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Director-General (Ag) of Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson. (JIS File Photo)

Protect Your Property From Hurricanes – ODPEM

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is encouraging persons to take the time to ensure that their properties are protected in the event that a tropical cyclone should affect the island. Speaking recently on the JIS Television...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of housing units in the community of Belrock, in St. Andrew.

100 Houses To Be Built For The Indigent

Mayor of Kingston, Senator Delroy Williams, speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony in Belrock, St. Andrew, on August 20.

Feeding Programme For Kingston’s Homeless To Continue During COVID-19 No Movement Days

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addressing the nation on the impact of the tropical storm Grace on Jamaica, during a virtual press conference on Thursday (August 19).

Preliminary Cost Of Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Grace Estimated At $171M

Jamaica Fire Brigade Public Relations Officer, Emeleo Ebanks, is reminding persons to store the contact information for emergency services in their mobile devices and be as detailed as possible when requesting an emergency service.

Keep Emergency Numbers Close, says JFB

Director of the Meteorological Service Branch (Met Service), Evan Thompson. - JIS File Photo

5 years ago Local GovernmentWeather

Met Service Urges Persons To Remain Vigilant During The Hurricane Season

Director of the Meteorological Service Branch (Met Service), Evan Thompson, is urging Jamaicans to remain vigilant, as the Caribbean enters the peak of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. “We are still in the middle of the hurricane season, and anything could develop at any time. So, it is important that all our residents pay special attention to information as soon...

5 years ago Foreign AffairsLocal Government

Local Government Minister Announces Donation Account For Haiti

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie has announced the launch of a special assistance fund for the Republic of Haiti. “The people of Haiti are continuing to experience a torrid time as the forces of nature have been unleashed on the country, first, with the recent, massive earthquake and now, the heavy rains associated with Tropical...

Firefighters attached to the Santa Cruz Fire Station in St. Elizabeth try out a new skid unit, which was officially handed over in 2020.

5 years ago Fire SafetyLocal Government

Increase In The Numbers Of Genuine Fire Calls

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) received a total of 10,209 genuine fire calls for 2020, which is an increase of 131 relative to the previous year. As contained in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) 2020 Economic and Social Survey, similar to 2019, the largest number of genuine fire calls occurred in Kingston and St. Andrew (1945) followed by St....

Public Relations Officer, Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Emeleo Ebanks (centre), in discussion with former Assistant Superintendent, Heather Williams (left), and Acting Sergeant, Donovan Morgan, at the Brigade’s headquarters in Kingston recently.

5 years ago Local Government

JFB Responds To More Than Fires

When one hears the name ‘Jamaica Fire Brigade’ (JFB), the first thought is of firefighters putting out blazes, but the entity is reminding the public that it also responds to non-fire related incidents including medical emergencies and rescue. JFB’s Public Relations Officer, Emeleo Ebanks, told JIS News that the brigade offers ambulance services for medical and trauma cases. “For January...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addressing a digital press conference on August 9.

5 years ago CoronavirusLocal Government

No Permits Approved For Entertainment Events

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that no permits have been approved for the staging of entertainment events. “The Municipal Corporations and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) cut off accepting and considering applications from the 9th of this month,” he indicated. “So, there is no approval for any event of any...

5 years ago Local Government

$204.7 Billion Building/Planning Applications Received By Municipal Corporations Last Year

For the year 2020, building/planning applications received by municipal corporations were valued at an estimated $204.7 billion. The estimated value of applications approved was $145.2 billion, while those that were still being processed at the close of the year are valued at approximately $105.2 billion. The information is contained in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) 2020 Economic and Social...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right) and Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, (right) interact with participants in the 2021 Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) at the launch of the programme on July 30 at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland. At left is Mayor of Port Antonio, Paul Thompson.

5 years ago Local Government

Youth Urged To Get Vaccinated, Encourage Others To Do Same

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is encouraging eligible participants in the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) to get vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) and encourage others to do the same. “I want to challenge you because I know at least 90 per cent of you are over 18 [years old]. You are now eligible to...