Latest

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda (third from right), looks on as Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister and Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Western, Hon. Floyd Green (right), points to the destruction of the Black River Market in St. Elizabeth caused by Hurricane Melissa. Occasion was a tour of the area on Thursday (December 18), by a delegation from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). From left are Programme Manager for Programming and Country Engagement (PACE) at the Fund, Jihyea Kim; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Wayne Robertson; Executive Director of the FRLD, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong; and Acting Principal Director in the Climate Change Branch, Omar Alcock.

Jamaica Leveraging International Partnerships in Rebuilding Effort

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says Jamaica is leveraging its international partnerships and support to assist the country’s rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. He said that experts are scheduled to arrive in the...

Students at the Robin's Bay Primary School in St. Mary, collect bags of trash from the Robin's Bay Beach during a cleanup on December 11.

Robin’s Bay Primary Leads Third Consecutive Beach Clean-up

Official photo of Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda

Jamaica Secures Climate Finance and Technical Support at COP30 for Post-Hurricane Melissa Recovery

New water trucks acquired by the National Water Commission (NWC) to support the restoration of water services to communities, following the disruption caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

NWC Acquires 12 New Water Trucks

Senior Planning Technician at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Kemar Rose.

NEPA Leverages Advanced GIS Technology to Assess Damage Caused by Hurricane

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for the Spatial Planning and Management Division at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Gregory Bennett.

3 months ago Environment

NEPA Calls on Persons Not to Build Houses in Restricted Zones

To promote safer and more sustainable development, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging residents, developers, and landowners to construct homes, businesses, and infrastructure within designated build zones only, and to avoid areas classified as non-build or restricted zones. The call came from the Agency’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with responsibility for the Spatial Planning and...

Rising water levels at Content in Williamsfield, Manchester, which have inundated homes and business establishments.

3 months ago EnvironmentHurricane Melissa

Flooding in Content, Manchester Linked to Rising Groundwater Levels

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) is reporting that the flooding affecting sections of Content in Williamsfield in Manchester is due to a significant rise in groundwater levels in the local aquifer system. Groundwater measurements from the Content borehole indicate that between September 25 and November 3, Jamaica’s groundwater levels increased by about 100 metres (330 feet). The rise occurred as...

Principal Director, Meteorological Services Branch in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Evan Thompson, speaks at a press briefing at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), located at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Headquarters on Haining Road in Kingston, today (October 27).

4 months ago EnvironmentHurricane Melissa

Storm Surge Projected for Bluefields in Westmoreland

Residents in Bluefields and surrounding areas in Westmoreland are being warned to anticipate life-threatening storm surges with the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Storm surges will involve the rising of the sea as a result of wind and atmospheric pressure changes, associated with Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to impact the island shortly. Principal Director of the Meteorological Services Branch in...

Principal Director, Meteorological Services Branch, Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Evan Thompson, addresses this morning’s (October 27) media briefing at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston.

4 months ago Climate ChangeEnvironmentHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Northwestern Parishes Urged to Prepare for Hurricane Conditions

Residents of St. James, Trelawny and Hanover are being urged to prepare for the impact of Hurricane Melissa. Principal Director, Meteorological Services Branch in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Evan Thompson, said that based on the projected path of Hurricane Melissa they will be affected by the system. “There are places on the northern side that don't...

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, addresses the launch of the Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment (J-USE) Project, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday (October 23).

4 months ago Climate ChangeEnvironment

Five-Year Initiative Launched to Integrate Nature-Based Solutions into Urban Development

A five-year initiative has been launched to address Jamaica’s urban climate and societal challenges by integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban planning and community development. Dubbed ‘Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment’ (J-USE), the initiative is funded by Global Affairs Canada with an investment of Can$4 million and is being implemented by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), which is...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

4 months ago CommunityDisaster ReliefEnvironmentLocal GovernmentTropical Storm Melissa

NSWMA Intensifies Garbage Collection to Clear Backlogs Across Communities

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has intensified garbage collection efforts to address backlogs affecting several communities islandwide. “The Solid Waste Authority, over the last week and a half, has been working extensively, especially over the last couple of days. We have been doing extra hours in some...

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, provides an update on the development of Tropical Storm Melissa during Tuesday’s (October 21) sitting of the House of Representatives.

4 months ago EnvironmentLocal GovernmentTropical Storm MelissaWeather

Emergency Teams Activated as Jamaica Braces for Tropical Storm Melissa

Jamaica’s Emergency Management teams are on full alert in light of the impending passage of Tropical Storm Melissa, says Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda. The teams are operating under the coordination of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Jamaica has been placed under a Tropical Storm Watch, indicating that tropical storm conditions...