Municipal Corporations’ Building Units to be boosted

Posted on November 27, 2023

The capacity of the building units inside the Municipal Corporations will be increased with additional officers to strengthen the enforcement of building approval procedures.

According to Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, the move is timely given the surge in construction projects- both at the commercial and residential levels- across the country.

“We are increasing the number of building officers to strengthen the ability of the local authority to respond effectively. With the current staffing levels, it is impossible to monitor developments across the country adequately,” he said.

“I am giving notice that the local authorities will not sit back and allow illegal construction to take place and then persons turn around and be critical, even suggesting that they are taking bribes in order to facilitate illegal construction.”

The Minister stressed that the current trend to disregard building approval procedures is worrying. He also noted that some established developers move away from approved building plans during construction.

“They put up dry wall partitions and they use all sorts of methods to bypass the approval process.”

Minister McKenzie, who was speaking at a retirement function hosted by the St. Ann Municipal Corporation on November 12, also announced the establishment of a committee to evaluate and provide recommendations on the Government’s response to building violations post-approval.

The committee will comprise private-sector individuals and experts in the building industry.

He charged that there is need for collective responsibility despite the local authorities being the sole legitimate entities for granting building approvals.

“The role and emphasis on proper building observation and persons (adhering) to approvals are not just the responsibility of the local authorities by themselves.”

Local Gov’t Minister hosts annual Youth Mayors’ Forum – $1 Million for each Junior Council Project

Posted on November 22, 2023

RUNAWAY BAY, St. Ann: Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, has committed J$1 million each to the 14 Junior Councils to undertake their group projects during their one-year term.

The Minister hosted the new cohort of Youth Mayors, representing the respective Municipal Corporations and the Municipality of Portmore, at a forum in Runaway Bay, St. Ann on November 16.

The Youth Mayor presented their proposed group projects and their impact on their communities. The initiatives ranged from the provision of water tanks to schools as well as the renovation of football fields, bus stops and infirmaries to catering to the mentally ill.

“As I listened to all of your presentations they were of high quality, well put together, and most importantly, they were excellently delivered, and I must commend you,” stated Minister McKenzie.

“Local Government is the stable for producing outstanding political leaders.”

He used the Youth Mayors’ Forum to highlight the role of local government in nurturing future political leaders, as he encouraged the young leaders to view their roles as “stepping stones” into the complex world of politics.

“I want to encourage you, because a lot of people feel that if you’re going into politics, you must walk in and become a Member of Parliament. While it is good to have ambition, it is also good to experience what it is all about by being a [Local Government] Councillor,” the Minister added.

He urged the Youth Mayors to recognise the importance of gaining experience as a parochial representative (Councillor) before pursuing higher political ambitions, as he alluded to the challenges and the responsibilities of the role.

Minister McKenzie also acknowledged the efforts of the Youth Mayors on the brilliance exhibited during their presentations. He noted the continuous improvement in the forum’s quality since its introduction in 2016.

He also encouraged them to remain engaged in politics even after their term has ended.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the youth leaders for their participation in the programme and challenged them to ensure the successful execution of their projects.

The Youth Mayors’ Forum form part of the activities of Local Government and Community Month, which is observed in November each year.

MESSAGE FROM THE MOST HON. ANDREW HOLNESS, ON, PC, MP PRIME MINISTER Local Government and Community Month 2023

Posted on November 15, 2023

The Government is pleased to acknowledge and celebrate the essence of our local communities and the vital role of our local government system. Indeed, the government appreciates the remarkable contributions of our local authorities and their enduring commitment to the well-being of our society.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is an important component of this government that accompanies citizens through the stages of their lives. The services of the local authorities have been integral in facilitating the development of communities that can deliver sustainable first world services through modern, participatory, autonomous, and adaptive systems, for the benefit of all citizens.

As we celebrate Local Government month this November under the theme: Creating A Legacy of Improved Social Services’ we acknowledge the values that underpin the foundation of our communities and our nation as a whole.  Indeed, local government encapsulates the pivotal role that our local authorities play in fostering social care, unity, and progress within our neighbourhoods.

Over the years, this Ministry has achieved record breaking performances in areas such as infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation, upgrading of markets, municipal buildings, fire stations, infirmaries, streetlight, and constructing houses for the indigent population.

I commend the Ministry of Local Government for its work in caring for the homeless among our population, setting up night shelters in various parishes, the integral role it plays in the preparation for natural disasters, opening recreational parks, the beautification of our towns and cities and ensuring that the enforcement of anti-litter and building laws are priority on the government’s agenda.  We will continue to strategically expand the capacity of the authorities to further upgrade the National Solid Waste Management Authority, NSWMA, as we believe every Jamaican should have the opportunity to live in a clean community.

Indeed, we have set the standard high. The government remains committed to fulfilling the needs of every Jamaican through the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. We will work to develop and refine strategies, forge partnerships to promote sustainable development and advance Jamaica to first-world status.

It is imperative that we acknowledge and honour the tireless efforts of those who work diligently within our local government, striving to improve the lives of our citizens and build a brighter future for generations to come. Let us use this month as an opportunity to reflect on the significance of their contributions and to actively engage in initiatives that promote the betterment of our communities.

Together, let us continue to work hand in hand, fostering a legacy of enhanced social services and reinforcing the bonds that strengthen the fabric of our beloved nation.

 

The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP

Prime Minister

 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER MOURNS PASSING OF VETERAN ST. ANN FIREFIGHTER

Posted on November 15, 2023

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie is mourning the untimely death of Sergeant Lynford Hendricks, who passed away in hospital earlier on Monday.

“Sergeant Hendricks was an active and highly respected member of the firefighting professionals assigned to the Ocho Rios Fire Station. He was admitted to hospital last week, then transferred to another hospital in Kingston and was being treated when this unwelcome news emerged. Had he lived just another 39 days, he would have celebrated 26 years of distinguished service to this country, through the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

“Sadly also, Sergeant Hendricks died on the birthday of his former colleague Firefighter Larenzo Douse, who was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the Ocho Rios Main Road in November 2022. The preparations for officially renaming the Ocho Rios Fire Station in honour of Firefighter Douse are well underway, and  the death of Sergeant Hendricks has created an additional dimension of grief and pain for all the firefighters in St. Ann and beyond.

“This is a terrible time. I know that the Commissioner of the Fire Brigade and a host of personnel are extending themselves to offer support. The Ministry grieves, and I grieve at the loss of Sergeant Hendricks, and we extend to all his loved ones and friends our deepest condolences. We hope that in the coming days they will experience some level of healing. May he rest in peace and light eternal shine on him.”

Governor General’s Message for Local Government & Community Month 2023

Posted on November 9, 2023November 9, 2023

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY MONTH 2023

“Local Government: Creating A Legacy of Improved Social Services.”

As we stand on the threshold of Local Government and Community Month November 2023, we are reminded of the profound impact our local government system has on the very fabric of our nation. It’s an honor to greet you today and commend you on this very apt theme “Creating a Legacy of Improved Social Services.” Local Government is the bedrock of national development. It is at the grassroots that we see the purest form of governance, touching lives directly where it matters most. By preserving and developing our communities, local governments craft a legacy that spans generations.

This year’s theme is not just a call to action; it is a call to continued commitment to strive continuously until you reach your goals for 2030. We recognize the tireless efforts of our local authorities, who are the

custodians of social care and cohesion. It is their unique role that ensures every child, adult, and elder has access to the services they need to lead dignified lives. This Ministry stands as a testament to this dedication. We are committed to not only maintaining but elevating the standard of social services. Through innovative policies and compassionate outreach, we strive to ensure that no one is left behind in our quest for a prosperous future. Let us pledge, as a community and as a nation, to support our local governments in their mission to serve. Let’s join hands to create a legacy where improved social services are not a privilege but a right for all.

Thank you for your unwavering support to the cause of your local authorities and as you reflect on ways you can help in your local communities; I trust that your collective spirit will be renewed to serve our people with greater zeal. May God bless you in your service to Him and His people.

 

10 Additional Municipal Corporations Receive Technological Devices Valued $12.3M

Posted on November 8, 2023

JIS NEWS, Kingston: Ten additional Municipal Corporations are being provided with FortiGate devices, valued at approximately $12.3 million, to strengthen their digital framework and boost their technological capabilities.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, through collaboration with the National Works Agency (NWA), e-Gov Jamaica Limited and the Universal Service Fund (USF), was able to procure FortiGate Firewalls to improve the Corporations’ information and communications technology (ICT) security and connectivity.

The devices are already being utilised in four other local authorities.
The devices, inclusive of 12 FortiGate routers, 11 FortiGate access points, and the accompanying three-year support, were handed over to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development on Hagley Park Road in Kingston on November 3 by the USF.

Addressing the presentation ceremony, Portfolio Minister, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, said the devices will assist in boosting service delivery at the Municipal Corporations.

Noting that this represents a significant milestone in the work of the local authorities, Mr. McKenzie said the provisions “will enable us to increase our capacity to deliver, especially when it comes on to building applications”.

“One of the ways that we are looking to strengthen the work of the local authorities is to move into the age of technology. There are some Municipal Corporations, even as we speak, that have real Internet challenges at some of the locations. So, what we are developing here is a cross-government approach to increase technology [and] to increase the potential for service delivery,” he pointed out.

The Minister said ICT integration in the operations of the local authorities is critical, as they have a vast area of service responsibilities. These relate to building applications, places of amusement licenses, hairdressers, and barbers.

Mr. McKenzie urged the Chief Executive Officers of the various Municipal Corporations to ensure that information technology officers receive continuous training in new apparatuses.

“They must be exposed to the latest technology that is available,” he further underscored.

Human Resource and Administration Manager at the USF, Shanice Cornwall, said provision of the devices forms part of Jamaica’s digital transformation.

She said the agency will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the country’s digital landscape is robust and inclusive.

Chief Executive Officer, St. Ann Municipal Corporation, Jennifer Brown Cunningham, expressed gratitude for the devices.

“We have been on this journey for a little while with e-Gov, the NWA and also with USF, in building out the backbone of this infrastructure that is required for us to be feeding to all of the other Ministries that will benefit from having this programme on the ground,” she said.

Under the Government’s National Broad Band Initiative, the Municipal Corporations have been outfitted with the necessary equipment from the GovNet project.

This serves as an Internet-connection hub for the courts, schools, the NWA’s offices, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and allows the Municipal Corporations to have access to AMANDA using the broadband.

The AMANDA (Application Management and Data Automation) system is a web-based system aimed at providing greater transparency in the building approval process and relies heavily on Internet connection to provide faster services.

 

PERSONS ENCOURAGED TO INSPECT BUILDINGS FOR POSSIBLE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE

Posted on November 1, 2023

KINGSTON, (JIS):

Jamaicans are encouraged to continue inspecting their buildings for cracks, shifts in pillars, posts and other beams and structural members, and to seek a professional assessment if there is any damage.

This reminder came from Acting Director General, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday (October 30) following a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that impacted sections of Jamaica earlier on the day.

He said the inspection and assessment is to ensure that buildings are safe, while also encouraging persons to check for gas leaks.

Mr. Thompson further urged Jamaicans to take precautionary measures in the event of an earthquake.

“We preach to the public all the time as it relates to the ‘drop, cover, hold’ principle, and I know sometimes when you have not experienced anything of this nature, you tend to forget some of these principles,” he said.

Mr. Thompson also reminded persons to exit their buildings by using the stairs and  not elevators.

He suggested that a warden system should be established within offices  to manage the movement of personnel and check buildings before re-entry.

The Acting Director General also urged Jamaicans to remain alert during these natural disasters.

“One of the things that occurred during the event was that it [made] it a bit difficult for the response personnel to call within their call groups or have discussions about the event because many persons were on their phones.

“We want to remind persons that during an incident of this nature, we know it gets a little dramatic and persons want to call each other. But we are asking persons not to use cellphones during these kinds of incidents unless it is absolutely necessary,” he maintained.

Mr. Thompson said ODPEM continues to do its checks, working closely with the other response entities.

Meanwhile, he advised that following the earthquake, consultation with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre determined that no tsunami was generated by the seismic activity.

Phase Two of Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre development to be completed in January

Posted on October 24, 2023

JIS NEWS, Kingston: Phase-two development of the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre for the Homeless in downtown Kingston, which is now under way, is slated for completion in January 2024.

 

The addition, which will increase the facility’s occupancy capacity from 40 to 100, is part of the Government’s drive to provide resources and infrastructure to improve the quality of life for Jamaica’s homeless population.

 

Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, who made the disclosure, told JIS News that the expansion will provide additional space for more destitute persons seeking assistance.

 

“We are looking at a three-month period to complete the second phase. So, we are looking at sometime in January. In the beginning, we were looking at a total of 100 persons… that is what we are targeting. Persons who are homeless and are [experiencing challenges], they are taken in here,” he said.

 

Senator Williams visited the shelter, located on King Street, on October 10 during a ceremony to commemorate the observance of World Homeless Day.

Clients of the facility were treated to care packages.

 

He said the facility provides a holistic programme that aims to offer shelter and the basic social needs to assist needy persons to rebuild their lives.

 

“We are trying as best as possible to transition people back into their normal lives, and we have provided employment for a number of homeless persons in the downtown area, primarily as environmental wardens. We are engaging the private sector to see in what ways they can provide employment opportunities for [some of these persons]. It is a total programme, and we are seeing success,” Mayor Williams shared.

 

In recognition of his many years of service to the nation’s homeless, the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) on May 10, 2022, approved a Resolution to name the facility in honour of Mr. McKenzie who is the Minister of Local Government and Community Development.

 

Minister McKenzie, who also visited with clients and staff at the facility, said the Centre continues to be a haven for this vulnerable population.

 

He said the significance of World Homeless Day “is not lost on us here in Jamaica, because we are seeing a growing number of persons on the streets right across the country”.

 

Mr. McKenzie said the shelter, which is the first adult transitional facility for persons living on the nation’s streets, is an indication of the Government’s commitment to improved social services.

 

In this regard, he said similar facilities are being built out across the island.

The Centre, which is open 24 hours, serves as a shelter and rehabilitative service point. It provides protection, specialised care, and aids in the holistic renewal of clients.

FIRE WEEK TO FOCUS ON SAFETY IN A DIGITAL SOCIETY

Posted on October 20, 2023

KINGSTON, Oct. 20 (JIS):

‘Fire Safety in a Digital Society’ is the theme for this year’s observance of Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week, from October 22 to 28.

“The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) thought it necessary to use this period to zone in on fire safety implications that exist for a society that is exhibiting an increasing reliance on digital technologies,” said Acting Superintendent, JFB, Jay Scott.

He was speaking during the Week’s official launch on Wednesday (October 18) at the Police Officers Club in St. Andrew.

Mr. Scott informed that the JFB will use the week to execute a public education campaign geared towards increasing awareness about the issue.

The objectives of the campaign include promoting lithium-ion battery, electric vehicle and smart building fire safety, and digital emergency preparedness.

“To achieve the stated objectives, the JFB will engage in a series of activities across all parishes during the week. These will include presentations, symposiums, workshops, expositions, face-to-face community engagements, as well as electronic media engagements,” Mr. Scott informed.

For his part, JFB Commissioner, Stewart Beckford, encouraged persons to pay attention to the messages that will be communicated throughout the week, noting that tips on the safe use of devices will be provided.

“We have had incidents of fires occurring because of persons [among other things] inappropriately charging their devices; so we want to educate,” he said.

For over 25 years, the JFB has been observing Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week during the last week of October, when the message of fire prevention and safety information is taken to the population.

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CONTACT: SHANNA K. SALMON