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Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (right), presents newly appointed land surveyor, David Gordon (centre), with his Instrument of Commission, during a brief presentation ceremony at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on Tuesday (September 30). Mr. Gordon was one of four newly commissioned land surveyors presented with instruments at the ceremony. Looking on is State Minister, Hon. Ian Hayles.

Minister Highlights Importance of Land Surveyor’s Work

Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has underscored the importance of the work carried out by land surveyors, particularly in the process of sustainable development, incorporating land utilization. “Your role is basic to all planning and...

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Lt. Col. Oral Khan (left), in discussion with other Ministry executives (from centre) Director of Communications, Winsome Vanhorne-Christie; and Director General, Dr. Sharon Crooks. Occasion was a stakeholder consultation on the Green Paper on the Dolphin Policy for Jamaica, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on September 24. This was the third in a series of consultations being hosted by the Ministry in collaboration with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

More Time for Comments on Dolphin Policy

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, addesses participants in the inaugural Youth Climate Change Conference on September 19, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

Minister Pickersgill Stresses Need to Manage Water Use

Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Department and Chief Conservator of Forests, Marilyn Headley (left), in discussion with (from second left) Director General in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sharon Crooks; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales; and Principal Director in the Climate Change Division in the Ministry, Albert Daley, during the launch of the climate change logo competition, at the Forestry Department, in St. Andrew, today (September 18)

Creative Jamaicans Encouraged To Enter Climate Change Logo Competition

Manager of the Ecosystems Management Branch at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Andrea Donaldson, welcomed the increased interest in International Coastal Clean-Up Day, at a JIS Think Tank held on September 10.

Thousands of Jamaicans to Clean Beaches

12 years ago Environment

Development Activities to be Fully Streamlined by 2017

Development activities across the island are expected, for the first time, to be fully streamlined under the Town and Country Planning Act, come 2017. Work by the Government to formulate Development Orders in all parishes that will facilitate this objective, has either been completed, is significantly advanced, or is in the process of being initiated. Water, Land, Environment and Climate...

12 years ago Environment

NLA Wins in Thomson Reuters Public Sector Award for Excellence

The National Land Agency (NLA) was awarded the Thomson Reuters Public Sector Award for Excellence in Public Sector Business Transformation Process. The award was presented on September 24, 2014 at a Gala Dinner for the 2014 Aumentum User Conference in New Orleans, USA. The award acknowledges the work of the NLA in transforming the land registration process with faster turnaround...

12 years ago Environment

JET Pleased with Support for Coastal Clean-Up Day

With almost 140 projects registered for International Coastal Clean-up Day on September 20, local organisers, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), is expressing pleasure at the response of Jamaicans to the activity. Programme Co-ordinator at JET, Suzanne Stanley, told JIS News that the support for this year’s coastal clean-up campaign has been better than projected. “It’s quite an overwhelming response. Last...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (2nd left), participates in the ground breaking for the $2.3 billion Portmore sewage project on Tuesday, September 9, at the Bridgeport treatment plant in the municipality. Others (from left) are: Head of contracting company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate, Leslie Chang; Councillor for the Independence City Division, Keith Blake; Acting Mayor of Portmore, Councillor Leon Thomas; and Member of Parliament for South East St. Catherine, Hon. Colin Fagan.

12 years ago Environment

Ground Broken for $2.3 Billion Portmore Sewage Project

Ground was officially broken on Tuesday, September 9 for the $2.3 billion Portmore Sewage Project in St. Catherine, which will provide improved sewage treatment facilities for some 200,000 residents. To be undertaken by the National Water Commission (NWC) over a period of approximately 45 months, the works will involve decommissioning of the five existing wastewater treatment plants, which are in...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Alwin Hayles (left), converses with Principal Director for Forest Operations, Forestry Department, Keith Porter, at the official launch of the Sawmill Licensing Programme and Registry on September 10, at the Hotel Four Seasons in New Kingston.

12 years ago Environment

New Licensing Regime for Sawmill and Power Saw Operators

Effective January 2015, all sawmill and power saw operators must be registered and licensed with the Forestry Department to operate legally in Jamaica. The new policy, which falls under the Forest Regulations of 2001, is aimed at regulating the island’s sawmilling industry as well as providing greater protection for the country’s forests. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Land,...

12 years ago Environment

Portmore Sewerage Improvement Project to Begin Sept. 9

Ground is to be broken on September 9 to commence construction of the Portmore Sewerage Improvement Project, which is expected to cost US$21 million. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill; President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Dr. Kingsley Thomas, and officials of the Portmore Municipal Council are expected to be in attendance. Major works...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (right), listens to Director, Jamaica Wells and Services Limited, Richard Simpson during a tour of the Ballater Avenue Well in Kingston on August 27, following the official commissioning of the well into service. The well, which is owned and operated by Talawah Investments, will be connected to the National Water Commission’s (NWC) system and used to provide water for both domestic and industrial use in sections of the Kingston Metropolitan Area.

12 years ago EnvironmentVision 2030Water

NWC Takes Steps to Reduce Water Theft

The National Water Commission (NWC) is stepping up operations to reduce water loss due to theft. These measures will, in some instances, involve working with law enforcement to remove illegal connections to the system, said Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. He was speaking at official commissioning of the Ballater Avenue Well, located on Ballater...