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A Hurricane Emergency Relief Committee has been established to co-ordinate relief efforts in Toronto, Canada, following the passage of Hurricane Dean and its devastating impact on Jamaica. The Committee is headed by Consul General, Anne-Marie Bonner. Four bank accounts have been opened in the Toronto area to accept monetary donations. The Consulate's Hurricane Relief Fund is at the Bank of...

Air Jamaica regrets to advise that all flights scheduled to depart from Norman Manley Airport today, Monday, August 20, have been cancelled. Flights scheduled to operate from Montego Bay, today, Monday, August 20 will be on a limited basis. As soon as information is available regarding flights that will operate from Montego Bay Airport only, this will be aired. Air...

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, A.J. Nicholson, has said that the state of public emergency issued last night (Aug. 19) by the Governor General, on the advice of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, is to ensure the protection of life and property of Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean. "It is the duty of the government to protect,"...

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has commended Jamaicans for the level of preparedness that was demonstrated before the passage of Hurricane Dean as well as for their participation in clean-up activities after the hurricane. "I would like to commend the Jamaican people because it was evident that not only were the government, the state agencies and the non- governmental organizations...

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, has expressed relief that the island was spared the worst effects of Hurricane Dean, which passed south of the island on Sunday (Aug. 19). At a press briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) yesterday morning (Aug. 20), the Prime Minister called on religious institutions to organize a day of thanksgiving....

In response to the tremendous outpouring of concern for Jamaicans at home by those in the Diaspora, Consul General to New York, Dr. Basil Bryan, has called a meeting of the New York Diaspora community for Wednesday (Aug. 22). The meeting will take place in the Consulate's conference room starting at 6:00 pm. Dr. Bryan said that the meeting will...

St. Ann Disaster Coordinator, Alvin Clarke, has said that assessment was being carried out in the parish, to determine the extent of the damage from Hurricane Dean, and provide relief assistance where necessary. "We hope to have this programme wrapped up by tomorrow (Aug. 22) so that we can start making recommendations and carrying out response assistance," he told JIS...

"A hurricane warning means that the island will be affected by hurricane conditions within the next 24hrs." The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising the public that conditions will begin to deteriorate rapidly along the coastline as Hurricane Dean moves closer towards the island. All persons who live in communities close to the sea are advised...

MY FELLOW JAMAICANS:OUR COUNTRY IS FACING THE SERIOUS THREAT OF HURRICANE DEAN -- A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE, WHICH COULD STRENGTHEN FURTHER, MOVING ACROSS JAMAICA BY TOMORROW.THIS IS A TIME OF CHALLENGE FOR OUR NATION, BUT IT IS ALSO A TIME FOR US, AS A PEOPLE, TO CALL ON OUR GREAT FAITH, WISDOM, STRENGTH AND SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY. YESTERDAY, I ACTIVATED...

The center of Powerful Hurricane Dean is now just 70 miles away from Kingston, Jamaica. Hurricane-force winds are now likely in full gear especially across the southeastern portion of the island nation. Waves are battering the southern and eastern shore and torrential rains have begun. As Hurricane Dean heads west-northwest, the northern end of its eyewall is now beginning to...

A total of 213 shelters are now opened across the island, housing some 5,169 persons. They are: Parish # of Shelters # of PersonsTrelawny 19 451St. Thomas 14 264St. Mary 5 68St. James 22 555St. Catherine 16 394St. Ann 19 461Portland 31 914Manchester 21 90KSA 21 714Hanover 17 268Clarendon 11 415Westmoreland 8 352St. Elizabeth 9 223TOTAL 213 5169 The public...

We wish to advise persons served by the Mile Gully Primary School in Manchester that it is no longer being used as a shelter. The alternative facility, the Mile Gully Community Centre, will be opened. The public is reminded that, under the National Shelter Programme, government-owned schools are designated as shelters. Updates on other activated shelters will be sent out...