directed to the president, Mike Conway, revealed that an evacuation exercise of Jamaicans out of Cayman was not even slightly possible.

"We have an emergency everywhere today, to the extent that the Sunday flights had to be moved to Saturday," Conway told The Sunday Gleaner.