Overcast skies loomed over Barbados throughout Wednesday, with the soil still damp from Tuesday’s heavy downpours.
The island was drenched as many prepared for a grand climax to the 50th Independence celebrations. Prince Harry who was visiting the island as part of his Caribbean tour remarked that he had never experienced that much rain before. Houses, businesses and roads were left under water, trees were uprooted and power lines toppled. The Department of Emergency Management said it had been monitoring the system which also battered St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, but it was unprepared for the impact. The system dumped between three to six inches of rain on the island, forcing the early closure of schools and government offices as well the postponement of national events including the grand Independence parade. Emergency personnel had to brave the persistent showers to rescue more than a dozen people who were marooned in their homes and at least another two trapped in their vehicles. On Wednesday crews from the Barbados Light & Power were still working feverishly to restore electricity to four parishes.