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Land and Environment Minister, Dean Peart today (Dec. 29) convened a meeting with technical officials within the Ministry and its affiliate agencies to discuss the establishment of a tsunami warning system for the Caribbean. The meeting comes against the overwhelming loss of lives, estimated to be over 70,000 and damage to infrastructure in South Asia as a result of the...

The Office of the National Reconstruction (ONR) is helping Jamaican farmers, who suffered devastating losses during Hurricane Ivan, to sow seeds of growth, by providing them with the necessary tools and supplies to begin the replanting process. Agricultural Consultant at the ONR, Neville Condappa, tells JIS News that since October, farmers have been receiving vouchers to purchase fertiliser, seeds, and...

Reconstruction work is to be carried out on some 14 schools in Clarendon under the first phase of the Hurricane Ivan Reconstruction programme being carried out by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). In a JIS News interview on Monday (November 29), Omar Sweeney, Operations Manager at JSIF said that the schools are part of a total of 47 schools...

The Jamaican Association of Bermuda has donated over US$8,000 in cash and kind to the country's recovery effort, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan in early September of this year. Of this amount, US$5,000 in cash will go to the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR). A container of food, adult and baby clothing, valued at approximately US$3,400, which has...

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has announced plans to upgrade the Winifred public beach in Fairy Hill Portland, to enhance its appeal to locals and visitors. Dr. Andre Minott, Chief Planner for the UDC, who was speaking at a stakeholders meeting at the Fern Hill Hotel in San San on November 25, informed that the proposed development would be eco-friendly...

Some 5,792 persons in Portland who were affected by Hurricane Ivan, which hit the island on September 10, have registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for government's assistance. In an interview with JIS News, Marie Stampp, Public Assistance Administrator at the Portland office of the Ministry, said that the number included persons from a wide cross section...

Work is to commence next week on the 12 hectares (30 acres) of land in Salt Savannah and 16 hectares (40 acres) in Shearer's Heights Clarendon for the relocation of residents of the Rocky Point and Portland Cottage communities respectively. Chief Executive Officer of the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), Danville Walker, who made the announcement during separate meetings with...

Householders who suffered total destruction of their units in the passage of Hurricane Ivan on September 10, can now look forward to the disbursement of cheques, commencing on Wednesday, November 3. Prior to the commencement of disbursements, island wide verifications are being carried out. This disclosure was made by Chief Executive Officer of the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR), Danville...

With a little more than four weeks remaining in the hurricane season, the Registrar General's Department (RGD) is reminding the public of the importance of proper records management in their homes and offices, in the event of a natural disaster. As it is common for persons to lose important documents during natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires, Chief Executive...

Several top officials and environmentalists from countries in the wider Caribbean region are currently participating in a five–day conference at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay,  to review the achievements of the Caribbean Environment Programme, and to approve the plan of activities for the upcoming year. Special Advisor to the conference, Franklin McDonald,  former  Chief Executive Officer of the...

As the 2004 hurricane season progresses, the Ministry of Health is advising persons who store water for domestic use, to ensure that supplies are safe for drinking and preparing food. The caution is especially directed at residents of the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester, who experienced flooding during the recent passing of Hurricane Charley. The Ministry's Environmental Health Unit...

Keeping pace with a changing environment, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has added 16 new categories of enterprises and development activities under the Natural Resources Conservation (Permits and Licences) Regulations. The Permit and Licence Regulations came into effect in 1997 when some 24 categories were introduced. These regulations were developed under the Natural Resources Conservation Act of 1991,...