More shelters for the homeless

More shelters for the homeless

We are pleased to inform our community that over the summer of 2021 the Jamaica Association in Switzerland assisted the charity Candle In The Dark (in Mandeville, Manchester Jamaica) commence construction work in expanding its building facilities towards alleviating homelessness in Manchester, Jamaica (read full story in the gleaner here).

Due to the impact of COVID19 the homeless in our communities have been adversely affected, which inherently increases homelessness. Through your monetary support, which we received during our JAS Christmas Fundraising and Zoom Telethon in December of 2020, the Jamaica Association in Switzerland was able to donate $1600 US dollars to the charity Candle In The Dark (in Mandeville, Manchester Jamaica) in helping to build additional shelters for the homeless and the mentally challenged. Without the support of you, our community, the Jamaica Association in Switzerland would not have been able to make this impactful contribution for a worthy cause. A very big thank you to all!

Sincerely,
Dr. Warren A. Wallace
President of the Jamaica Association in Switzerland 

Update from the Government of Jamaica on the COVID 19 Disaster Risk management measures

Pursuant to Disaster Risk Management Order No. 3 outlining further measures to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crises no person, from April 8, 2020 to April 21, 2020, shall be permitted to enter Jamaica. For a person who, after March 21, 2020, has been permitted to enter Jamaica, he or she shall: (a) remain in quarantine, at that person’s abode or place of residence, or such other place as may be directed by an authorized officer, for a period of 14 days beginning from the date on which that person was permitted to enter Jamaica, and; (b) comply with all applicable directions given, and requirements imposed, by an authorized officer.

Each person who entered Jamaica on or after March 18, 2020, shall forthwith contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness:
(a) through the website https://jamcovid19.moh.gov.jm, email: covid19@moh.gov.jm  
(b) by calling any of the following numbers: 
(i) 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683)
(ii) 888-754-7792
(iii) 876-542-5998
(iv) 876-542-6007
(v) 876-542-6006

Coronavirus update 22nd March no passengers will be allowed to enter Jamaica

Coronavirus update 22nd March no passengers will be allowed to enter Jamaica

Note that effective 22nd March no passengers will be allowed to enter Jamaica, for a period of 14 days. In this regard, please see the Disaster Risk Management (Amendment) Order, 2020, setting out the measures announced by the Prime Minister at a Press Conference held on Friday March 20, 2020. This restriction will not apply, until the 24th March, to Jamaicans in specific categories including:

  • Jamaicans employed on contract in overseas work programmes between the Government and a foreign private sector entity or foreign government;
  • Jamaicans privately employed overseas and arriving in Jamaica in a group from the same territory;
  • Jamaican holders of a seaman’s certificate;
  • Any Jamaican whose travel to Jamaica commenced on or before the 20th day March, and arriving in Jamaica on or before the 23rd March 2020;

Any Jamaican whose travel to Jamaica was confirmed ( by issue of a ticket or other document) on or before the 20th day March, and arriving in Jamaica on or before the 23rd March 2020.

Additionally, please follow the following accounts in order to access periodic updates on the COVID-19 situation in Jamaica:

 

Twitter

  1. The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica: https://twitter.com/AndrewHolnessJM
  2. Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health: https://twitter.com/christufton
  3. Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith: https://twitter.com/kaminajsmith
  4. The Ministry of Health and Wellness: https://twitter.com/themohwgovjm
  5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade: https://twitter.com/mfaftja

Facebook

  1. The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, MP, Prime Minister of Jamaica: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewHolnessJM/
  2. Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health: https://www.facebook.com/cctufton
  3. Sen. the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith: https://www.facebook.com/kaminajsmith/
  4. The Ministry of Health and Wellness: https://www.facebook.com/themohgovjm/
  5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade: https://www.facebook.com/mfaftja/
Travel Restrictions on entry into Jamaica in light of the COVID-19 outbreak 16 march 2020

Travel Restrictions on entry into Jamaica in light of the COVID-19 outbreak 16 march 2020

Please be advised that the Government of Jamaica has instituted the following travel restrictions: 

 

  • On 29th January 2020, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) announced travel restrictions on Chinese nationals (including from Honk Kong, Macau and Taiwan) entering Jamaica, on account of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, now referred to as COVID-19.

 

  • Following its risk assessment and the World Health Organization Situation Report 37 of 26 February 2020, restrictions were imposed on an additional four (4) countries, namely:  Iran, Italy, Singapore and South Korea. 

 

  • The MOHW also indicated that it would review the situation in respect of Japan where a number of cases of outbreak of the virus, including a death, have been reported.

 

  • The restrictions announced on 26 February 2020 are as follows:
    • all Jamaicans who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will have landing privileges in accordance with the law but will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine;

    • persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore in the last 14 days, and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica, will not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry;

    • non-Jamaicans who have permanent residence and marriage exemptions who are landed and who had visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine;

    • persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore and have been granted landing privileges and are classified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as high risk will be quarantined in Government facilities; and those who are assessed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as low-risk will be self-quarantined at home under the strict evaluation and supervision of the Parish Health Department; and persons returning from Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore who have been granted landing privileges and who display any symptom of COVID-19, as per the case definition published by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, will be placed in immediate isolation at a health facility. 


The Government announced that France, Germany and Spain, were added to the restricted list, effective Thursday, 12
th March 2020:

 

  • All Jamaicans who visited France, Germany, and Spain in the last 14 days would have landing rights in accordance with law but would be subject to a health assessment and quarantine;

     

  • Non-Jamaicans who visited France, Germany and Spain in the last 14 days and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica would not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry; 

 

  • Non-Jamaicans who have permanent residence and marriage exemptions and who had visited France, Germany and Spain in the last 14 days would be landed and subject to a health assessment and quarantine;

 

  • Persons who visited France, Germany and Spain who have been granted landing privileges and were classified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as high risk would be quarantined in Government facilities; and those who were assesses by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as low-risk would be quarantined at home under the supervision of the Parish Health Department; and Individuals returning from France, Germany and Spain who have been granted landing privileges and who display any symptom of the novel coronavirus 2019, as per the case definition published by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/World Health Organisations (WHO), would be placed in immediate isolation at the Health Facility. 
Travel Restrictions on entry into Jamaica in light of the COVID-19 outbreak

Travel Restrictions on entry into Jamaica in light of the COVID-19 outbreak

Please be advised that the Government of Jamaica has instituted the following travel restrictions: On 29th January 2020, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) announced travel restrictions on Chinese nationals (including from Honk Kong, Macau and Taiwan) entering Jamaica, on account of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, now referred to as COVID-19. Following its risk assessment and the World Health Organization Situation Report 37 of 26 February 2020, restrictions were imposed on an additional four (4) countries, namely: Iran, Italy, Singapore and South Korea. The MOHW also indicated that it would review the situation in respect of Japan where a number of cases of an outbreak of the virus, including death, have been reported. The restrictions announced on 26 February 2020 are as follows: a) all Jamaicans who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will have landing privileges in accordance with the law but will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine; b) persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore in the last 14 days, and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica, will not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry; c) non-Jamaicans who have permanent residence and marriage exemptions who are landed and who had visited Italy, South Korea, Iran, and Singapore in the last 14 days will be subject to a health assessment and quarantine; d) persons who have visited Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore and have been granted landing privileges and are classified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as high risk will be quarantined in Government facilities; and those who are assessed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as low-risk will be self-quarantined at home under the strict evaluation and supervision of the Parish Health Department; and e) persons returning from Italy, South Korea, Iran and Singapore who have been granted landing privileges and who display any symptom of COVID-19, as per the case definition published by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, will be placed in immediate isolation at a health facility. The Government announced that France, Germany and Spain, were added to the restricted list, effective Thursday, 12th March 2020: a. All Jamaicans who visited France, Germany, and Spain in the last 14 days would have landing rights in accordance with law but would be subject to a health assessment and quarantine; b. Non-Jamaicans who visited France, Germany and Spain in the last 14 days and who do not have permanent residency or marriage exemption in Jamaica would not be granted landing privileges at any of the country’s ports of entry; c. Non-Jamaicans who have permanent residence and marriage exemptions and who had visited France, Germany and Spain in the last 14 days would be landed and subject to a health assessment and quarantine; d. Persons who visited France, Germany and Spain who have been granted landing privileges and were classified by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as high risk would be quarantined in Government facilities; and those who were assesses by the Ministry of Health and Wellness as low-risk would be quarantined at home under the supervision of the Parish Health Department; and e. Individuals returning from France, Germany and Spain who have been granted landing privileges and who display any symptom of the novel coronavirus 2019, as per the case definition published by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/World Health Organisations (WHO), would be placed in immediate isolation at the Health Facility

For the Jamaican diaspora wishing to get more information from the Ministry of Health and Wellness on COVID-19, the following telephone numbers can be used:
· 888-754-7792
· 876-542-5998
· 876-542-6007
· 876-542- 6006
· 876-542-5998
 .888-ONE-LOVE (663-5683)

Ministry of Health & Wellness, Jamaica
This year’s first votation will take place on Sunday

This year’s first votation will take place on Sunday

Switzerland is considered to be one of the most democratic countries in the world and the population votes as often as four times a year on matters of all sorts. This year’s first votation will take place on Sunday, March 4 with two federal items (in addition to the federal items, some cantons, such as canton Vaud, also have cantonal items to submit to the cantonal population for a vote on the same day).

(more…)