Deliberate decision to beach coast guard vessels said PM Douglas

The 116-foot Stalwart and the 40-foot Arden seen on the beach at St. Kitts’ Frigate Bay on Tuesday

ST. KITTS, AUGUST 31, 2010 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said a deliberate decision was made Monday to beach the Federation’s two Coast Guard vessels along the sandy area of Frigate Bay Beach during the passage of Hurricane Earl.

“This action was taken as a preventive and pre-emptive measure – that is, so as to prevent the storm from inflicting undue damage to either the vessels or the crew at a time of very bad sea conditions,” Dr. Douglas told listeners to his weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister” on Tuesday.

“Our coast guard vessels, as many know, are usually secured at Long Point (in Nevis) in times of tropical storms and hurricanes. However, when this proved almost impossible on this occasion, the captain proceeded to Plan B – that is, the beaching of the vessels,” Dr. Douglas told the programme which is syndicated on several; radio stations on St. Kitts and Nevis.

Hurricane Earl winds and rain lashed St. Kitts and Nevis Sunday night and Monday but no major damage has been reported.