The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has prepared guidelines for the sustainable removal and disposal of the sargassum (a brown seaweed with bony-like air bladders) currently affecting beaches and coastlines around Jamaica and the Caribbean. This was disclosed by Director of Environmental Management at NEPA, Anthony McKenzie, at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, on October 20. “The sargassum seaweed has...

Work is to begin shortly on the construction of wastewater treatment plants at Boscobel in St. Mary; and Elletson Flats in St. Andrew. The projects, being implemented by the National Water Commission (NWC) at a cost of US$4.2 million, include the design, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the plants.  The contractor for the undertaking is Vinci Construction Grands Projets....

Jamaicans, particularly those living in urban centres, are being encouraged to plant more trees, in order to offset carbon dioxide emissions, which scientists say, are the main contributor to global warming and climate change. The heat-trapping emissions, released from activities such as electric power generation, factory operations and transportation, are a key driver of rising temperatures that could lead to...

One hundred and sixty four persons have completed training as Environmental Wardens, through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP). The wardens were presented with their certificates at a graduation ceremony, held on September 30, at the Trench Town Multi-Purpose Centre, in Kingston. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, who addressed the...

Head of the National Land Agency (NLA), Elizabeth Stair, is praising the Public Sector Customer Service Competition as an excellent opportunity for public sector agencies to monitor the type and quality of service offerings to citizens. She said that the feedback provided from participation in the competition is “an excellent mirror” in that “it lets you know where you are...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, is leading Jamaica’s delegation to the fourth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in Geneva, Switzerland, from September 28 to October 2. Minister Pickersgill is expected to participate in a high level Ministerial panel from October 1-2, which will examine global policies on the management of...

Acting Mayor of Portmore, Leon Thomas, said the Council will be looking to increase engagement with citizens, particularly the youth, on caring for the environment. He was speaking to JIS News at the recent clean-up of the 1.7-kilometre Hellshire Bay Beach in the municipality. The activity was organised by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Urban Development Corporation (UDC),...