St. Lucia 'open for business' after Hurricane Dean
Monday, 20 August 2007 12:00 AM
Airport passenger with luggage
The Caribbean island of St Lucia is 'open for business' following the passing of Hurricane Dean which is set to reach the Cayman Islands today and Mexico tonight.
Hurricane Dean passed St Lucia as a Category 2 storm, though has since grown to a Category 4, and may even reach the maximum force, Category 5, before it reaches Mexico.
Airports in the north and south of St Lucia are have reopened, roads hit by landslides have been cleared and electricity has been restored to the island.
Hotels also reported no significant damage to their properties, though they have been spending the weekend cleaning-up after the storm.
"We're thankful that the island is back to full operational capacity, due in part to the spirit of the St. Lucian people and the fact that the hurricane passed the island in its early stages," said Maria Fowell, St Lucia director of tourism.
The Foreign Office said there were no reports of injuries to tourists from Hurricane Dean in St Lucia, but some hotels have reported minor damage to facilities.
"Some infrastructure has been affected, but repairs are being carried out quickly," it said.
For the latest travel information on visiting St Lucia see www.fco.gov.uk
