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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...

The link between population and development is the focus of the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) 2008 Population Awards, formerly the Caribbean Media Awards. This year, the Awards will seek to highlight the work of journalists in print, radio, and television, as well as, one individual or non-government organisation (NGO) that has implemented a population or development issue that has...

Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, has informed that Cabinet has given its approval, for a 25 per cent increase in the stipend payable to Jamaican students on scholarships in Cuba. This will move the allowance from US$100 to US$125 per month. Mr. Golding also said that this monthly stipend will be paid to all Jamaican students awarded scholarships by the Cuban...

Emergency relief organisations in Portland have been placed on full alert, in anticipation of the expected effects of Tropical Storm Gustav, on that parish. Representatives of these organisations, gave the assurance at a meeting of the Portland Parish Disaster Committee, held at the Portland Parish Council, on Tuesday (August 26). The meeting was chaired by the Mayor of Port Antonio,...

Two students from Montego Bay, St. James, Yashika Walker of Montego Bay High and Orville Lawes of Cornwall College, were awarded the 2008 to 2013 Bayley- Hay Scholarship, valued at $100,000 each. The scholarships were awarded to the new high school students by the Montego Co-operative Credit Union (MCCU), at its 16th Scholarship Awards Ceremony, which was held at the...

Director of the National Council for Senior Citizens, Beverley Hall Taylor, is appealing for additional financial and human resources for the Council, to improve its efficiency in fostering a better quality of life for the aging. Speaking in an interview with JIS News on August 26, Mrs. Hall Taylor said that the Council is in need of more field officers...

With Tropical Storm Gustav, set to affect the island in a few hours, Disaster Preparedness committees throughout Western Jamaica have been activated. The committees have been meeting over the past two days, assessing the situation on a daily basis and fine-tuning plans of action. Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), in the parish...

Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an address to Parliament yesterday (August 27), made the announcement that Jamaican students who are currently studying in Cuba will benefit from an increase in stipend payments from the Jamaican government. He said that for many years Cuba has awarded tertiary scholarships to Jamaican students and many Jamaicans have benefited from this programme and are...

Despite the downgrading of Gustav from a Category One Hurricane to a Tropical Storm, the Ministry of Agriculture is urging all farmers to take the necessary precautions to protect life and property. In outlining the steps which the Ministry has taken to assist farmers to lessen the impact of the damage which might occur from flooding, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Tufton...

The Met Service has advised the ODPEM that a Tropical Storm Warning and a Hurricane Watch remain in effect for Jamaica, as Tropical Storm Gustav resumes a track closer to the island. This means that hurricane conditions still pose a possible threat, while tropical storm conditions are expected to affect Jamaica in 24 hours or less. Gustav has slowed significantly...