First responders provide assistance to an individual at the scene of an emergency, during an earthquake and fire-simulation exercise at the Sovereign Village, Portmore recently. The drill, which was a partnership between the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Portmore Municipal Corporation, formed part of activities to increase community awareness, readiness and response to an earthquake...

The town of Lucea in Hanover has been chosen to be a part of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development’s ‘Paint the City, Paint the Town’ Project. The beautification initiative forms a part of the Government’s plan to further drive the development of rural Jamaica and is to be executed over a three-year period. On Friday, January 21,...

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will be providing 100 life vests for the approximately 30 raft captains who operate on the Great River in Lethe, Hanover. Portfolio Minister, Desmond McKenzie, gave the commitment on Wednesday (January 19), after meeting with the raft captains to discuss their needs. The life vests will provide protection for the rafters and...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that the new Montego Bay Fire Station in St. James will be operational shortly. The Minister, who toured the facility on Wednesday (January 19), said that the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is completing minor details on the building, following which firefighters will began utilising the station on a phased...

Senior Manager, Business Continuity Management at Flow Jamaica, Heather Wallen-Bryan (left); Vice President and General Manager, Flow Jamaica, Stephen Price (second left); Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson; and Director, Information and Training at ODPEM, Delmares White, view items donated by Flow during a ceremony held at ODPEM’s New Kingston offices on January...

Residents of New River District in St. Elizabeth are better prepared to respond appropriately during and after an earthquake, following a community earthquake and evacuation drill in the area on Tuesday, January 18. The exercise was conducted by the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation’s Parish Disaster Preparedness Committee as part of the national and parish activities for the Earthquake Awareness Week,...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), presents a gift to Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki, when he visited the Ministry's Hagley Park Road offices in Kingston on January 18.