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Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on the country’s hurricane Melissa recovery efforts at a special press conference on November 19 at Jamaica House.

156,000 Dwellings Damaged Across Six Parishes

Hurricane Melissa damaged 156,000 dwellings across the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover, with 24,000 being total losses. Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gave the...

World Bank’s Country Director for the Caribbean countries, Lilia Burunciuc, delivers an address at a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, held at Jamaica House in Kingston on Wednesday (November 19).

St. Elizabeth, St. James, Westmoreland Sustained US$5.5 Billion in Damage from Hurricane Melissa

Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Audrey V. Sewell.

Cabinet Secretary Says Purpose of AI is to Empower Human Beings

Jamaica Banker’s Association (JBA) President, Audrey Tugwell Henry (centre), hands over a cheque valued $5 million to Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President, Metry Seaga (second right), towards the PSOJ’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort. Sharing in the presentation are (from left) JBA Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Hume; Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) President , Kathryn Silvera; and Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) President, Emile Leiba. The handover ceremony was held on Wednesday (November 19) at the PSOJ’s offices in Kingston.

JBA Contributes $5M to PSOJ Hurricane Melissa Relief Effort

Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Francine Webb, is urging farmers to use protective gear while clearing their fields.

Farmers Urged to Be Careful During Recovery Work in Their Fields

Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, addresses the recent monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation in Port Antonio.

5 months ago Health & Wellness

Portland Residents Urged to Reschedule Clinic Appointments After Hurricane Melissa Disruptions

Portland residents who missed clinic appointments due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa are being urged to take immediate steps to reschedule, as parish health services continue recovery efforts following weather-related disruptions. Speaking during the Portland Municipal Corporation’s recent monthly meeting in Port Antonio, Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Sharon Lewis, reported that the Category Five hurricane...

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, addresses the recent St. James Municipal Corporation monthly meeting in Montego Bay.

5 months ago Health & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Communal Sanitation Systems Proposed to Support Hurricane-Affected Residents in St. James

Acting Chief Public Health Inspector for St. James, Sherika Lewis, is recommending the establishment of communal sanitation systems for residents affected by Hurricane Melissa. “We are aware that there are some communities that predominantly have pit latrines [and that others have no facilities at all]. At this time, it is going to be a challenge, and we are concerned about...

Hurricane victims, Icilda Brown (centre), Christine Burnett (left) and Angela Farquharson in the badly damaged community of Whitehouse, in Westmoreland, on November 17.

5 months ago CARICOMHurricane Relief & Recovery

Hurricane Victims Hopeful After Visit by PM and CARICOM Heads

The visit to Whitehouse and adjoining communities in Westmoreland by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness and CARICOM Heads, on November 17, is being viewed by some residents as a sign of hope for better things to come. While readily acknowledging that the visit, which also included representatives of several international lending agencies, will not immediately fix the...

State Minister in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Hon. Krystal Lee (centre), observes as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WaterStep, Mark Hogg, demonstrates how the water-purification bleach makers function during the handover ceremony for 300 machines at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in New Kingston on Tuesday (November 18). Also looking on is the Ministry’s Director of Communication, Stephen Davidson (left). The durable systems enable health facilities to produce World Health Organization (WHO)-approved, medical-grade disinfectant on site, ensuring a stable local supply while expanding access to safe water and sanitation solutions, particularly during disasters.

5 months ago Health & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

300 Bleach Makers Donated to Jamaica’s Health System

Over 300 bleach makers have been donated to Jamaica’s health system, bolstering the nation’s capacity to provide safe, on-site medical-grade disinfectants in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The donation, from United States-based international non-governmental organisation, WaterStep, was facilitated through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Speaking at the handover ceremony at the ODPEM’s headquarters in New Kingston...

Caption: Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, speaking at the recent monthly sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation in Port Antonio.

5 months ago Health & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Portlanders Urged to Take Precaution Against Leptospirosis

Following flooding across sections of Portland due to Hurricane Melissa, Medical Officer of Health for the parish, Dr. Sharon Lewis, is urging residents to take precautionary measures against leptospirosis. Speaking at the recent monthly sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation in Port Antonio, Dr. Lewis said there is an increased risk of human exposure to contaminated water and food, due...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), listens attentively as Commanding Officer for Westmoreland Police Division, Superintendent Othneil Dobson (right), provides a status report on post-Hurricane Melissa operational activities in the parish. The occasion was a visit to Whitehouse, Westmoreland, by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government and officials, and Jamaican Ministers of Government on Monday (November 17). The tour was led by Dr. Holness, who Chairs CARICOM. Also listening (from second left) are Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne; Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Dickon Mitchell; President of Guyana, Dr. the Hon. Irfaan Ali (partially hidden in background); President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, and Jamaica

5 months ago CARICOMHurricane Relief & Recovery

Grenada’s Prime Minister Highlights Regional Solidarity Amid Jamaica’s Hurricane Recovery

Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, has emphasised the vital importance of regional solidarity during times of crisis, citing the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa, which severely impacted Jamaica. In expressing solidarity with the Government and people of Jamaica as the island recovers from the recent hurricane‑related challenge, Prime Minister Mitchell noted that support extended by regional territories, particularly...

President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali (centre), addresses reporters following a tour of hurricane-affected areas in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, on November 17. Listening are Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left) and Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams (right).

5 months ago CARICOMHurricane Relief & Recovery

President of Guyana Outlines Assistance for Jamaica

President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has outlined a comprehensive, rapid-response programme to assist Jamaica as the island recovers from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Addressing reporters in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, on November 17, during a tour of hard-hit areas in western Jamaica by several CARICOM Heads, President Ali said that Guyana stands with Jamaica as part...