$12.8m contract signed for Hill Sixty Road rehab -Cheswick, St. Thomas to get upgrade under the Rural Development Programme

Posted on July 21, 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica: A multi-million contract has been signed for the rehabilitation of Hill Sixty Road in Cheswick, St. Thomas. Some $12.8m is earmarked for the project which forms part of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Rural Development Programme (RDP). The contract signing took place on July 18 between representatives of the Ministry and FSC Construction Works Limited.

 

“The people of Cheswick must understand that this programme that we are doing has no political colours,” said Portfolio Minister, Honourable Desmond McKenzie in his remarks.

 “The reason why as a Government we have been doing as much as we’ve been doing, and especially for rural development is because of the economic stability and the steady hands of government.”

 

The rehabilitation of Hill Sixty Road is being funded by the Ministry’s Equalization Fund.

 

The RDP was announced in 2021 and is focused on upgrading targeted rural spaces and their infrastructure. Work is on in earnest in Chambers Pen, Hanover – the pilot project for which more than $228m is being spent to update and revive the area. Already, approximately $20m has been expended in Cheswick to rewire houses for connection to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) grid.  

“One of the main features of the Rural Development Programme is to install electricity so that communities like Cheswick can have access to JPS power,” added Minister McKenzie.

 He also used the occasion to announce additional projects for the St. Thomas community. The Ministry’s Technical Unit and the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation were also tasked to complete the Cheswick Community Centre building at a cost of $20m.

 

“I saw a half-finished building and I was told that it was supposed to be a community centre for Cheswick. We are going to complete the construction of the community centre” the Minister stated. “I am giving the charge that I would love to go back before the end of this calendar year to hand over the centre.”

 

Another feature that Cheswick will benefit from is the Indigent Social Housing Programme. A total of eight houses will be constructed for beneficiaries. “Eight persons have been identified and interviews have been done and it is estimated that $60m will be spent to construct housing solutions for these persons,” said Minister McKenzie.

 

“…Assessment of the area found a number of persons who are registered in the Poor Relief system of Local Government are living in poverty and even below the poverty line.”

MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONDEMNS KILLING OF SOUTHBORO DIVISION COUNCILLOR

Posted on July 20, 2023

 

Kingston, Jamaica – The Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the Honorable Desmond McKenzie is deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Ainsley Parkins, Councillor for the Southboro Division.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Councillor Ainsley Parkins. His service to the community will be remembered, and his contributions to the betterment of Southboro Division are recognized and appreciated.”

Councillor Parkins’ dedication to public service and his commitment to the well-being of his constituents were commendable, and his passing is a loss felt by the entire community.

Minister McKenzie is calling on the police to use all resources available to bring to Justice those who are responsible for this dastardly act”.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER ANNOUNCES NEW MARKET TO BE BUILT AT THE GROUNDS OF THE OLD YALLAHS MARKET IN ST. THOMAS

Posted on July 17, 2023

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced that a new Market facility will be built at the site of the former Yallahs Market in St. Thomas. At the same time, he has dismissed reports that a jerk centre is to be constructed on this land.

“I am aware of the reports to the effect that the site of the former Yallahs Market will be used to establish a jerk centre. I want to make it very clear that no consideration has been made or permission granted for any such venture. On the contrary, I am announcing that at the end of the current lease arrangements for this property in St. Thomas, it will return to the full custodianship of the Municipal Corporation, and a new Market will be established there to improve the economic and social life of Yallahs and its surrounding communities.

“I stated in the public domain in January this year, in specific relation to this same property, that any prospective land arrangement involving a local authority must be submitted to the Ministry for consideration. The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Land Divestment Committee reviews these matters and makes recommendations to me as the responsible Minister for  approval. In some cases, the issues involved may also require the approval of Cabinet. This remains the case. I also want to give the assurance that any use of this land will be properly approved and made public. The Ministry will not allow any deviation from the laws and policies that exist to preserve the financial integrity of the local government system.”

Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless -Transforming the lives of the vulnerable

Posted on July 11, 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica: It is not often that persons get a second chance to lead meaningful lives. There is now a transitional centre on Church Street in the city of Kingston that provides support for the most vulnerable in turning their lives around.

The Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless was opened in May 2022 with its first admission on September 8. It has been a beacon of hope for several persons who came to know the facility as their home.

 

“Persons here are provided with a wholistic approach to rehabilitation,” shared Mrs. Mavis Farquharson, the Inspector of Poor at the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

 

Mrs. Farquharson and her team of Poor Relief Officers operate the Centre and ensure that the clients are well cared for.  The services offered are accommodation, meals, medical care, clothing, liaison for job opportunities and remedial educational programmes. There is also a therapeutic park as well as recreational areas provided for the clients.

Built to accommodate a total of 40 persons; the Transitional Centre now houses 26 persons inclusive of six females who are supervised and nurtured by a staff of six to include two nurses.

 

According to Mrs. Farquharson, the residents are given remedial learning classes through a partnership with the HEART NTA.

 

“This Centre helps to restore normalcy to persons who have fallen on hard times, and we try to reintegrate them back into the society,” she added. “We have five persons who have transitioned to living on their own. One of those persons is now gainfully employed in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.”

 

The Inspector of Poor also shared that another five clients have been gainfully employed as Environmental Wardens with the KSAMC.

 

Mrs. Farquharson and her team also coordinate social activities for the Centre’s clients and have hosted several events with the National Council on Drug Abuse; Empowerment Seminars focusing on income generating projects with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security; as well as grooming and creative activities.

 

Clients are housed at the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre from six months to a year depending on their assessment and progress which are tracked by the team of Poor Relief Officers.

 

“The Centre was really needed and complements the Marie Atkins Night Shelter that is also operated by the KSAMC,” stated Mrs. Farquharson.

 

“We get referrals at times from the Night Shelter and the police who sometimes seek refuge for persons they come in contact with on the streets and they are taken here or to the Night Shelter.”

 

The Centre is fully funded by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development through the Board of Supervision which oversees the Poor Relief Departments islandwide.

 

 

 

PLEASE BOX:

 

For additional information, persons with an interest in the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre, may contact the KSAMC Poor Relief Department at 876-924-9277 0r 876-922-6936/6937.

Ministry’s Youth Summer Employment Programme launched for 2023

Posted on July 4, 2023

30. ANN’S BAY, St. Ann: The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) hosted its 2023 launch ceremony at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School on June 30.

The YSEP – now in its seventh year, provides employment opportunities for young people during the summer months, enabling them to gain valuable skills and work experience.

Portfolio Minister, Honourable Desmond McKenzie hailed the programme as an important launching pad for youngsters in their preparation for adulthood.

Data indicate that the programme has grown from 1,600 participants at the launch in 2016 to 6,500 in 2022. A total of 28,000 persons have been employed to the since its inception.

“Last year following COVID, we expanded the YSEP to the largest number of young people ever employed,” stated the Minister.

This year, 6500 participants will also be employed in various public-sector entities.

Minister McKenzie also explained that the selection of participants is done on a non-partisan basis.

“What we want to know is the colour of your ability to perform and to contribute to the growth and development of Jamaica,” he said.

He also urged the young people to be mindful of their conduct while carrying out their tasks.

“Let me say that we are not going to be afraid to cut anyone if your behaviour does not match the standard that was set when we started in 2016. This is the foundation for you to move forward into our working world.”

The YSEP seeks to utilize information gathering and data collection to support the programmes and activities of the Ministry and its entities. This aligns with the Government of Jamaica’s national priorities which are Human Capital Development and Inclusive Sustainable Economic Growth and Job Creation.

YSEP continues to improve the skillset of young people while providing greater level of efficiency and improved service delivery to citizens and stakeholders.

 

This year, some of the main duties for participants will focus on:

1. Road Mapping – to collect the requisite data on parochial road infrastructure (gullies, drains, roads), cemeteries, markets, sanitary conveniences across the country

 

2. Vulnerable Population Survey- to identify where they exist, and support needed in the event of a natural disaster and general support through the local government and other services

 

3. Streetlight Audit – to maintain an up-to-date database of streetlights across the island, their working conditions, and number of new installations.

 

4. Traders’ Survey – to capture the number of traders across the island to update the database.