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KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says a disaster management team has been established in the Ministry to focus on enhancing the sector’s capacity to minimise the risks and damage associated with the impact of extreme weather patterns affecting Jamaica. Speaking on May 24 launch of the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust’s (JCDT) Green Expo 2011...

KINGSTON — Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the Government is taking a “game-changing approach” to providing housing for Jamaicans, through effective collaboration with the National Housing Trust (NHT), Jamaica Mortgage Bank, the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), and the private sector. He said with this approach, the Ministry, through its agencies will be “delivering far...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, is commending the work being done by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) to clean-up roadways along the north coast under a pilot road beautification and maintenance project. The initiative, which is being undertaken through a US$10 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), entails the removal...

MONTEGO BAY — Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar and Chairman of the Westmoreland Parish Council, Councillor Bertel Moore, says effective management of solid waste is critical to the enhancement of the health of citizens; hence such task should be the responsibility of the local authority. Addressing the monthly meeting of the Council in Savanna-la-Mar Thursday May 12, Mayor Moore noted that the...

KINGSTON — Minister of Water and Housing, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has signed a contract worth $802.5 million, for the development of 159 serviced lots and 99 two bedroom units in Boscobel, St. Mary. The 34.4-hectare site is located five kilometres from Oracabessa and 13 kilometres from the parish capital, Port Maria. Speaking at the signing, which took place today, ...

MONTEGO — With less than three weeks before the start of the 2011 hurricane season, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for Westmoreland, Rev. Hilma Tate, is reporting that the parish’s disaster response machinery is ready to offer quick and effective response in the event of an emergency. She said that emergency supplies are in place and all 66 schools in the parish,...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been advised by the Earthquake Unit that an earthquake of magnitude M5.0 and a focal depth of 21km was located 20km South of Black River (offshore) at 10:07 a.m., Monday May 16, 2011. Reportedly felt in Negril, Montego Bay, Mandeville, Santa Cruz, Spanish Town and Kingston. The ODPEM implores all...

KINGSTON — A major study is to be undertaken for the development of a comprehensive drainage and flood control plan for the Kingston Metropolitan Area; Spanish Town and its environs, St. Catherine; Ocho Rios, St. Ann; Montego Bay, St. James; Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth; and Port Maria, St. Mary. Cabinet has approved the employment of Stanley Consultants Incorporated to provide...

National Housing Trust (NHT) - Managing Director of the National Housing Trust (NHT), Cecile Watson, has stated that the establishment of an NHT Foundation to fund a range of projects beneficial to the nation, will not adversely affect the organization's normal housing development and loans programmes. According to Mrs. Watson, the Trust will maintain its plans to spend $25 billion...

MANDEVILLE — Delivery of the Park Hall water system, this week, will result in some 500 residents of North West Clarendon accessing improved piped water delivery. The system was developed by the Rural Water Supply Limited, with funding from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation of Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon and Minister of State in the Ministry...

KINGSTON — Householders in six parishes are slated to benefit from the Backyard Garden and Master Gardener Training Programme, aimed at enhancing household food security, while promoting the consumption of locally produced foods. The programme, which was launched yesterday by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority’s (RADA) Old Hope Road offices...

KINGSTON — Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, has stressed the need for changes in development and planning, if Jamaica is to be adequately prepared to contend with and address issues related to climate change. Speaking at ODPEM’s hurricane preparedness month press conference at the agency’s Haining Road, New Kingston head office last week,...