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A strong Tropical Wave is currently influencing weather conditions across Jamaica. Showers and thunderstorms, as well as strong gusty winds, are forecast to continue to affect eastern parishes and gradually spread to central and western parishes through tonight.   THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED Fishers and other marine interests are advised to exercise caution due to deteriorating weather conditions in the vicinity of...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has strengthened its air quality management programme and its capacity to assess air quality parameters within the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). The agency has established two new ambient air quality monitoring sites in Washington Gardens, St. Andrew and Waterford in Portmore, bringing to five, the number of such sites in the Corporate Area...

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Roger Clarke, says the administration is seeking to reduce Jamaica’s food import bill by at least US$300 million, in the first instance, through measures to be pursued beginning this year. Delivering the keynote address at Saturday's (August 4) opening of the 60th Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, in Clarendon, Mr. Clarke hinted at a...

The National Water Commission (NWC) will be improving and expanding water supply services across the island, under the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) Water Supply Improvement Programme. The programme, which is divided into four components, is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Speaking at the official launch at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston   recently, Minister of Water, Land,...

Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says that reducing the effects of natural disasters is critical to the country’s economic programme, based on the significant impact of loss and damages on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) indicates that damage associated with hurricanes, floods and droughts has cost the...

Jamaica has received a grant of $850 million (US$10 million) from the Adaptation Fund Board for the establishment of a Climate Change Adaptation Programme. The programme will seek to introduce measures to protect livelihoods and food security in communities that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This was disclosed by Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said that the Land Divestment Advisory Committee (LDAC) is to be enshrined in statute. “I will shortly take the Bill to amend the Crown Property Vesting Act to the legislative committee of Cabinet and hope to have it tabled in the House as early thereafter as possible,” he said,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has given the assurance that the proposed Climate Change Department will be fully implemented by the end of the year. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 24) during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate, Mr. Pickersgill said the department will help to drive coordination and...

Minister  of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says the workshop being convened in Kingston from July 26 to 27, should result in the development  of a comprehensive Climate Change policy framework and road map by year end. The Minister said it should also identify existing gaps that need to be addressed immediately. The workshop, which is...

The Government has received a US$2.1 million in grant funding from the Korea Overseas International Corporation Agency (KOICA), which will be used to facilitate the delivery of land surveys for at least 1,000 needy households in St. Mary, St. Ann and Portland. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill made the disclosure on July 24, in...

The Government is working to build a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Jamaica.  This was disclosed by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 24. "This is necessary to facilitate sectoral growth, and for us to keep up with technological advancements...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has informed that the National Land Agency (NLA) is currently carrying out a revaluation exercise to update all property values, for the purpose of assessing property taxes. "The last revaluation programme was carried out in 2002/2003, so the revaluation is long overdue. The government regards this as a priority,”...