The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reporting a 41 per cent increase in the number of enforcement actions taken against companies and individuals in breach of the various environmental and planning laws. The number moves from 633 enforcement actions in fiscal year 2012/13 to 893 for the period 2013/14, which included Cessation Orders; Enforcement Notices; Stop Notices; and...

A Beach Management Policy is to be submitted to Cabinet shortly, followed by public consultations, which will influence the final document. State Minister in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles made the announcement on Tuesday, June 17 as he made his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. Outlining the...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, has implemented its Watershed Area Management Mechanism (Watershed Model), in 11 of the island’s 26 Watershed Management Units. These include the Swift River, Oracabessa/Paggee, and White River/Rio Bueno in the North Eastern Region; Negril, Martha Brae, Great River and Lucea River in the Western Region; St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, and Gut Alligator...

More than 247,000 residents in 10 parishes will benefit from improved potable water supplies and wastewater management services over the next two years, as the National Water Commission (NWC) undertakes infrastructure improvement projects valued just over $1 billion. State Minister for Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles, says phased project implementation is slated to begin during the...

The Rapid Response Programme (RRP), in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, which supplies water to alleviate shortage of the commodity, generated $89 million in revenue during the 2013/14 fiscal year. This was almost 82 per cent more than the $49 million earned during 2012/13, Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Ian Hayles, said. He made...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is currently finalising the draft paper for the motor vehicle emission standards, which is expected to be adopted into a regulatory framework, this fiscal year. This was disclosed by State Minister in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles, during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in...

The National Land Agency (NLA) issued 12,926 certificates of title during financial year 2013/14, an increase of 29 per cent over the previous year. This amount includes 4,550 titles issued to Government agencies. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, made the disclosure while making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of...

Two automatic weather stations, which will enhance the climate data collection capacity of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica are to be acquired this year, under a $27.5 million grant agreement. The funds are being provided through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5C’s), which coordinates the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change. This was disclosed by Minister of...