{"id":6889,"date":"2017-09-01T16:25:20","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T20:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=6889"},"modified":"2017-09-01T16:25:20","modified_gmt":"2017-09-01T20:25:20","slug":"full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/","title":{"rendered":"FULL STATEMENT: PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR IRMA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-1178854805\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-689570312\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div><p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">My fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, residents and friends:<\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-306562452\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The National Meteorological Service has advised that there is more than a 50% probability that Hurricane Irma will affect Antigua and Barbuda. Its rain bands or its tailwinds may make life a little difficult for us, even if the eye passes north of our Leeward Islands on Monday or Tuesday, September 4<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;or 5<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;2017. I have therefore taken several precautionary steps to avert harmful after-effects on our country.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-2802472098\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-2509809863\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-397381193\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ReggaeInTheParkAntigua\" aria-label=\"lucanio\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">First, I have asked the Minister of Health to mobilize the Central Board of Health (CBH) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority to clean the major drains, and to remove any debris that could block the flow of floodwater that may fall during the passage of Irma.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-1811434074\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500 (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Second, I have instructed the Head of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) to co-ordinate closely with the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS); together, they will firm-up their contingency plans to help those who may fall into distress should Irma have ill-effects on our state. The Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force is also to be placed in a state of readiness, following a meeting with the Commissioner of Police.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-1042712283\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"CM key_WEB 1300x300_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1301w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:69\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:237\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:178\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1301\" height=\"301\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Third, I have asked the Minister with responsibility for APUA to dispatch teams of workers immediately to prune trees that overhang power lines, and to clear those shrubs and bushes that could impair recovery should Irma\u2019s winds disrupt electricity. I have asked the ABDF to coordinate with APUA to provide any additional manpower that may be required to perform the additional tasks, over the next 72 hours.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p><div id=\"antig-789263088\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I also inform that I have mobilized EC$500,000 dollars to meet the additional operating costs and to pay overtime which this contingency plan may cost. That money would enable the agencies of government to draw down all the equipment and manpower resources required over the next 72 hours.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I take this opportunity to ask the able-bodied adults and homeowners across the country to take all necessary actions to safeguard their own properties, and to secure their valuables. The passage of a hurricane is not a matter to be taken lightly, although we ought not panic. Please, however, do all that is necessary to ensure that our families\u2019 lives, properties and valuable possessions are not placed in any danger because of negligence or failure to heed the warnings.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">I pray God\u2019s blessings on our nation and ask God\u2019s mercies, as we face a potential natural disaster.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This is Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. I thank you for listening.<u><\/u><u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.696px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><u><\/u>&nbsp;<u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\">&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wp-image-488593650..jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wp-image-488593650..jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6888 alignnone size-full\" width=\"1174\" height=\"1200\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"antig-2359883170\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, residents and friends: &nbsp; The National Meteorological Service has advised that there is more than a 50% probability that Hurricane Irma will affect Antigua and Barbuda. Its rain bands or its tailwinds may make life a little difficult for us, even if the eye passes north of our Leeward Islands [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-weather"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>FULL STATEMENT: PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR IRMA - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FULL STATEMENT: PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR IRMA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My fellow Antiguans and Barbudans, residents and friends: &nbsp; The National Meteorological Service has advised that there is more than a 50% probability that Hurricane Irma will affect Antigua and Barbuda. Its rain bands or its tailwinds may make life a little difficult for us, even if the eye passes north of our Leeward Islands [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Antigua News Room\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/antiguanewsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-09-01T20:25:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wp-image-488593650..jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1174\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AntiguaNewsRoom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AntiguaNewsRoom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Editor\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Editor\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/#\/schema\/person\/36cac05ef6398fe56ae3e6317f8535c5\"},\"headline\":\"FULL STATEMENT: PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR IRMA\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-09-01T20:25:20+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-09-01T20:25:20+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\"},\"wordCount\":443,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1056\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wp-image-488593650..jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"Weather\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/full-statement-pm-announces-national-preparations-for-irma\/\",\"name\":\"FULL STATEMENT: PM ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR IRMA - 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