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Permanent secretaries, national disaster directors and coordinators from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Authority’s (CDEMA) North-West region, are in the island for a week of activities aimed at coming up with a comprehensive disaster response strategy. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), as focal point for the North-West sub-region, is hosting the week, which got underway on...

In response to an invitation from the Government of Jamaica, the Living Oceans Foundation will shortly begin coral reef surveys off the Pedro Banks of the island’s South coast. The primary scientific goals of the expedition are to characterise the coral reef ecosystems; identify their current status and major threats; and examine factors that enhance their resistance to, and recovery...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change is urging residents served by the Mona and Hope Treatment Plants in St. Andrew to brace for temporary interruptions in their water supply as the rehabilitation of the plants get underway. Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the extensive repair of the treatment plants at the Mona Reservoir Complex on Thursday,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill on Thursday March 8, officially broke ground for the rehabilitation of the Mona and Hope Treatment Plants. The works, estimated to cost some $1.5 billion, will be undertaken by VINCI Construction Grand Projects and will see the complete rehabilitation of the two major facilities. The project is expected to...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, said that developing countries like Jamaica, must “move with alacrity” to explore development opportunities in the deep seabed. He was speaking on February 29 at the official launch of observations marking the 30th Anniversary of the Opening for Signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has been integral  in  developing a number of programmes to strengthen the island's capacity to effectively deal with climate change. One such project is the Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR),  which seeks to address vulnerable areas across Jamaica. There are several components to the programme - improving climate change information and data management;...

Jamaica will commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Opening for Signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, with a series of events throughout the year. A symposium and ceremony to launch the activities will take place on Wednesday (February 29) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. The event, which will get underway at...

Ground was broken on Thursday February 23, for construction of the Darling Street Wastewater Pumping Station, which will improve the sewerage system serving sections of downtown Kingston and St. Andrew. The facility, which is scheduled for completion within 18 months, will cost $500 million and is expected to significantly enhance sewage collection in sections of the nation’s capital. On completion,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has embarked on a bold new low-cost strategy to reduce the risk of landslides and the threat to life and property posed to persons living in hillside communities that are so affected. Over the past 20 years, local disasters resulted in cumulative costs of more than US$1 billion. Among the various...

A new Chief Executive Officer is expected to be appointed soon for the National Works Agency (NWA). This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing the Hon. Dr Omar Davies in a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday Feb. 21. He informed that the response from qualified persons for the post, which became vacant in 2011,...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has been carrying out several monitoring exercises at the Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios Marine Parks, under the Climate Change Adaptation for Disaster and Risk Reduction Project. These parks comprise ecological structures such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, sandy shores, rocky shores, and mangrove forests. Speaking with JIS, on a tour of...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has informed that Jamaica will undertake a number of projects aimed at building the country’s resilience to the effects of climate change. Speaking at a post Durban climate change press briefing, held on February 16 at the Terra Nova Hotel, in Kingston, Mr. Pickersgill said proposals are being prepared...