Like other members of her community, Kereen Dawkins, the President of the Westgate Hills Citizens’ Association, is rejoicing following the installation of the Westgate Hills #2 Storage Tank that has been commissioned by Senator Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Following the commissioning ceremony that was hosted by the National Water Commission (NWC) in the St James community on Thursday, June 17, 2022, Dawkins expressed gratitude for the installation of the tank that has a capacity of 100,000 US gallons and will serve residents of Westgate Hills.

“It’s amazing. Years in waiting. The residents of Westgate Hills are very thankful that the Commissioning is being done today,” she said.

She explained that the previous tank only had the capacity to maintain the community for half-day if there was a disruption.  

However, with this new $30 million glass-fused-to steel bolted tank, the community will enjoy a more consistent water supply. In addition, there will be a reduction in energy consumption and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses.

Marlene Malahoo Forte, the Member of Parliament for St James West Central, also thanked the NWC for replacing the tank that will go a far way in serving the residents of the community. She also commended the NWC for delivering a quality project that will drastically improve the reliability of supply and applauded the future plans of the Commission to serve more customers in several surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, in his address to those in attendance, Senator Samuda lauded the NWC for replacing the Westgate Hills #2 Storage Tank.

However, he stressed that there is a need for the NWC to reduce its energy usage, as approximately $900 million of the Commission’s monthly revenue is spent on electrical energy.

“If we were able to contain this (energy costs) by upgrading our equipment that is inefficient and by looking at our engagement of renewables, we will be able to build far more systems like the one behind me, and the team is working around clock, looking at what can be done,” Samuda said. 

By reducing its energy bill, Samuda believes that efficiency will improve significantly.

Nonetheless, he was also happy to announce that 30 other tanks across the island are now practically completed as part of the NWC’s Tank & Pump Rehabilitation for Operational Efficiency Improvement Programme. The tank component of the project cost the NWC approximately $575 million.

Through this project, the Commission has rehabilitated and re-commissioned of storage reservoirs; equip storage reservoirs with local water level monitoring and recording facilities complemented by SMS signalling and additional facilities to communicate water level data; optimised system pressure; reduced pump hours; and minimised peak hours pumping and maximised ‘Time-of-Use’ tariff regime.

Like other members of her community, Kereen Dawkins, the President of the Westgate Hills Citizens’ Association, is rejoicing following the installation of the Westgate Hills #2 Storage Tank that has been commissioned by Senator Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Following the commissioning ceremony that was hosted by the National Water Commission (NWC) in the St James community on Thursday, June 17, 2022, Dawkins expressed gratitude for the installation of the tank that has a capacity of 100,000 US gallons and will serve residents of Westgate Hills.

“It’s amazing. Years in waiting. The residents of Westgate Hills are very thankful that the Commissioning is being done today,” she said.

She explained that the previous tank only had the capacity to maintain the community for half-day if there was a disruption.  

However, with this new $30 million glass-fused-to steel bolted tank, the community will enjoy a more consistent water supply. In addition, there will be a reduction in energy consumption and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses.

Marlene Malahoo Forte, the Member of Parliament for St James West Central, also thanked the NWC for replacing the tank that will go a far way in serving the residents of the community. She also commended the NWC for delivering a quality project that will drastically improve the reliability of supply and applauded the future plans of the Commission to serve more customers in several surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, in his address to those in attendance, Senator Samuda lauded the NWC for replacing the Westgate Hills #2 Storage Tank.

However, he stressed that there is a need for the NWC to reduce its energy usage, as approximately $900 million of the Commission’s monthly revenue is spent on electrical energy.

“If we were able to contain this (energy costs) by upgrading our equipment that is inefficient and by looking at our engagement of renewables, we will be able to build far more systems like the one behind me, and the team is working around clock, looking at what can be done,” Samuda said. 

By reducing its energy bill, Samuda believes that efficiency will improve significantly.

Nonetheless, he was also happy to announce that 30 other tanks across the island are now practically completed as part of the NWC’s Tank & Pump Rehabilitation for Operational Efficiency Improvement Programme. The tank component of the project cost the NWC approximately $575 million.

Through this project, the Commission has rehabilitated and re-commissioned of storage reservoirs; equip storage reservoirs with local water level monitoring and recording facilities complemented by SMS signalling and additional facilities to communicate water level data; optimised system pressure; reduced pump hours; and minimised peak hours pumping and maximised ‘Time-of-Use’ tariff regime.

Certificates of Title were recently handed over to 128 recipients in St. Catherine, under the National Land Agency’s Systematic Land Registration Programme, during a ceremony at the Old Harbour New Testament Church of God.
The aim of the Systematic Land Registration (SLR) Programme, is to increase rates of land registration across the island, as well as raise awareness about the benefits of obtaining security of land tenure.
One of its primary goals is to address the approximately three hundred and fifty thousand (350,000) parcels of land within the island that are unregistered with an estimated value of more than two hundred billion dollars (J$200 billion).
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness said the Government is working to provide more land and shelter solutions for Jamaicans through programmes such as the SLR.
“I am confident that we now have a system in place that is going to ensure that every square inch of land in Jamaica falls under a public register, that secures the property rights and interests of the persons who own it and that is a major achievement for Jamaica 60” the Prime Minister said.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Hon. Clifford E. Warmington, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, and Member of Parliament for St. Catherine, noted that nothing is more empowering to the citizens of a country, than owning their own land. However, he added, without a title to back up that claim, there is very little that persons can do with their asset.
“Your titles will ensure your financial independence and peace of mind, for that is what having a title means. It is an extremely important piece of paper. Having your title means that the land is yours by law, and nothing or no-one can separate you from your land”, the Minister stated.
Systematic Land Registration is the orderly registration of parcels of land in a selected area known as the Systematic Adjudication Area. In January 2021, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, declared several communities as Systematic Adjudication Areas.
As at May 2022, a total of 218 areas had been declared as Systematic Adjudication Areas including 121 areas in St. Catherine. This initiative saw the National Land Agency issuing a total of 4,382 titles for the parishes of St. Elizabeth and St. Catherine out of a target of 5,000 at the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says Jamaica stands ready to access funds to adapt and build climate resilience. He made the disclosure today (June 1) at the Stockholm + 50 International Meeting, which was organized by the World Resources Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Minister, who has responsibility for climate change and the blue and green economies, spoke under the theme “Fast-tracking resilience and adaptation” and said, “Small Island developing states, such as Jamaica, are indeed readying themselves to accept financing; the key is how readily it will be available to us”.

Minister Samuda outlined that Jamaica has been a “champion” for climate finance by actively engaging with international finance initiatives, networks, and coalitions.
He noted that “Setting an ambitious climate agenda is the first critical step and Jamaica demonstrated its leadership by being the first nation in the Caribbean (and 11th in the world) to present a more ambitious NDC in 2020”.

“The updated NDC doubled its energy emissions reduction target as compared to the first NDC. It addresses land-use change and forestry for the first time, and fosters adaptation co-benefits that will reduce pollution, improve health, and address vulnerabilities related to water shortage and food security,” Minister Samuda added.

The Stockholm Declaration was adopted on 16 June 1972 by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. It was the first document to recognize the interconnections between development, poverty, and the environment.

Minister Samuda presented to the international partners the other strategies that were implemented to drive Jamaica’s climate agenda:
“Through the GCF (Green Climate Fund), Jamaica launched a Green Bond Project something we view as particularly important. With the help of the World Bank, we have launched our first catastrophe bond because in our case and in the case of SIDS, it is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when these events will visit us”.

The Minister also pointed out that Jamaica is actively “engaged as a pilot country in the UK-Fiji Climate Finance Task Force”.

“We stand ready to prepare ourselves to ensure that governance and transparency are in place for when we receive the funds, as it is an urgent priority for Jamaica, all members of CARICOM and SIDS,” Minister Samuda ended.

The international meeting entitled “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, is being held pursuant to General Assembly resolution 75/326 of 10 September 2021. The meeting is being hosted by the Government of Sweden with the support of the Government of Kenya, to reflect on the urgent need for actions to address global climatic changes.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in Jamaica, Senator the Honourable Matthew Samuda is among two newly appointed Ministerial Ambassadors of the high-level Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
The UNCDF is headquartered in New York and is the United Nations’ capital investment agency for 48 developing countries across the globe.
Minister Samuda’s Ambassadorial appointment was announced in a statement this week by the UNCDF.
The appointment was confirmed recently when Minister Samuda joined a host of colleagues from across the globe at a Ministerial Meeting in Brussels which was intended to forge alliances across LoCAL-implementing countries to raise action and forge alliances on issues related to adaptation to climate change.
Jamaica is the first Caribbean or Latin American country to join the LoCAL community.
Ghana’s Minister for the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Kwaku Afriyie has also been appointed along with Minister Samuda as a Ministerial Ambassador.
In welcoming the appointment, Minister Samuda noted that LoCAL offers an opportunity to implement systems for adaptation financing that ensure funds reach the people that need it in various local communities across the globe.
The two new Ministerial Ambassadors committed to advocacy for increasing the finance available for local adaptation to climate change.

This year’s LoCAL ministerial meeting in Belgium was attended by sixteen ministers, three deputy ministers and the Ambassadors of Bhutan and Cambodia to Belgium, who stepped in for their ministerial colleagues.

The LoCAL Ministerial Meeting followed the 9th Annual Local Board meeting, which took place on the 11th May bringing together some 100 representatives from LoCAL countries to agree priorities and budget for the coming year.
The LoCAL Facility is a community of some 32 countries using or designing their use of the LoCAL mechanism to channel finance to communities battling with the impacts of climate change. LoCAL countries span Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Caribbean.
All members are highly impacted by the effects of climate change though their low emissions base mean they have contributed little to global warming and its catastrophic impacts on the planet.
The Brussels meeting provided an opportunity for LoCAL countries to share experience and plan cooperation as they prepare for crucial meetings in the climate change calendar, including the Climate Change sessions slated for Bonn in Germany next month and COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022.
The LoCAL Facility was designed and is hosted by the UN Capital Development Fund and has grown from initial pilots in Bhutan and Cambodia in 2011, to a global climate financing mechanism that has to date mobilised over US $125 million for locally led adaptation.

Saharan Dust, originating over northern Africa and sometimes impacting weather conditions over diverse locations of the world, currently extends from the tropical Atlantic into the Caribbean region.  This is especially common during the period of May to August annually.

Over the past 72 hours a fairly large plume of dust has been observed via satellite to be moving over the Eastern Caribbean and into the central parts of the Basin.  It is projected that the impact on the Caribbean is likely to remain for another few days until about Tuesday of next week.

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Honourable Matthew Samuda, is urging all Jamaicans to exercise heightened vigilance and care during the passage of the Sahara Dust plume.

 Minister Samuda added, “The Ministry and the MET Service are aware of the increased number of Jamaicans who are now afflicted with respiratory difficulties as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. We are therefore urging the continued wearing of masks to mitigate the effects of the dust plume as well as offering the best defence to the resurgent Covid-19 disease and also staying indoors where possible”.

Jamaicans are also being urged to cover outdoor water supplies, particularly those who engage in rainwater harvesting, as the dust may impact the quality of the water.”
Its impact on Jamaica is expected to gradually increase into the weekend, being mostly concentrated on Saturday and Sunday, and then decrease during the start of next week as it drifts towards the northwest. 

 The Saharan Dust is characterized by hazy conditions and usually results in stable air with reduced rainfall activity.  This spike in airborne micro-particles is known to aggravate health issue, particularly respiratory illnesses including asthma. 

Conditions associated with this episode of Saharan Dust are not expected to be severe; however, the Meteorological Service will continue to monitor its development and progress.