Twenty-two days into the Hurricane Melissa recovery effort in St. James, work crews have successfully cleared 1,636 truckloads of mud and debris from the communities of Catherine Hall and West Green. These areas were among the hardest hit by the category-five system’s recent passage, and the ongoing operations reflect the Government’s commitment to restoring safety, mobility, and normalcy for residents....

The Minister of Health and Wellness is heightening its vigilance against water-borne, vector-borne and food-related illnesses in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. Disease surveillance, rapid response capabilities and public health interventions have been enhanced in the parishes most severely impacted by the storm. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, who was addressing a recent meeting with public health workers at...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) has launched a Temporary Accommodations Needs Assessment Survey across the six parishes severely affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has three primary objectives – to provide an evidence-based report on the number of displaced families and individuals, to determine how many of...

More than 70,000 care packages have been distributed across St. James since the passage of Hurricane Melissa, as Government and relief partners intensify support to affected residents. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, provided the update while addressing the ongoing humanitarian response across the parish. He was speaking to journalists after a follow-up meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre...

The Government is exploring several strategies to manage the debris left across several parishes in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. “We are examining all the options, including recycling, using wood chippers to reduce the wood, having a structured approach to the recovery of scrap metals and other such strategies to make sure that we can properly manage this debris. Objective...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is leveraging advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to assess the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa and to strengthen Jamaica’s preparedness for future weather events. During a recent JIS ‘Studio 58A’ live discussion, representatives from NEPA outlined the Agency’s ongoing assessment efforts and the critical role of technology in national recovery. Senior...

Community Relations Officer for the National Works Agency ( NWA) Western Office, Janel Ricketts, said the agency is working to repair a section of breakaway along the Sign main road in St. James. “The roadway connects commuters and residents from Sign to areas such as Lottery and Virgin Valley. A section of that corridor has been cut off, so persons...