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Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Horace Chang, says that the Water Resources Authority (WRA) will be investigating the cause of the recurrent flooding of New River, in St. Elizabeth. "We need to investigate if there is any physical problem contributing to the increased frequency and the Water Resources Authority has to take a look at that. We need to...

The Ministry of Health continues to intensify all priority activities for cholera preparedness, prevention and response to ensure that the country remains cholera-free in light of the recent outbreak in neighbouring Haiti. Director of Emergency Services, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (November 3) that the Ministry will remain persistent in implementing...

Packages with relief supplies were distributed to several residents of the flooded districts of Forrest and Pierce's Village in Eastern Hanover, on November 4. The residents have also been warned about playing or swimming in the body of water now covering a great portion of the land area in both districts. The warning was issued during a community meeting at...

The Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP) in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has partnered with several financial institutions to fund the second phase of the land titling initiative, dubbed LAMP II. Under this partnership, the institutions will provide loans to landholders in St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and parts of Manchester, to fund the attendant costs to register their...

Minister of Health, Hon. Rudyard Spencer, has called on private sector partners to assist the Government's programme to promote healthy lifestyle among Jamaicans. He was delivering the keynote address at a wellness exposition hosted by Jamalco on November 4, at the company's plant in Hayes, Clarendon. Mr. Spencer said that while the Southern Regional Health Authority (SERA), in which Clarendon...

The Porus High School in Manchester launched a values and attitudes campaign at the school on Wednesday (November 3) Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Grace McLean, said the campaign complements efforts being made, at the ministry level, to ensure that students are well behaved. "Schools are one of the prime socialization institutions in Jamaica, thus it is...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon Daryl Vaz, has warned Jamaicans against letting down their guard in the future, after being spared the full onslaught of Hurricane Tomas Friday (November 5). "To those who might have felt that all they did was in vain, I would say to those skeptics, it is better to be safe...

Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Hanif Brown, says that despite the passage of Tropical Storm Tomas, the parish remains on alert for heavy rains which threatens its infrastructure, as well as persons living in low lying and flood prone areas. "We don't believe we are out of the woods, yet. There could still be heavy downpour from the outer bands...

Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, says the death of University of the West Indies' (UWI) Professor Emeritus, Alston Barrington "Barry" Chevannes, has dealt a tremendous blow to the academic, religious and cultural communities. "Professor Chevannes has left a void as an outstanding mentor in our society," Mr. Golding said, in a statement issued by Jamaica House shortly after the...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), says it will be advocating for transitional housing or relocation of persons in Chigwell, Forest, Pierce's Village in Hanover and New River in St. Elizabeth. Those communities are extremely susceptible to flooding and hurricane damage, with some still inundated following the passage of Tropical Storm Nicole. "We recognise that there are...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is now on the ground investigating reports of a crocodile population in Great Pond, St Elizabeth which is allegedly hunting domestic animals. NEPA has also received reports that members of the community are catching and restraining the crocodiles. This is a dangerous practice and community members are encouraged to allow the NEPA officers...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has lifted the Tropical Storm Warning for Jamaica, as Hurricane Tomas moves further away from the island. In addition, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has given the all clear for non-essential workers to resume duties today. The Met Service has advised that Jamaica is now outside of the range of tropical...