Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie says all designated hurricane shelters will remain open for as long as they are needed to facilitate persons affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Providing an update at a press briefing at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Kingston, on October 28, Minister McKenzie informed that close to 15,000...

Parents and guardians are being advised to safeguard the health of children during and after Hurricane Melissa. During a visit to the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St. Andrew on Monday (October 27), Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said that children should be discouraged from playing in puddles of water, which may be contaminated and, therefore,...

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in Jamaica, becoming the most powerful cyclone ever to impact the island. According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service), the category-five hurricane made landfall on Tuesday (October 28) along the island’s southwestern coast near New Hope, Westmoreland, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 295 kilometres per hour (185 miles per hour). Earlier on...

Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Georgia Rose, is imploring members of the public to prioritise their wellness as the country faces the impact of Hurricane Melissa. Speaking with JIS News, she said individuals should ensure that they are physically active, staying hydrated and eating well and keeping in contact with loved ones. “Reach out to...

The Government remains committed to investing in the improvement of emergency shelters. This assurance comes from Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who reaffirmed the Administration’s dedication to strengthening shelter facilities across the island. “We’ll be [looking] over the next couple of years, starting next year, to improve on our shelters. I will not deny that...

Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says Petrojam is ensuring that the island’s three international airports, as well as all aerodromes, are at 75 to 80 per cent capacity for aviation fuel. “This will enable aircraft movement to resume immediately [after the hurricane],” he said, while addressing Tuesday’s (October 28) special press conference to update the nation about...

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis, says the Drop-In Centre in Buckfield, Ocho Rios, St. Ann, designed to provide cooked meals, a shower facility, and a change of clothes for the less fortunate, is currently accommodating overnight stays. The centre, he said, has been retrofitted with beds and mattresses to welcome those living on the streets and with...