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Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ronald Jackson.
Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Ronald Jackson.

CDEMA Head Calls for Greater Investments in the Natural Environment to Prevent Disasters

The International Disaster Database, Center for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters, has found a threefold increase of natural disasters from the period 1980-90 to the last decade (2000-09). The scale of these disasters has been expounded by the increased rates...
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Alwin Hales (left), is about to affix his signature to copies of contracts which will see four local experts conducting an assessment exercise on the country’s vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. Overseeing the process (at second left) is Project Administrator, Third National Communication, Clifford Mahlung. The consultants, who will be carrying out a total of 15 case studies, are (from third left): Physicist and Climatologist, Professor Anthony Chen; Executive Chairman and Principal Consultant, Conrad Douglas and Associates Limited, Dr. Conrad Douglas; and Director, Climate Studies Group, University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Michael Taylor. Lead Consultant, Third National Communication, Dr. Donovan Campbell, is the other consultant. The contracts were signed during a ceremony at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry on July 16. The studies are to be carried out as part of the Government’s ongoing work in preparing Jamaica’s Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), to which the country is party.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Alwin Hales (left), is about to affix his signature to copies of contracts which will see four local experts conducting an assessment exercise on the country’s vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. Overseeing the process (at second left) is Project Administrator, Third National Communication, Clifford Mahlung. The consultants, who will be carrying out a total of 15 case studies, are (from third left): Physicist and Climatologist, Professor Anthony Chen; Executive Chairman and Principal Consultant, Conrad Douglas and Associates Limited, Dr. Conrad Douglas; and Director, Climate Studies Group, University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Michael Taylor. Lead Consultant, Third National Communication, Dr. Donovan Campbell, is the other consultant. The contracts were signed during a ceremony at the New Kingston offices of the Ministry on July 16. The studies are to be carried out as part of the Government’s ongoing work in preparing Jamaica’s Third National Communication and First Biennial Update Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), to which the country is party.

Experts to Undertake Case Studies on Climate Change Vulnerability
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), is greeted by Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail, just before the start of a climate smart agriculture symposium at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston today (July 16).
Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier (right), is greeted by Deputy Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Jeannette Vail, just before the start of a climate smart agriculture symposium at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston today (July 16).

Five-Year Climate Change Plan Being Developed For Agricultural Sector
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (2nd right); and Chairman, National Water Commission (NWC), Prakash Vaswani (left), sign the contract for the $4.9 billion Non-Revenue Water Reduction Co-Management project, during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston today (July 8). Chairman of Israeli-based company Miya, Meir Wietchner (2nd left); and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, look on.
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (2nd right); and Chairman, National Water Commission (NWC), Prakash Vaswani (left), sign the contract for the $4.9 billion Non-Revenue Water Reduction Co-Management project, during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston today (July 8). Chairman of Israeli-based company Miya, Meir Wietchner (2nd left); and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, look on.

Gov’t Embarks on Project to Reduce Water Loss
The yellow areas indicate areas that will be affected on Day 1. The red areas indicate areas that will be affected on Day Two.
The yellow areas indicate areas that will be affected on Day 1. The red areas indicate areas that will be affected on Day Two.

NWC Announces New Water Restrictions

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Climate ChangeEnvironment

Experts to Undertake Case Studies on Climate Change Vulnerability

Local experts are to undertake a series of 15 case studies, to assess the country’s level of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, and recommend measures to lessen the risks identified. Contracts for the undertaking were signed by four consultants, along with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Alwin Hales, during a ceremony...
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Environment

NWC Customers Asked to Report Inconsistencies in Supply

National Water Commission (NWC) customers who are experiencing inconsistencies in their water supply on the scheduled distribution days are being asked to report these incidences to the agency. Speaking at a Jamaica House Media Briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on July 15, Corporate Communications Manager at the NWC, Charles Buchanan, said once the matter is brought to the attention...
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Environment

NWC Spends $100 Million to Truck Water

The National Water Commission (NWC) has spent over $100 million since the start of the year to truck water to communities across the island adversely affected by the persistent drought. The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change has also made $30 million available to all Members of Parliament for the trucking of water. This was disclosed by portfolio...
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Environment

NWC to Explore Reactivating Several Unused Wells

The National Water Commission (NWC) is looking at reactivating several of its unused wells, as part of short-term measures to alleviate the impact of the prevailing drought. This is deemed a viable option to provide additional water, given the critically low levels in reservoirs serving various communities. According to Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, this...
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President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett. (FILE)
Environment

NWC Offers Deals to Delinquent Customers

Over the next three months, customers of the National Water Commission (NWC) will have the opportunity to bring their outstanding accounts up-to-date, under its new debt forgiveness programme. The programme, ‘Cruncher 180’, which was rolled out on July 1, is one of several new initiatives of the NWC aimed at significantly increasing revenue collections and reducing receivables at the entity,...
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Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, emphasises a point at a press conference at the offices of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in Kingston today (July 1), to provide an update on the Government’s plans to mitigate drought conditions currently affecting the island.
Environment

Gov’t to Strictly Enforce NWC Prohibition Notice

As the country continues to experience drought conditions, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, is imploring Jamaicans to adhere to the terms of the prohibition notice now in effect. The National Water Commission (NWC) has issued a prohibition notice for all areas of the island served by drought-affected water supply systems. Minister Pickergsill said the...
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Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (left), in discussion with the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Luis Moreno (right), during the signing ceremony for the merger of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and the Forest Conservation Fund (FCF), at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in Kingston, on June 26.
Environment

Government Commits US$16 Million to Forest Conservation Fund

To ensure the protection of the country’s natural resources, the Government has committed to deposit US$16 million into the Forest Conservation Fund (FCF) over a 19-year period. The payment arrangement is one of the conditions flowing from the successful merger of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and the Forest Conservation Fund (FCF). Through the collaborative effort of the Government...
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