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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...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is set to continue work to pilot Natural Resource Valuation (NRV) within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) this year. Just over $20 million has been allocated for the initiative in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The undertaking, which commenced in 2008, aims to develop a set of NRV...

Over $10 million has been earmarked in the 2012/13 Estimate of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by the House of Representatives, to continue work on the National Globally Harmonized System (GHS) project, and commence activities on the Regional GHS project. The national project, which commenced in September 2009, and for which $3.5 million has been allocated, is aimed at effecting training...

Further research and development of fruits and vegetables will be facilitated under the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technology in Agriculture (CEATA), with the construction of two new greenhouses, this financial year. The greenhouses, one of which will be located at Coleyville, Manchester and the other at Elim, in St. Elizabeth, are being constructed with funding from the Spanish Agency...

Just over $200 million has been allocated to the National Water Commission (NWC) Rural Water Supply Company Limited, to execute projects during 2012/13. The allocation, which has been set out in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on May 10, will see some $10 million going to the NWC to assist the entity in fulfilling...

Efforts by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to strengthen the operational and financial sustainability of Jamaica’s system of protected areas, will be significantly enhanced this year. Just over $101 million has been allocated by the government for the undertaking in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The objectives of the project, which commenced...