View the latest news from the Barbuda Council. Senator Mackenzie Frank and Dorothy Symister (Secretary to the Council) have supplied information on the reconvening of the Council, the Dublin Hotel, the Haylandale development, the Immigration and Customs trainees, the Joint Consultative Council, the new police station and magistrate's court, the x-ray machine, the road development, the tennis court, and visits from a US diplomat and the DCA.
Scientists from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, have been conducting a field project entitled RICO in Antigua and Barbuda. One scientist, John Hubbert, told us that the flatness of Barbuda allows an unobstructed 360-degree view for the weather radar dish. The S-Pol, dual polarisation radar dish, near Sand Ground, has been measuring atmospheric precipitation.
The scientist, Timothy Lim, has been releasing weather balloons four times a day since 6 December, generally at Spanish Point. The radiosonde instrument, which is attached to the balloon measures different parameters of the atmosphere - humidity, temperature, pressure, wind speed, and direction.
The balloon rises to approximately 70,000 feet, where it flies with the wind for 90 minutes before it bursts. The radiosonde sends signals to the antenna on the truck roof, which are relayed to the computer inside. After every launch the data is sent to the US National Weather Service to use in its daily forecasts. The scientists are getting a snapshot of weather events to enable atmospheric models, constructed on super computers, to predict the weather better than is possible now.
Scientists Kurt Kanudson, Kyle Holden, and Erin Riepe are also with RICO in Barbuda.
More information is available at http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/rico/.
The Holy Trinity School won their round 1 match in the Inter-Schools Debate Competition for secondary schools in Antigua and Barbuda. HTS gained 78 points to the 74 points awarded to Clare Hall Secondary School. Kazim Thomas, first speaker, and Crystal Jeffrey, second speaker, opposed the motion The declining moral fabric of society is mainly related to the failure of the Church. Kerreanna Baltimore was the reserve speaker. Thanks must go to Cleo Isaac who worked long hours with the students, and also accompanied them to Antigua for the debate at the ABS studios. The annual competition is sponsored by Cable and Wireless and has been won five times by the Holy Trinity School.
Peter Cuffy has formed the Shade Fitness Club where he will be giving aerobics and fitness classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The classes are from 6 pm to 7 pm at Jam City. Interested exercisers should contact Peter to register at 773 3980. All proceeds will going to the Falcon's Athletics Club.