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Fewer rescue operations were carried out in St. Thomas during Tropical Storm Gustav, due to residents having heeded the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management's (ODPEM) calls for early evacuation in flood prone areas. Deputy Superintendent of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Denzil Roper, told JIS News, that residents near river banks and in flood prone areas had evacuated early,...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has outlined the marketing and investment strategies that will be pursued, to increase airlift to Jamaica from existing and emerging markets. In terms of marketing, Mr. Bartlett noted that the sector has been looking towards intense market diversification as a new approach in selling the product to new and emerging markets. The Minister explained that...

Health Educator with the Clarendon Health Department, Carlisa Pierson, has said that senior citizens still have a significant contribution to make to family life. "We are hoping to promote our services and improve the access to seniors, so that more of them will come to the health centres to use the services. Even as we are celebrating seniors, we are...

The European Investment Bank (EIB), has responded positively to the project proposal for the $50 million expansion of the Wigton Wind Farm in Manchester. This was disclosed to JIS News, by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Senator Don Wehby, who was in London last week, following two days of top level talks with...

A flood mitigation seminar was held recently in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), in collaboration with the Water Resources Authority (WRA). Stakeholders from the agricultural sector, fishermen, and representatives from the commercial community attended the seminar, with presenters updating them on flood prone areas that would receive priority attention, and the measures they could take...

Broadleaf All-age School in Manchester, has received a multi-purpose court, built by Jamalco at a cost of more than $1 million. At the handing over ceremony, held at the school on September 25, Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) President-elect, Michael Stewart, said the donation of the court would help in discovering sporting talents in the area. "This initiative will go a...

Some 56 students from 28 Primary and All-age schools in Manchester and St. Elizabeth, are the recipients of awards by Region Five of the Ministry of Education, for exemplary literacy skills. At the ceremony, which was held at the Mandeville Baptist Church on September 23, Literacy Specialist with the Ministry of Education, Millicent Bernard-James, said literacy is one of greatest...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has received a cheque for US$20,737, from the Organisation of American States (OAS), to assist with the post-Tropical Storm Gustav recovery effort. At the handing over ceremony today (September 29), held at OAS Jamaica Office in Kingston, OAS representative, Dr. Joan Neil, informed that the contribution was due to the collaborative...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Carol Palmer, has called on Justices of the Peace (JPs), to take full advantage of training that is currently being offered by the Ministry. Delivering the main address at the recent Annual General Meeting of the St. Elizabeth chapter of the Lay Magistrates Association, held in Santa Cruz, she said that justice would...

Conservator of Forests, Marilyn Headley, has pointed out that most land slippage as a result of Tropical Storm Gustav, occurred in deforested areas. "There was little damage to trees," she said in an interview with JIS News. "There was mainly land slippage and damage to infrastructure, and areas with good tree cover had the least damage," she pointed out adding...

For small developing countries like Jamaica and most other Caribbean islands the cost of repairs after natural disasters, which have been compounded by climate change, can negatively impact development. This view was expressed by Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, on Friday (September 26), the eve of World Tourism Day, while he was addressing a seminar and exhibition at the Ritz...

Managing Director of the Water Resources Authority (WRA), Basil Fernandez, has expressed the view that Jamaica's water quality is among the best in the world. "You have to remember that our water is not tainted by some of the pharmaceuticals and chemicals found in the water in some countries," he told JIS News. "Many cruise ships that visit Jamaica and...