The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) will be establishing operational hubs in Trelawny, Westmoreland, and Hanover over the next 48 hours, to streamline Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in those parishes. This is in addition to the two national Hurricane Melissa relief warehouses and parish operational hubs already existing in St. Elizabeth, Clarendon, Kingston and St. James. The disclosure was made by...

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the cost of the impact on the operations of the National Water Commission (NWC) by Hurricane Melissa is expected to exceed $10 billion. The Minister was speaking on Thursday (November 13), at a Special Press Briefing held at Jamaica House in Kingston, on the country’s recovery efforts. Mr. Samuda...

The Government is exploring the use of geographic information system (GIS) geotagging technology to enhance its ongoing response to Hurricane Melissa. The solution was discussed during a stakeholder meeting with Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, held at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston on Wednesday (November 12). Dr. Holness noted that as...

Donations to the Government’s official disaster relief and recovery portal, supportjamaica.gov.jm, totalled US$1.13 million and J$55.850 million, as at 2:03 a.m. on Thursday (November 13). The Support Jamaica website was launched by the Government to mobilise support, channel relief and coordinate recovery efforts in the aftermath of Category Five Hurricane Melissa. Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr....

A sum of $450 million from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Minning’s remaining Production Incentive Programme is being redirected to emergency recovery, including replanting, restocking, and land preparation. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure during a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 11). The sum is part of a larger $3-billion plan to be...

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has confirmed extensive and catastrophic damage to Jamaica’s fisheries sector following the devastating passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. Preliminary assessments indicate losses amounting to billions of dollars, with widespread destruction across fishing communities, aquaculture operations, and critical infrastructure. Initial assessments paint a picture of severe loss in several key fishing parishes, threatening the livelihoods...

The St. James Municipal Corporation is receiving support from the Chinese community in the hurricane relief effort. Representatives of Chinese-owned businesses recently donated care packages containing food items, clothing, toiletries and other essential items for distribution to residents in communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation and Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, told...