The Government is moving to strengthen the system of communication during times of disaster of other emergencies. A sum of $10 million has been allocated to the Emergency Communication System in Jamaica project in the Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which is being implemented by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM),...

The fleet of the Jamaica Fire Brigade is expected to be increased in the new fiscal year, following an allocation of $232 million. Details of the project are outlined in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, on February 15. The money will...

The Government is to spend $47 million to upgrade the nation’s postal service to an international postal system. The money, which has been set aside in the 2018/2019 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, will go towards strengthening the Jamaica Post’s ability to control and improve mail processing and handling. Jamaica Post manages the island’s network of...

A total of $220 million will be spent by the Government on two programmes geared at expanding and improving the island’s water capacity infrastructure. The projects are the construction and maintenance of rural water systems, valued at $120 million; and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, costing $100 million. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick...

Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, says the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will be leading the restoration and protection of the shoreline from Breezy Castle (Kingston Harbour) to Harbour View. Senator Williams informed that it is noticeable that the roadway is being eroded and a meeting will be held with JSIF “for them to bring us up to...

Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, says the agency continues to carry out its mandate to facilitate the economic progress of communities in order to advance national development. He noted that the entity has mapped and identified 775 communities in which it is working to support development. “Development has to be local,” Mr. Vernon said. “People...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is to put measures in place to increase the speed at which information is disseminated to the public during periods of emergency. Speaking with JIS News, Director General of the ODPEM, Major Clive Davis said a meeting was held on January 25, with relevant stakeholders to discuss the matter. “We had very...