Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is commending the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) for its response to Monday’s (Oct.30) 5.6-magnitude earthquake. Speaking on Tuesday (Oct.31) in the House of Representatives, the Minister said that Jamaica’s rapid response mechanism, which was developed to deal with disasters, was in operation within 30 minutes of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is calling for wider discussions regarding traffic management, especially during a natural disaster. He argued that the matter was not the sole responsibility of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “I think that there is a wider discussion that needs to be had, and we must not forget that there is...

Jamaicans are encouraged to continue inspecting their buildings for cracks, shifts in pillars, posts and other beams and structural members, and to seek a professional assessment if there is any damage. This reminder came from Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on...

Jamaicans are being urged to desist from making prank calls to emergency service providers. This urging comes from Commissioner, Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, who reports that the JFB responded to several calls, a number of which turned out to be false, following the 5.6 magnitude earthquake which impacted the island on Monday (October 30). He said the Brigade...

The inter-agency approach to tackle drug use in Jamaica has been lauded by Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn. Speaking at the recent National Workshop on Early Warning Systems on Drugs, organised by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston, Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said emerging drugs...

State Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter, is urging stakeholders in the mining sector to begin now to plan for a future beyond bauxite. “We know that bauxite is a diminishing asset, with mining in Jamaica having just another 30 to 40 years to go. We must now look at life after bauxite and we must now...

With lightning strikes happening more frequently, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says there are several safety tips that citizens should practise, whether they are indoors or outdoors. In an interview with JIS News, Acting Deputy Director General, ODPEM, Michelle Edwards, informed that chief among the tips is the 30/30 rule. “When you see lightning, count 30...