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Some 17 schools in Clarendon are part of a repair programme being carried out by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund's (JSIF) under its Hurricane Ivan Reconstruction programme. Technical Officer with responsibility for the Hurricane Ivan Reconstruction Programme at JSIF, Gerald Murray told JIS News that under Phase One of the programme, 13 schools have been repaired while work on one...

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is reporting that the severe weather over the past week has impacted on blood collection and stock. In fact, the number of requests for blood products has far exceeded the amount available from the blood bank. "We have 71 units in hand on Tuesday (October 25) with requests for 200 units. We are at...

The Clarendon Health Department is urging residents to treat all drinking water as the island recovers from flooding caused by rains associated with the recent passage of Hurricane Wilma. In a JIS News update Parish Manager for the Health Department, Michael Bent said although a national advisory has been issued by the Ministry of Health to treat all drinking water,...

Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell has emphasized the importance of energy conservation. He was speaking during a visit to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium on Tuesday (Oct. 25) to view the display, which has been mounted for the month of October, in observation of Energy Conservation Month. The Minister pointed out that consumers would soon...

A cheque for US$10,000 was yesterday (Oct. 26) donated by the Jamaica Volunteers Association (JVA) to the St. Catherine Parish Council to assist in the clean up and beautification of Spanish Town, St. Catherine. President of the JVA, Professor Donald Morgan presented the cheque to the Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley at a special ceremony held at the...

The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) has successfully completed talks with Golden Krust Bakery, which has 100 stores in the United States, to form an alliance with Jamaica. The chain is looking to buy more agricultural produce from the country. President of the JAS, Senator Norman Grant in an interview with JIS News, explained that a collaboration of the JAS, Ministry...

Prime Minister P.J Patterson has outlined the steps to be taken by the government to resuscitate and transform the sugar industry. This as part of the efforts to survive the changes, which will accompany the proposed 39 per cent cut in the price of sugar imports from African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that was announced by the European Union...

Transport and Works Minister, Robert Pickersgill has said that the work being carried out by the National Works Agency (NWA) on the flooded section of the Mandela Highway, would enable the re-opening of the westbound carriageway by the end of this week, if there is no more heavy rainfall. Speaking to journalists at yesterday's (October 24) post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has maintained that contrary to arguments made by Opposition Member, Karl Samuda the Sandals Whitehouse Negril Hotel in Westmoreland is in fact a five-star establishment and is not identical to the Beaches Turks and Caicos Hotel. Responding in the House of Representatives yesterday (Oct. 25) to questions previously tabled by Mr. Samuda, the Prime Minister explained...

Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips has called for a concerted effort and commitment from the public and the police in the fight to stamp out corruption in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Speaking at the launch of the JCF Anti-Corruption Strategy at the Police Officers Club on Hope Road in Kingston, today (Oct. 26), Minister Phillips expressed confidence...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) St. Catherine Parish Office is reporting that some 90 hectares of agricultural crops valued at over $21 million were destroyed by floods associated with the passage of Hurricane Wilma last week. "But the true extent of the damage would not be known until the water has receded," RADA Parish Manager, Andrew Carty told JIS...

Continued rainfall throughout western Jamaica over the past two days has left a number of communities seriously affected by flooding or blocked roads, as a result of landslides, particularly in the parishes of St. James and Hanover. Acting Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the parish of Hanover, Desmond Dorman, told JIS news that as of today (Oct. 26) the main road...