Emily Leaves Minor Damage in Barbados

Bridgetown, Jul 14 (Prensa Latina) Tropical Storm Emily continues sashaying over the Caribbean sea, after pounding southern Barbados with strong winds that tore roofs off homes and uprooted trees.



That country´s government closed the international airport and ordered a nationwide business shutdown.



In Grenada, where last September´s Hurricane Ivan killed 39 people and left a wasteland of ruined buildings, the government ordered people off the streets and opened shelters across the island.



Grenadians rushed home under heavy rain, forming traffic jams in the capital of St George´s.



The struggle to recover from Ivan has prevented Grenada from thoroughly preparing for this year´s hurricane season. Amidst a shortage of construction supplies, many islanders still have no roofs and some children are still taught under tarps.



In St. Vincent, people placed boards over windows and businesses were closed on Wednesday noon.



At 08:00 local time Thursday, the tropical storm warning for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was discontinued and the hurricane warning for Grenada was downgraded to a tropical storm warning.



Meanwhile, the government of the Netherlands Antilles has issued a tropical storm warning for Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba.



The warning is also in effect for the northern coast of Venezuela from Pedernales westward to Punto Fijo, including Margarita island and the offshore islands north of the coast and west of Cumana.



A tropical storm watch may be required for a portion of the south coast of Hispaniola later Thursday morning.



Emily trails Hurricane Dennis, which destroyed crops, houses and killed at least 25 people in Haiti and 16 in Cuba last week, according to authorities in the two countries.