The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that electricity has been restored for approximately 300,000 customers, representing 64 per cent of its service base across sections of the island, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. “This is a solid milestone, given the scale of destruction that we have all seen,” stated President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hugh Grant,...

Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has extended sincere condolences on behalf of the Government to the family of the father and daughter who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in Florida on Monday (November 10). The aircraft was en route to Jamaica on a humanitarian mission in support of hurricane relief operations. Speaking during...

Effective Tuesday (November 11), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will begin publishing a list of marooned and priority communities for relief distribution. “The ODPEM will commence publishing also, planned relief supplies such that across the nation our national efforts can be synchronised,” said ODPEM Director General, Commander Alvin Gayle, today’s special press briefing on Hurricane Melissa...

Power and water restoration efforts across St. James are progressing steadily in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, according to Montego Bay Mayor, Councillor Richard Vernon. Speaking with JIS News after a follow-up meeting of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) held at the St. James Municipal Corporation in Montego Bay on Monday (November 10), Councillor Vernon noted that operations teams remain...

The United States Government has pledged long-term support to Jamaica as the nation undertakes critical recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom at the US Department of State, Jeremy Lewin, outlined the range of support already extended to Jamaica. This includes the deployment of a substantial...

The Government is reporting that the death toll from Category Five Hurricane Melissa is now at 45. Addressing Tuesday’s (Nov. 11) Special Press Briefing at Jamaica House, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in conjunction the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), investigated and concluded that the deaths...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, is imploring residents of St. James to avoid using unsafe routes and to heed the warnings of emergency personnel. “Almost all roadways across St. James are now accessible with the exception of Spring Mount and the road leading to Cambridge via Montpelier and Seven Rivers,” he informed. “We do not recommend persons crossing...