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Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett (second right), converses with Captain of the ‘Carnival Horizon’, Rocco Lubrano (left), on arrival at the Reynolds Pier, Ocho Rios, St. Ann on Tuesday (November 4) where supplies were handed over to assist with Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Others (from second left) are President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) Professor Gordon Shirley; and Carnival Corporation Senior Executive, Marie McKenzie.
Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett (second right), converses with Captain of the ‘Carnival Horizon’, Rocco Lubrano (left), on arrival at the Reynolds Pier, Ocho Rios, St. Ann on Tuesday (November 4) where supplies were handed over to assist with Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Others (from second left) are President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) Professor Gordon Shirley; and Carnival Corporation Senior Executive, Marie McKenzie.

Cruise Industry Rallies Behind Jamaica with Over US$3M in Hurricane Relief

Several of the world’s leading cruise companies have announced financial pledges totalling more than US$3 million in support of Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, and Disney Cruise Line have each committed US$1 million in financial...
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.

Gov’t Working to Access Marooned Communities
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), André Williams.
Chief Information Officer (CIO), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), André Williams.

JCA Urges Donors to Coordinate Relief Shipments Through Registered Charities
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith (left), converses with captain of the HNLMS Pelikaan, Lieutenant Commander Max Borsboom (right), shortly after the arrival of the Dutch Navy support ship at the Kingston Freeport Container Terminal on Tuesday (November 4), with hurricane relief supplies for Jamaica. Listening are European Union (EU) Ambassador to Jamaica Her Excellency, Dr. Erja Askola (second left), and Alyssa Van Der Ree Gafoor.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith (left), converses with captain of the HNLMS Pelikaan, Lieutenant Commander Max Borsboom (right), shortly after the arrival of the Dutch Navy support ship at the Kingston Freeport Container Terminal on Tuesday (November 4), with hurricane relief supplies for Jamaica. Listening are European Union (EU) Ambassador to Jamaica Her Excellency, Dr. Erja Askola (second left), and Alyssa Van Der Ree Gafoor.

Jamaica Receives Large Shipment of Relief Supplies
Members of the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which will be offering medical treatment at the Emergency Field Hospital located at Black River High School in St. Elizabeth, meet on Tuesday (November 4) during a tour of the facility. The temporary facility is outfitted with a full pharmacy and laboratory and is capable of carrying out the functions of the Black River Hospital in the parish.
Members of the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which will be offering medical treatment at the Emergency Field Hospital located at Black River High School in St. Elizabeth, meet on Tuesday (November 4) during a tour of the facility. The temporary facility is outfitted with a full pharmacy and laboratory and is capable of carrying out the functions of the Black River Hospital in the parish.

Emergency Field Hospital Established in Black River

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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, makes a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 4).
EnergyHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryPrime Minister

Gov’t Directs JPS to Explore Underground Placement of Power Grid

The Government has tasked the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), the nation’s primary electricity provider, with exploring the underground placement of sections of the national grid. This strategic consideration is aimed at enhancing the grid’s resilience and safeguarding its integrity in the face of natural disasters. In a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday (November 4), Prime Minister,...
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Parish Disaster Coordinator for Portland, Denise Lewis.
Disaster ReliefHurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & Recovery

Portland Makes Steady Progress in Recovery Effort

There has been steady progress in recovery and relief efforts in the parish of Portland, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Parish Disaster Coordinator, Denise Lewis, told JIS News in an interview that while the parish was spared the worst from Hurricane Melissa, the activities of the Portland Municipal Corporation and stakeholders also assisted in minimising the...
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Flood waters in Falmouth, Trelawny, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Health & WellnessHurricane Relief & Recovery

Public Urged to Act Against Vector-Borne Disease Risk in Hurricane Melissa’s Aftermath

Jamaicans are being strongly encouraged to take proactive steps in reducing the risk of vector-borne diseases, which are expected to rise following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The call was made by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, during a press conference held on November 1 at the Health Emergency Operations Centre on Knutsford Boulevard in...
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Team members of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) carry out clean-up activities in Catherine Hall, St. James on Tuesday (Nov. 4).
CommunityDevelopmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

Clean-Up of St. James Under Way

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and the St. James Municipal Corporation carried out a massive operation in Catherine Hall and Westgreen on Tuesday (November 4), commencing the clean-up of the parish following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. The initiative is aimed at restoring normalcy to communities that have been severely affected by the storm, which made landfall on...
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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, makes a statement in the House of Representatives on November 4, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
Hurricane Relief & Recovery

Customs Duty and GCT Exemption Period Extended for Importation of Hurricane Relief Supplies

The Government has extended the period for which persons can import Hurricane Melissa relief supplies without paying Customs Duty and General Consumption Tax (GCT). The measure, which was set to expire on November 28, has been moved to the end of December 2025. Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, made the announcement in a Statement in the House...
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Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, makes a statement in the House of Representatives on November 4 in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentOffice of the Prime Minister

ODPEM Reassigned to Office of the Prime Minister

Effective immediately, the Office Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). A new Director General, Commander Alvin Gayle, has also been appointed. He has been seconded from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to take leadership and streamline the operations of the entity. This was disclosed by Prime Minister, Dr. the...
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