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Mayor of Kingston, Senator Angela Brown Burke, has again called on persons to seek approval from the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), before erecting signs in the Municipality. “We are appealing to all persons to just check (with us) before you erect a sign and make sure that you get the requisite approval. Our compliance team will be hitting...

The Westmoreland Parish Council has been trucking water to many areas that have been affected by the severe drought, Disaster Preparedness Co-ordinator for the parish, Rev. Hilma Tate, told JIS News. “The Council has been ensuring that communities hardest hit by the drought are getting some water as often as is possible, and right now requests for additional funds have...

Construction of some 88 houses, earmarked for development in Springfield, Clarendon under the European Union (EU)-funded Sugar Barracks Relocation Project, is set to start shortly. A contract for the development, valued at just over $160 million, was signed on Wednesday, February 6, during a ceremony at the project site. Approximately 209 sugar workers residing in that community and its environs,...

From major earthquakes to hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and widespread flooding, the Caribbean region has experienced it all, sometimes with horrific consequences. Oftentimes, vital communication systems, such as landline telephones and cellular phones fail, as they too become susceptible to the catastrophic events, leaving vulnerable citizens stranded. The need for supplemental or back-up communication systems, therefore becomes vital. Director General of...

Some 9,000 residents of 15 communities in Eastern Hanover are soon to benefit from more reliable supply of potable water. The Government of Jamaica, through the National Water Commission (NWC), is undertaking a $225 million project for the construction of the Cascade/Claremont/Jericho supply system, which will ensure ample supply to residents of the hilly districts, which are currently served by...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be embarking on an anti-litter programme soon, which will include prosecution of those who continue to flout the litter laws. “We are currently reviewing the anti-litter fines and will be moving actively to prosecute those among us, who continue to discard waste in a wanton and careless manner on the streets,...

The Government has reiterated its dedication to strengthening the capacity of Jamaica Fire Brigade to effectively carry out its tasks in fire prevention and ensuring public safety, despite budgetary constraints. “We are taking it step-by-step in working towards expanding the fleet, refurbishing fire stations island-wide and increasing the number of officers,” said State Minister for Local Government and Community Development,...

Thousands are slated to be directly employed under the National Water Commission’s (NWC) K-Factor Programme. Some 5,000 persons are expected to work on the programme which will see the implementation of potable and waste water projects across the island. Speaking at the programme’s launch on Wednesday (January 23) at the Four Seasons Hotel in St. Andrew, Minister of Water, Land,...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) will be ramping up efforts this year to keep the country clean and safeguard public health. Executive Director of the NSWMA, Jennifer Edwards, says that focus will be placed on waste reduction, through a series of public education messages to encourage members of the public to reuse, reduce and recycle. She tells JIS...

A total of $3 billion has been allocated to the National Water Commission (NWC) to undertake a major programme to replace or rehabilitate several of the 445 water storage tanks across the island to bring them to full functionality. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate, Hon. Robert Pickergsill, who made the announcement during the sitting of the House of...

The city of Montego Bay and by extension, western Jamaica, should benefit significantly from an international partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI), which was launched on January 17, at the Wexford Court Hotel, in Montego Bay. The primary objective of the initiative is to improve the quality of life in selected cities in...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, says Jamaica needs to entrench a culture of recycling and reuse of its solid waste in a bid to preserve the environment. “We generate 1,200 tonnes of waste per day in the Corporate Area alone. Of this, 40 per cent of it is recyclable, which presents a tremendous business opportunity,” the...