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Prime Minister P. J. Patterson has assured the nation that there was no shortage of food supplies and there was adequate food stock for the present and near term.He was speaking at the weekly post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday (September 13). Mr. Patterson informed that on his instructions, Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, had met...

Chief Executive Officer of the brand new Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), Danville Walker has said that while the office's priorities would be based on a proper assessment of the damage resulting from Hurricane Ivan, he would be looking initially at infrastructure, road issues and other matters which affect the growth of the country. He made this disclosure today (September...

A total of 106 relief centres were opened in the parishes of St. James and Hanover to accommodate approximately 6,000 persons who sought refuge during Hurricane Ivan. Some of these persons had sought refuge before the hurricane hit the island while others were forced to flee their homes when the hurricane began. Schools, churches and community centres and in some...

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning has expressed solidarity with Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, which lashed the island between Friday, September 10 and Saturday, September 11. Mr. Manning, who, along with a delegation of ministers and ambassadors arrived in the island yesterday (Sept. 13) on the first commercial flight into the Norman Manley International Airport...

The first of two airplanes with relief supplies worth more than US$24,000 from the United States arrived in the island yesterday (September 13), carrying eight zodiac boats, 200 hygienic kits, and 2,000 water containers. Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy, Orna Blum told JIS News today that the boats were now with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and...

The Portland Parish Disaster Committee has established a number of registration centres for persons to report property loss and other damage suffered as a result of Hurricane Ivan. The decision came out of an emergency meeting of the committee held at the Portland Parish Council on Monday (Sept.13). Present at the meeting were representatives of the Portland Parish Council, the...

A special meeting of heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be convened in Port of Spain, Trinidad tomorrow (Sept. 15) to discuss the region's response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan. Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, who made the announcement at yesterday's (Sept.13) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said that Finance and Planning Minister,...

Several private sector entities on Tuesday (Sept. 14) pledged significant contributions to the Jamaica Hurricane Relief Fund announced by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in the aftermath of hurricane Ivan. The pledges were made at a special meeting of representatives of the private sector and leaders of business conglomerates at Jamaica House. Hundreds of millions of dollars were pledged at Tuesday's...

A major shipment of 16,181 kilograms (40,000 pounds) of emergency relief items was sent off to Jamaica yesterday (September 13) from Florida, as relief efforts get underway, following the passage of Hurricane Ivan. This is the initial release of some 45,454 kilograms (100,000 pounds) of much needed materials by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme to assist...

Director of Elections, Danville Walker has been named by Prime Minister P. J. Patterson to head the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), which has been constituted to lead the recovery effort, following the passing of Hurricane Ivan. The Prime Minister, who made the announcement at yesterday's (September 13) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said Mr. Walker would be...

The Palisadoes Road, which leads to the Norman Manley International Airport, has been cleared by the National Works Agency (NWA). The airport was opened on Monday afternoon, September 13. The road, which was left impassable due to conditions associated with Hurricane Ivan, led to the closure and subsequent cancellation of flights out of the airport from Friday, September 10. Speaking...

Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, today met with stakeholders in the agricultural sector to discuss the impact of Hurricane Ivan, and to chart the way forward for the sector. The meeting involved stakeholders from the Livestock, Sugar, Dairy, Citrus, Banana and Coffee industries, and representatives of Vegetable farmers. Other stakeholders included the Egg Farmers' Association and Pig Farmers' Association of...