The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting continued progress in the fire-fighting efforts at the Riverton Disposal site. The agency said that smoke emission, which is the main area of concern, has reduced significantly, as the operators of trucks and tractors work to transport cover material to the site. Up to 10 trucks were utilised from...

Ascot Infant, Primary and High schools in Portmore, St. Catherine, were closed this morning, due to an increase in smog in the area. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has reported that the smoke coming from the Riverton City disposal site has spread to sections of the Gregory Park, Waterford and Greater Portmore communities and to sections...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising residents of Portmore to take precautions to reduce the effects of smoke exposure as a result of the fire at Riverton. An increase in smoke in sections of the Gregory Park, Waterford and Greater Portmore communities and sections of the Toll Road has been observed as of this morning....

Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt, says if the current resources available to the agency are maintained, the fire at the Riverton City disposal site will be extinguished by the weekend. At a Jamaica House press briefing, held at Jamaica House, today (March 16), Commissioner Mowatt noted that the fire department has made significant progress since the start...

Cabinet has approved the rescheduling of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) from March 19 and 20 to the new dates of March 26 and 27, 2015. Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, made the announcement during a Jamaica House press briefing, held today (March16), at Jamaica House. He noted that the decision was occasioned by the disturbance caused...

Another 30 to 35 acres of the Riverton Disposal Site are expected to be covered today (March 16), as the authorities continue to make efforts to contain the fire. During a tour of the site today, Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Jennifer Edwards, informed that almost 30 acres of the site have already been smothered....

The Ministry of Education is advising schools that were closed last Friday as a result of the smog emanating from the Riverton City disposal site to remain closed on Monday, March 16, 2015. This is to facilitate the clean-up of some schools and to determine their readiness for resumption, particularly those that are located within the immediate vicinity of the...