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The St. Thomas and St. Catherine parish councils have activated their emergency disaster plans to protect lives and property against the possible effects of Tropical Depression Tomas. While the weather system has been downgraded from a hurricane, the Meteorological Service has warned that it could re-strengthen as it moves close to Jamaica, which means that storm conditions, including heavy rains...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING remains in effect for Jamaica as the centre of Tomas starts to move towards the north, closer to the eastern end of the island. This means that tropical storm conditions, including possible sustained wind speeds of 34-63 knots or 63-117 km/h, are expected in 36 hours or less. At 10:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm...

The Meteorological Service has advised that Jamaica is now under a Tropical Storm Warning with immediate effect. With this new development the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Ministry of Education is directing that all schools in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, St. Mary and Portland be closed. ODPEM is further advising that with the...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, will address the nation at 9:00 pm tonight (Nov. 4) to further outline the Government's disaster preparedness plan in light of the impending threat of Tropical Depression Tomas. Speaking at yesterday's (Nov. 3) post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding was delighted to see one of his Jamaica House Live fans, Sashagaye Thompson who he had given a wheel chair when she called and told him her story that led to her being placed in a wheelchair for life. 'I'm now in High school, and I have not made my being in a wheelchair stop me',...

St. Ann Parish Disaster Co-ordinator, Alvin Clarke is encouraging residents of the parish to be proactive and make the necessary preparations for Tropical Storm Tomas. In an interview with JIS News, following an emergency disaster preparedness meeting on November 2, at the St. Ann Parish Council, Mr. Clarke said the parish remains saturated due to the heavy rainfall from Tropical...

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, said on November 3, that his office could begin recommending voluntary evacuation for persons in flood prone areas as soon as this evening. He was addressing a press conference called to discuss evacuation procedures and the opening of shelters, in light of Tropical Depression Tomas, at...

Jamaica's Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, called on Barbados' Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, today (November 3), to express condolences on the passing of David Thompson, late Prime Minister of Barbados. Mr. Golding, who attended the State Funeral for the late Prime Minister, paid tribute to Mr. Thompson. The Prime Minister said the entire Caribbean Community has been left much poorer...

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Hon. Robert Montague is reminding persons who find it necessary to use shelters during storms or other disasters, that they must take their own food supplies to these facilities. "No food is provided in a shelter until after the event. Persons who have homes that...

A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Jamaica as Tropical Depression Tomas reorganizes itself. This means that tropical storm conditions now pose a possible threat to the island within 48 hours. At 1:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Tomas was located near Latitude 14.8 degrees North, Longitude 75.0 degrees West; about 370 km (230 miles) south-southeast of Morant...

Initiatives by Government to expand services to the community were outlined by Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague, at the National Church Service for Local Government Month, at the Emanuel Apostolic Church, Port Maria, St. Mary on Sunday (October 31). The service, attended by representatives of the Department of Local Government and various Parish Councils, was hosted...

The Government is making special arrangements to assist communities that are still suffering from the effects of Tropical Storm Nicole, as Tomas, which was downgraded to a depression overnight, moves closer to the island. Addressing the House of Representatives last evening (Nov. 2), Minister with Responsibility for Information, Telecommunications, and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said that measures include, and...