Black Immigrant Daily News

Hurricane Ian tore into western Cuba as a major hurricane Tuesday and left 1 million people without electricity, then churned on a collision course with Florida over warm Gulf waters amid expectations it would strengthen into a catastrophic Category 4 storm.

Ian made landfall in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province, where officials set up 55 shelters, evacuated 50,000 people, rushed in emergency personnel and took steps to protect crops in the nation’s main tobacco-growing region.

The US National Hurricane Center said Cuba suffered “significant wind and storm surge impacts” when the hurricane struck with top sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kmh).

A vehicle weaves through fallen trees bought down by the winds of Hurricane Ian, in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, September 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco)

Ian was expected to get even stronger over the warm Gulf of Mexico, reaching top winds of 130 mph (209 kph) as it approaches the southwest coast of Florida, where 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate.

Tropical storm force winds were expected across the southern peninsula late Tuesday, reaching hurricane-force Wednesday — when the hurricane’s eye was predicted to make landfall. With tropical storm-force winds extending 140 miles (225 kilometres) from Ian’s centre, damage was expected across a wide area of Florida.

It was not yet clear precisely where Ian would crash ashore. Its exact track could determine how severe the storm surge is for Tampa Bay, said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. Landfall south of the bay could make the impact “much less bad,” McNoldy said.

Gil Gonzalez boarded his windows with plywood Tuesday and had sandbags ready to protect his Tampa home. He and his wife had stocked up on bottled water and packed flashlights, battery packs for their cellphones and a camp stove with a large propane burner as they prepared to evacuate.

Crews clear fallen trees bought down by the winds of Hurricane Ian, in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, September 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Ismael Francisco)

“All the prized possessions, we’ve put them upstairs in a friend’s house and nearby, and we’ve got the car loaded,” Gonzalez said. He added: “I think we’re ready.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged people to prepare for extended power outages and to get out of the storm’s potential path.

Hundreds of residents were being evacuated from several nursing homes in the Tampa area, where hospitals were also moving some patients. Airports in Tampa, St Petersburg and Key West closed. Busch Gardens in Tampa closed ahead of the storm, while several Orlando-area theme parks, including Disney World and Sea World, planned to close Wednesday and Thursday.

Ian’s forward movement was expected to slow over the Gulf, enabling the hurricane to grow wider and stronger. The hurricane warning expanded Tuesday to cover roughly 220 miles (350 kilometres) of Florida’s west coast. The area includes Fort Myers as well as Tampa and St Petersburg, which could get their first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.

Eastbound traffic crowds Interstate 4 as people evacuate in preparation for Hurricane Ian approaches the western side of the state, Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in Lake Alfred, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M Ebenhack)

“It’s a monster and then there’s the confusion of the path,” said Renee Correa, who headed inland to Orlando from the Tampa area with her daughter and Chihuahua. “Tampa has been lucky for 100 years, but it’s a little scary now.”

Forecasters warned the hurricane will be felt across a large area as it ploughs across Florida with an anticipated turn northward. Flash floods were possible across the whole state, and portions of Florida’s east coast faced a potential storm surge threat as Ian’s bands approach the Atlantic Ocean. Parts of Georgia and South Carolina also could see flooding rains into the weekend.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp pre-emptively declared a state of emergency Tuesday, ordering 500 National Guard troops to be placed on standby to respond as needed.

As the storm’s centre moved into the Gulf, scenes of destruction emerged in Cuba’s world-famous tobacco belt. The owner of the premier Finca Robaina cigar producer posted photos on social media of wood-and-thatch roofs smashed to the ground, greenhouses in rubble and wagons overturned.

“It was apocalyptic, a real disaster,” wrote Hirochi Robaina, grandson of the operation’s founder.

State media published photos showing water flowing through the town of San Juan y Martinez. The western provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa were without power.

Local government station TelePinar reported heavy damage at the main hospital in Pinar del Rio city, tweeting photos of collapsed ceilings, toppled trees and debris flung about its property. No deaths were reported.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Asks Achken Roberto Richardson.

A) Once a Construction Project is tendered based on its Terms of Reference, its Process is Approved for Construction Commencement.

B) At this point in time All Progress Steps for Construction are Approved within this same Overall Project Tender, as well as Scope of Work.

C) Progress Reports are Approved, as well as the Construction Format in which the Various Phases of the Construction will move forward in fully outlined Approved Descriptions.

D) Progress Payments Approval are based on Work that MUST be executed, completed and inspected for Approval at every Phase and Stage for Project Construction Payments, in accordance with the Scope of Work Approved.

E) Both Principal as well as General Contractor must sign off on all of the above, as to be able to establish, agree upon, and approve the Construction Contract, its Progress, its Conditions, as well as Potential Penalties that can be issued to both Principal and General Contractor in times of Defaults during Construction.

This is all outlined in the Approved Specification Document (Bestek).

F) The Project Supervision Management Team is responsible to primarily the Principal, as well as the General Contractor in times of Construction Disputes, where all Parties will refer back to the Approved Specification Document and Specification Drawings, as well as Working Drawings.

G) While at times it may occur that Delays for whatever reason can take place, the Party in Default can be Financially and Legally Penalized, once the Construction Process Approved within the Specification Document is breached.

These are the Standard cases in normal Public Tender Practices, or Tenders by way of Invitation.

The fact is that once all of the above becomes a reality, a possible Arbitrary Process can take place in which all Financial and Legal Penalties would be settled, that for whatever reason would have caused the delay, by way of unapproved Changes during the Construction Process and Period.

In the case of the Princess Juliana International Airport Refurbishing, Repairs, and Improvement Project on Sint Maarten, the question would be, “Who signed off on this Construction Agreement with the GENERAL CONTRACTOR as PRINCIPAL?

Was it the Operations Company? Was it the Holding Company? Or was it the Shareholder?

And should there be any financial, contractual, or legal issues, here is where you begin this Process, while not having to delay the Construction Progress, as it relates to the Scope of Work and the Approved Work Progress, outlined in the Approved Project Specifications.

Of course there are repercussions as well as other consequences that can be detrimental to any, or all Project Development Parties legally involved.

But of utmost importance is for All Parties involved, some way or another find swift ways to avoid and mitigate any aspect of the Progress of the Project that will jeopardize Proper Passengers Flow and Movement, as well as the best of convenience and service at PJIA that will affect our Name, Reputation, and Brand, as well as our Professional Competence on Site.

WE MUST SERIOUSLY AVOID ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HAVING TO GO BACK TO A CONSTRUCTION STAGE THAT WE HAVE LONG PASSED IN OUR SCOPE OF WORK.

EVEN IF ANY OF THE PARTIES MAY BE IN ANY POSSIBLE LEGAL BREACH, HAVING TO PAY PENALTIES IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER-

Achken Roberto Richardson

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Black Immigrant Daily News

door Terence Oosterwolde PARAMARIBO — Yamill Wip maakt zijn rentree in de Nederlandse basketbalcompetitie. Apollo Amsterdam, de oud-club van de

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