A Bermudian contingent attending an arts festival in the Caribbean narrowly escaped a direct hit by Hurricane Debby.

More than forty people travelled to St. Kitts and Nevis to take part in a ten-day cultural event, but had to dive for cover after Hurricane Debby bore down on the region.

The Category One storm narrowly missed the area on Monday night as Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister and assorted entertainers sat tight in their hotels.

Some of the activities associated with Carifesta festival were cancelled because of heavy rain, but the island is expected to get back to normal in the next day or so.

Cheryl Ann Lister, wife of Terry Lister, said she was expecting a call from her husband late last night to give her an update on the latest weather situation.

She said: "I heard they had shutdown and were expecting it to pass through.

Hopefully it passed where they anticipated. It was stormy but nothing to be worried about.'' Gombeys, chefs, the Bermuda Dance Company and artists Sharon Wilson, Chesley Trott, Diana Amos were accompanied on the trip by cultural affairs officer Heather Whalen and programme coordinator Gary Burgess.

Also counting their lucky stars today were staff at the Reefs on South Shore, whose sister property, Nesbet Plantation Beach Club, escaped damage as the hurricane span by.

A spokesman said they had received a call from St. Kitts saying the storm had moved away without causing any problems.

"They have been very lucky, the eye passed just north,'' she said. "They haven't had anything except rain.'' She added that the airport was expected to open yesterday afternoon.

The music and arts festival, with 35 nations taking part, was due to start again shortly afterwards.

It began last Thursday and is due to finish on Saturday. Along with the official delegation, residents were expected to fly to the island on the charter flight.

Hurricane Debby, which had winds last night of 65 knots, with gusts up to 80 knots, had passed by the British Virgin Islands and was threatening Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

It is expected to approach Florida by Friday morning.