The Government of Jamaica will proceed with implementing the ban on locally manufactured and distributed expanded polystyrene foam products used in the food and beverage industry. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2020.

This follows the implementation of phase one of the ban on the importation of the items, which took effect on January 1, 2019.

In light of concerns regarding the availability of suitable alternatives in the local market and requests for a delay in the implementation of the second phase of the ban, policy makers engaged industry stakeholders including the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) and individual private sector companies, as well as the relevant public sector entities to consider the concerns.

Honourable Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Land, Environment, Climate Change and Investments noted that policy makers deliberated on the recommendations put forward by each stakeholder group, keenly considering the availability of suitable alternatives.

The policy maker’s assessment determined that with the increasing availability of viable alternatives, the Government is convinced that the timely implementation of this second phase will continue to improve the lives of all Jamaicans as well as safeguard public health and the environment.

Successful implementation of phase one of the ban on some single-use plastics
Minister Vaz explained that the decision to continue was strengthened by the successful implementation of the first phase of the ban.

The general acceptance of the ban has been observed across the island – although there are breaches taking place.

To date, the State has taken legal action and to date, over 27 individuals and companies have been charged for breaching The Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018.

“I am encouraging the public to make use of the alternatives available on the market,” stated Minister Vaz.

The public and business operators are encouraged to read the orders governing the ban, which are available on the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) website:

1. The Natural Resources Conservation Authority (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order,  2018
2. The Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018

NEPA continues to operate a hotline 876-285-8531 and a dedicated email address, policyonplasticban@nepa.gov.jm to receive comments, recommendations and queries on the ban on single-use plastics.

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For more information, please contact:
Policy on Plastic Ban/Plastic Free Jamaica hotline: 876-285-8531;
Email: policyonplasticban@nepa.gov.jm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticfreeja/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlasticFreeJA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plasticfreejamaica/

Twenty-third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-23). 25 – 29 November 2019, Montreal, Canada

Please click here to see further Details

THE DISABLED population in St Elizabeth will have increased access to vision and hearing screening among other health services, together with climate change education when the Nathan Ebanks Foundation hosts its first Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair next month.

“We are excited to be able to take this initiative outside of Kingston,” said Christine Staple Ebanks, founder of the Nathan Ebanks Foundation and event chair.

“We know that disability is not a one-size-fits-all, but that the needs of persons even with the same disability in one community/part of the island can be quite different from someone with that same disability elsewhere,” she added.

“For instance, we have been getting a number of reports of children who are both deaf and blind in St Elizabeth in higher numbers than we find in Kingston. Autism also seems more prevalent than say, cerebral palsy in that community,” Ebanks noted further.

The fair is timed to observe National Disabilities Awareness Week and UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities. It will form a major part of the National Disabilities Week Calendar and will offer a range of services, including climate change and disaster resilience information and talks for persons with disabilities, free registration of persons with disabilities with the National Disabilities Registration Database, free birth certificate registration for the 200 persons with disabilities.

Other free services will include vision and hearing screening, academic screening (reading and math), dental services, health checks and medical check-up, presentations and demos to support the lives of persons with disabilities.

“We, therefore, have taken the time to meet with main community stake­holders to get their input, which was used to design the event. We asked them ‘what breaks your back and hurt your heart concerning your child’s daily living right now.’ We used this information to create the list of services that we will offer at the event. We are grateful for all of the organisations which have come on board to support,” explained Ebanks.

A number of agencies and organisations will participate in the event, including the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Child Protection and Family Services Agency, the Ministry of Health, the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience, the Ministry of Education, the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities, HEART Trust/NTA, Jamaica Association for the Deaf, Jamaica Library Services, the National Health Fund, Jamaica Fire Brigade, St Elizabeth South Lions Club, Community Based Rehabilitation Jamaica, Registrar General Department, among others.

EMPOWERING INITIATIVE

The Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair is a flagship initiative of the foundation and is designed to work in partnership with other organisations to advance the mission of inclusion, participation, and empowerment of children (and adults) with disabilities and special needs in Jamaica.

“For the AP&FM – it is very important for persons with ­disabilities to be aware of climate change and be able to respond. So the fair gives us a very good ­opportunity to engage the community,” said Dr Winsome Townsend, project manager for the AP&FM.

The Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair, St Elizabeth, is sponsored by the Supreme Ventures Foundation, AP&FM/Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, ODPEM, Child Protection and Family Services Agency, ChrisMix Radio, JISCO-Alpart, Kirk Distributors/Colgate, NHF, Ministry of Health, and Party Plus Entertainment.

“We once again have partners such as the AP&FM, ODPEM and the Jamaica Fire Brigade to share important information and resources on climate change adaptation, and disaster mitigation with persons with disabilities,” said Ebanks.

“Our vision is to see all children of varied abilities grow and uncover their unique gifts in a way that respects their diversity and celebrate potential. We were very pleased to see the easy way the St Elizabeth community has embraced us and this initiative,” she added.

 

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20191121/earth-today-expo-benefit-persons-disabilities-west

The community of Golden Hill and two primary schools from West Rural St Andrew are the latest to benefit from the installation of water systems by the Rural Water Supply Limited to increase storage capacity in communities and schools across the island. The schools, Essex Hall Primary School and the Lawrence Tavern Primary Schools had their newly installed rainwater harvesting systems commissioned by Sen. the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Water, Housing and Infrastructure, yesterday (November 20).

The rainwater harvesting systems were installed to the tune of approximately $5.2 million. The Golden Hill Water Supply System was installed at a cost of over $13 million where a 60,000 gallon water storage tank was mounted to supply residents of that community, as well as Pinto Lane, Fraser Lane and surrounding communities, with potable water.

Minister Charles Jr. during his last stop at the Lawrence Tavern Primary School stated that water security is at the forefront of the ministry’s agenda while noting that the installed systems represent an amalgamation of hard work, strong and bold partnership and a focus on results.

“This Government is fixated on putting in place systems, particularly in institutions like our schools where we can reassure the schools and community members that there are ways for us to prepare for the drought, ways for us to prepare for what is going to come and to make sure that we alleviate the stress and frustration of not having water and improved efficiency of water delivery”, he said.

The Minister further noted that although the rainwater harvesting system has been installed at the Lawrence Tavern Primary School, Rural Water Supply Ltd. will be retrofitting the entire school with water saving toilets and taps, to ensure that the school is using water efficiently.

Managing Director at Rural Water Supply Limited, Audley Thompson for his part said that the commissioning of the three water systems gives him a satisfactory feeling, given their benefit to schools and the communities.

 “As our slogan states, Rural Water Supply Limited ‘Engineering for Development’, we will continue to earnestly fulfill the mandate which we have been charged with by the Government and people of Jamaica”, the Managing Director added.

Since 2011, Rural Water Supply Limited has completed approximately 40 rainwater harvesting facilities in primary schools across the island, benefiting approximately 18,800 students and staff.

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A study on Jamaica’s mangroves has estimated that they provide approximately US$32.7 million dollars in protection to Jamaica’s heavily settled coastline areas.

The study, which was funded by the Program on Forests (PROFOR) through the World Bank, involved several stakeholders including the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM); the University of California, Santa Cruz; and the University of the West Indies.

The study, entitled “Report Launch of the Forces of Nature Assessment and Economic Valuation of Coastal Protection Services provided by Mangroves in Jamaica (PROFOR Project)” was launched yesterday (November 20) at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

Speaking at the launch, Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz, noted that even with the presence of mangroves, the estimate of coastal flooding due to storms here in Jamaica has been put at US$136.4 million in damages.

“What is alarming though, is that without mangroves the estimated damage from flooding would be US$169 million annually”, the Minister said.

 “Our mangroves are therefore estimated to provide US$32.7 million in protection to our coastlines.  When you factor in the protection of approximately US$2.4 billion in assets (people and infrastructure) during storms, the value of mangroves is more than US$186 million per hectare of mangroves”, Minister Vaz said. 

The Minister noted that because of the hilly features of the interior, much of Jamaica’s physical infrastructure such as our electricity generating plants, international airports and seaports, our major roadways among other assets, are located near our coastline.

“Mangroves act as the first and most significant line of defence. Their location between land and sea, their durability and flexibility make them a haven for biodiversity and add to their usefulness and productivity” he said.

Minister Vaz commended the Forestry Department which is currently conducting an assessment of all the mangroves across Jamaica, to determine the national baseline status with regard to spatial distribution, composition and health. 

Since the assessment started in January 2019, the Forestry Department has completed approximately 4600 hectares.

“On completion of this national assessment of the approximately 9700 hectares of mangroves identified in the 2013 land use assessment of Jamaica, the information will feed into the development of a National Mangrove Management Plan”, Minister Vaz said.

He also commended and congratulated all the stakeholders involved in the project.

“I believe in partnerships, particularly since we are all in this together.  Natural hazards and climate change do not discriminate between rich or poor, man or woman, public sector or private.  Prince or pauper, we are all going to be affected. I am particularly pleased that 62-Jamaicans comprising 75 percent of the total project workforce, were involved in this project because it will translate to meaningful action at the local level” Minister Vaz said.

He further added that the insightful and comprehensive research that went into this study will inform our policies, programmes, and plans in regard to disaster mitigation and recovery and in particular the conservation and restoration of our mangroves as we seek to ensure a sustainable future for Jamaica.

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Twelve students from the Enid Bennett High School in Bog Walk, St Catherine have been appointed Water Monitors as part of the recently established Water IQ initiative (WIQI).

The initiative seeks to ensure that students develop proper water conservation strategies while simultaneously developing initiatives to raise awareness within the school.

In his remarks at the Rainwater Harvesting Commissioning ceremony at the Enid Bennet High School on Tuesday (October 8), Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Pearnel Charles Jr, said the students now have a huge responsibility, not just for their schools, but for their homes and for the future of our country.

“If change is to come, it must be preceded by a change in our outlook and in the way we treat our resources”, Minister Charles Jr. said.

Principal of the Enid Bennett High School Patrick Phillips said the school gladly welcomes the rainwater harvesting infrastructure as well as the appointment of the 12 students as Water Monitors.

“The school system is to socialize students to learn to solve problems and so having the Water Monitors and Rainwater Harvesting System is addressing some of the issues we have with water conservation”, Mr. Phillips said.

Mr. Phillips added that having students as part of the process will enable them to influence their peers as well as relatives at home to conserve water.

The appointment of these high school students come on the heels of a similar appointment of 12 students at the Rock Hall All-Age School in Red Hills, St Andrew, last week, where a similar rainwater harvesting infrastructure was commissioned to the tune of $9 million.

WIQI is a collaborative initiative involving the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), the National Water Commission (NWC), Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) and the Water Resources Authority (WRA).

The initiative is being carried in conjunction with the RWSL Rainwater Harvesting School programme and targets schools as one of the critical institutions in our society that has the responsibility of moulding the mindset and the direction of our future by promoting behavioural change.

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The Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), yesterday (October 8, 2019) officially commissioned a Rainwater Harvesting System at the Enid Bennett High School in Bog Walk, St Catherine.

The rainwater harvesting project which began at the school in December 2018 was completed at a cost of approximately $7 million.

The system was set up by the RWSL and saw the installation of four 1000 gallon black tanks, solar-powered pump and electrics, construction of a 20,000 gallon block and steel water tank; installation of over 700 feet of PVC pipes and 650 feet of gutters to support the system.

In his address at the commissioning ceremony on the grounds of the institution, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr said the installation of the rainwater harvesting infrastructure will go a long way to make Enid Bennett water secure.

He, however, said that there needs to be a change in our attitude towards water.

“There needs to be a complete 180 in how we use the resource if these structures are going to bring maximum impact”, he said.

“No longer can we merely live in the present, we must also contemplate the future. We must change our overall mindset if we are to build our resilience and ensure that the world our children are to inherit will be one without the problems we face today,” Sen. Charles Jr. added.

Principal, Patrick Phillips, said the School Board, administration, teachers, students and other stakeholders gladly welcome the rainwater harvesting infrastructure.

“Having this system in place will address some of the issues that we were having with water conservation and will prove beneficial to our farm, bathroom facilities and our playing field”, Mr. Phillips said.

The installation of the rainwater harvesting infrastructure at the Enid Bennett High school follows on the heels of the commissioning of another such infrastructure at the Rock Hall All-Age School in Red Hills, St Andrew last week.

The system at Rock Hall All-Age was installed at a cost of approximately $9 million. That project saw the installation of water harvesting gutters, black tanks, construction and installation of 20,000 gallons and 10,000 gallons Ferro-cement tanks, supply and installation of water pumps, standby Generator and Solar Panels.

During both ceremonies, several students from each school were appointed water Monitors under the Ministry’s recently established WiQi initiative which is a collaborative with, the National Water Commission (NWC), Water Resources Authority (WRA) and RWSL.

The Rural Water Supply Limited commenced its Rainwater Harvesting programme in 2011 with works on the Maldon and Chatsworth Schools in St James and the Police Convalescent Centre in St Elizabeth. Eleven schools have benefited so far from the programme, with over a dozen more across the parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, St Andrew, St Thomas, St James and Hanover to benefit.

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The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) with guaranteed funding support from the National Housing Trust (NHT), is currently embarking on a comprehensive survey of squatter settlements in Jamaica.

This exercise is aimed at achieving a more accurate determination of squatting, so as to inform policy decisions and Government intervention to address related issues.

Data collection commenced on July 22, 2019, in the parish of Clarendon.

To date, the Team has administered surveys to 3,010 households in 40 communities in two (2) Constituencies (South Eastern Clarendon and South Western Clarendon). On completion of Clarendon, the team will then move on to the parish of Manchester.

The required Geographic Information Systems (GIS) expertise has been engaged to provide various outputs from this exercise. These will include a survey report, a variety of maps and the establishment of a geo-database on squatting. It will also prove extremely valuable in informing low-income housing interventions primarily undertaken by the Ministry and the NHT.

Senior Director, Housing Management at the MEGJC, Authrine Scarlett says this survey will be critical in addressing a number of issues related to squatting across the country.

“This is really a pivotal moment for the country as we seek to address this issue of squatting because not only will it take the guesswork out of the true numbers, the GIS technology which we are utilizing will allow us to represent the information in a spatial way which will enhance our ability to develop strategies to treat with these areas”, explained Mrs Scarlett.

According to Minister without Portfolio at the MEGJC, Senator Pearnel Charles Jr., the exercise is aimed at achieving a more accurate assessment of squatting in Jamaica, which is needed for government policy and planning.

“The squatter survey has been an agenda item for some time but we are now focused on bringing it to completion. We must, as the survey is essential in providing a comprehensive understanding of our existing circumstances. This is needed if we are to develop sensible policies and procedures to resolve the challenges faced by so many in non-regularized settlements across Jamaica”, said the Minister.

Senator Charles Jr. is also asking citizens to cooperate with the process, “I implore Jamaicans to support this process by cooperating with our researchers in the field and provide them with accurate and reliable information to ensure a successful initiative. The process has been progressing smoothly thus far and we are just encouraging citizens to continue to facilitate the process in order for us to get the survey done in a timely and efficient manner”.

The survey is being coordinated by the Squatter and Environment Management Unit of the Ministry which has the mandate for policy development and coordination of the management of squatting on public lands.

In keeping with Government’s mandate to create job opportunities for the youth, the Ministry is also collaborating with the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme and HEART Trust/NTA to engage data collectors.                                                                

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