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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.

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...

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.

NWC Takes Steps to Reduce Water Theft

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (right), on Wednesday (August 27), commissions into service the Ballater Avenue Well located at 9 Ballater Avenue in Kingston. Looking on is Managing Director, Jamaica Wells and Services Limited, Richard Simpson.

NWC Partners with Talawah Investments to Provide Water to Kingston Communities

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (left), and Managing Director of the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Milverton Reynolds (right), hold the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), that will see the distribution of more than 2,000 titles to land owners under the Land Administration and Management Programme (LAMP). At centre is Director of Communication in the Ministry, Winsome Vanhorne-Christie. The signing was held on August 26, at the Ministry’s head offices in New Kingston.

More Than 2,000 Landowners to Get Help to Acquire Titles

The Government estimates that drought damage is valued at $1 billion inclusive of some 16,000 hectares of farm lands. The parishes hardest hit are St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Thomas, Portland and parts of South St Ann.

MET Office Projects Extended Dry Spell: Government Continues to Ramp up Contingency Measures

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...

Director for Environmental Management and Conservation at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Anthony McKenzie addresses a community meeting at Oswald’s restaurant, in Alligator Pond Manchester, where he urged property owners impacted by beach erosion to make contact with NEPA before erecting any personal solution.

12 years ago CommunityEnvironment

Property Owners Affected By Beach Erosion Urged To Contact NEPA

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging property owners impacted by beach erosion to make contact with the authority before effecting any personal solution. This is in order to avoid being served with an enforcement notice. The caution was issued by Director for Environmental Management and Conservation at NEPA, Anthony McKenzie at a community meeting at Oswald’s restaurant,...

Cross section of a beach along the coastal border of both Manchester and St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.

12 years ago Environment

NEPA to meet with Residents of Alligator Pond

The National Environment and Planning Agency ( NEPA), will be holding a special meeting with residents of Alligator Pond and surrounding areas, to discuss concerns relating to the beach erosion. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 22, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Oswald Seafood Restaurant, in Alligator Pond. Alligator Pond is located on the coastal border of both...

12 years ago Environment

Jamaica to Benefit from Phase Two of Regional Climate Change Project

Jamaica’s ability to effectively respond to the effects of climate change and natural disasters is expected to be boosted through the implementation of phase two of the $75.6 million (€512,000) Mainstreaming Climate Change into Disaster Management (CCDM II) Project. The country is among the 18 regional Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) member states slated to benefit from the 30-month...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill (left ) and Brazilian Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Antônio Francisco Da Costa e Silva Neto (right), hold water management contract, which they signed on August 7 at the Ministry in Kingston. Seated is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Alwin Hales.

12 years ago Environment

Jamaica Gets Help from Brazil in Water Management

The island’s capacity to manage its water resources is to be strengthened with the signing of a US$98,000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Jamaica and Brazil. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, who signed on Jamaica’s behalf on August 7, at the Ministry, in Kingston, said the project represented the continued commitment of the Ministry...

CEAC Solutions Limited representative, Jessica Stewart, makes a presentation at a community meeting at the Negril Community Centre on July 29, where the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the construction of breakwaters to protect the Negril coastline was discussed.

12 years ago Environment

Environmental Stakeholders in Negril Support Breakwater Plan

Two environmentalists in Negril are expressing support for the plan by the Government to construct breakwaters to protect the resort town’s famous white sand beach. Breakwaters are offshore structures of concrete or stone built to protect harbours and marinas from wave action and to help prevent beach erosion. The plan is to construct two offshore breakwater structures in the Long...

12 years ago Environment

De-Silting of Hermitage Dam to Start Last Quarter of 2014/15

De-silting of the Hermitage Dam is scheduled to start during the last quarter of 2014/2015 Financial Year. This was disclosed by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 29. The Minister said it is expected that the works should be completed within 12 months after...