Ministry allocates $20m to Poor Relief for back-to-school assistance

Posted on August 29, 2023

The Poor Relief Department will disburse $20 million in back-to-school assistance to students registered under its programme for the upcoming 2023/2024 academic year, which begins in September.

“We have a very vibrant education programme in poor relief,” said Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development.

The Minister made the announcement at the recent official opening ceremony for the Ocho Rios Night Shelter in St Ann.

He also highlighted that the Government is determined to provide a sustained educational programme within the poor relief framework, and that there was an urgent need for increased assistance following discussions with the Board of Supervision.

The Board of Supervision operates under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and was established to supervise and monitor the delivery of poor relief services through the Municipal Corporations.

To date, over 3500 students islandwide are registered under the Poor Relief Department.

Minister McKenzie stated that education is pivotal to success for persons reliant on poor relief support. and noted that there have been several success stories relating to poor-relief beneficiaries who have excelled academically.

He also shared the story of a young man from the constituency of Kingston Western who achieved his dream of becoming a medical doctor.

“This young man went to Wolmer’s and ended up with about 16 distinctions and he said he wanted to become a doctor. He has graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Drexel University, [and] he came out of poor relief.”

The Minister also disclosed that more than $150m has been allocated to councillors for back-to-school support, in a bid to ensure that needy students in their parochial divisions are provided with the require resources for the new school year.

JFB Urges Persons Not to Leave Cooking Unattended

Posted on August 16, 2023

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is urging persons not to leave cooking unattended, in order to prevent fires.

 

JFB Commissioner, Stewart Beckford, told JIS News that within recent years, “cooking left unattended” has been among the causes of fires across the island.

 

He pointed out that the JFB has had cases where persons fall asleep while cooking.

 

Mr. Beckford noted that in several instances, persons come home from work tired, start cooking, move to sit in the sofa, then “the next thing you know, you dose off and that becomes full blown sleep and when you wake up, the entire place is on fire”.

 

He informed that there have also been incidents of fires where persons leave the house while cooking, saying they are going on the road “but not too far”, to get something, often an ingredient that is needed for the meal.

 

“What we normally encourage persons to do is, if you have to leave the house or if you feel tired, don’t start cooking. However, if you start, turn the stove off,” the Commissioner stated.

 

“It’s better to be safe than sorry. You can always resume your cooking. But when your house is burnt down, you are going to have to build from scratch,” he emphasised.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Beckford is encouraging Jamaicans to invest in fire extinguishers and smoke detectors for their homes.

$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.

Two houses handed over in St. Elizabeth

Posted on June 27, 2023

Two houses handed over in St. Elizabeth

 

BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth: Two indigent houses built under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Municipal Social Assistance Programme (MSAP)were handed over in the parish of St. Elizabeth last week.

 

Portfolio Minister Honourable Desmond McKenzie did the handovers on June 22 in the communities of Brompton and Black River to Misses Shoya Farquharson and Bernicey Wright respectively.

 

He stressed that the Poor Relief Department, which oversees the initiative, must remain nonpartisan in selecting beneficiaries for the housing programme.

 

“None of the poor relief officers across Jamaica should ask anybody which party they are a part of…because being poor is no respecter of colour, creed or party,” said Minister McKenzie.

 

“This is why whatever we do, it is transparent, it is open, and we can stand up to any scrutiny on this programme.”

 

MSAP is designed to address the housing crisis among the poor and most vulnerable.

 

Miss Wright, who lost her home to fire in Black River, St. Elizabeth, is the proud recipient of a two-bedroom unit was constructed at a cost of $9 million.

 

The Mayor of Black River, Councillor Derrick Sangster, commended the Poor Relief Department for the work it has been doing in assisting persons in need.

 

“It is one of the pillars of the Ministry that renders so much assistance to many persons throughout Jamaica. I think we are all aware of the circumstances that one is in when they are assisted by the Poor Relief Department and the building of houses of this nature,” he said.

 

“For those who might have fallen on hard times, for those who might not have been able to achieve for themselves a unit at this level, that is the kind of assistance that Mr. McKenzie and the Ministry, through the Board of Supervision and the Poor Relief Department, render to citizens, throughout the island.”

 

In her remarks, Ms. Wright expressed gratitude for her new house.

“I want to personally thank Minister McKenzie for being a man of his word. You expressed your commitment to help me recover from my loss, and you have worked with the relevant agency to make this a reality,” Ms. Wright noted.

 

She also thanked other stakeholders who were instrumental in ensuring she received her home.