More than 2,000 hectares of mangrove forests across five parishes were impacted by Hurricane Melissa, resulting in the urgent need for restoration and resilience-building efforts. This was disclosed by Manager of the Ecosystems Management Branch at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Monique Curtis, during a JIS Think Tank held on Wednesday, January 28. Ms. Curtis said preliminary assessments...

Jamaicans are being reminded that they have a legal right to know what personal information is held about them under the Data Protection Act and the accompanying Data Protection Regulations. Director of Complaints Resolution and Compliance in the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), Andree Holness, said that while individuals may seek broad access to information held about them, the...

Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Trelawny Parish Manager, Courtney Taylor, is encouraging more farmers to adopt climate-resilient practices to boost production and ensure food security. The call comes in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which caused significant damage to the country’s agricultural sector. “Climate change is not a joke. It's something that we'll have to live...

Jamaica’s wetlands are providing natural protection valued at tens of millions of dollars annually, reducing the impact of storm surge, flooding and erosion, while safeguarding coastal communities and critical infrastructure. This was highlighted during a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, where Government officials underscored the role of wetlands as a cost-effective defence against the increasing impacts of climate change. Minister of...

Information Commissioner, Celia Barclay, is urging organisations to assess their privacy programmes and strengthen accountability across all levels. “Do not wait for a complaint or breach to review and improve your privacy practices,” she said while addressing a Data Privacy Conference held on Wednesday (January 28) at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, in St. Andrew under the theme –...

Jamaicans are being reminded that they have a legal right to know what personal information is held about them under the Data Protection Act and the accompanying Data Protection Regulations. Director of Complaints Resolution and Compliance in the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), Andree Holness, says while individuals may seek broad access to information held about them, the law...

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, is to shortly announce some of the areas that are to be designated as entertainment zones. She made the disclosure during Tuesday’s (January 27) sitting of the House of Representatives, while providing an update on activities planned for Reggae Month, being celebrated in February. “We have started, for example, Olympic...