The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is reporting that 72.3 per cent of schools across the island now have broadband access. Project Lead and Transformation Officer for the Transforming Education for National Development (TREND) Programme in the Ministry, Dr. Venesse Morrison Leon, made the disclosure while addressing a TREND/Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) press conference at the University...

The St. James Police Division is heightening its operational readiness as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is set to play a critical role in maintaining law and order, supporting rescue operations, and ensuring public safety throughout the parish. Commanding Officer for the Division, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Eron Samuels, said that the JCF’s hurricane preparedness strategy involves...

The approximately 76 shelters in the parish of Portland are in a state of readiness as the parish braces for Tropical Storm Melissa, which is slowly approaching the island. “We have prepositioned bedding and other items in communities. We have items in store, and we know that we will continue to be supported by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and...

The National Water Commission (NWC) has enacted measures to ensure that water is supplied before, during and after the passage of Tropical Storm Melissa, says Acting President, Kevin Kerr. Stating that the NWC has “moved into a heightened state of readiness”, he said that the agency’s key priorities are to protect the safety of its employees, infrastructure and critical assets,...

Jamaica’s two main telecommunications providers – Flow and Digicel – have activated their emergency response centres as the country prepares for Tropical Storm Melissa. “Flow Jamaica has fully activated its crisis management system with support from local and regional teams. Power resilience has been strengthened with more than 61 per cent of mobile sites now having backed up power and...

Mayor of Falmouth, Trelawny, Councillor Colin Gager, says that it is “all systems go” across the parish, as government agencies coordinate preparations for Tropical Storm Melissa. “The message to residents is clear: prepare as best as possible and stay informed through official channels,” Mayor Gager told JIS News in an interview. Mayor Gager outlined the collaborative effort spanning local authorities...

Manager of Weather Services at the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service), Rohan Brown, has advised that Tropical Storm Melissa is still evolving and could intensify into a major hurricane while positioned south of Jamaica this weekend. “We have gone from a tropical storm watch to a warning, because tropical storm conditions are likely within 36 hours within the Jamaica...