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Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) Commissioner, Stewart Beckford, shares details on bushfires in a recent interview with JIS News at his Hagley Park Road office in Kingston.
Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) Commissioner, Stewart Beckford, shares details on bushfires in a recent interview with JIS News at his Hagley Park Road office in Kingston.

JFB Reports 26.2 Per Cent Rise in Bush Fires During 2025

Bushfires remained a major challenge in 2025, with the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) reporting a 26.2 per cent increase in incidents across the island. “We have seen, over time, maybe over the last four years, bushfires remaining at a consistently...
Scientific Officer, Earthquake Unit, Karleen Black, addresses a recent JIS Think Tank.
Scientific Officer, Earthquake Unit, Karleen Black, addresses a recent JIS Think Tank.

Earthquake Unit Dispels Myth
Parish Disaster Coordinator for St Mary, Adrian Tate (second right), with (from left) Dean of Discipline at the St Mary Technical High School, Ryan Hewitt; Officer in charge of the Fire Safety, Prevention and Investigation Division, District Officer Richard Guscott; Assistant at the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Shaneldeen Bailey; Acting Corporal in the Fire Safety, Prevention and Investigation Division, Kyron Parry; and Vice Principal, Orville Jones, after completing earthquake drills at the St. Mary Technical High School, recently.
Parish Disaster Coordinator for St Mary, Adrian Tate (second right), with (from left) Dean of Discipline at the St Mary Technical High School, Ryan Hewitt; Officer in charge of the Fire Safety, Prevention and Investigation Division, District Officer Richard Guscott; Assistant at the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Shaneldeen Bailey; Acting Corporal in the Fire Safety, Prevention and Investigation Division, Kyron Parry; and Vice Principal, Orville Jones, after completing earthquake drills at the St. Mary Technical High School, recently.

Disaster Coordinator Emphasises Importance of Earthquake Drills
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, addresses a recent post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, addresses a recent post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House.

Gov’t to Disburse First SRP Grants for Hurricane Melissa Victims by Month End
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, addresses a recent post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, addresses a recent post-Cabinet Press Briefing at Jamaica House in Kingston.

First Set of Modular Homes Expected in February

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Chief Executive Officer of the Falmouth Public General in Trelawny, Carlington McLennon (second row, right) joins staff of the hospital alongside representatives from Excellence Oyster Bay, as they present a cheque to We Care FPGH’s Winsome Harper (front row, fourth right) during a handover ceremony held on Friday (January 23).
Finance & Public ServiceHealth & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Falmouth Public General Hospital Receives US$21,000 To Help with Restoration Efforts

Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny on Friday (January 23), received a cheque valued at US$21,000, to assist with post-hurricane melissa recovery efforts at the facility. The funds were raised and donated by Excellence Oyster Bay resort through the We Care FPGH (Falmouth Public General Hospital) Limited, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting the health facility. The donation comes as...
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Commissioner, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Stewart Beckford shares emergency response and fire prevention data during an interview with JIS News at his offices located on Hagley Park Road in Kingston.
Local Government

JFB Reports Increase in Emergency Calls

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has reported an increase in the number of emergency calls received in 2025. “We would have responded to well over 20,000 emergency incidents. 21,699 to be exact and this is a 13.7 per cent increase over the previous year,” Commissioner Stewart Beckford said, during an interview with JIS News. He noted that the increase was...
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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right), examines ongoing work to rebuild the perimeter wall at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, on Thursday, January 22. He is joined by (from left) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Errol Lebert; Chief Engineering Officer of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Kenneth Brown; and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Dwight Wilson.
Local Government

$270 Million Allocated to Repair St. Elizabeth Infirmary

A major allocation of $270 million is in place to fully repair the hurricane-battered St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, over the next five months as the Government moves to restore comfort and safety for the facility’s 46 vulnerable residents. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, told journalists that approximately $250 million has been allocated for...
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High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, His Excellency Mark Berman (centre), is pictured with representatives of nine community‑based organisations receiving grants under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) during a Spotlight Event, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on Thursday (January 22).
Hurricane Relief & Recovery

Canada Fund Grants J$32m to 11 Local Organisations for Post-Hurricane Recovery

The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) has awarded approximately J$32 million to 11 humanitarian and community‑based organisations, supporting education recovery and community‑led development efforts in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The organisations were recognised during a Spotlight Event at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on Thursday (January 22), held under the theme ‘Rebuilding Futures:...
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Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Omar Frith, addresses the SDC’s Greater St. Catherine Governance Conference on Wednesday (January 21) at the Caymanas Golf Club.
CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

SDC Advancing Citizen Participation in Governance to Drive Social Change

The Social Development Commission (SDC) is advancing citizen participation in governance as a catalyst for social change. Executive Director, Omar Frith, says a central feature of the Commission’s programme offering is its emphasis on participatory governance. “When we speak of democracy, we speak of citizens’ empowerment. The SDC has a significant role in ensuring that there are structured mechanisms available...
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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), listens as Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Omar Frith (second left), addresses staff of the Trelawny Infirmary during a recent psychosocial intervention session. Also listening (from left) are Matron at the Infirmary, Tracey-Ann Bell, and Councillor for Sherwood Division in Trelawny, Dunstan Harper.
CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

SDC Processing Over 170 Applications Under Gov’t’s Church Clean-Up and Restoration Initiative

More than 170 applications have been received and are currently being processed by the Social Development Commission (SDC) under the Government’s Community Church Clean‑Up and Restoration Initiative. The initiative, announced recently by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, forms part of the post‑Hurricane Melissa National Clean‑Up Programme and provides $75 million in grant funding to support clean‑up activities...
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