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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (third left), and Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin (third right), lead the ribbon-cutting to signify the opening of the St. Thomas Night Shelter on March 27. Joining them are (from left), Chief Executive Officer of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation, Kevin McIndoe; Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Eastern, Yvonne Shaw; Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Western, James Robertson,and Chairman of the Poor Relief Committee and Councillor for the Yallahs Division, John Lee.

Government Opens Night Shelter In St. Thomas

Disadvantaged or displaced residents in St. Thomas now have access to safe overnight accommodations, following the opening of a Night Shelter, located at the St. Thomas Drop-In Centre on Church Street in Morant Bay. The facility was officially opened by...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, delivers the keynote address during the opening of the Yallahs market in Yallahs, St. Thomas, on March 27.

Newly Renovated Yallahs Market Reopen

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Living Well Community Care Centre, Dr. Joan Williamson, delivers remarks at the handover ceremony for $1 million from Living Well Community Care Centre, in partnership with Driscoll’s Berries Company, to support youth farmers who were affected by Hurricane Melissa. The event was held on Friday (March 27) at the Foundation’s headquarters on Duke Street in Kingston.

Jamaica 4-H Foundation Receives $1M To Support Hurricane-Affected Youth Farmers

Senior Strategist, Consultant and Advisor to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Michael Pryce, speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 'Think Tank'.

Gov’t Invests Over $300m In Fisheries Sector Post-hurricane Recovery

Medical Expert at the St. Elizabeth Health Department, Dr. Carol Hamilton.

St. Elizabeth Health Services Returning To Normal After Hurricane Melissa

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, together with Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) Chairman, Dr. Adrian Stokes, congratulated a grade-two student for posing a question during Thursday’s (March 26) ETOC press conference at Shortwood Teachers’ College in St. Andrew.

7 days ago EducationHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryInformationSkillsYouth

ETOC Proposes Private Capital for Rebuilding Schools Destroyed by Hurricane Melissa

The Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) is recommending that the Government leverage private capital to rebuild eight schools that were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Addressing Thursday’s (March 26) ETOC press conference at Shortwood Teachers’ College in St. Andrew, Chairman, Dr. Adrian Stokes, noted that Hurricane Melissa, a Category-Five system, dealt Jamaica a severe blow. He added that...

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, piloting the Conch (Export Levy) (Rate of Levy) Order and Resolution in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 24.

7 days ago AgricultureFisheriesHurricane MelissaParliament

Gov’t Maintains Conch Levy at US$0.50

The levy on exported conch for the upcoming season will remain at US$0.50 per pound. The House of Representatives, on Tuesday (March 24), approved the Conch (Export Levy) (Rate of Levy) Order and Resolution to facilitate the move. Piloting the legislation, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green, said Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage to the industry and impacted...

Chief Executive Officer of the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation, Kevin McIndoe.

1 week ago Local Government

St. Thomas Municipal Corporation Offers Three-Month Building Amnesty

Residents of St. Thomas are being urged to take advantage of a three-month building amnesty being offered by the municipal corporation to regularise their structures to avoid legal action. Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Kevin McIndoe, told JIS News that the amnesty will run from April 1 to June 30, and during that time, the surcharge penalty associated with...

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, addresses the opening of the two-day Ministry of Health/Pan American Health Organization After-Action Review for Hurricane Melissa Response, at the Moon Palace Hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on March 24.

1 week ago CommunityDevelopmentHealth & WellnessLocal Government

ODPEM Head Says National Response to Hurricane Melissa Was Strong

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, says the national response to Hurricane Melissa was strong, particularly in coordination, “with rapidly mobilised efforts and the unwavering dedication of our front-line teams”. Delivering opening remarks at the Ministry of Health and Wellness After-Action Review of the Hurricane Melissa response, at the Moon Palace...

Minister of Local Government & Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second left), in conversation with Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry (second right); Social Development Commission (SDC) Executive Director, Omar Frith (right) and SDC Board Chairman, Hidran McKulsky. The interaction took place at the Kingston & St. Andrew Governance Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston on Wednesday (March 25).

1 week ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Churches to Receive Hurricane Grants in April

Minister of Local Government & Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced that 419 churches that were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa are set to receive grants from the Government in April. The grants will be paid out under the Government’s $75million Community Church Clean-Up and Restoration Initiative, which forms part of the post Hurricane Melissa National Clean-Up...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers his 2026/2027 Budget Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 19).

2 weeks ago Budget 2026/2027Hurricane Relief & Recovery

PM Outlines Post-Hurricane Melissa Development Plan

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced a national strategy to redefine Jamaica’s approach to development in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Using the redevelopment of Black River, St. Elizabeth, as a template, the Prime Minister outlined four foundational principles designed to transition the nation from a state of climate fragility to resilience. During his 2026/27 Budget...

Regional Coordinator at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Marlon Brown, addresses the audience during a media briefing held at the Port Maria Civic Centre following the annual Caribe Wave Tsunami Readiness Exercise on March 19.

2 weeks ago Local Government

Caribe Wave Drill Enhances Jamaica’s Tsunami Readiness

This year’s Caribe Wave Tsunami Readiness Exercise, conducted in Port Maria, St. Mary, on March 19, yielded valuable data to enhance Jamaica’s disaster preparedness and response systems. According to Regional Coordinator at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Marlon Brown, the exercise was instrumental in assessing the country’s readiness for a potential tsunami. The annual regional exercise,...