As Hurricane Beryl rips toward the southeast Caribbean, Global Affairs Canada is warning travellers to avoid non-essential travel to Jamaica as well as several countries in the region.
Non-essential travel warnings are in place for the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada due to Hurricane Beryl.
In the same statement, Canadians were also warned to avoid all travel to Haiti due to the hurricane, as well as threats posed by kidnappings, gang violence and civil unrest.
On Monday, Beryl developed into a Category 5 storm as peak winds sped to 270 km/h. It later weakened to Category 4.
At least seven people have died.
The tearing winds have also caused widespread property and environmental damage.
Forecasters expect the storm to enter Jamaica on Wednesday. Islanders are scrambling to board windows and bring boats ashore. Officials have warned people in flood-prone areas to prepare to leave
There are 3,162 Canadians registered in Haiti, 1,524 in the Cayman Islands, 1,625 in Jamaica, 236 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and 341 in Grenada. GAC says those numbers only represent those who chose to register, adding that there may be more.
What to do if you encounter a storm while travelling
TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.
The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.
It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.
The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.
That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.
Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.
