By the Caribbean Journal staff

The French Caribbean island of Martinique was spared after Tuesday’s encounter with Hurricane Irma, officials said.

Martinique’s Aime Cesaire International Airport reopened on Tuesday morning, with ports scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

“In Martinique, reconnaissance operations are still underway but already we can see that there is no significant damage,” said Jacques Witkowski, France’s head of civil protection and crisis response.

The rum bar at Le Petibonum in Le Carbet was back to serving cocktails on Wednesday.

Martinique was also spared by Hurricane Irma earlier this month.

“We are all deeply saddened by the devastation experienced by Dominica, Martinique’s neighbor to the North, and pray that all of our friends who are now in the storm’s path will be spared the worst of this powerful hurricane,” said Karine Mousseau, Martinique Tourism Commissioner.

Indeed, even in the north of Martinique, which was closer to the path of the storm, the island’s most popular bar, Le Petibonum, was back and open for business serving Martinique’s famous cocktail, the Ti’ Punch.