The National Works Agency (NWA) spearheaded desilting works along the Sandy Gully in Kingston on Wednesday (October 22), in preparation for the passage of Tropical Storm Melissa. These works were also undertaken to safeguard the Sandy Gully Bridge, which has been threatened by the significant accumulation of debris within the major waterway. Sandy Gully has become heavily silted with debris...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has appealed to citizens to stay up to date on the bulletins issued by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and to heed the instructions given. Mr. McKenzie, who is Deputy Chair of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, was virtually addressing a special press briefing on preparations for Tropical Storm...

The National Works Agency (NWA) has been assessing several vulnerable areas across the island in preparation for Tropical Storm Melissa. Addressing a special press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday (October 22), Minister Morgan said that among the areas evaluated are McGregor Gully in the Corporate Area. “We visited McGregor Gully along with the Office of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has intensified garbage collection efforts to address backlogs affecting several communities islandwide. “The Solid Waste Authority, over the last week and a half, has been working extensively, especially over the last couple of days. We have been doing extra hours in some...

The St. James Municipal Corporation has activated its emergency response protocols to safeguard residents as the parish prepares for the potential impact of adverse weather conditions associated with Tropical Storm Melissa. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, told JIS News that routine preparedness measures have been completed and all key agencies, including the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Jamaica Defence...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has fully activated its disaster readiness protocols, including the preparation and strategic pre-positioning of relief supplies, in anticipation of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is expected to begin impacting Jamaica on Thursday. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., made the announcement during a special press briefing on preparations for the storm, at the Office...

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, says all systems and personnel are fully activated as Tropical Storm Melissa nears the island. He said that the agency has been monitoring the system since last Thursday, (October 16). “To date, we have carried out a number of activities in terms of our general preparation....