Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, is urging Jamaicans to be vigilant against streetlight theft.

“We have the breakdown of where the thefts have occurred from parish to division. Unscrupulous people are preying on the network, all over the country. In the last financial year, 723 streetlights were stolen and the JPS spent US$303,660 or over J$47 million to replace them,” he shared during his 2022/2023 Sectoral Presentation under the theme ‘Leading the rural transformation drive, as Jamaica emerges from COVID-19”.

“While it is clear that these criminal acts require a police response, it is not possible for the Constabulary to be on every road to address this issue. The streetlights are being stolen on the main roads, and within urban and rural communities. I call on residents everywhere to be vigilant, and to help to prevent the highways and byways being plunged into darkness.”

The average cost of replacing one streetlight is US$420 and incidents of theft have been reported in all 14 parishes.

According to the Ministry’s data, the Chesterfield Main Road in St. Andrew is the site of repeated thefts. Some 32 lights along with 3,200 metres of service wire were stolen on three separate occasions. They were replaced three times at a cost of nearly US$50,000.

“The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) is reporting that lights along the Chesterfield Main Road have been stolen for a fourth time, and that it will cost US$16,000 to replace them. The second example is the Hellshire Main Road in St. Catherine, where 15 lights and 1,500 metres of service wire were stolen all at once on one night. These lamps and wires were replaced at a cost of US$7,800,” added Minister McKenzie.

He emphasized that meaningful investment in physical infrastructure must include the maintenance and expansion of the country’s network of streetlights. This approach is also hinged on value for money.

In the last financial year, the JPS billed the Government J$2.9 billion for the provision of streetlights, and the bill was paid in full. The light and power company was paid an average of J$243m monthly to provide this service.

“The reality remains however, that not all the streetlights are working, and the Local Authorities and the citizens who fall within their jurisdictions all over the country, deserve better,” the Minister stated.

“As had been promised to this House in my last presentation, I have been meeting, along with Ministry officials with the JPS to resolve a wide range of issues, and the consultations are continuing. In the last financial year, the company installed 725 new streetlights, which was 358 short of the installation target of 1,083.”

A total of 13,575 streetlights were repaired between April 2021 and March 2022.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, will break ground for a new fire station in Ulster Spring, Trelawny on June 17.-This move is part of the Government’s thrust to increase the pace of building out new fire stations for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) to meet the needs of the evolving population.  Since 2016, the Administration has invested approximately J$5.74 billion in equipment and infrastructural development.

“The Government is determined to ensure that through the restoration of current stations and the building of new ones; the Jamaica Fire Brigade will feature an efficient network of fire stations that will provide a rapid response to any emergencies that arise. Such a network will also require sufficient personnel, and I am heartened to report that a new batch of 90 firefighters commenced training exercises in February this year,” stated Minister McKenzie.

“Fire Brigade personnel perform among other duties, inspections of buildings, and are part of the multi-agency assessment teams that carry out the development approvals process. To raise additional revenue, in order to further revitalize the Fire Brigade, we are examining the levying of a fee on new construction projects that exceed a prescribed height. I will say more about this at another time.”

Three new stations were earmarked for construction under the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project in Yallahs, Montego Bay and Port Maria. The new facility at Barnett Street in Montego Bay, St. James was officially opened on May 13 after significant construction challenges.

“This is a major development for the city of Montego Bay, especially when it is remembered that in 2016, when this Administration was elected, the Fire Station in Montego Bay had been closed for 7 years,” the Minister added during his presentation to the House of Representatives on May 25.

“Work is also far advanced on the Yallahs Fire Station in St. Thomas, and I expect to officially open it in this financial year. The Port Maria Fire Station is expected to be completed by the end of May, and I am also looking forward to opening this brand-new station shortly.”

Minister McKenzie also shared that during the 2021/2022 financial year, work was undertaken to complete the Old Harbour Fire Station in St. Catherine at a cost of $59.9 million, which was opened officially handed over on April 19.

Phase One of the Infrastructure Development Programme involved the rehabilitation of the Black River Fire Station at a cost of J$30m. Phase 2, which started in November 2021, is being implemented at a cost J$38.7 million.

“As the Government continues to invest significant sums to improve the infrastructure of the JFB, I want to say from the floor of this House, a huge thank you to the firefighters in the field, and to the administrative staff who provide critical support.”

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will embark on a revamped programme to enforce the country’s anti-litter and building laws.

The two-pronged initiative will address the illegal dumping of garbage and building construction material as well as illegal garages and car dealers who advertise their inventory on the sidewalks.

This announcement was made by Honourable Desmond McKenzie during his 2022/2023 Sectoral Presentation on May 25.

“The Government encourages entrepreneurship and free enterprise within the boundaries of the law, not chaos, selfishness, and disorder. An atmosphere of nuisance has emerged across the country and the issues I have drawn attention to are not just offensive, they are all illegal. Elected representatives, the police and the Local Authorities get constant complaints about these and other illegal acts happening across the country.”

Stage One of the initiative, which will begin shortly, will involve a national public education drive led by the Social Development Commission with support from Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.

“We will make the appeal to all sectors of the society, including private sector representatives, as domestic and commercial disposal practices still leave much to be desired. In fact, Madame Speaker, I have already met with the President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica and members of that body, and I am very encouraged by their response to this initiative,” the Minister said.

“Stage Two will involve strict enforcement of the NSWMA Act and the Building Act. A special taskforce comprising the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, the Municipal Corporations, and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) will be traversing the country and visiting the locations where breaches have been reported as well as observed.”

Vehicles, material, or any other objects that are improperly placed will have to be removed, failing which the offending objects will be confiscated.

Irresponsible persons in the construction industry and at the domestic level, continue practices that endanger citizens in very direct ways. One of which is having sand, gravel and blocks unloaded onto the sidewalk, thereby forcing pedestrians to walk into the road and into the path of motor vehicles.

Another nuisance is illegal garages with cars parked on the sidewalks, again endangering pedestrians. In some cases, the vehicles have been parked there for years.

According to Minister McKenzie, the Government will be pushing back strongly against the disorder that is being experienced daily.

“I want to assure the people in communities across the country, that their complaints are being heard and will be addressed. We will curtail these abuses of the built and the natural environment and improve your quality of life by removing these nuisances from the main roads and communities.”

The Regulations to the NSWMA Act have also been submitted to the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for review.

The Government will place an unprecedented emphasis on policies and programmes this financial year to increase the pace of economic and social activity for rural development.

“The task before us is not just to make Jamaica as a whole, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business. It is to make this a reality for people within their communities. This was recognized in 2009, when the Government unveiled Vision 2030, the National Development Plan,” declared Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

“It recognized that while the national rate of poverty was declining, rural poverty was stubbornly high. It was also acknowledged that if the country is to achieve “developed country” status, rural economic growth and development has to keep pace with the rates experienced in urban centres.”

He was speaking during his 2022 Sectoral Presentation to the Houses of Representatives on May 25.

Data reveals that approximately 44% of Jamaica’s total population live in the rural parts of the country. Minister McKenzie explained that the challenge is to stimulate rural economic growth so that employment and incomes will increase, thereby reducing rural to urban drift among a range of social problems.

“We also have to sharply expand access to social and productive infrastructure, such as rural electrification and water. These ambitions have been held by successive governments for many years but have never been effectively implemented,” he said.

“Over the last six years, the system of Local Government has demonstrated that with adequate capital investment, it can both enhance and protect the lives of the people of Jamaica. With the governance and service delivery network of Local Authorities established across the country, the task of rural development is a natural portfolio fit, and I once again thank the Most Honourable Prime Minister for his confidence in me, to lead this charge that will accelerate recovery and prosperity.”

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is spearheading the Rural Development Programme was introduced last year and is designed to give new life to rural communities over the next two years. The J$223 million pilot programme is Chambers Pen in Western Hanover. The works scheduled for this project include the installation of water and electrical infrastructure, internet access, roads, sidewalks, community parks and indigent housing.

“The works have not progressed at an ideal pace, but all the activities critical to this development pilot at Chambers Pen are being implemented. The Social Development Commission has completed a full Needs Assessment for the community and is implementing a skills training programme at a cost of one million dollars.

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority will also provide assistance to the farmers of Chambers Pen to the tune of J$2 million. Another J$28 million will be spent to construct four indigent homes – two family units and two studio units – and road rehabilitation works at a cost of $100 million.

PLEASE BOX:

CHAMBERS PEN REVITALIZATION PROJECT

• 300 houses in the community will be wired at a cost of J$27m. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, and works are expected to begin at the end of this month.
• The Community Centre and Basic School will be repaired at a cost of J$4m and J$20m respectively. The Ministry of Education opened the tender process for these repair projects on May 6.
• The Chambers Pen Water Supply System is also being implemented by our Agency, Rural Water Supply Limited at a cost of J$30m. A contract was signed for the provision of 3.4 kilometres of pipe and fixtures, while a separate tender process for the installation of the pipes was implemented. The successful bidder will be signing a contract with Rural Water before the end of May, and it is expected that works will commence in June.
• Approximately 1,500 persons in 300 households will benefit from the supply of 52,500 gallons of fresh water every day. Additionally, 300 service connections to the National Water Commission’s Great River Treatment Plant will be installed, and 300 Black Tanks will be provided, at a cost of J$9 million. These 400-gallon tanks will be distributed to each household in Chambers Pen.
• The official ground-breaking for the water supply project will be done next month and scheduled for completion by September month end.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon Desmond McKenzie, has described the official opening of the multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art Montego Bay Fire Station in St. James as a “game changer” for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB).

The facility’s construction which commenced in June 2019, was spearheaded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) under its Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Programme.

The station was completed at a cost of $580 million and houses a hi-tech gym, offices, dormitory facilities and accommodation for over 170 firefighters.

Addressing the opening ceremony on Friday (May 13) on the grounds of the four-storey facility, Minister McKenzie stated that the new fire station represents government’s commitment to improve the working conditions of firefighters.

“We are proud… that we have been able to respond to the needs of the men and women of the Jamaica fire brigade,” Mr. McKenzie said.

“This administration is committed in ensuring [the well-being] of the men and women of the Jamaica Fire Brigade… and I want to commend them for working in conditions that demonstrate their ability, commitment, and loyalty to the job,” he continued.

Noting that the fire station boosts the capacity of the JFB to serve parishes in western Jamaica, the Minister urged citizens to support the investment.

Mr. McKenzie also announced plans to upgrade the existing fire stations in Montego Bay to provide a proper working environment for firefighters attached to the division.

“I want to give the people of St James the assurance that we will not be closing any of the other stations because of this, we will be moving to upgrade those stations around Montego Bay,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. McKenzie disclosed that as government continues to build out the infrastructure of the JFB, ground will be broken in about three weeks for the construction of a new fire station in Ulster Spring, Trelawny, while stations in Port Maria, St. Mary, and Yallahs, St. Thomas, will also be opened this year.

“Balaclava in St Elizabeth will be our next location and we will be opening shortly not one, but two brand new facilities in Port Maria, St. Mary, and in Yallahs, St Thomas,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of JSIF, Omar Sweeney, says that the facility will enhance the capacity of the JFB to save lives and property in western Jamaica.

“Today [May 13], in line with our mandate of protecting the vulnerable and poor in Jamaica, this intervention of building the capacity of the Jamaica Fire Brigade is designed to… fight fires caused by drought”.

He continued: “It is also designed to ensure that the more than 200,000 residents, business owners and others that are in the capture area of the fire station, are better protected by having the capacity right here on Barnett Street to respond to disasters.”

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie has paid tribute to the life and service of former Mayor of Montego Bay, Cecil Donaldson, whopassed away earlier today. 

“Cecil Donaldson was an outstanding Councillor of the Glendevon Division, and a powerful and effective three-term Mayor of Montego Bay. He made a significant contribution to the  development of the City, and the enduring regard in which he is held is reflected in the Municipal Building having been named in his honour. Cecil Donaldson’s example and influence was widely felt, not least by his son, Noel, who himself entered representational politics at the local level, and also served as Mayor of Montego Bay. 

“Mayor Donaldson’s life was well-lived, and he has bequeathed a positive legacy to western Jamaica and to the system of local government. In the midst of their grief, I want to console his family and friends with this assurance, even as I offer my condolences. The Ministry celebrates and remembers the stalwarts of local government, and the name of Cecil Donaldson is cemented among among them. May he rest in peace, and God’s light shine eternally on him.”

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation’s (KSAMC) inaugural Wellness Day of Care for the Homeless is set to benefit some of the most vulnerable persons.

Officially dubbed the ‘Desmond McKenzie Wellness Day of Care for the Homeless’, the event will be held on Saturday, April 23, at the St. William Grant Park in Kingston from 10:00 a.m.

The day will be observed under the theme ‘Empowering our Most Vulnerable – Protecting the Homeless’, and will see the vulnerable homeless population of Kingston and St. Andrew provided with needed care and attention.

“We will have doctors who will be seeing persons from the homeless population and offering medical care. It is important for their own check-up and health. Some homeless persons have medical issues that can be addressed and if further medical care is required,  at least they will be given direction and medical advice on how to proceed from here on,” Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Delroy Williams, told JIS News.

Along with medical attention, the homeless population will also have access to the services of psychiatrists and psychologists who will be present on the day.

Entities such as the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the National Council on Drug Abuse and the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) will also be on site to help this vulnerable group access their services. By offering their specific services, the KSAMC’s end goal is to positively impact the independence of the vulnerable population.

“We have a programme here where we have employed persons from the homeless population in various jobs across the municipality. They have been doing a wonderful job, but there are persons with issues with birth certificates, national insurance, tax registration numbers that need to be remedied. So, we believe that starting the process to do that is important for the continuance of their lives in the world of work. We want to transition them as best as possible into the world of work,” Mayor Williams said.

The KSAMC will also carry out its feeding programme from the St. William Grant Park offering two meals on the day.

For his part, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, after whom the wellness day of care is named, said he will be assisting in every possible way on the day.

“Whatever I can do to assist, I will be doing that; so, helping with the feeding and helping with the grooming, because it will be a lot of activities. I am hoping that not just those who live on the streets but those who are finding it difficult to access certain services will come out and participate in the event,” Minister McKenzie told JIS News.

The Minister said the event will be a game changer in how the municipality interacts with the vulnerable homeless population.

After a 17-year delay, firefighters in Old Harbour now have a modern Fire Station from which to work and in which to live. With the construction of the Old Harbour Fire Station having been completed at a cost of $59.7 million, the spanking new facility was officially opened on Tuesday, May 19 by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

The newly constructed Fire Station, which will house 32 firefighters and 2 civilians is fully operational and ready to serve the quickly developing township that has a population of approximately 35,000.

In his address, the Local Government Minister announced that the investments made by the Government in the Jamaica Fire Brigade, especially over the last four years, have led to major infrastructural works on Fire Stations which have begun to bear fruit this year. “This will be a busy year for the opening of fire stations. We have to celebrate 60 years of greatness of the JFB, and we are going to make the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence a good one with the JFB at the forefront because the men and women deserve it.

“This Administration took a clear position that the infrastructure of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, from fire trucks to fire stations must be rehabilitated and expanded as part of the effort to create a modern society, and as part of the drive to implement the National Development Plan, Vision 2030.”

In addition to works at other Fire Stations, the three major Fire Stations being built under the Jamaica Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project, Barnett Street in Montego Bay, Yallahs in St. Thomas and Port Maria in St. Mary are expected to be officially opened this year.

In his remarks, Commissioner of the JFB Stewart Beckford was ecstatic about the opening of the new Fire Station. “Today indeed marks a very important milestone for the St. Catherine Division generally, but more importantly, for the Old Harbour Fire Station. Our firefighters have shown great resilience over many years, not only through their service, but also through their occupancy of facilities that have been less than ideal. The opening of this Fire Station is one more important symbol of the efforts that are being carried out to rehabilitate and build new fire stations all around the country. After 17 years, I am beyond happy that we finally have a proper facility for our firefighters in Old Harbour. Their morale will be highly elevated, and our emergency response times in Old Harbour and its environs will be significantly shortened.”

The Government is providing more than $8 million to assist small business operators in Port Maria and its environs who suffered losses due to severe flooding in the coastal town earlier this year.

An initial 35 flood relief cheques were handed over on Wednesday (March 30) at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church Hall.

The cheques are disbursed in values of $25,000, $50,000, $75,000 and $100,000, based on the level of damage sustained, as determined by a Social Development Commission (SDC) assessment.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who handed over the cheques, said this initial disbursement is intended to assist the operators to begin the path to recovery.

“What we are doing is offering some level of assistance, especially to the small business community,” he said.

A total of 209 business operators in Port Maria and surrounding areas, such as Jack’s River, will benefit from the support.

More than 90 per cent of businesses and homes in the town were impacted by the flooding.

Minister McKenzie informed that a technical team has been established to address the problem of flooding in the town.

The team involves representatives from the National Works Agency (NWA), the St. Mary Municipal Corporation, and the Ministry through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

“The long-term programme to sustain Port Maria and to help to mitigate… levels of flooding is in progress,” he noted.

Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary, in his remarks, urged the recipients to put the funds towards the recovery of their businesses and to implement measures to make their establishments more resilient.

“It is something to assist you; it is not to replace all you have lost… . We want to try to help you to strengthen those businesses to what they were before,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is aiding approximately 800 affected homeowners and more than 100 arcade vendors impacted by flooding.