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Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and CARICOM's Special Representative on Haiti's Reconstruction, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, has said that Haiti deserves unprecedented levels of support from the international community. Speaking at the 12th Annual Eric Williams Memorial Lecture Series at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, recently, Mr. Patterson said, however, that the recovery process must be driven by...

Local geologists studying the Haiti catastrophe say Kingston, Portmore and Spanish Town are among the most vulnerable areas should an earthquake the magnitude of the January 12 tremor or stronger hit Jamaica. Research Fellow and Head of the Earthquake Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr. Lyndon Brown, said Kingston was probably in one of the worst locations and...

Merita Charles, mother-in-law of Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, and mother of Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, was laid to rest in Moneague on Sunday, October 17. The Thanksgiving Service for the life of the late centenarian, affectionately called 'Miss Rita', was held at the Moneague Seventh Day Adventist Church, in St. Ann. "To say that...

On Wednesday, October 20, Jamaica will join the rest of the world in celebrating the inaugural World Statistics Day, a United Nations' designated day which will be observed under the theme, "Celebrating the Many Achievements of Official Statistics". The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is urging all entities engaged in data collection and analysis in Jamaica, across the region and...

Members of the press will now be able to cover proceedings of the parliamentary committee reviewing expenditure on projects under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This was disclosed by Minister of State for Water and Housing and committee chairman, Hon. Everald Warmington during Tuesday's (Oct.12) sitting of the House of Representatives. Mr. Warmington explained that the committee was in contravention...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles, has announced that over $100 million has been set aside in this year's budget for activities aimed at further empowering persons with disabilities. Making his contribution to the 2010/11 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (Oct. 12), Minister Charles informed that of the sum allotted, $15 million will...

Ground was broken Thursday (October 7) for the construction of a new Infirmary in the parish of Hanover. The new facility, to be built at a cost of approximately $27 million, will provide accommodation for about 40 persons and will replace the current facilities. The Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund will provide $20 million, while the department...

The heavy rains since the start of the week have caused major damage to roads and crops in the Buff Bay Valley area of Portland. Information Minister and Member of Parliament for West Portland, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the revelation to JIS News after an aerial tour of the parish today (September 30) to assess the extent of the damage....

Claverty Cottage Primary School, which was activated as a shelter for displaced persons, is now closed, says Portland Disaster Co-ordinator, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Denise Lewis. Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Ms. Lewis said the school housed seven persons on (September 29) who needed refuge, adding that they have now returned home. As it...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that approximately 437 persons are being housed in 22 shelters across the island. The shelters are spread across the parishes of St. James, Trelawny, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew, Westmoreland and St. Mary. Shelters opened in St. Catherine are the Shiloh Basic School in Lauriston, Ensom City Primary,...

Four deaths have been confirmed and over 15 persons reported missing as a result of the heavy showers associated with Tropical Storm Nicole. According to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the deaths are from Flagaman, St. Elizabeth; Barbican and Riverside Drive in St. Andrew, and Christian Pen-Banga Gully in St. Catherine. Since the start of the...

Heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole have severely affected main roads, bridges and buildings in the parishes of St. James and Trelawny. In St. James, the Barnett River overflowed its banks and caused flooding along the Fairfield, Alice Eldemire and Tucker main roads and sections of Catherine Hall and Westgate areas. A number of businesses, including gas stations and...