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The National Blood Transfusion Service (Blood Bank) has reopened to the public and is now able to receive blood donations. Persons wishing to donate blood in Kingston may therefore visit the Blood Bank at 21 Slipe Pen Road. The collection centre at the National Chest Hospital is also accepting donations along with all other collection centres across the island. For...

CARICOM has condemned the attack on President Rafael Correa by the Ecuadorian police force, while commending the country's armed forces for defending its democratic institutions. The Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon Bruce Golding. A statement issued Friday (October 1) by the current Chairman of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference, Jamaica's Prime Minister, the Hon...

St. Ann Parish Disaster Coordinator, Alvin Clarke, has assured Pedro River, Cave Valley and Douglas Castle residents, that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Parish Disaster Committee are aware of the damage in their communities. He said that ODPEM is putting the necessary response activities in place to assist them, after heavy rains from Tropical...

Several schools in Portmore have been designated as priority shelters by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), in an effort to ensure the protection and safety of children. The shelters are Naggo Head Primary School, Gregory Park Primary School, Kensington Primary School, the Portmore Heart Academy, South Bourough Primary School and Portsmouth Primary School Portmore's Disaster Coordinator,...

The National Works Agency (NWA) is working to reopen the island's roadways that remain impassable due to blockages caused by heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole. The NWA had reported at a press conference convened at Jamaica House on (September 29), that the severe rainfall had caused the collapse of two bridges, blocked 49 roadways, reduced 14 roads to...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Alvin McIntosh, says that all the Ministry's offices island wide have been mobilised to work with the various emergency response agencies to assist persons affected by the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole. In an interview with JIS News, Mr. McIntosh, said the immediate need was to organise shelter...

The Ministry of Health is advising that full service has been restored at most of the island's public hospitals. A few hospitals continue to offer emergency services only. The Following is the status of public hospitals across the island including the University Hospital of the West Indies: Hospitals offering full serviceSt. Ann's Bay RegionalKingston PublicVictoria JubileeNational ChestSav-La-Mar Cornwall Regional Bustamante...

The National Works Agency (NWA) says St. Thomas and sections of Harbour View have been reconnected to the capital city, with the repair of the temporary ford across the Dry River in Harbour View, which was washed away during this week's torrential rains. Chief Executive Officer of the NWA, Patrick Wong, told a news conference at the Ministry of Transport...

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, has indicated that it will cost at least $400 million to clear roadways, following the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole over the past few days. "So far, it is about $400 million just to clear the roads," Mr. Henry said during the monthly call in radio programme, 'Jamaica House Live',...

The heavy rains since the start of the week have caused major damage to roads and crops in the Buff Bay Valley area of Portland. Information Minister and Member of Parliament for West Portland, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the revelation to JIS News after an aerial tour of the parish today (September 30) to assess the extent of the damage....

Claverty Cottage Primary School, which was activated as a shelter for displaced persons, is now closed, says Portland Disaster Co-ordinator, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Denise Lewis. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Ms. Lewis said the school housed seven persons on (September 29) who needed refuge, adding that they have now returned home. As it...

The lack of electricity in Hanover and Westmoreland is the main concern of residents in both parishes. Following the heavy rains over the last two days, several areas were flooded and power lines and poles damaged. This has left many areas without electricity up to Thursday (September 30). Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinator for Hanover, Olga Fae Headley, told JIS News that...