NEWS RELEASE

APRIL 5, 2002

NEPA OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES

For immediate release

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be officially launched on Earth Day, Monday April 22, 2002 at 9 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5.

A number of activities have been organized to mark this special Day.  The Day commences with the official launch of the organisation’s Faith and the Environment Theme.  This will take the form of a Prayer Ceremony involving leaders of major denominations and faiths, faculty and students of Theological Seminaries, the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica and other interested stakeholders.   The official Opening of the NEPA Documentation Center will follow this event.   A Media Consultation aimed at engendering a closer, mutual working relationship between the media and the Agency will be held at 10 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5.  The organisation will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and members of the public are invited to come in and view the exhibits that will be on display and learn more about the organisation.  The guests will be entertained with cultural performances throughout the Day and this will culminate with the Official Launch Ceremony at 4:00 p.m.

The Agency encourages members of the public to come out during the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and meet the NEPA team and gain a better understanding of the organisation and how Jamaicans can work together to protect and sustainably use the island’s natural resources.

Contact:             National Environment and Planning Agency

                                    10 Caledonia Avenue

                                    Kingston 10

            Tel:                 929-7481-2, 906-1393-4

            Fax:                 754-7595, 754-7596

            Email:             pubed@nepa.gov.jm

Website:            http://www.nepa.gov.jm