Latest

Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, Hon. Daryl Vaz, addresses Tuesday’s (October 28) special press conference on Hurricane Melissa at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston.

Petrojam Ensuring Airports Are Up to 80 Per Cent Capacity for Aviation Fuel

Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says Petrojam is ensuring that the island’s three international airports, as well as all aerodromes, are at 75 to 80 per cent capacity for aviation fuel. “This will enable aircraft movement to...

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, addresses a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston, on October 28.

Government Establishes Website to Mobilise Support After Hurricane Melissa Passes

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, responds to a question during a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), located at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston, on October 27.

Jamaica Receiving Pledges of Support – PM

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with Responsibility for Works, Hon. Robert Morgan, provides an update from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on developments related to Hurricane Melissa during a media briefing at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston.

NWA Ramps Up Flood Mitigation in Preparation for Hurricane Melissa

Principal Director, Meteorological Services Branch, Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Evan Thompson, addresses this morning’s (October 27) media briefing at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston.

Northwestern Parishes Urged to Prepare for Hurricane Conditions

Health Promotion and Education Officer for Westmoreland, Gerald Miller.

3 months ago Health & WellnessHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Westmoreland Health Department Monitoring Emergency Shelters

The Westmoreland Health Department is monitoring emergency shelters across the parish to ensure that proper hygiene and disease-prevention measures are in place during Hurricane Melissa. “We have visited three shelters so far – Godfrey Stewart High, Unity Primary and Williamsfield Primary,” Health Promotion and Education Officer for Westmoreland, Gerald Miller, told JIS News. “[We] have focused on safety in terms...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., addressing Friday’s (October 24) special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister.

3 months ago Hurricane Relief & Recovery

Labour Ministry’s Warehouses Stocked and Pre-Positioned To Deploy Relief Supplies

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s warehouses and parish offices are well stocked and pre-positioned for rapid deployment of relief supplies. The central food facility in Kingston has sufficient resources to prepare an additional 10,000 packages, said Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. He was addressing Friday’s (Oct. 24) special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a recent function hosted by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Foundation at the S Hotel in Kingston, to give an update on the Building a Better Jamaica Fund, which was launched on July 8, 2024, to support the country’s Hurricane Beryl relief efforts.

6 months ago Hurricane Relief & Recovery

Gov’t Acting on Recommendations of Disaster Risk Management Review Committee

The Government is acting on the recommendations of the Disaster Risk Management Review Committee to strengthen the island’s emergency response mechanisms, says Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. “We have done the review and we have started to put measures in place to ensure that should there be another disaster, our response mechanism would be appropriate and strong,”...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), shares a moment with members of the National Commercial Bank (NCB) team (from left) Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Bowen; NCB Foundation Chair, Thalia Lyn; and CEO of the NCB Foundation, Perrin Gayle. The event was the NCB hosted event titled: ‘Hurricane Beryl: Building a Better Jamaica Fund National Tribute to Partnership and Recovery,’ held July 10 at the S Hotel in Kingston.

6 months ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryPrime Minister

PM Hails Impact of Fund Set Up to Support Hurricane Beryl Recovery

The Building a Better Jamaica Fund, established in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, has been hailed by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as one of the most extensive and effective post-disaster recovery operations in Jamaica’s modern history. The initiative, set up by the National Commercial Bank (NCB), and launched on July 8, 2024 at Jamaica House, galvanised...

Head of Operations, Westmoreland Police Division, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kevin Francis, addresses the monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar on Thursday (July 10).

7 months ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryNational Security

Westmoreland Police Prepared to Respond During Hurricane Season

Head of Operations, Westmoreland Police Division, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kevin Francis, says the division is prepared to respond to any disaster during the Atlantic hurricane season. “The JCF Westmoreland Division has started and has [activated] our hurricane standing orders, and our plans are fully in effect,” he said, while addressing the monthly meeting of the parish’s municipal corporation...

Disaster preparedness checklist on a clipboard with disaster relief items in the background.

7 months ago CommunityDevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

St. James Ramps Up Hurricane Readiness

With the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially under way and projected to be highly active, the St. James Municipal Corporation is ramping up disaster preparedness efforts across the parish. During the Corporation’s Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation and Safety Committee meeting on Thursday (June 19), Spatial Planner, Ricardo Miller, reported that a sensitisation workshop was conducted with 33 shelter managers on...

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Jamaica, Kishan Khoday (left), addresses a panel during a Hurricane Ready & Resilient forum on Tuesday (June 10) at the UNDP Multi Country Office in Kingston. Listening is UNDP Communications Analyst, Gillian Scott.

8 months ago Hurricane Relief & Recovery

US$500,000 in Grants for Jamaica under New Disaster Risk Reduction Programme

Jamaica will benefit from up to US$500,000 in grant support to strengthen disaster resilience and recovery under a new Disaster Risk Reduction Programme for the Caribbean. The initiative involves collaboration among the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP), with the invaluable support of...