Hurricane Sandy disrupts Jamaica's growth projections

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared that the model currently being used to predict Jamaica’s economic growth has not been giving accurate outcomes.      
The Fund, in its latest report on Jamaica, said the problem had arisen largely because of the effects of  Hurricane Sandy. The Hurricane, which hit Jamaica in October 2012, led to major economic disruptions, particularly in agriculture and mining.      
The multi-lateral agency revealed that the economic growth indicator over projected growth in the aftermath of  the hurricane and under projected the rebound which occurred at the end of  last year.       
It said the model had predicted zero per cent growth for the end of  December, but the actual out turn was 1.8 per cent.     
It suggested that there may be a number of  reasons for the failure to accurately predict growth, including the implementation of  the IMF programme and the ongoing depreciation of  the currency.

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Hurricane Sandy disrupts Jamaica"s growth projections

22 St Mary Hurricane Sandy victims receive houses

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) –Twenty-two families in Crooked River, St Mary, who were displaced following the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 have been provided with new homes.

Family members were presented with keys to the 22 new houses as well as letters of possession for the units, during a ceremony at the Annotto Bay High School in St Mary on August 23.The 300 square feet, two bedroom houses, were provided through a partnership initiative involving Food for the Poor (FFP), which targeted people in the parish deemed worst affected by the hurricane.Junior Minister with responsibility for Housing, Dr Morais Guy, who spoke at the ceremony, said the units have been presented as “grants” to the beneficiaries. The dwellings, he outlined, comprise a living room, kitchen, and bathroom; a solar panel to provide power; a water tank; a sewage disposal treatment system; and a lot that allows for future expansion. The occupants have also been provided with the first full tank of water courtesy of the Ministry’s Rapid Response Unit. Dr Guy explained that while the lots will be subject to lease arrangements “over a time, and after that, you will have the option to purchase (them).” The Minister advised that allocation of the houses is in addition to grants awarded to the beneficiaries to repairs the houses they previously occupied, that sustained partially damage.Dr Guy said presentation of the houses represents a “major milestone” and prospects for a brighter and more prosperous future for the recipients.“We are cognizant that lives can be transformed through initiatives such as this one; and it is for that reason, among others, that we did not hesitate to get the project off the ground,” he said.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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22 St Mary Hurricane Sandy victims receive houses

14-y-o Duke Fisher of Sandy Bay, Clarendon missing

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Thursday, July 25, 2013 | 11:24 AM

CLARENDON, Jamaica — Fourteen-year-old Duke Fisher of Iverness Drive, Sandy Bay in Clarendon has been missing since July 18.He is of dark complexion, slim build and about five-feet- six-inches tall.The police said Duke left home for an undisclosed location wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans pants and a pair of black shoes. Anyone knowing his whereabouts is being asked to contact the May Pen Police at 902-9850, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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14-y-o Duke Fisher of Sandy Bay, Clarendon missing