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Acting Research and Planning Officer, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jay Scott.
Acting Research and Planning Officer, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jay Scott.

JFB Wants Hosts to Share Emergency Plan with Guests at Large Family Gatherings

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is encouraging persons who will be hosting large family gatherings this Christmas to share their emergency plan with their guests.  “We want to ensure that anyone who comes into the space of the host, they...
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Robert Hill (right), presents youth CEO, KSAMC Junior Council, Andiccia Harris with a certificate of participation, at an event held on November 24, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Downtown Kingston.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Robert Hill (right), presents youth CEO, KSAMC Junior Council, Andiccia Harris with a certificate of participation, at an event held on November 24, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Downtown Kingston.

Students Participate in KSAMC Junior Council Meeting
Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, addresses the reopening of Crab Circle in Kingston on November 23. The popular streetside food stop was ordered closed by the Public Health Department on October 5 due to sanitary concerns. The facility has since been cleaned, sanitised and upgraded, with bathrooms for vendors and patrons added. The vendors underwent training and certification in small food preparation and sales through collaboration between the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation and the HEART/NSTA Trust. All vendors received their food handlers permits from the Public Health Department, which also trained them.
Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, addresses the reopening of Crab Circle in Kingston on November 23. The popular streetside food stop was ordered closed by the Public Health Department on October 5 due to sanitary concerns. The facility has since been cleaned, sanitised and upgraded, with bathrooms for vendors and patrons added. The vendors underwent training and certification in small food preparation and sales through collaboration between the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation and the HEART/NSTA Trust. All vendors received their food handlers permits from the Public Health Department, which also trained them.

PHOTOS: Crab Circle Reopens
Representatives of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA) Trust and Grand Palladium Jamaica Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa, the partners in the enhanced training, assessment, and upskilling programme, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday (November 22). Seated for the signing are (from left) Deputy Managing Director, HEART/NSTA – Dr Cheryl McLaughlin; Director of Planning, HMC, Grace Whittley, and Corporate Director of Social Responsibility, Palladium Hotel Group, Gloria Juste Picon. Witnessing the proceedings are (from left) HMC Chairman and Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Sheridan Samuels; HEART/NSTA Trust Region 4 Regional Director, Shorna Newsome-Myrie; Deputy Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Adria Dehaney-Grant, and Councillor Daren Barnes of the Riverside Division. The signing took place at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa in Hanover.
Representatives of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC), Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA) Trust and Grand Palladium Jamaica Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa, the partners in the enhanced training, assessment, and upskilling programme, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday (November 22). Seated for the signing are (from left) Deputy Managing Director, HEART/NSTA – Dr Cheryl McLaughlin; Director of Planning, HMC, Grace Whittley, and Corporate Director of Social Responsibility, Palladium Hotel Group, Gloria Juste Picon. Witnessing the proceedings are (from left) HMC Chairman and Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Sheridan Samuels; HEART/NSTA Trust Region 4 Regional Director, Shorna Newsome-Myrie; Deputy Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Adria Dehaney-Grant, and Councillor Daren Barnes of the Riverside Division. The signing took place at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa in Hanover.

Hanover Municipal Corporation Signs MOU for Hospitality Skills Training Programme
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addressing the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Blueprint Regional Capacity-building Workshop, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on November 21.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addressing the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Blueprint Regional Capacity-building Workshop, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on November 21.

Financial Coverage for Disaster Management in Place – Minister Mckenzie

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Acting Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, speaks with JIS News at his New Kingston offices recently.  
Local Government

St. Thomas Rescue Shows Strength of Disaster Response – ODPEM

The rescue of 24 persons trapped by flood waters in a section of St. Thomas by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing has been hailed as a signal of the strength of the country’s disaster coordination and response. Acting Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, said that Friday’s (November 17) rescue...
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Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson.
Local Government

Citizens Advised to Rely on Authorities for Information During Emergencies – ODPEM

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising citizens to only rely on the responsible authorities for information during emergencies. “We want to say to persons, at all times just exhibit responsibility. Give the correct information and rely on the authorities,” said Acting Director General of ODPEM, Richard Thompson, during an interview with JIS News. He pointed...
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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left) and Member of Parliament, East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, observe a breakaway along a section of roadway during a tour of the area on Saturday (Nov.18). Over 30 landslides were reported in the constituency.
Local Government

Damage Assessments Underway

Teams from municipal corporations are currently undertaking assessments to determine the extent of damage from the adverse weather system, which affected the island over the last two days. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, during a tour of sections of East Rural St. Andrew on Saturday (Nov. 18). “They are working in...
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A section of Market Road in Port Morant, St. Thomas, which is currently impassable due to a landslide.
Local GovernmentNational SecurityWorks / Construction

St. Thomas Shelter Managers on Alert as Weather System Continues to Affect Jamaica

Shelter managers in St. Thomas are on alert as Jamaica continues to experience the effects of Tropical Cyclone 22. There have been numerous reports of landslides and flooding in the parish between Thursday (November 16) and Friday (November 17). Superintendent of Roads and Works at the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation, Odel Felix, told JIS News that the eastern end of...
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Acting Deputy Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Michelle Edwards
Local Government

ODPEM to Stage More Earthquake Drills

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will be conducting more regular earthquake drills as part of its national strategic response. The simulation exercises will assist persons to be better prepared and help to ease anxiety about earthquakes among the public, Acting Deputy Director General at ODPEM, Michelle Edwards, told JIS News. “Once we can have them and...
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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), with Youth Mayors from Jamaica’s 14 Municipal Corporations during the Local Government & Community Month 2023 Youth Mayors’ Forum, held at the Grand Bahia Principe Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on Thursday, November 16.
Local GovernmentYouth

Young Leaders from Municipal Corporations Take Part in Youth Mayors’ Forum

Promising young leaders from the 14 Municipal Corporations participated in the Local Government & Community Month 2023 Youth Mayors’ Forum, staged at the Grand Bahia Principe Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on November 16. The event served as a platform for Youth Mayors to showcase their respective initiatives, aimed at improving their parishes. Addressing the assembly, Minister of Local...
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Local GovernmentPress Release

Flash Flood Watch Now in Effect for Jamaica

The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) wishes to advise the public that the Island is now under a Flash Flood Watch. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH means that flash flooding is possible, and residents are advised to take precautionary measures, keep informed by listening to further releases from the Meteorological Service and be ready for quick action if...
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