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Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigation Commission (NIC), Dr. Mark Richards (fourth left), accepts the final report of a Wind Power Irrigation Project from a representative from the Organisation of American States, Ms. Jeanelle van GlaanenWeygel (third right), as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for funding for the project, at a handing over ceremony at the NIC’s office on July 20. Also pictured are (from left): Director of Engineering and Technical Services at the NIC, Mr. Milton Henry; University of the West Indies students, Cherri-Ann Scarlett and Sanja Simmonds; Political-Economic Counsellor at the United States Embassy, Mr. Charles Cleveland; NIC Board Member, Mr. Howard Hill and Director, Energy Economics and Planning in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Mrs. Yvonne Barrett-Edwards.

NIC To Do Economic Feasibility Study On Wind Farm

The National Irrigation Commission (NIC) Limited is to embark on an economic feasibility study over the next 18 months, to determine how it will go about implementing a wind farm to generate five megawatts of energy in the Newark, Spur...

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (second left – front row) breaks ground for the development and expansion of the Goldmine Water Supply Upgrading Project at Bellas Gate Primary School, St. Catherine on Friday, July 17. Also participating are (from left) Acting President of the NWC, Mark Barnett, Member of Parliament for St. Catherine West Central Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Minister of Water, Land, Environment & Climate Change Robert Pickersgill, Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott. In the background (left of the Prime Minister) is NWC Chairman Prakash Vaswani. Five thousand persons from several communities in St. Catherine will soon have better water supply, as a result of the $75M project.

Government Improving Water Supply for 5,000 Residents in St. Catherine

Workmen carry out improvement works on the Santa Cruz Water Supply System in Santa Cruz St. Elizabeth. The project will see some 23,000 additional residents benefiting from improved water supply. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill toured the improvement works on July 16.

Work Progressing Smoothly on Santa Cruz Water Supply System

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon.
Robert Pickersgill (second left) along with from left: Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce and Acting President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett tour works being undertaken on the Santa Cruz Water Supply System on July 16. The project will see some 23,000 additional residents benefiting from improved water supply. — Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (second left) along with from left: Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth, Raymond Pryce and Acting President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett tour works being undertaken on the Santa Cruz Water Supply System on July 16. The project will see some 23,000 additional residents benefiting from improved water supply.

Delinquent NWC Customers Urged To Pay Up

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (second left) participates in breaking ground to symbolise the start of a $75 million rehabilitation project for the Goldmine Water Supply System in St. Catherine. Also participating (from left) are: Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine, Dr. Kenneth Baugh; Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill; and Mayor of Spanish Town, Councillor Norman Scott. Also pictured in the background (third left) is Chairman of the National Water Commission, Prakash Vaswani. The event took place at the Bellas Gate Primary School on Friday, July 17.

Goldmine Water Supply System to be Upgraded

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (centre), is in conversation with Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Peter Knight, at the recent launch of the Yallahs River and Hope River Watershed Management Project at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston. At right is
Country Representative for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Therese Turner-Jones.

11 years ago Environment

US$3.9 Million Watershed Protection Project to Improve Water Supply to KMR

Some 660,000 residents of the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR) are to benefit from improved water supply, as a result of work being undertaken by the Government to safeguard the Yallahs River and Hope River watersheds. The US$3.9 million project, which was launched in April, is aimed at protecting the area from degradation, while improving water resource management. It is being...

11 years ago 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...

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

11 years ago Environment

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 of urbanization, deforestation, environmental degradation and climate change. Not only have these caused extreme economic damage, but also a huge humanitarian...

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.

11 years ago Climate ChangeEnvironment

Experts to Undertake Case Studies on Climate Change Vulnerability

11 years ago 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...

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).

11 years ago AgricultureEnvironment

Five-Year Climate Change Plan Being Developed For Agricultural Sector

A five-year climate change plan is being crafted for the country’s agriculture sector, which is intended to strengthen the sector’s resilience to weather-related impacts such as droughts, tropical storms and hurricanes. The Climate Change Strategy and Plan (CCSAP) is being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Jamaica Rural...

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.

11 years ago EnvironmentPrime Minister

Gov’t Embarks on Project to Reduce Water Loss

The Government is embarking on a $4.9 billion project aimed at reducing water loss in the Corporate Area due to leaks and theft. The five-year Non-Revenue Water Reduction Co-Management Project in Kingston and St. Andrew is intended to improve water supply to residents, and save the National Water Commission (NWC) billions of dollars in lost revenue. It involves partnership with...