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Month: November 2012

Minister Arscott Condemns Senseless Killing of Riverton Disposal Site Security Guard

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Jamaica’s Beauty Is Our Duty
NATIONAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
News Release
                                                                                  For Immediate Release
Kingston, Jamaica…………………………………………………23rd November 2012
The Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Noel Arscott has condemned the senseless killing of Valentine Reid, a Security Guard employed to Quest Security Services and stationed at the Riverton Disposal Site.
Its no easy feat working at the Disposal Site and for someone to ambush and kill another Human Being unprovoked is barbaric and cruel.
The Minister would like to offer the family and colleagues of Mr. Reid his sincere condolences and implore the security forces that no effort should be spared in bring those responsible to justice.
-END-
Contact
Shauna Guthrie (Mrs.)
Community Relations Manager
National Solid Waste Management Authority

[email protected] 386 1080

Youth Mayors Impress at Jamaica House

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Another featured activity of the annual Local Government & Community Development Month celebration took place on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. On that day the island’s fourteen (14) youth mayors paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller and had lunch with the Minister and other Local Government officials.
During the courtesy call the Prime Minister spoke to the youths breifly addressing some of the challenges she has faced as Prime Minister as well as the current view of politics as being dirty and nasty. ‘But, she added, ‘ if good people stay away from politics it will remain dirty and nasty’.  She also profferred that politicians need to set good examples by being civil to each other.
Despite the negatives however, Mrs Simpson Miller was encouraged by the presence of the youths as it was evidence of their interest and participation in the affairs of their  communities,  she was sure that they would effect positive changes in leadership, she added.
The youth mayors each got the chance to address the Prime Minister and they justified her confidence in them. Many spoke of the reaction of their fellow students to their appointments and the sense of responsibility and importance that they feel as youth mayors. They aslo spoke of their commitment to being shining examples for their peers.
John Powell of Black River assured the Prime Minister that indeed the future was secure in their hands as youth have the ‘innate propensity’  to fulfil the dreams of a better  Jamaica. While Shenneil James who was installed as  youth mayor for Montego Bay last year, broke down in tears as she told the Prime Minister that she was her inspiration and Serceia Brown of Mandeville said she was inspired to change her career goal from that of being a lawyer to being coming Prime Minister of Jamaica some day.
The Youth Council concept began in 1995 as a means sensitizing the youth of Jamaica about the operations of Local Government through the Local Authorities. To make the concept more meaningful the youth Mayors get a practical feel for council operations by acting as councillors for a day.
 Since 2001 the youth Mayors have been invited to a special luncheon with the sitting Minister of Local Government as well as to pay a courtesy call on the Governor General or the Prime Minister during Local Government Month.

Historic Investiture Ceremony for Mayors & Deputy Mayors Held..

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As the celebration of Local Government and Community Development Month 2012 continues, Minister Arscott took the opportunity to highlight the significance of the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor with the first official Investiture Ceremony held on Friday, November 9, 2012. The ceremony took place at King’s House and was attended by the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen who brought greetings.
In his address Minister Arscott told the Mayors and Deputy Mayors that they were responsible for the image of the Local Authority and they should ensure that it ‘always maintains its relevance and splendour as the seat of Government for the parish’. He added that one way of doing this is to focus on quality service delivery which should be high on their agendas especially as the government strive to reform local government.
The Minister further charged the Council leaders to always be mindful of the fact that the revitalization of local government is dependent on their leadership. “Without your astute and deliberate leadership…it will become increasingly difficult to implement these far-reaching policies and plans”, he said.
The investiture ceremony was hailed as one of the main features of this year’s observation of Local Government and Community Development Month as it provided the opportunity for Mayors and Deputy Mayors to receive one of the highest forms of acknowledgement of their roles in the Local Government structure.
The Celebration of Local Government & Community Development Month 2012 continues with the island’s fourteen (14) youth mayors paying a courtesy call on the Prime Minister on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. The courtesy call will be followed by a luncheon with the Minister of Local Government and the Hon Lisa Hanna Minister of Youth and Culture at the Ministry’s offices at 85 Hagley Park Road, Kingston 10 and a visit to the Bank of Jamaica’s Museum.

Local Government & Community Month Launched

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On Sunday November 4, 2012 the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development officially launched Local Government and Community Month 2012 under the theme: Local Government; on a mission together, building better communities.

The launch formed part of the National Church Service held in collaboration with the Manchester Parish Council and the Social Development Commission (SDC) at the St Augustine Anglican Church in Porus, Manchester.

In delivering his Local Government & Community Month message Minister of Local Government & Community Development the Hon Noel Arscott,emphasised the value of community involvement in local governance. “Critical decision-making and priority setting at the community level is of significant import to the local governance process as the wealth of knowledge and experience throughout our communities is an extremely valuable repository from which we draw inspiration” He said.
The Minister also gave his commitment to continuing the participatory approach to governance saying that the Ministry would be “doubling its efforts to increase the direct engagement of our Civil Society Partners particularly our Parish Development Committees (PDCs) through the strategic linkages developed by the Social Development Commission.”

While acknowledging that our local government system boasts international renown and is admired by our Caribbean and Commonwealth counterparts, the minister said that there was still much to be done. He encouraged members of the local government fraternity to use local government month, November, to reflect on their roles and responsibilities and to come “to the singular conclusion that Local Governance is a major plank for Jamaica’s continued development.”

The Minister also used the opportunity to recognize the efforts of the Parish Councils, National Solid Waste Management Authority, Jamaica Fire Brigade and other government agencies in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and promised continued support to those affected by the hurricane.
The observation of Local Government Month came out of the reform programme and a need to provide, the public with more information and for the Local Authorities (LAs) to have the opportunity to highlight their activities and deepen their relationship with their constituents.
The commemoration of Local Government Month continues with the major event of an investiture ceremony for Mayors and deputy Mayors on Friday, November 9, 2012 at King’s House. Other activities include a health fair, youth councils and an awards function for Local Authorities. Additionally, each local authority has developed its own slate of activities while the SDC is partnering with the Councils to implement parish projects involving youth mayors.