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Digicel representatives are joined by a student and parent in offloading relief packages to benefit parents of special needs students at the Catherine Hall Primary School. The handover took place at the Catherine Hall Primary School's Special Education Unit in St. James on Thursday (November 20).

Digicel Foundation Donates Water Tank To Catherine Hall Primary School

The Digicel Foundation has donated a 1,000-gallon water tank to the Catherine Hall Primary School in St. James. The storage tank will strengthen the school’s resilience, ensuring that students can safely return to classes. It replaces the previous tank, which...

Executive Director, Social Development Commission (SDC).

SDC Undertaking Temporary Accommodations Needs Assessment

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, delivers remarks during a follow-up meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre at the St. James Municipal Corporation in Montego Bay on Thursday (November 20).

70,000 Care Packages Distributed Across St. James

Regional Operations Manager, WPM Waste Management Limited, Dramaine Jones, gives remarks during the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation held in Montego Bay on November 13.

WPM Waste Management Intensifying Operations in St. James

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gives an update on the country’s Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts at a special press conference on November 19 at Jamaica House.

National Relief Effort Remains Robust

2 months ago CommunityDevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

156,000 Dwellings Damaged Across Six Parishes

Hurricane Melissa damaged 156,000 dwellings across the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover, with 24,000 being total losses. Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, gave the update during a special press conference at Jamaica House on November 19. He reported that 97 emergency shelters remain active,...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, tours the St. Elizabeth Infirmary on Saturday (Nov. 15), to get a firsthand look at the extent of damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

2 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Emergency Repairs to Be Undertaken at St. Elizabeth Infirmary

Emergency repairs, including roof replacement, are to be undertaken at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary following severe damage to the facility from Hurricane Melissa. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who toured the infirmary on Saturday (Nov. 15), said he has given directives to fast-track the work to restore normality for the residents and staff. “The roof...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, addresses the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday (November 13).

2 months ago CommunityHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

Multi-Agency Task Force Mobilised to Drive Hurricane Recovery In St. James

A multi-agency task force has been activated to coordinate and accelerate recovery efforts across St. James, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. This was announced by Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, while addressing the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday (November 13). He informed that the task force is prioritsing vulnerable groups, including...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, addresses the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation, in Montego Bay, on Thursday ( November 13).

2 months ago CommunityDevelopmentDisaster ReliefHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Montego Bay to Be Scaled Down

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, says this year’s Christmas tree-lighting event in the city will be scaled down, reflecting the parish’s ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Addressing the monthly meeting of the St. James Municipal Corporation on Thursday (November 13), Mayor Vernon said that while the festive tradition will continue, the celebrations will be modest. “Normally we...

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby.

2 months ago Climate ChangeCommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

KSAMC Proposes Building Act Reforms to Strengthen National and Municipal Climate Resilience

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has proposed the revision and sustained enforcement of regulations under the Building Act as strategic measures to strengthen national and municipal resilience to extreme environmental events. Addressing the KSAMC’s monthly meeting on Tuesday (November 11), Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, noted that the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 highlighted...

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, provides an update on relief efforts during a Special Press Briefing on Hurricane Melissa Recovery, held at Jamaica House on Tuesday (November 11).

2 months ago CommunityDevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

88 Emergency Shelters Remain Open Across Nine Parishes Two Weeks After Hurricane Melissa

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, says 88 shelters remain operational across nine parishes, currently housing approximately 1,100 citizens, two weeks after the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28. The hurricane displaced approximately 30,000 households and inflicted damage on more than 130,000 buildings, ranging from partial roof loss to complete...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a press briefing at Jamaica House on Tuesday (November 11) to give an update on Hurricane Melissa recovery.

2 months ago CommunityDevelopmentDisaster ReliefHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal GovernmentYouth

NSWMA Engages More Trucks, Contractors to Clear Garbage

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is engaging additional trucks and contractors as the agency works to clear the increase in garbage across the island, says Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. He noted that the debris caused by Hurricane Melissa has added to the regular residential and commercial waste, and teams across the island...