BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) - Residents rushed to install storm shutters in Barbados as Hurricane Ivan churned towards the Caribbean yesterday, packing sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and threatening islands in its path. A hurricane warning was issued for Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; a hurricane watch for Martinique; and a tropical storm warning for Trinidad and Tobago. "We expect it to maintain its strength but it's a smaller storm compared to Frances, so the eye would have to pass directly over some of these islands to cause extensive damage," said Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. Ivan weakened further yesterday, but maintained its Category Three strength. Forecasters said that the hurricane could regain force by the time it reaches land. At 2:00 pm (1800 GMT), Ivan's centre was about 360 miles (580 kilometres) east-southeast of Barbados. It was expected to hit the island of 280,000 by today and was moving towards the west near 22 mph (35 kph). Prime Minister Owen Arthur convened an emergency session of the Cabinet as residents and some businesses put up hurricane shutters. "Ivan poses a direct and serious threat to Barbados," Arthur said. Islanders also rushed to buy supplies like lanterns, kerosene, bottled water, canned food, flashlights and batteries. Motorists queued up at gas stations to fill their tanks. The manager of Dacosta Mannings hardware store in the capital of Bridgetown reported a heavy influx of shoppers. "People were here before the store opened and when it did they rushed for the hurricane preparedness centre," Donna Susan Hinds said. The new school term was expected to begin yesterday, but authorities told children to remain home. Teachers, however, were required to report to help prepare school buildings as shelters. Government offices closed early yesterday and Arthur urged private businesses to do the same. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (56 kilometres) from Ivan's centre while tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (225 kilometres). Ivan became the fourth major hurricane of the season on Sunday afternoon, following Hurricane Frances, which left at least two dead in the Bahamas and carved out a path of destruction that stretched from the Turks and Caicos Islands to the US state of Florida. Ivan could threaten Florida but it was too early to tell, meteorologists said. It is also forecast to move over St Lucia, a former British colony of 165,000 residents. "We have a major deadly storm approaching St. Lucia and we need to be prepared," said Dawn French, director of the island's National Emergency Management Office. St Lucia's Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony called an emergency planning meeting and ordered all government offices and businesses closed today. St Lucians crammed into supermarkets to buy supplies including candles, batteries and bottled water. "I'm taking no chances. This one looks serious," said 27-year-old shopper Cuthbert Lyons, who is St. Lucian but is on vacation from Britain. Agriculture Minister Ignatius Jean said he worried about the storm's possible effects on the important banana industry in the region. In 2002, Hurricane Lili destroyed half of St Lucia's banana crop. The Caribbean banana industry has struggled to deal with a 50 per cent decline in production over the past decade, due to both droughts and hurricanes. SOURCE: JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM