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Regional Small Island Developing States (SIDS) must place high on the agenda of next year’s SIDS conference, the issue of highly indebted countries being categorised as middle income countries. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said that the classification, while indicative of progress, has limited the ability of small island states to access concessionary and...

Over $1 billion has been spent to improve the delivery of potable water to several communities in south eastern St. Catherine and its environs, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan. The improvements, which were completed in May 2013, fall under the Portmore Pipeline Project implemented by the National Water Commission...

The National Land Agency (NLA) issued 6,292 new titles during the 2012/13 fiscal year, as the Government continued efforts to put the important document into the hands of Jamaicans. Minister of State in the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Ian Hayles, made the announcement during his recent Sectoral presentation in the House of Representatives. He informed...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change is to spend $8 million towards sustainable land management and water security within the Yallahs River and Hope River Watershed Management Units, among other things, this year. Making the disclosure in his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 26, portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert...

Jamaica will host the Caribbean Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), beginning Tuesday, July 2, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. The Caribbean preparatory meeting is one of three regional meetings which will be held this year as groundwork for the SIDS conference in Samoa next year and will last from...

A rural farming community is to benefit from a project that will aid in strengthening its resilience to the impact of weather-related issues. The project, which is to be rolled out in July, follows the successful completion of a pilot of a micro insurance facility, aimed at small farmers in Portland and St. Thomas. The pilot was facilitated by the...

The city of Hagen in Germany will be partnering with the municipality of Portmore in St. Catherine, to formulate and implement climate change projects at the local Government level. Making the disclosure during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 26), Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, is hoping that the introduction of ultra low sulphur diesel to the local market will assist in reducing the pollution of the atmosphere by motor vehicles that continue to belch black smoke from their tail pipes. The low-sulphur diesel, which was launched in Jamaica this week, is being presented...

Legislation is being prepared to govern the maintenance and management of gated communities, town house complexes, and commercial developments. “This legislation will be similar to the recently enacted amendments to the Strata Titles Act, which governs the management of strata properties,” said Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill. He was speaking on Wednesday, June 26,...

Work is advanced in the preparation of development orders, which will zone communities and state-permitted commercial activities. Four development orders are being promulgated for the Negril/Green Island Area in Westmoreland, and the parishes of Portland, Trelawny and Manchester. Work is well underway in the preparation of the new Kingston and St. Andrew Development Order, which is expected to be promulgated...

The Government is developing a Climate Change Risk Assessment Tool that will enable better planning of community and national projects, particularly those that could be affected by climate change issues. “Once completed, any Ministry agency, or Parish Council will be able to use this tool to assess the risk of community and national projects against specific climate change scenarios,” said...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, is receiving assistance from the United States (US) Government in developing a climate finance strategy. “This will help us in identifying options for the financing of vital mitigation and adaptation projects,” Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill said on Wednesday, June 26, during his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate in the...