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The latest statistics from the National Works Agency (NWA) reveal that 117 roads were reported blocked up to October 19, while some 32 were partially cleared to allow single lane access. Another 35 roads were reported flooded. Speaking at a JIS 'Think Tank' on October 19, Chief Executive Officer of the NWA, Ivan Anderson said that the agency was working...

As the Jamaica Fire Brigade prepares for its annual Fire Safety Awareness Week (October 23 to October 29), several activities have been planned by the Portland Division to observe the occasion. George Brown, District Officer for the Portland division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, told JIS News that the main objectives of the week were to highlight the threat of...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Land and Environment, Donovan Stanberry said today (October 21), that the Ministry now had the necessary funds to begin working on implementing more effective disaster mitigation strategies. The Permanent Secretary pointed out that with the available funding, a sustainable environmental assessment policy as well as hazard mitigation measures, including a hazard mitigation policy and...

GraceKennedy and Western Union have pledged over US$200,000 to continue their support of Jamaica's educational system through the IPLEDGE programme. IPLEDGE is an acronym for 'I Promise to Lend Encouragement to Develop Growth in Education' and it seeks to provide English textbooks to over 300,000 grades 4 to 6 students in primary schools for the 2005/06 school year. The programme...

President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Michael de la Bastide is optimistic that once the CARICOM (CSME) becomes operational in early 2006 there will be an inflow of cases to be tried under the Original Jurisdiction of the Court. The CCJ Head said while not able to predict how heavy the inflow would be or the time of...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is distributing food and medical supplies to communities in St. Catherine that have been marooned by flooding and land slippages associated with hurricane Wilma. St. Catherine Parish Disaster Co-ordinator, Patricia Lewis told JIS News that cleaning agents, food and medical supplies have been delivered to persons in communities, such as Colbeck...

Jamaican born textile artist and designer, Doreen Gittens has received the Black Enterprise International Business of the Year Award for 2005. Mrs. Gitten's company, Archipelago Textiles, produces exclusive hand-woven fine textiles for interior fabrics, soft furnishings and fashion garments. She told JIS news that she was very proud for being nominated and actually winning the award. "The award is very...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reporting that the Main road to the Community of Pedro River in St Ann is currently inundated. Motorists are being asked to avoid this area. The Pedro River Flood Alert Team has been monitoring the flood gauges and has reported that the flood level has risen an additional 2 feet....

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson said that Trans Jamaica may wish to re-examine the provisions that have been made to see if any changes are required to ensure that the toll highway can withstand unusual levels of rainfall such as those experienced as a result of Hurricane Wilma. The Prime Minister said that the cost to include any such provisions...

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jack Straw, discussed a number of issues that are of interest to both countries such as crime and the EU sugar protocol. Prime Minister Patterson expressed his appreciation for the "constancy" of the support given by the United Kingdom in the fight against crime in...

Jamaica is getting support for its position on the proposed changes to the EU sugar protocol from members of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) of the ACP-EU. The members paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Patterson this morning (Thursday October 20, 2005) at Jamaica House. Prime Minister Patterson told the parliamentarians that the EU would be making a fundamental...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is advising that Relief assistance will continue today with the distribution of food and emergency supplies to isolated and affected areas. Food will be airlifted to the communities of: WestphaliaDavid Hill/Hall's DelightTower HillContent GapLandewey/Orange/Gordon Castle New Reports of flooding are still coming into the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), from the...