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Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Honourable Dr. Christopher Tufton has called on veterinary professionals to continually work towards improving animal health and welfare by way of available tools, such as advocacy, scientific research and lobbying to enact appropriate legislation. "It is the responsibility of humans to ensure animal welfare and include steps to achieve proper housing, nutrition, disease prevention, humane and...

The National Meteorological Service has discontinued the Tropical Storm Warning for Jamaica with immediate effect even as Hurricane Tomas continues to strengthen near western Haiti. In light of this, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising that all non-essential workers within the public and private sectors in the Parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas,...

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, is cautioning business operators against asking non-essential workers to report for work after his office has advised otherwise. He said it was important that non-essential workers remain at home when instructed to do so, as the advisories are usually issued in times of serious threat from...

Wood packaging material coming into Jamaica must bear the mark of compliance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), signifying that they have been treated for pests, as of next January. Chief Plant Quarantine Produce Inspector in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sheila Harvey, told the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's Ninth Annual Customs seminar, at...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. Marc Panton, says proper on-farm water management continues to be a critical component for reducing production costs and improving crop yields. Speaking at an International Project Management Day function, at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, on October 4, Dr. Panton stressed that water was a crucial commodity...

Jamaicans woke up this morning (November 5), to the news that Tomas, which had made the transformation from tropical depression to hurricane and back several times, is now a category 1 hurricane heading away from the island toward disaster ravaged Haiti. Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Ronald Jackson told JIS News that Tomas is...

The Norman Manley International Airport remains open and continues to operate normally.

With statistics showing that more teens are abusing drugs, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jean Dixon, says that a wide ranging public education campaign, targeting the age group, must be undertaken to increase awareness on the ills of drug abuse. "I foresee an anti-drug campaign that targets parents, teens and the society at large that is open...

Due to the Tropical Storm Warning which is still in effect for the island the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Education is directing that all schools in the Eastern Parishes - Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland will remain closed for Friday November 5, 2010. The ODPEM continues to...

Jamaica's Honorary Consul in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Kenneth Guscott, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine, Dr. Harold Mignott, have been both honoured for distinguished service to the Jamaican community in the United States. The event took place at the first annual conference of the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast USA Region Advisory Board, on Saturday,...

'From War to Windrush' an exhibition commemorating the contribution of Jamaicans in World War I and II will be held from November 14, 2010 to September 2011 at the Institute of Jamaica's Exhibition Gallery, corner of East Street, downtown Kingston. Speaking at a press briefing held on November 4 at the British High Commission in New Kingston to announce the...

The Institute of Jamaica, through its Natural History Museum, has launched a publication, which focuses on one key aspect of the island's rich natural heritage, its trees. The publication entitled: "Endemic Trees of Jamaica" was launched recently, during a ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Compiled by botanist at the Museum, Keron Campbell, the 321 page publication,...