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The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has investigated more than 4,000 reports of damage and destruction of homes in the parish of Manchester as a result of Hurricane Ivan. Arthur Smith, MLSS Parish Manager for Manchester, has said that 47 assessment officers were in the field on a daily basis carrying out the evaluations. He told JIS News,...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is in the process of assessing agricultural losses in the parish of Clarendon as a result of Hurricane Ivan.Percival Shaw, RADA Parish Manager for Clarendon, told JIS News that the process started on Monday (September 27), with assistance from staff from the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR). "We are in the process of doing...

All 114 shelters that were opened in St. Ann during Hurricane Ivan three weeks ago, are now closed, and most of the 7,000 shelter seekers have returned to their homes. This was disclosed to JIS News by Alvin Clarke, Parish Disaster Co-ordinator. "To date, these shelters are no longer in operation and most of the victims have returned home. However,...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) and Chairman of the Local Government Task Force, Robert Bryan has suggested that community organisations in St. Catherine work with the SDC to develop disaster preparedness plans. "We need to deepen and strengthen the processes and efforts to ensure that each of the 49 communities in St. Catherine develops a plan of...

The National Works Agency (NWA) has reported that over 80 per cent of the traffic lights in the Corporate Area were back in working order, with the rest to be back in operation by the end of this week. Michael Saunderson, Intelligence and Transportation System Specialist at the NWA, told JIS News that most of the damage to the lights...

Some 321 employees of the Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay, who have together given approximately 3,400 years of service to the tourism industry, have been recognised for their commitment and dedication to the industry. Occasion was the hotel's 50th anniversary awards function held on Monday (Sept. 27) at the property in Rose Hall. Topping the list of awardees were...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (Sept. 28) approved a Resolution for the withdrawal of some $ 1.3 billion from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to be paid into the consolidated fund for the purpose of budgetary support for the 2004/05 financial year. The provision was made under the Bauxite (Production Levy) Act. Tabling the resolution, State Minister in the...

Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has warned that the reduction in stamp duty on specific food items was for the benefit of consumers and that the government will be vigilant in ensuring that consumers receive the benefits to which they are entitled. Mr. Patterson said the reduction in stamp duty on some imported food items was in recognition of the need...

The consumer protection Bill entitled, An Act to Provide for the Promotion and Protection of Consumer Interests was passed yesterday (Sept.28) in the House of Representatives. The Bill addresses the supply of goods and the provision of services in order to ensure the protection of life, health and safety of consumers and others and for connected purposes. It also seeks...

Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology Phillip Paulwell has reported that government's aggressive media campaign to publish pre and post Hurricane Ivan price bands and to empower consumers to expose errant traders had proven to be extremely effective. Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday (Sept. 28),Mr. Paulwell said the retail trade could now operate normally without any intervention under...

Government has introduced an interim duty regime for the importation of a limited range of food items including chicken leg quarters, wings, legs and thighs and tomatoes, cabbage and lettuce. Making the announcement at yesterday's (Sept. 28) sitting of the House of Representatives at Gordon House, Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell explained that the move was designed...

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has so far spent over $20 million on relief activities across the island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.Minister Horace Dalley, who made the announcement in his presentation in the House of Representatives yesterday (Sept. 28), said the assistance to hurricane victims had helped to reduce the population in shelters from 25,000...