UPDATE | Jamaica's international airports closed as Hurricane Melissa lashes eastern Jamaica

Jamaica’s two international airports are officially closed as Category Four Hurricane Melissa begins to impact the island, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says.

Speaking at a press briefing Sunday afternoon, he said 11 flights were accommodated out of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay Sunday morning before operations were shuttered at midday. Operations at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston ended late Saturday.

Meanwhile, Vaz said the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has requested a force majeure, a contract clause that relieves a party from fulfilling obligations when an extraordinary event, such as a natural disaster or war, makes performance impossible.

“I can state categorically, that this will not be held up. I’ve already referred to the Attorney General's Chambers, and I am prepared to sign as early as possible, even prior to the strike,” Vaz said.

“So you can rest assured JPS will not be hindered by the conditionalities of their existing contract.”

He also rebuffed as “fake news” a WhatsApp message being circulated about a scheduled shutdown of JPS power in each parish.

“Let me just again caution everybody, not to listen to fake news. I know it's very hard because anxiety levels are high and you are on your phone, monitoring every message that is coming around and trying to find as much information. That will just raise your anxiety. Just see with the Government of Jamaica, who has your best interests at heart and will continue to communicate to you as required and as we have been doing,” he said.

- Kimone Francis

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