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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Increased water restrictions as dry spell continues

Jamaicans are being warned that the protracted dry spell affecting the country is likely to worsen and as a result, National Water Commission (NWC) consumers will face more stringent supply restrictions.

On Wednesday, Water Minister, Robert Pickersgill, told the House of Representatives, that a prohibition notice on the use of water will be issued by this weekend.

“On the washing of vehicles, the watering of lawns and filling of swimming pools among other activities, persons may be taken before the resident magistrates court and may be directed to pay a fine”.

He also gave an update on the decline in inflows to the two major facilities serving the Corporate Area.

“Storage levels at the largest two reservoirs, the Hermitage Dam and the Mona Reservoir are 83% and 37% respectively and are falling daily. The Hermitage dam is heavily silted and only 30% of its design capacity is useable. Inflows from the Yallas River are now at 5.5 million gallons per day, down from its peak of 18 million gallons per day while the Hope River is at 2.6 from a high of 30-million gallons per.

Meanwhile, with the NWC reducing output, Pickersgill is promising that alternative measures will be in place for customers to receive water.

“We will be trucking water to the most affected areas through the Rapid Response Programme. As of tomorrow we will be making available two eight thousand gallon trucks to take water to persons in Clarendon. In South St. Elizabeth, in addition to the allocation of funds for the trucking of water we will also be dispatching three eight thousand gallon trucks for the trucking of water,” Pickersgill said.

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Increased water restrictions as dry spell continues

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Transaction costs on the stock market increased

It’s now costing more to conduct transactions on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, JSE. Effective Monday June 30, the cess on transactions was increased by 0.1% or 0.05% to be paid by the buyer and seller.The JSE says the charge on contract notes issued by brokers for the purchase or sale of shares will be 0.25%. General Manager of the Stock Exchange, Marlene Street-Forrest, explained that the increase was triggered by rising operational expenses. The cess is a part of the revenue base of the Exchange.

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Transaction costs on the stock market increased

Stock Exchange charges increased

It’s now costing more to conduct transactions on the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE). Effective Tuesday, the cess on transactions was increased by 0.1% or 0.05%, to be paid by the buyer and seller.
According to Marlene Street-Forrest, General Manager of the Stock Exchange, the increase was triggered by rising operational expenses, occasioned particularly by the slide in the value of the Jamaican dollar.

“Our services… our core platform is linked to the US dollar in terms of service fees,”, she explained, adding that as a result of that there was no option but to increase the charges “by this mimimal amount.”

The cess is a part of the revenue base of the Exchange.

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Stock Exchange charges increased

The cess is a part of the revenue base of the Exchange.

View the original article here

Stock Exchange charges increased

Monday, February 3, 2014

Increased crocodile public education campaign

Sunday, February 02, 2014 | 9:26 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be heightening its public awareness campaign aimed at discouraging crocodile consumption, which is illegal in Jamaica.

Manager for NEPA’s Ecosystems Management Branch, Andrea Donaldson says it is intended to have media features as well town meetings to sensitize persons about how crocodiles should be treated, in and out of their habitat.

“(This) is to get them to recognise that (crocodiles are) important to the (eco) system, and (that the animal is) important to them, (as) people earn income from crocodiles, as an ecotourism activity,” Donaldson said.

Information gleaned on crocodiles indicates that they contribute significantly to maintaining pollution-free waters and clean habitats for themselves and other wildlife by consuming dying animals as well as the carcasses of lifeless ones.

Additionally, their burrows, when unoccupied, often serve as refuge from threats as well as sources of water during periods of drought, for other animals.

In some parts of Jamaica, crocodiles serve as eco-tourism attractions in special sanctuaries created for them, thereby generating foreign exchange for the economy.

In October 2013, reports surfaced that crocodiles were being hunted and slaughtered for their meat in nine communities spanning four parishes, along Jamaica’s south coast.

These are: Springfield, Westmoreland; Parrottee, Font Hill, and Black River in St. Elizabeth; Salt River, Lionel Town, and Milk River in Clarendon; and Portmore and Amity Hall in St. Catherine. NEPA also received reports of crocodile meat being sold at eateries in Kingston and St. Andrew, Westmoreland, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth.

Hunting and slaughtering constitute offences as, since 1971, crocodiles have been protected by law under the Wildlife Protection Act. Therefore, no crocodile should be hunted, captured, killed or, in any way, harassed.

The penalty for capturing the animal, harming one, or having any part of same in one’s possession, living or dead, is $100,000 and/or a prison term of up to two years.

Jamaica’s crocodile continues to encounter threats to their existence based on illicit human activity, deliberate or inadvertent. This development has rendered it endangered based on the current number in existence.

The population is understood to have declined to less than 1000 since the last survey of the animal was conducted in 2004. A new survey is to be undertaken during 2014/15 in selected areas to determine the current population level.

Miss Donaldson points to the pattern of behaviour exhibited by crocodiles, which she says persons need to be cognizant of.

“While they live in freshwater systems, they do walk. The females nest in the sand and on gravel mounds. So they will walk from their water habitat to the mounds to nest and walk back. So, in a lot of instances, people see that and they get scared,” she states.

It is recommended that if a crocodile is sighted, persons remain calm as chances are, it will go away. However, it advisable to stay clear of areas, such as rivers and swamps, if these are known habitats, especially during the breeding season, which runs from March to August.

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Increased crocodile public education campaign

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Gas, diesel prices increased

News

Tuesday, December 31, 2013 | 6:00 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Petrojam, the island’s sole refinery, has started 2014 with an increase in the ex-refinery prices of gasoline effective Thursday, January 2.87 and 90-octane gasoline will be sold for $115.71 and $117.37 per litre, respectively, up by $1.04 each.Automotive diesel fuel will be sold for $124.36 per litre, after an increase of $1.20 while ultra-low sulphur diesel is up by $3.76 and will be sold for $129.69 per litre.Meanwhile, kerosene oil was increased in price by $1.25 and will be sold for $125.17 per litre.Propane liquid petroleum will be sold for $57.25 per litre after an increase of $0.25, while butane liquid petroleum will be sold for $60.98 per litre after an increase of $0.64.Marketing companies and retailers will add their respective mark up.

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Gas, diesel prices increased

Friday, June 28, 2013

ISCF says no to merger, calls for increased capacity

ST ANN, Jamaica —The Special Constabulary Force Association is frowning at the idea of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) being merged and has instead called for increased capacity in the ISCF.

Inspector Andrew Johnson, chairman of the association has called on the Minister of National Security Peter Bunting to add more members to the ISCF.“We are asking you to consider improving the compliment of the ISCF to at least 4000,” he said.Johnson, who was speaking at the 29th annual joint conference of the Special Constabulary Force Association at the Jewel Resort in Runaway Bay, said that the ISCF has been operating successfully and what it needs is increased physical and human resources to continue its success.“Put the ISCF back where we were in 2002/2003 (but not just to put us back there), but to give us resources, renew the energy of the ISCF, build the capacity of the organisation and watch us as we take on crime in a way that you would be amazed,” Inspector Johnson requested of Minister Bunting. Johnson pointed out that the ISCF has taken on the mandate given and has been serving effectively. “The energy and vigour with which we approach our duties, the motivation and leadership provided by our managers, the singleness of purpose displayed by all stakeholders resulted in the restoration of order in public spaces, namely all the major town centres across the island and especially downtown Kingston,” he said.The ISCF has a little over 2000 members, Johnson said adding that with their hard work, people however are often led to believe that its membership is bigger. “Visibility of the police in any locality is a significant deterrent to crime and acts of criminality. It is the perception that the ISCF is always present on the street,” he said.He went on to add that the ISCF “is poised to make an even more significant contribution to the fight against crime in this country.”He however made it clear that the prospect of a merger “has dampened our spirits. We however remain committed to our task of assisting with the security of our nation.”“Look at the work done; think about a reenergized ISCF and how much we can achieve. All we need is your support in the form of administrative directives and support in physical and human resources and you would never believe the dent that we could make in bringing crime even further down,” he said.Bunting in response said that although no immediate talks are ongoing, whatever happens he would ensure that the members of the ISCF are protected if a merger is to take place.- Renae Dixon

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