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Commissioner, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Stewart Beckford shares emergency response and fire prevention data during an interview with JIS News at his offices located on Hagley Park Road in Kingston.

JFB Reports Increase in Emergency Calls

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has reported an increase in the number of emergency calls received in 2025. “We would have responded to well over 20,000 emergency incidents. 21,699 to be exact and this is a 13.7 per cent increase...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right), examines ongoing work to rebuild the perimeter wall at the St. Elizabeth Infirmary in Santa Cruz, on Thursday, January 22. He is joined by (from left) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Errol Lebert; Chief Engineering Officer of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Kenneth Brown; and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Dwight Wilson.

$270 Million Allocated to Repair St. Elizabeth Infirmary

High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica, His Excellency Mark Berman (centre), is pictured with representatives of nine community‑based organisations receiving grants under the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) during a Spotlight Event, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on Thursday (January 22).

Canada Fund Grants J$32m to 11 Local Organisations for Post-Hurricane Recovery

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Omar Frith, addresses the SDC’s Greater St. Catherine Governance Conference on Wednesday (January 21) at the Caymanas Golf Club.

SDC Advancing Citizen Participation in Governance to Drive Social Change

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), listens as Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Omar Frith (second left), addresses staff of the Trelawny Infirmary during a recent psychosocial intervention session. Also listening (from left) are Matron at the Infirmary, Tracey-Ann Bell, and Councillor for Sherwood Division in Trelawny, Dunstan Harper.

SDC Processing Over 170 Applications Under Gov’t’s Church Clean-Up and Restoration Initiative

Technical Specialist for Socio-Economic Development in the Community Renewal Programme at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Charmaine Brimm, outlines details of this year’s staging of the PIOJ’s Best Practice Symposium for Social and Community Renewal, during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’.

2 weeks ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Free Transportation Being Provided for PIOJ Best Practice Symposium

Transportation will be provided free of cost for persons wishing to attend this year’s staging of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) Best Practice Symposium on Social and Community Renewal. The event is scheduled for January 27 and 28 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Technical Specialist for...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), listen to Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Omar Frith, during a tour of the site of the new Trelawny Infirmary in Falmouth, on Thursday, January 15. At left is Matron of the Trelawny Infirmary, Tracey-Ann Bell.

2 weeks ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Shelters Across Jamaica to Be Improved

Shelters across Jamaica are to be improved as the Government moves to strengthen national disaster preparedness ahead of the upcoming 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the condition and readiness of emergency shelters are now at the top of the agenda. Addressing journalists during a visit to view work being done...

2 weeks ago EducationHurricane Relief & RecoveryYouth

Mannings’s Alumni Urged to Support Rebuilding Project

Past students of the Manning’s School in Westmoreland are being urged to contribute to the institution’s wellness centre rebuilding project. The facility, which was destroyed during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, will benefit from the proceeds of the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast (NLPB) held on January 15 at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Andrew. Speaking with...

Director, Disaster Rehabilitation and Welfare Management, Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), Jacqueline Shepherd, encourages Jamaicans to secure important documents, during a recent JIS Think Tank.

2 weeks ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLabourSocial Security

Jamaicans Urged to Safeguard Personal Documents

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) is urging citizens to prioritise the safekeeping of personal documents as part of their overall disaster preparedness. Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank focused on Earthquake Awareness, Director, Disaster Rehabilitation and Welfare Management, MLSS, Jacqueline Shepherd, said that while no one can be fully prepared for earthquakes, safeguarding documents is one...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses a ceremony for the handover of building supplies by New Era Developments Limited and Kemtek Construction, at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Forward Operating Base in Luana, St. Elizabeth on Friday (Jan. 16).

2 weeks ago Economic Growth & Infrastructure DevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryPrime Minister

Jamaica Will Be Rebuilt Better, Stronger – PM

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa has created the opportunity to rebuild Jamaica better and stronger than before. “So yes, it [hurricane] created a crisis, but every crisis presents an opportunity and we must not waste the opportunity that this crisis has given us. We will rebuild Jamaica much better...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation, Kevin McIndoe, engages with residents at a town hall held at the Easington Primary School on January 15, to discuss disposal of the 100-acre Easington property owned by the Municipal Corporation.

2 weeks ago Local Government

Residents Occupying Easington Lands in St. Thomas to Receive Titles

The St. Thomas Municipal Corporation will be formalising the settlement of residents, who currently occupy the Easington lands in the parish. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation, Kevin McIndoe, made the disclosure during a town hall at the Easington Primary School on Thursday (Jan. 15). He informed that the Corporation will begin subdividing the 100-acre property this year, with...

Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz (centre), greets Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Jamaica, Stephen Murad (second right), at the handover of hurricane relief supplies to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) on Friday (January 16), at the Garmex Free Zone on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston. Also in attendance (from left) are Chief Executive Officer of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels; Senior Director, Mitigation, Planning and Research at ODPEM, Michelle Edwards; and Director of Corporate and Government Relations at Digicel, Joy Clark.

2 weeks ago Hurricane Melissa

ODPEM Receives Relief Supplies From Digicel

Relief supplies from Digicel and the Digicel Foundation were handed over to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), today (January 16), to advance recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, welcomed the donation and underscored the need for sustained national and corporate support, noting that many affected...