A sum of $200 million has been allocated to the National Works Agency (NWA) for river training, which will employ Jamaicans in rural Jamaica in necessary disaster mitigation work, protecting lives and livelihoods. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, as he opened the 2021/22 Budget Debate in the House of...

The Government is considering providing financial grants for gravediggers and persons constructing vaults, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenize, says. He was speaking during a digital briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Media Centre on Monday (March 8). The move is in response to concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the two-week ban on funerals,...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says work is progressing under the downtown Kingston redevelopment project. He said that the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), one of the lead agencies in the undertaking, is continuing its engagements, and has been working closely with the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) to complete assessments for the latest...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is calling on Jamaicans to help protect sanitation workers and achieve a cleaner environment by playing their part in proper waste management. Community Relations Manager at the NSWMA, Kimberley Blair, is asking that persons be mindful of how they dispose of their waste, as the Authority has noticed that bins are filling up...

Construction of three new fire stations in Montego Bay, St. James; Port Maria, St Mary; and Yallahs, St Thomas, is expected to be completed during the upcoming financial year. The Government has set aside $1.27 billion to undertake this and other activities under the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, which seeks to enhance Jamaica’s resilience to disaster and climate risk....

A sum of $375 million has been allocated to the Improvement of the Emergency Communication System in Jamaica (IECSJ) project. The project, which is being implemented by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), aims to develop a national emergency communication system to coordinate incident response among the various critical agencies of government and volunteers. Details are outlined...

Training Officers of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) have successfully completed certification in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, offered by the Organization of American States (OAS). “Providing institutional strengthening to our member states in our key areas of work is a crucial part of what we do at the OAS. This was the first of...