This report assesses and identifies solutions with special relevance for smallholder farmers: DRR good practices that work at farm-level and which, with small investments, can have a significant positive impact on the resilience of their livelihoods. It evaluates the cost-effectiveness and socio-ecological suitability of different specific DRR interventions, with the …
J Wray and Nephew Limited, operators of Appleton Estate, have been served with a warning about pollutants coming from the facility along the North Elim River in St Elizabeth. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) reported that high-strength trade effluent (dunder) is being discharged into the environment from the …
LOCAL environment watchdog Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has called into question the accuracy and integrity of the air quality report released by the Ministry of Health (MOH) last week, in which it zeroed in on high levels of the toxic air-pollutant benzene. The report, which came 12 days after the …
JAMAICA has joined six other Caribbean countries in implementing its own dietary guidelines with the aim of improving the nutritional well-being of citizens. The Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Jamaica form part of efforts by the Government to provide nutrition and health-related recommendations to promote healthy eating habits and lifestyle in …
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The air quality report on the Riverton dump fire, commissioned by the Health Ministry, shows that the samples of air pollutants taken from the site contained high levels of hazardous substances including benzene. According to a release from the ministry, the samples were taken during the period …
LIMA, Peru (CMC) — A new report by the World Bank is calling on Caribbean countries to rethink their policies in order to break the cycle of chronic poverty in the region. The report entitled "Left Behind, Chronic Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean", takes a closer look at …
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Dr Orville Grey, technical officer in the Government’s Climate Change Division, says Jamaica is highly vulnerable when it comes to the effects of climate change. “Small and developing states such as Jamaica have a very important status of being particularly vulnerable. We are ranked highly in terms …
THE Government has, since March 2013, spent $60 million on activities in the agricultural sector to strengthen farmers' response to climate change, as well as part of efforts to shore up food security. Speaking at this week's Jamaica Observer's Monday Exchange, officials from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and …
A total of $15 million has been budgeted for the Climate Resilience II Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (pilot), as part of measures to bolster support for climate change activities. This is outlined in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The programme, which is expected …
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The allocation of J$25 million in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, is expected to help strengthen the country’s effort to develop a robust national greenhouse gas inventory. The project, which is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development, …
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica is among the first set of countries to access a US$10-million grant from the Adaptation Fund, which provides funding for adaptation projects/programmes in developing countries to help them adapt to the negative effects of climate change. The amount accessed by Jamaica, under its Adaptation Fund Programme …
GROUND was broken yesterday for the 36.3 megawatt wind farm at Malvern, St Elizabeth which government and investors say forms part of a concerted push to reduce Jamaica's US$2-billion oil bill through the use of renewable energy. The project, located close to Munro College, at one of the highest and …
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Several infrastructural projects, as well as human development activities, are slated to be undertaken this year under the Poverty Reduction Programme IV, with an allotment of J$100 million. The funds have been provided in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project …
The Ministry of Health is reporting that of the notification of 14 deaths suspected to be related to chikungunya, two of those have so far been confirmed as having had the virus. According to acting Chief Medical Officer in the ministry, Dr Marion Bullock-DuCasse, of the 14 cases notified, there …
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government of Canada is spending more than CA$95,000 to assist Jamaica in implementing disaster risk reduction projects. The Canadian High Commission of Jamaica said in a release that CA$15,000 will be provided to the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation and the remaining CA$80,000 to Abacus for …
GENEVA, Switzerland (CMC) -- The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging Caribbean countries to take urgent action to meet global targets to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to a new WHO report, 16 million people die prematurely annually before the age of 70 from heart and lung …
THE Climate Change Policy Framework and Action Plan will be tabled in the House of Representatives this month, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill told Tuesday's media launch of Research Days 2015, at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. The policy and action plan, …
THE Government of Jamaica has signed an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to allocate US$250,000 of grant resources to improve national surveillance, prevention and control of infectious diseases like Ebola and Chikungunya. The grant will "strengthen the public health capacity within the Ministry of Health, to prevent and …
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller has announced the release of additional funds to tackle the outbreak of the Chikungunya Virus. At a press conference on Thursday, Simpson Miller revealed that the Government has approved a further J$350 million to provide resources. She noted that although more money …
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott is scheduled to open debate on the recently tabled Disaster Risk Management Bill in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon. The bill seeks to strengthen the country’s overall national disaster preparedness, emergency management and response processes and mechanisms …
THE Government last week tabled a Bill in the House of Representatives, propos-ing significant increases for breaches of the Quarry Control Act. The Bill's Memorandum of Objects and Reasons states that it is intended to introduce more effective regulation of the quarrying industry in Jamaica, in response to the "increasing …
