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At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Gordon was located near Latitude 32.2 degrees north and Longitude 54.8 degrees west or 940 kilometres east of Bermuda. Gordon is moving toward the north northeast near 22 km/h. A gradual turn toward the northeast and then toward the east is forecast. This track will keep the cyclone moving over the open...

A strong Tropical Wave is currently moving across Jamaica. Associated with this Wave is a large area of showers and thunderstorms, which are forecast to move onshore and affect eastern parishes’ first, then central and western parishes through the course of this afternoon into tonight. These showers, which may be heavy at times, are likely to be accompanied by strong,...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Seven was located near Latitude 13.6 degrees north and Longitude 47.2 degrees west or about 1,495 kilometres east of the Windward Islands. The Depression is moving towards the west near 32 km/h. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours. [Tips: Hurricane Checklist] Maximum sustained winds remain near...

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...