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The Forestry Department, during the last financial year, replanted approximately 275 hectares of land in continuation of its reforestation activities. 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. "An additional 522 hectares were maintained to support establishment....

The Government will be vigorously pursuing the preparation of new legislation to govern the maintenance and management of common areas in gated communities, town house complexes and commercial complexes. "This legislation will be similar to the recently promulgated Strata Titles Act which governs the management of apartment complexes," Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said...

During its first two years of operation, the Commission of Strata Corporations fully registered 84 per cent of all the strata plans currently incorporated in 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. Mr. Pickersgill informed...

The Government will be moving ahead with amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act, which will lead to greater effectiveness for planning land use and development in Jamaica. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on July 24. He...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says ongoing works by the National Water Commission (NWC) in the Kingston Metropolitan and Portmore areas, should result in residents experiencing greater reliability in their water service. Mr. Pickersgill made this announcement during his 2012/13 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House, on July 24. [RELATED: Improved Water Supply for...

Thousands of Jamaicans across the island are set to see improvement in the reliability and distribution of their water supplies, following the completion of several projects by the National Water Commission (NWC).  Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, gave details of the projects that have been completed, and plans to undertake others, during his contribution...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says sustainable land management is an integral component of the Government’s efforts to reduce land degradation. Speaking at a sustainable land management (SLM) stakeholders' workshop, at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston, on July 20, Minister Pickersgill said some of the benefits to be derived nationally include: enhanced agricultural...

The ability of stakeholders in the agricultural and fisheries sectors to respond effectively to the onset and impact of natural disasters is expected to be significantly strengthened, when a special Belgian Government-funded project concludes in August. The 12-month project, entitled: ‘Strengthening Community Preparedness and Resilience to Natural Disasters in Selected Vulnerable Areas in Jamaica’, commenced late last year and is...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is appealing for more Jamaicans to get onboard its Plastic Container Separation Project. The project, which was launched as a pilot in May in the Corporate Area communities of Havendale, Whitfield Town and Pines of Karachi, aims to encourage persons to separate their plastic containers from their regular household waste. The main objectives...

A National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) investigation has found that the noxious fume emission, which resulted in the closure of the Portmore leg of Highway 2000 and the Port Henderson Road in St. Catherine on June 28, was petroleum-based. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, made the disclosure at a press briefing at NEPA’s...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said that Jamaica is meeting the challenge of protecting the country’s marine resources through policy and other safeguard measures. He said that the process to develop a Protected Areas System Master Plan (PASMP) is “far advanced” and should be completed later this year. The plan aims to take a...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the region must place high priority on the issue of disaster management. He noted that the Caribbean region is considered to be the second most disaster prone in the world, and  revealed that for Jamaica alone, it is conservatively estimated that for the past 10 years, the country has...