In preparations for the passage of Hurricane Gustav, the Port Authority of Jamaica says it is expecting to close some ports along the north coast.

Effective 2 p.m. today, the ports of Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Discovery Bay, Rio Bueno and Montego Bay will cease operations until 6 a.m. tomorrow, the authority said.

"The ports along the south coast, including Kingston, will remain open but will be on standby to effect any required procedure in the event that the system takes a turn toward the island," a spokesman from the authority said in a release.

The following events have been rescheduled from today due to the anticipated unsuitable weather conditions:

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) National Reading Competition Parish awards luncheon will now be held Wednesday, September 3, 12:30 p.m. at Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston

The JLS National Reading Competition Quiz Finals Awards will now be held on Thursday, September 4, at 2 p.m. at TVJ studios

The Cornwall ceremony for the Governor General's Achievement Awards has been postponed to Wednesday, September 10 at2 p.m. at the Negril Hills Golf Club

The annual Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts ceremony that was rescheduled for today at the Courtleigh Auditorium has once again been postponed. The Jamaica Cultural Development Com-mission apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused.