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Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Jasper Lawrence, has advised that the majority of schools would re-open on Wednesday, September 3. In the meantime, he said assessments are taking place to put a timeline on reconstruction efforts for the schools that were adversely affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. "Based on the reports we have had...

Twenty two of 23 schools in western Jamaica, that were used as emergency shelters during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, have been vacated and cleaned by the occupants, and are ready for the re-opening of schools on Wednesday, September 3. During the passing of the storm, five schools in St. James, 11 in Hanover and seven in Westmoreland were...

Social workers in St. Catherine are currently assessing persons at shelters, who were severely affected by the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Gustav. Some 60 officers from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Poor Relief Department and the Red Cross, are conducting the assessment, which began on August 31. Parish Disaster Co-ordinator, Office of Disaster Preparedness and...

Approximately $581 million worth of damage has been done to the agricultural sector in Portland by Tropical Storm Gustav, according to preliminary estimates carried out by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). The findings, which have been presented to the Ministry of Agriculture, will be followed up with a final assessment, which is expected to be completed by the end...

It's the start of the new school year, and oftentimes, in the hustle and bustle of back-to-school preparations, the importance of good nutrition and its significance to a child's education, as part of the planning process, is overlooked. Paediatric Dietician and Nutrition Internship Co-ordinator in the Ministry of Health and Environment, Deon Bent, is appealing to parents to make the...

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has commended the latest batch of United States (US) Peace Corps volunteers, who have come to serve across the country. "We are very pleased that on this occasion the volunteers will be focussing on Health (HIV/AIDS), Youth and the Environment, including Agriculture. These are among the Government's top priorities and areas of focus, as...

Executive Director of the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), Edward Shakes, is calling for more resources to be invested in adult education. Speaking at a JIS 'Think Tank' session, at the Agency's head office in Kingston on August 27, Mr. Shakes voiced concern about the limited support which adult education currently receives. "One of the concerns, certainly in the...

The body of veteran Jamaican vocalist, Roy Shirley, leaves London on Monday (September 1), for Jamaica for burial. Shirley, whose real name was Ainsworth Roy Rushton Shirley, died in July at his home in London. One of Shirley's daughters, Queen Irie, told JIS News, that her father was a strong and spiritual man, who was principled and not afraid to...

Residents from communities in St. Catherine, who had to be evacuated from their homes, during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, are commending the efforts and response of the St. Catherine Parish Disaster Committee, to the resulting dislocation. Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, told JIS News, that reports received from personnel on the ground, indicate that the disaster...

Over 300 persons are currently occupying shelters in St Thomas, after rising waters caused by torrential rains associated with Tropical Storm Gustav, forced them to evacuate their homes. Officials from the St Thomas Parish Disaster Committee and the relevant agencies, were scheduled to visit the shelters on Saturday (August 30), to determine the number of persons who will need relief...

Preliminary assessments from the National Water Commission (NWC), indicate that approximately 65% of the utility company's distribution network, was affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. Speaking at a media briefing at Jamaica House on Friday (August 29), Prime Minister Bruce Golding, said preliminary reports received, indicate that failure in the public electricity supply, resulting from the storm's onslaught,...

All Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) employees, who are rostered for duty as of Sunday, August 31, are being asked to report to work at their respective locations. These locations are the Rockfort, Portmore, and Spanish Town depots, and the Ashenheim Road post. Marketing Manager for the JUTC, Lenworth Simms, advises that regular bus service, which was suspended on Thursday,...