The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) are conducting assessments to determine whether the country suffered any dislocation as a result of the passage of Hurricane Matthew. In a statement to the House yesterday (October 11), Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said ODPEM’s assessment will entail a...

The National Water Commission (NWC) commenced work last evening (October 6) on a sewer line that caused a breakaway on a section of the roadway in the vicinity of the Market Place on Constant Spring Road. In an interview with JIS News, Corporate Public Relations Manager at the NWC, Charles Buchanan, said the agency’s engineers and waste-water specialists visited the...

The Government has signed a US$987,822 contract with Rosenbauer for the acquisition of two new trucks for the Jamaica Fire Brigade. The units, which are slated to be in the island by next year, will be built in Minneapolis, United States, at the facilities of Rosenbauer America. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie; Commissioner, Jamaica Fire...

The Government will be providing an update on the performance of the disaster preparedness agencies, following the recent passage of Hurricane Matthew to the east of Jamaica. An assessment of the processes will also be done and adjustments made for greater efficiency. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, speaking at a press briefing at the Office...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that normal operations have returned to the country and the emergency systems set up in response to the threat of Hurricane Matthew have been deactivated. “The weather department (Meteorological Service) has discontinued the warnings, but we are still leaving in place certain response mechanisms, just in case it becomes...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is reporting that the National Emergency Operations Centre has scaled down activities to Level 1 Activation (Monitoring Phase), in light of the reduction in the threat level of Hurricane Matthew. The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management is also recommending a return to routine operations where possible. •The public transportation system...

The Government has stipulated that persons in storm shelters across the island are to be provided with food and other supplies upon entering the facilities. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said previously, persons were required to take their own food and medications, with supplies provided to those who remain in the shelters after 72 hours....