The requirement that buildings must be constructed to withstand Category Five hurricanes is a critical feature of the revised Building Code. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the revised Building Code will be rolled out in this financial year. “There will also be stronger enforcement powers for Municipal Corporations, mandatory compliance checks, and stricter penalties for...

Jamaica has strengthened its disaster response and recovery capacity for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing GeoConnect, a multi agency data governance framework. GeoConnect provides a single, secure platform that enables ministries and agencies to share, cross reference, and verify damage assessment data in real time. The MoU was signed by Director General of...

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose, is encouraging parents and caregivers to prioritise children’s emotional well-being by providing healthy outlets for self expression. She emphasises that children are not immune to stress and trauma and are often more perceptive of difficulties within the home and wider environment than adults may realise. Ms. Rose told...

A proposal is to be taken to Cabinet to establish the National Cybersecurity Coordination and Assurance Council (NCCAC) as the central coordination and delivery authority for Jamaica’s national cybersecurity posture. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, made the disclosure during his contribution to...

A comprehensive review of the Scientific Research Council (SRC) Act will be undertaken to modernise and harmonise it with current governance, accountability, and scientific mandates. “Jamaica cannot build a 21st-century innovation economy on a 1960 legislative framework,” Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, said while making his contribution to the...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), Ambassador Major General (Ret’d), Antony Anderson, says his focus is on the buildout of the agency, with work to commence on critical projects by year end. “Very rapidly, we're going to have to build out the organisation and also get the systems in place that can, in an...

A coordinated, multi agency initiative is to be launched to assess the extent of damage to water systems in St. Ann. Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says St. Ann’s municipal water systems sustained significant damage during Hurricane Melissa, making thorough assessments a critical first step towards restoring and strengthening the parish’s water supply. “The current...