BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on Tuesday said it is monitoring the passage of Tropical Storm Bret as it approaches the region.

Weather officials forecasted earlier that the tropical storm could become a hurricane within a couple of days.

“During and after the passage of this weather system, the safety and well-being of all our stakeholders is paramount,” CXC said, urging “all stakeholders to follow the safety directives provided by each government.

“CXC is in dialogue with ministries of education across the region as it relates to the examinations which may be affected in their country.”

The examination body said that for countries where their government has not ordered a cancellation of the examinations, they are expected to be administered as normal.

“Continue to remain safe and we pray that the storm will pass by with minimum damage,” the CXC added.

CXC, which was established in 1972 under agreement by the participating governments in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), is recognised internationally as the qualification for entry into tertiary institutions in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.