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The Meteorological Service has extended the Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew until 5:00 p.m. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH means that flash flooding is possible and residents are advised to take precautionary measures, keep informed by listening to further releases from the Meteorological Service and be ready for...

Cabinet has approved the extension of the preservation notice over the Blue Lagoon site in Portland for a further six months, from June to December 2012. Making the announcement at the Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on June 13, Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, explained that the notice has...

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller says if Jamaica is to achieve sustainable development, disaster risk management must be an essential component. The Prime Minister also said the country must engage in proactive forward planning and disaster preparedness on an ongoing basis. “In the ten year period between 2000 and 2010, the country suffered estimated losses averaging $14...

A $500 million beautification and rehabilitation project is to be undertaken in the town of Falmouth, in Trelawny. Attorney General and Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Hon.  Patrick Atkinson, made the disclosure while delivering the keynote address at a Friends of Trelawny Association’s (FOTA) ‘Tribute in Gold’ gala, held recently at the Hilton JFK Hotel in Queens, New York....

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott is urging community members to play a more active role in mitigating the effects of natural disasters on the island. “Natural disasters can have far-reaching economic impact as well as devastating effect on local communities and it is our actions at the community level that will determine the extent of...

June 1 marked the official start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) is reporting that activity over the six-month period is expected to be average to below average. Acting Director of the Met Service, Jeffrey Spooner, informed that 10 named storms have been forecast and the number of active days in the...

Students and teachers of the Kendal Basic School in Hanover now have improved access to water for drinking and sanitary purposes. The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) erected two large water storage tanks at the school on Friday (May 25), which was the 2012 National Action Day project. Residents of the community came out to assist with the works, which...

As part of efforts to protect and preserve the country's coastal and marine biodiversity, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has embarked on a sustained programme to better manage these resources. This was stated by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Genefa Hibbert, at...

Efforts by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to encourage proper waste disposal habits in 12 communities have been boosted through the donation of garbage collection receptacles. The 55 garbage skips, which were contributed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) under the solid waste management component of its World Bank-funded Inner City Basic Services Project (ICBSP), were officially...

High-ranking airport officials from across the region, who are attending a workshop in Kingston, are being urged by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, to come up with recommendations to reduce emissions from airport operations that contribute to global warming. He made the call on Sunday May 20, while addressing the launch of the Airport...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will observe World International Day for Biodiversity on Tuesday May 22, under the theme: ‘Marine Biodiversity’. Manager of Public Education and Corporate Communication at NEPA, Natalie Fearon, informed that the annual observance aims to reinforce and heighten the awareness of biological diversity issues in Jamaica. She added that biodiversity is important, and encompasses...

A project, which sets out to enhance the climate change resilience of the agricultural sector and coastal areas, has received an allocation of $8.4 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. Being financed by the Adaptation Fund, the initiative seeks to establish a micro-dam; implement rainwater harvesting and small scale gravity irrigation and productivity...