Geography Awareness Week will be observed from November 9 to 18, and the focus will be on how geospatial technology can be used to promote good health. “There has been a rise in viruses, such as chikungunya and Zika, and therefore we want to look at how we can use geospatial technology to assist in reducing the transmission of these,”...

The Government will shortly establish a multi-stakeholder committee to oversee the pilot implementation of the ‘Trash-Free Waters’ initiative that aims to curtail the pollution of the Caribbean Sea. This was announced by Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, during a sitting of the Senate on October 7. The Trash-Free Waters initiative, which was launched...

There is a real sign that the major contributors to air pollution are now committed to a sustainable and low-carbon future, says British Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, the Rt. Hon. Baroness Anelay. She pointed out that countries, including the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gasses (China and the United States), have agreed to act...

Climate change innovators in Jamaica and the wider region can access funding to develop their projects through the World Bank’s Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC). These innovations include clean technologies in energy, water, agriculture, transport, among other areas, that are designed to mitigate the effects of and adapt to climate change. “There are many opportunities for Jamaicans...

The Government has stipulated that persons in storm shelters across the island are to be provided with food and other supplies upon entering the facilities. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said previously, persons were required to take their own food and medications, with supplies provided to those who remain in the shelters after 72 hours....

Displaced persons who are currently being housed in shelters island-wide due to the impending passage of Hurricane Matthew will benefit from water and toiletries valued at approximately $1 million from National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB). NCB urgently responded to the call for assistance from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and immediately began making arrangements to...

Head of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Office), Evan Thompson, says Jamaicans can expect torrential rainfall from Hurricane Matthew over the next two days. “The rains will be consistent, continuous and torrential over sections of the country,” he said, noting that rainfall could exceed 15 inches in the eastern end of the island. Mr. Thompson was speaking at a...