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Only three of the 14 emergency shelters in St. Catherine, which housed evacuees of communities in the parish, that were severely affected during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, remain occupied. The shelters, two of which are schools, and the third, a church, currently house close to 100 occupants, comprising adults and children. Upwards of 650 individuals were being housed...

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Robert Montague, has appealed to members of the Jamaican Diaspora, to contribute to the Indigent Housing Fund, which, he says, needs J$50 million to provide care for Jamaica's indigent. Speaking at a recent Town Hall Meeting in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Montague said the indigent...

The Ministry of Education, has advised that, in light of the impact and dislocation resulting from the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav, the 2008/09 academic year will officially begin on Wednesday, September 3. The new school year was expected to commence today (September 1). However, a statement issued by the Ministry on Sunday (August 31), advised that the date has...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, has said the Government would be providing assistance to communities and persons, who sustained damage, dislocation and losses during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. Addressing journalists at a media briefing at Jamaica House, today (August 29), Mr. Golding said the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, has been instructed to conduct investigations into reports of...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, today (August 29), visited several areas which have been affected by the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav. Mr. Golding, who visited Gordon Town, Kintyre, Taylor Lands, Harbour View and McGregor Gully, told JIS News, that a team was currently working in Harbour View, to erect a Bailey Bridge, to replace the bridge that has been destroyed....

The Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), is planning to introduce the shift system, in order to increase the number of adults passing through its programmes to 25,000 over the next three years. This was noted by Executive Director of the JFLL, Edward Shakes, at a JIS 'Think Tank', held on Wednesday (August 27). "We have met with our management...

The National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), has established the country's first National Online Album titled 'Picture Dis: The National Online Album, of Jamaica', with pictures from as early as the 1800s. "Picture Dis is the first national album of Jamaica. It is a digital image collection of outstanding people, memorable places and unique products that come from each parish in...

As Tropical Storm Gustav approaches the island, the St. Mary Parish Disaster Committee, is making a special effort to ensure that the parish is in the best state of preparedness, for any emergency that might result. Emergency organisations serving the parish, gave the assurance at a meeting of the St. Mary Parish Disaster Committee in Port Maria on Tuesday (August...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), has been advised by the National Meteorological Service, that rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Gustav is currently being experienced in the parishes of St. Thomas and Portland. As the system gradually moves closer to the island's south coast, conditions could worsen in the vicinity of high winds, flood rains and storm...

As Hurricane Gustav becomes better organized, the Meteorological Office of Jamaica has placed the island under Hurricane Warning, with immediate effect. A hurricane warning means that dangerous conditions could be experienced within the next 24 hours or less. These conditions include: high winds, floods and storm surges. The public is being advised to treat the situation seriously, as the current...

The St. Catherine Parish Disaster Committee has activated its emergency operating centre in preparation for the effects of severe weather conditions expected from Tropical Storm Gustav. Parish Disaster Coordinator, at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Patricia Lewis, told JIS News that a meeting, convened by Chairman of the Committee and Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew...

A disaster preparedness town meeting planned for tomorrow (Aug. 28) in the West St. Thomas town of Trinityville, has been postponed as Tropical Storm Gustav, plots a path, which will take it near Jamaica and is expected to affect the island with heavy rains. The town meeting, planned by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), in collaboration with the Office of...