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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...

The Registrar General's Department wishes to advise the public that all our offices will be closed to the public today, due to the inclement weather. Customers and staff are advised to take the necessary safety precautions and to monitor the media for information on the re-opening of the RGD office. Customers will be able to access our service by logging...

Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunication and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz said that contributions by engineers will be increased and sustained in the near future. He was speaking on September 23 in Kingston at the opening ceremony of the 2010 China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Conference. The conference falls within the Jamaica Institution of Engineers, 'Engineers Week'. Minister Vaz said,...

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), wishes to advise that all of its telephone lines are currently not working. Persons wishing to make contact with STATIN may do so by calling 929 - 7326 or 926 - 1138. STATIN apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

A total of 171 retired members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) have been honoured for years of dedicated service Addressing the awards luncheon at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday (September 14), Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson, commended them for serving with "unswerving dedication and unhesitant commitment". "You are all beacons to this country...you...

September 16 will be celebrated globally as International Ozone Day. The theme for this year's celebrations is, "Ozone layer protection: governance and compliance at their best", and highlights the role of good governance in enabling successful implementation and compliance with the Montreal Protocol. The National Ozone Unit which co-ordinates all projects and activities geared towards the phase out of ozone...