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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...

Opposition Spokesperson on Housing, Water and Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Horace Chang, is calling for increased efforts to reforest watershed areas in Negril. Speaking during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 26, Dr. Chang said the replanting could be done under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). “Agro forestry can be...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, has assured that the affairs of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) are being tidied up, with new control guidelines issued for the agency’s accounting practices. “As we go forward, we will continue to tighten up the system, to put more checks and balances there, and a sub-committee of...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to advise the public that the Jamaican Infrastructure Operator Limited (JIO) has reported that an unnamed gaseous substance is pervading from the port. The ODPEM is strongly advising that motorist avoid this area in order to prevent substance inhalation. Emergency responders, the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), the National Environmental Planning...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan International Co-operation  Agency (JICA) to fund the expansion of a compost facility as part of efforts to pursue the conversion of solid waste to energy. This was disclosed by  Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, during his contribution to the...

The Community Based Landslide Risk Reduction Project, being implemented by the Office of Disaster Planning and Emergency Management (ODPEM), will inform Government strategy on disaster risk reduction in vulnerable community. This is especially in relation to communities that are categorised as marginalised or informal settlements, said Senior Director for Mitigation Planning and Research at ODPEM, Karema Aiken-Mitchell, at a recent...

Two more communities have been selected by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to benefit under the World Bank-funded Community-Based Landslide Risk Reduction Project (CBLRRP). The new communities – Bedward Gardens in St. Andrew and Breastwork in Portland, will join Harbour Heights and Melbrook Heights in St. Andrew bringing to four, the number of communities to benefit...

The Caribbean Disaster Risk Atlas, a tool to enhance decision-making to reduce the serious economic and social impacts of natural hazards in the region, was launched Monday June 25th at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. Funded by the World Bank at a cost of US$510,000 through its Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the Atlas is...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) garbage  collection efforts in Kingston and St. Andrew has been boosted, through the donation of a new compactor truck. The compactor truck, contributed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), under the equipment sub-component of its World Bank-funded Inner-City Basic Services Project (ICBSP), was officially handed over, on June 19, at a ceremony,...

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...