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A special regional consultative workshop forming part of the initial dialogue geared towards the development of a National Gender Policy will be held on Thursday, October 27, at the Mandeville Hotel. The activity is being spearheaded by the Bureau of Women's Affairs (BWA) on behalf of the Gender Advisory Committee. Speaking to JIS News Acting Executive Director of the BWA,...

Head of the Weather Branch of the National Meteorological Service, Evan Thompson has said that while the levels of rainfall being experienced were more than normal, they were not unprecedented."On average, we have been seeing 150 per cent of what is normal for an entire month experienced in only six days," Mr. Thompson told JIS News. However, he said the...

The roof and upper floors of four residential blocks located at the University of Technology (UTech) on Old Hope Road in Kingston are to be repaired at a cost of $38.9 million. Speaking at yesterday's (October 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Information Minister, Senator Burchell Whiteman disclosed that Cabinet has approved the award of a contract to Bajad...

Cabinet has approved the award of a contract by the National Water Commission (NWC) to TouchPoint Centres International in the sum of $25.7 million for the supply of call management services. Making the announcement at yesterday's (October 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister of Information, Senator Burchell Whiteman explained that the NWC was seeking to improve the level...

Jamaica has signed a US$1.8 million grant agreement with the Japanese Government to carry out a Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) viability study, which will allow Caribbean states to buy parametric insurance coverage against natural disasters. The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will be carrying out the project, which will see Jamaica receiving US$800,000, while countries in the Organization...

Several families from the communities of Brighton, Little Bay and Salmon Point in western Westmoreland, whose homes were totally destroyed by Hurricane Ivan last year, are expected to be relocated in Brighton in December. Twenty-five new two-bedroom houses, presently under construction by some 72 soldiers from Venezuela are now 85 per cent complete. The houses which are being built at...

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Dr. Donald Rhodd leaves the island tomorrow (October 25) to represent Jamaica at the 13th meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development in Georgetown, Guyana. Highlight of the meeting will be discussions on Youth, Sports and Drugs. The summit, which will last from Wednesday, October 26 to...

Some four communities located in the "bread basket" parish of St. Elizabeth have been affected by rising waters as a result of rains associated with Hurricane Wilma. Parish Disaster Coordinator for St. Elizabeth, Yvonne Morrison told JIS News that persons living in communities in which there are large bodies of water should not fish or swim in these areas. "Too...

To commemorate fire awareness week from October 23 to October 29, the Clarendon Fire Department will be conducting a series of lectures and safety checks throughout the parish. District Officer Owen Thomas, Head of Clarendon's Fire Prevention Unit, told JIS News that two teams of officers would be carrying out the work beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. "We will...

Officer in charge of Fire Prevention at the Manchester Fire Brigade, Livingston Morgan is encouraging all Jamaicans to implement proper fire drills, both at home and at work. "Studies seem to indicate that the loss of life, limb and property can be reduced if persons are aware of the right steps to take once a fire starts, so my advice...

Several Jamaican families who resided in New Orleans up to early September when Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast of the United States have temporarily settled in Houston, Texas and are working ardently to rebuild their lives. The group of 29 travelled out of New Orleans the day before the big storm hit, destined for Houston with only the...

The mobile unit of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) is slated to conduct a series of outreach meetings in Westmoreland and Hanover beginning on Tuesday, October 25. Compliance Field Officer with the ORC, Keith Andrade told JIS News that on Tuesday and Wednesday the team would be at the Hotel Commingle, which is located at 7 Hudson...