The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is looking to promote a culture of earthquake preparedness and response among Jamaicans. “We want to (stir) the nation into action because earthquakes or tsunamis can occur at any time,” said Director General of the agency, Major Clive Davis. “While we have no control…the bottom line is that we must now...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says provisions of the 2018 Building Act will be rigorously enforced. The legislation, which took effect on January 15, seeks to discourage new squatter settlements from being built, promote sustainable development, and establish and enforce internationally accepted building standards and rules for individuals and entities providing construction material and services....

The National Works Agency (NWA) has initiated an internal review into the events of October 23, 2018 and November 12, 2018, which led to the flooding of parts of Marcus Garvey Drive and Mandela Highway. This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday (January 8) The flooding...

Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, has renewed the call for residents to support firefighters in their quest to lessen the threat posed by fires, by protecting fire hydrants in their communities. Commissioner Beckford made the appeal at a ceremony to officially open the Montego Bay Fireboat Station and hand over two fire units and a fireboat...

National Water Commission (NWC) President, Mark Barnett, says the agency is looking to secure funding to execute several projects geared towards boosting water supplies in the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR), at an estimated cost of US$100 million. Speaking at a press conference at the NWC’s Corporate Office in New Kingston on December 28, Mr. Barnett said the works include replacement...

The capacity of the St. James Fire Department to respond to a fire at sea has been significantly boosted, with the official opening of the Montego Bay Fireboat station and the handover of a fireboat on Friday (December 28). The new fireboat station, which will house 34 firefighters, is the second such station to be constructed in Jamaica and was...

The National Water Commission (NWC) has instituted a series of schedules to regulate water supplied to customers in sections of the Corporate Area and South East St. Catherine. This is in a bid to improve the distribution of water to areas being impacted by unrepairable breaks on the NWC’s Ferry/ Mandela transmission pipeline, and a combination of other issues on...