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KINGSTON — Communications Manager at the National Works Agency (NWA), Stephen Shaw, says a $100 million island-wide drain cleaning programme is to be undertaken by the agency this year. This exercise, scheduled to begin this month, falls under the agency’s annual mitigation programme. “We are going to be working with the Members of Parliament in identifying some of these locations...

The Meteorological Service has extended the Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. 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 quick action if flooding is observed...

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved a US$6,343,220 contract to Kier Construction Limited for the construction of a wastewater pumping facility at Darling Street, Kingston. Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, informed that the project forms part of the Kingston Water and Sanitation Project, being undertaken...

KINGSTON — The Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Project is progressing well within budget, and is expected to be completed on schedule by September 2012, according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Works Agency (NWA), Patrick Wong. The NWA head gave this update during a meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) at Gordon House, on...

KINGSTON — Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, has said that the agency is shifting major focus from preparedness to risk reduction, as a means of building disaster resilient communities. “We have recognised that we have to change the focus, we’ve recognised that we have to shift the dialogue from this matter...

The Meteorological Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes in Jamaica until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. 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 quick action if flooding...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica, in a release yesterday, said an Area of Low Pressure is developing over the Caribbean Sea, South of Jamaica. This system is expected to bring an increase in rainfall activity in the coming days with some increase in intensity as of Thursday.  Expect periods of showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times, to affect...

KINGSTON — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, says Jamaica must move quickly to implement policies to safeguard the nation’s food security, and preserve water resources and the environment. Speaking at the official launch of Green Expo 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston on Tuesday (May 24), Dr. Tufton said that global challenges, relating to the...

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...