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The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising that the Jamaica Urban Transport Corporation (JUTC) will resume transportation of evacuees to the relevant emergency shelters this morning. Pick up begins at 6:30 until 7:30 a.m. at the designated assembly points outlined below. Portmore:1. Waterford2. Caymans Gardens3. Portsmouth4. Armada Courts5. Port Henderson Road6. Passage Fort7. Independence City8. West...

It has come to the attention of the ODPEM that persons in the designated areas to be evacuated are refusing the Evacuation Order. ALL PERSONS WHO LIVE IN COMMUNITIES CLOSE TO THE SEA ARE ADVISED TO START EVACUATING NOW. A Mandatory Evacuation order has been issued for the following communities in Portmore: Portmore:1. Waterford2. Caymans Gardens3. Portsmouth4. Armada Courts5. Port...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has urged all Jamaicans to unite as the nation prepares for the passage of Hurricane Dean this weekend. She was addressing a press briefing at Jamaica House on Friday, August 17 following a meeting of the National Disaster Committee. The Prime Minister said, "I have asked the Leader of the Opposition to...

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Registrar General's Department (RGD), Dr. Patricia Holness is reassuring customers that all documents stored at the agency will be safe, should the island be hit by Hurricane Dean over the weekend. "We assure the public that all is well. We have put our physical preparations in place. Our disaster preparedness teams have met and...

In light of the threat posed by Hurricane Dean, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is advising all animal owners to exercise extreme caution to safeguard human life and livestock. Acting Director of the Veterinary Services Division, Dr. Osbil Watson told JIS News that all owners of livestock are urged to remove these animals to a safe area on their...

The Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture and the Jamaica Tourist Board wish to advise all tourism partners and the public that effective 8:00 a.m. Saturday, August 18, the Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) and Press Centre will be located at Boardrooms 1 & 2, Hilton Kingston Hotel, telephone numbers 926-5430 ext. 4847 and 4843 respectively. TEOC personnel may be...

Persons in the United Kingdom and the United States can call free of charge to Jamaican Radio Station Power 106 FM, to get updates on Hurricane Dean and convey information to family and friends. Individuals and Groups can also relay information about relief assistance to the Country. The numbers to call are: United Kingdom0207708667002077086672 United States of America954-5355761954-5355762 The Service...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has been advised by the Meteorological Service of Jamaica that a Hurricane Watch is now in effect for Jamaica as Hurricane Dean, the first hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season, continues to move towards the island. Hurricane Dean is moving towards the west near 27.8 km/h (17 mph) and this...

The Government of Jamaica today (Aug.17) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dilieu Technology for the acquisition of an electronic monitoring system for the Department of Correctional Services. The system will be used for the tracking of certain categories of offenders including parolees and inmates, who qualify for the Conditional Release Work Programmes. Addressing journalists at the signing ceremony...

Some 130 young probationers from across the island are participating in the 5th staging of the Department of Correctional Services' Challengers Camp now underway at the new Montpelier Juvenile/Remand Correctional Centre in St. James. The central aim of the 10-day residential camp, which began yesterday (Aug.16), is to stimulate the minds of each camper in a productive atmosphere, so that...

The Education Transformation team recently conducted several training workshops across the island for teachers preparing students for the Grade Four Literacy Intervention Programme. "These workshops came about because we felt that if we were able to strengthen the capacity of the teachers, then it will only augur well for the students because the learning that comes out would be increased,"...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is reminding customers that it is likely that water supply will be discontinued some two to three hours before a hurricane makes landfall. Speaking with JIS News, Corporate Communications Manager of the NWC, Charles Buchanan, said that, "despite the best effort of the NWC, water supply systems remain vulnerable." "This is so, because large sections...