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Clean-up operations under way in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Monday (December 29), following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

20,000 Truckloads of Debris Removed from Several Parishes

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says it has maintained a sustained and coordinated national response in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, resulting in the removal of nearly 20,000 truckloads of debris across several parishes. Executive Director, Audley Gordon,...

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon (left), in discussion with Regional Operations Manager at SPM Waste Management Ltd., Sheldon Smith, about clean-up operations in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Monday (December 29), following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Clean-Up of Black River Progressing Steadily

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Major General (ret’d) Antony Anderson (left), President and Chief Executive Officer of EMD Sales International, Elda Devaré (fourth right), and volunteer, Natasha Forrest (second right), proudly display the Jamaican flag before the 40‑foot container of essential supplies bound for the island in support of Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts. Looking on are members of staff from the Embassy of Jamaica and EMD Sales at the company’s Baltimore warehouse in Maryland.

Ambassador Anderson Thanks Diaspora for US$170,000 Relief Effort Supporting Jamaica’s Hurricane Recovery

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby (standing), prepares to serve residents of the city’s homeless shelters during the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation’s (KSAMC) annual Christmas Dinner, held on Thursday (December 25). The event, hosted at Water Lane in downtown Kingston, brought together beneficiaries from the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless and the Marie Atkins Night Shelter, offering fellowship, care and festive cheer.

KSAMC Hosts Annual Christmas Dinner for Residents of Homeless Shelters – Photos Only

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, delivers the keynote address during a handover ceremony for 10 new tipper trucks presented to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). The ceremony was held at the NSWMA’s headquarters in Kingston on Tuesday (December 23).

Prime Minister Holness Thanks China for Support After Hurricane Melissa

Caption: Patrons browse locally made products at one of the Local Economic Initiative (LEI) booths during the Social Development Commission (SDC) St. James Local Economic Development (LED) Social Services Fair, at Harmony Beach Park, on Saturday, December 20.

1 month ago Local Government

Scores of Residents in St. James Attend SDC Social Services Fair

Scores of residents turned out to participate in the Social Development Commission (SDC) St. James Local Economic Development (LED) Social Services Fair at Harmony Beach Park, on December 20. The one-day event, which targeted approximately 2,000 individuals, was held in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It served as a...

1 month ago Hurricane Relief & Recovery

Gov’t Allocates $75m to Support Religious Organisations in Post-Hurricane Melissa Recovery

The Government has announced a $75-million allocation to the Social Development Commission (SDC) to support churches and faith‑based institutions in rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Melissa. The announcement follows last month’s establishment of a Religious and Faith‑based Task Force, comprising members of the Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches (JUGC), to identify the needs of religious organisations. “As I drove through the...

Cash Officer, World Food Programme (WFP), Lorenzo Nerantzis, addresses a recent meeting of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Kingston.

1 month ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLabourLocal GovernmentSocial Security

Residents in Hurricane-Impacted Communities Receiving Cash Vouchers

Hundreds of residents in parishes severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa are receiving cash vouchers just in time for Christmas. The disbursement, which started on December 17, is being undertaken by the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The cash vouchers are intended to replace some of the care and food packages being...

Regional Operations Manager at WPM Waste Management Ltd., Dramaine Jones.

1 month ago Local Government

Illegal Dumps Being Addressed in Westmoreland

Targeted waste removal strategies and the deployment of heavy equipment are being used to address illegal dumping and access constraints that emerged after the recent hurricane, WPM Waste Management Ltd. has highlighted. Speaking at the recent monthly meeting of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in Savanna-la-Mar, Regional Operations Manager, Dramaine Jones, said the agency has been responding to unusually large amounts...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre); Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right); and Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, celebrate the addition of 10 new tipper trucks to the NSWMA’s fleet. The trucks were handed over during a ceremony at the NSWMA’s headquarters in Kingston on Tuesday (December 23).

1 month ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLocal Government

NSWMA Receives 10 New Trucks Valued $200m to Boost National Hurricane Melissa Clean-Up Programme

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has received 10 new tipper trucks, valued approximately $200 million, to strengthen the National Clean-up Programme in parishes impacted by Hurricane Melissa. The units were handed over to the agency by Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during a ceremony at the NSWMA’s headquarters, Half-Way-Tree Road, Kingston, on Tuesday (December 23)....

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses a tourism partners’ meeting at the Iberostar Hotel in St. James on December 13.

1 month ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryTourism

Minister Bartlett Commends United Response Behind Swift Post-Hurricane Repatriation of 25,000 Tourists

Jamaica’s swift repatriation of 25,000 tourists in just one week following Hurricane Melissa has demonstrated the island’s resilience and capacity for crisis management, says Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. Speaking during a tourism partners’ meeting at the Iberostar Hotel in St. James on December 13, Minister Bartlett commended the coordinated effort through which thousands of stranded visitors were safely returned...

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda (third from right), looks on as Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister and Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Western, Hon. Floyd Green (right), points to the destruction of the Black River Market in St. Elizabeth caused by Hurricane Melissa. Occasion was a tour of the area on Thursday (December 18), by a delegation from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). From left are Programme Manager for Programming and Country Engagement (PACE) at the Fund, Jihyea Kim; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Wayne Robertson; Executive Director of the FRLD, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong; and Acting Principal Director in the Climate Change Branch, Omar Alcock.

1 month ago Climate ChangeEnvironmentHurricane Relief & RecoveryWater

Jamaica Leveraging International Partnerships in Rebuilding Effort

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, says Jamaica is leveraging its international partnerships and support to assist the country’s rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. He said that experts are scheduled to arrive in the island as early as January to help with redesign and planning. “We even expect to get some benefit from some...