Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Peter Knight, is pleased with the Government’s policy position to impose a ban on specific categories of plastic packaging materials. “We think it is good for the environment. We are pleased that Senator (Matthew) Samuda was able to move…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated US$625,000 to the youth component of its Partnership for Improved Safety and Security in Schools Programme, in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI). The two-year programme, which began in July 2017 and is slated to end in July…
The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) is in support of protecting the marine environment through the use of geospatial technology. Associate Vice President of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technology at the CMU, Dr. Stephen Rhoden, told JIS News that the use of technology in undersea exploration can preserve and…
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says steps will be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders, particularly residents, under the Government Circle development project being proposed for National Heroes Park in Kingston, and surrounding communities. The project, being spearheaded by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), will entail…
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is in the process of preparing the 2017 State of the Environment (SOE) Report, which will outline the entity’s environmental stewardship over the last four years. This was disclosed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Government Town Planner, NEPA, Peter Knight, who said…
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is safeguarding the future of Jamaica’s endemic species through agreements with foreign researchers. Between 2016 and 2017, NEPA experienced a 55 per cent increase in the number of applications for Wildlife Research Permission. Senior Manager for the Conservation and Protection Subdivision at NEPA,…
Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, has welcomed plans by the Government to introduce a ban on single use plastic bags and straws and Styrofoam containers in an effort to reduce the negative impact of these on the environment. “We not only recognize and…
Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s first seabin, a submersible receptacle that collects ocean pollutants such as debris and oil slicks, has been installed in the Montego Bay Marine Park in St. James. The undertaking is a collaboration involving the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Jamaica…
A high-level multi-agency meeting is scheduled with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) on Wednesday, October 10, to discuss the maintenance of watersheds in the Municipality. The meeting will consist of representatives from the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), the National Water Commission (NWC), the Ministry of…
[caption id="attachment_190463" align="alignnone" width="630"] Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams (right), plants a fruit tree at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices on Friday (October 4) to mark National Tree Planting Day. Observing is head gardner at the Ministry, Michael McGaw.[/caption]…
More than 400 overseas participants from the Caribbean, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, are expected in the island for the 27th Caribbean Water and Wastewater Conference. The event will be held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay from October 8 to 12. Dubbed…
University of the West Indies (UWI) Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Dale Webber, is encouraging students to enlighten themselves on environmental protection, and sharing this information with their peers. Professor Webber, who is also the UWI Mona Campus Principal, said this is imperative as students have a responsibility to make an impact…
The country’s emergency response agencies are on alert as the country braces for the possible effects of a tropical cyclone, which is expected to pass south of Jamaica over the weekend. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond Mckenzie, made the announcement while speaking at a special sitting…
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, says plans are being put in place for the revitalisation of the country’s dairy industry, which will include technical input from overseas experts. He informed that he has had meetings with Agriculture Ministers from India and Argentina, who have committed…
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is calling for Jamaicans to join its Adopt a Beach programme and get directly involved in cleaning the island’s coastlines. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Public Relations Officer at NEPA, Ollyvia Anderson, said that since the launch of the programme in…
Some 1,200 volunteers are expected to participate in the National Environment and Planning Agency’s (NEPA) beach clean-up exercise at Hellshire Bay Beach in St. Catherine as part of activities for International Coastal Clean-Up Day (ICCD) on September 15. The initiative, which is in partnership with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC),…
Accreditation can lead to greater business success for conformity assessment bodies, as it results in increased client confidence in the standard of operations and personnel. This was noted by Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), Sharonmae Shirley, who was addressing a Jamaica Information Service ‘Think…
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has emphasised the importance of farmers working with the police in the fight against praedial larceny. He also encouraged the farmers to report farm theft to the police, while urging them not to take the…
Canada’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Laurie Peters, has called on countries of the region to adopt more gender-sensitive measures in reducing vulnerability and building resilience against climate change. She said that this can be done by integrating gender issues into policies, programmes and activities, with specific focus on…
Nine individuals and entities have been honoured as forest heroes by the Forestry Department for outstanding contribution to the development of the forest sector in Jamaica. They are the Lasco Releaf Environmental Awareness Programme (REAP) in the public education category; Jamaica Observer reporter, Kimone Thompson in the media category; Windsor…
Jamaica Information Service