Between October 29 and November 10, Jamaica’s airports collectively facilitated 1,138 flights in support of commercial travel and coordinated humanitarian operations across the island in response to Hurricane Melissa. These included 499 commercial passenger flights, 369 cargo, relief, and military flights, and 270 private flights. “Of these, Norman Manley [International Airport in Kingston] accounted for 578, while Sangster [International Airport...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is engaging additional trucks and contractors as the agency works to clear the increase in garbage across the island, says Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. He noted that the debris caused by Hurricane Melissa has added to the regular residential and commercial waste, and teams across the island...

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...