About Us

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Vision

The premier government organisation in the Caribbean that facilitates the development of communities that can deliver sustainable first world services through modern, participatory, autonomous and adaptive systems, for the benefit of all citizens.

Mission

To provide a sound policy, legal, technical and administrative framework that supports excellent service delivery and operational management by the Local Authorities and portfolio agencies, in a manner that advances the ideals of effective local governance and the goals of sustainable, community development, through a purpose-driven and competent work force.

Roles & Functions

Role & Functions

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development acts as the agent of local development. This covers the areas of:

    • Community Development
    • Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
    • Fire Services
    • Infirmaries
    • Local Governance
    • Local Government Amenities (abattoirs, pounds and cemeteries)
    • Local Government Reform
    • Local Sustainable Development Planning
    • Minor Water Supplies and Social Water
    • Municipal Parks and Beautification
    • Outdoor Poor Relief Services
    • Parochial Markets
    • Parochial Roads
    • Planning Approvals
    • Rural Development
    • Rural Electrification
    • Rural Water
    • Solid Waste Management
    • Street Lighting

Local government reform was added when a Reform Unit was established 1994 guided by a policy paper written a year earlier as well as extensive discussions on the issues over the years.

The responsibility for local development has been linked to other subjects in the past in keeping with the policy position and priority of successive Political Administration.

Year Description
1996: Ministry of Local Government Youth Sport and Culture,
1998: Ministry of Local Government and Works,
2002 – 2006: Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sports
Mar 2006 – Aug 2007: The Ministry of Local Government and Environment
Sept 2007 – Dec 2011: The responsibility for local government was assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister
Jan 2011 – Sept 2020: Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.
Sept 2020: Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

When the responsibility for local government was moved to the Office of the Prime Minister in September 2007 it was with the mandate of accelerating the pace of local government reform and capacity building within the Local Authorities through implementation of key recommendations of the National Advisory Council (NAC) on local government reform. These recommendations focus on five main areas:

  • Governance: Democracy & Transparency
  • Finance & Funding
  • Structure
  • Function and Legal Framework
  • The Ministry continues to pursue this mandate

Past & Present Ministers Of Local Government

Ministers Ministry Year Constituency
Hon. Leopold Lynch Ministry of Local Government 1967-1972 Portland Western
Hon. Rose Leon Ministry of Local Government 1972-1976 West Rural St. Andrew
Hon. Seymour Mullings Ministry of Local Government 1978-1980 St. Ann South Eastern
Hon. Pearnel Charles Ministry of Local Government 1980-1982 St. Thomas Eastern
Hon. Alva Ross Ministry of Local Government 1982-1983 St. Mary South Eastern
Hon. Neville Lewis Ministry of Local Government 1983-1989 St. Elizabeth North Western
Hon. Ralph Brown Ministry of Local Government and Community Development 1989-1992; Kingston Central
Hon. Desmond Leaky Ministry of Local Government and Community Development 1992-1993 Trelawny northern
Hon. John Junor Ministry of Local Government Youth & Sports 1993-1995 Manchester Central
Hon. Roger Clarke Ministry of Local Government & Works 1995-1997 St. Elizabeth North Eastern
Hon. Arnold Bertram Ministry of Local Government & Community Development 1998-2002 St. Ann North Western
Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller Ministry of Local Government, Community Development & Sports 2002 – 2006 St. Andrew South Western
Hon. Dean Peart Ministry of Local Government & Environment 2006-2007 Manchester North Western
Hon. Shahine Robinson Housing, Environment, Water and Local Government Oct. 2011-Nov.2011 St. Ann North Eastern
Hon. Noel Arscott Ministry of Local Government & Community Development 2011 – 2016 Clarendon South Western
Hon. Desmond McKenzie Ministry of Local Government and Community Development 2016 – Present Kingston Western

Hon. Robert Montaque MP

State Minister -Office of the Prime Minister, The Department of Local Government    2007-2011

Hon. Shahine Robinson MP

State Minister – Office of the Prime Minister, The Department of Local Government – July 2011 – October 2011

Structure

The Ministry dispenses its function through seven (7) agencies and fourteen (14) local authorities namely;

  • Jamaica Fire Brigade
  • Board of Supervision (which is responsible for the nation’s infirmaries)
  • The National Solid Waste Management Authority -NSWMA
  • Social Development Commission – SDC
  • Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management -ODPEM
  • 14 Municipal Corporations – Local Authorities
  • Rural Water Supply Limited
  • Rural Electrification Project