Rehabilitation and expansion works along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston have addressed the problem of severe flooding of the roadway. The National Works Agency (NWA) is reporting that the heavy rains that pelted the island on Monday night (May 15) into Tuesday morning (May 16), causing extensive damage in some parishes, did not affect the thoroughfare. Last September, a number...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the damage caused by the heavy rainfall is a clear indication that the infrastructural network is inadequate to deal with such occurrences. He told JIS News that the unprecedented level of rainfall in some parishes was way beyond what was calculated for in the original planning and development of...

President of the National Water Commission (NWC), Mark Barnett, says that while the company produces more than 90 per cent of Jamaica’s total potable water, it is seriously challenged to improve and expand service delivery. Addressing a recent NWC conference on ‘Financing Water Utilities of the Caribbean’ at the RIU Hotel, Montego Bay, he said that to continue producing such...

The government will update the country this afternoon (May 16) on the heavy rainfall affecting the island at a press conference to be held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The press conference will commence at 4:00 p.m. Prior to the press conference, Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang will meet with Heads of Emergency Agencies at...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is advising the public to exercise extreme caution in areas close to swamps, rivers,  gullies and other known crocodile habitats, as the animals are likely to be displaced during the current torrential rains. NEPA is urging persons to report crocodile sightings to 754-7540, 1-888-991-5005, 580-7993 or via the Agency’s WhatsApp line at 819-NEPA...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is urging citizens to continue to be alert as the rainfall affecting sections of the island is expected to continue throughout the day. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has advised that the Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for low-lying and flood prone areas of St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, Kingston,...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Government will be spending significant sums to improve the condition of fire stations across the island. He noted that repair work is already underway at the Buff Bay and Port Antonio stations in Portland, and more than $6 million will be spent to construct a perimeter fence at...