Youth to Play Key Role In Staging Of 2020 Regional Platform

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019

JIS NEWS, Kingston: Jamaica’s youth will play a critical role in the execution of the seventh Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP20), says Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

“It is critical that they are involved from a very early stage because what we discovered during the [Ministry’s] youth summer employment programme [is] that a lot of the information that we were able to collect on vulnerable areas and persons who would find it difficult to be relocated during a disaster, was prepared by the young people,” he noted.

He was speaking at a meeting in Panama City, Panama, on September 3 involving the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to discuss partnerships for RP20.

The three-day conference, scheduled for July 8 to 10, 2020 in Montego Bay, St. James, will review progress made on reducing disaster losses in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Regional Platform is being jointly organised by the Government of Jamaica, UNDRR and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Minister McKenzie said that youth volunteers will be drawn from the Social Development Commission (SDC) and existing school volunteer programmes to give input for various aspects of the conference.

“They have a vision in terms of what they see the future is, and I think their participation will be of great significance not just to the country but to the region in general,” he noted.

Mr. McKenzie underscored the Ministry’s continued engagement of young people not just through the summer employment programme but also through its junior mayor and youth council initiative.

UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Marita Perceval, echoed similar sentiments on the need to involve youth in disaster planning, noting that the young people “are not just victims; they are agents of change and we must begin to view them as such”.

Minister McKenzie is heading a delegation to Panama from September 2 to 6, to meet with the Advisory Council for the Seventh Regional Platform and develop the conference’s agenda.

The UN Regional Platforms bring together government officials and heads of disaster and emergency management agencies with key stakeholders in disaster risk reduction, to foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices and techniques.

The platforms aid countries in achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015.

Timely hosting for Regional Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019

JIS NEWS, Kingston: Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the hosting of the Seventh Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP20) by Jamaica, in July 2020, will be timely.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Turks and Caicos at the inaugural Shock-Responsive Social Protection in the Caribbean Regional Symposium, in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, on June 27, Mr. McKenzie said with the recent changes in Jamaica’s weather pattern, in particular the rain and temperatures, and the formation of hurricanes outside of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, responses to climate change have to be crafted.

“What we are seeing is a dramatic change in the weather pattern, and all of this is because the matter of climate change perhaps has not dawned on us and the question is not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’. It is here, but it has not yet manifested itself in the way to have a devastating effect on the region,” the Minister said.

“We met with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to look at aspects of the planning. To the Council of Ministers, I am prepared to make a presentation to that meeting as to what we are expecting from the region in Jamaica in July of next year,” he said.

Regional Platforms are United Nations Office on Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) conferences that bring together government officials and heads of disaster and emergency management agencies within a region with key stakeholders in disaster risk reduction, to foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices and techniques.

The Platforms aid countries in achieving the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015.

Next year will be the first time a Regional Platform will be hosted in the Caribbean, and as such, the name was changed to reflect that. With a Caribbean country as the host nation, the disaster risks faced by small island developing states can be better highlighted to participants from North, Central and South America and the rest of the world.

“We are expecting close to 1,500 to 1,600 delegates to participate and they will be coming from all across the globe. It is anticipated that we are going to have participation from 60 or more countries, not just within the region but from as far as Africa,” Minister McKenzie said.

The impact of climate change on the Caribbean will be among the topical issues examined and discussed at the RP20, slated for July 8 to 10, 2020, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James. The theme for RP20 is: ‘Building Resilient Economies in the Americas and the Caribbean’.

The symposium was hosted by the World Food Programme and CDEMA, in collaboration with the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

It was a precursor to the Ninth Meeting of the Council of CDEMA on June 28.

Ministry observes Internal Audit Month

Posted on October 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Internal auditors from the Trelawny and St James Municipal Corporations have received special awards for their level of compliance with the International Standards for the professional practice.

The awardees – Jannel Campbell and Shamar Campbell – were recognized during a recent seminar organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Internal Audit Unit.

The seminar was held on May 31 recognition of Internal Audit Month observing the theme ‘Promoting the profession and building awareness’.

The seminar comprised presentations from members of the Ministry’s Internal Audit Unit as well as the Institute for Internal Auditors Jamaica Chapter.

The Chapter reiterated the importance of professional accreditation whilst the Audit Unit introduced its function, team and explained how management can assist in ensuring that the audit experience is pleasant and effective.

There were also interactive sessions that included the completion of a crossword puzzle and trivia questions that required internal audit-related answers.

Portfolio Minister Honourable Desmond McKenzie and Nadine Forrest- Allen of the Ministry’s Audit Committee made the awards presentation to Misses Campbell.

The group was also entertained by the capably Kayla Smarth.

The seminar closed with a posthumous award to Tameka Wright, former secretary of the Ministry’s Internal Audit Unit. The award was collected by her sisters

JFB Official Encourages Persons to Call Emergency Numbers

Posted on July 23, 2019June 21, 2021

Superintendent, Kingston and St. Andrew Fire Service, Julian Davis-Buckle, is encouraging members of the public to use the emergency numbers of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) in the event of an emergency.

The direct lines for the JFB in Kingston are (876) 922-2121 or (876) 922-2122. The switchboard number for the JFB in Kingston is (876) 922-2127- 9. Persons are also advised to dial 110 for fire and ambulance emergencies.

“This is the general line. People who complain about credit… if you don’t have credit, call 110,” she said, in an interview with JIS News.

Superintendent Davis-Buckle is calling on members of the public to use the JFB’s direct lines rather than calling 119 for assistance, as this saves valuable time.

“One of the things we stress is that we be alerted as early as possible, but because people don’t know our numbers, they can’t call us straight, so they call 119 and they call all around before they actually get to us, and that is time consumed,” she said.

To avoid this, Mrs. Davis-Buckle is encouraging persons to programme the JFB emergency numbers into their phones to facilitate quick response time in case of a fire emergency.

“Those are the direct fire lines. If you call those, immediately you are answered on one ring. These are some of the things that affect our response time,” she said.

“Once they call that number and give the location, the dispatcher will know which station is closest to them and even know if they need more than one unit, so more than one station would turn up at the same time. The arrival time of everybody would be in sync, so we wouldn’t have to be on the scene and call for help,” Superintendent Davis-Buckle said.

With children on summer break, she is imploring parents to be vigilant of their activities.

“For the holiday season, it is important that parents not leave children unattended. It is tempting to just run down the road and leave a smaller one with a baby. It is not advisable. Make sure you have a responsible adult looking after them at all times,” the JFB official advised

“Know where they are playing and what they are playing. You have to be vigilant. We want to focus on the children for the summer…A lot of house fires are started because of carelessness,” she said.

Mrs. Davis-Buckle is imploring parents to ensure that lighters and matches are kept well out of the reach of children and that play activities be taken outdoors, rather than inside. She is also recommending that guardians conduct regular checks on children to ensure they are not playing with hazardous materials.

When it is discovered that a fire has broken out, the JFB Superintendent said, persons should evacuate buildings immediately.

“Once you identify a fire, get out of the building, and when you do, stay out. Do not go outside and remember you have something inside and go back in. No. Stay out, because if you go in you might not be able to get back out,” she warned.

Mrs. Davis-Buckle also advised that persons store keys in one central location to make it easier to quickly locate keys and exit the building in the event of a fire emergency. Also, she warns against keeping keys in bunches.

“The key for the front door must be separate and apart from the other – colour code if you must. Have fire safety talks with your families to prepare them, so in the event of a fire they will be able to act appropriately,” she said.

Minister Says YSEP Contributes to Low Unemployment Rate

Posted on July 22, 2019June 21, 2021

Local Government Ministry to Employ 4,000 Youth This Summer

Posted on July 19, 2019June 21, 2021

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) has been expanded to engage approximately 4,000 persons this year.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond Mckenzie, made the disclosure at the launch of YSEP 2019 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Thursday (July 18).

“We started in (2017) with 2,700 and we went up to 3,500 last year. Because of the demand on the programme and the fact that hundreds of young people have shown an interest…we are looking at close to 4,000 young people for this year,” he said.

He noted that 250 persons were recommended by entities such as the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and student council bodies.

Under the YSEP, young people are engaged at municipal corporations across the island to undertake data collection and support administrative services in order to improve service delivery and ensure greater levels of efficiency.

Minister Mckenzie said that data garnered by the participants over the years has been instrumental in boosting revenue collection by the municipal authorities, particularly trade licence fees.

“The local authorities [were] able to collect in excess of $230 million in the last financial year because of [their] efforts in the field in collecting data,” he noted.

For his part, State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, hailed the programme, noting that it demonstrates the Government’s commitment to “promote, enhance and make available, opportunities for every one of you [young people]”.

Individuals will be employed for six weeks, earning $8,500 weekly, with $9,500 per week for team leaders.

YSEP participants are scheduled to participate in orientation sessions on July 22, and the programme is scheduled to conclude on August 30.

Jamaica Fire Brigade Receives More Equipment

Posted on July 16, 2019June 21, 2021

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has received equipment from the United States Embassy in Kingston to strengthen its capacity.

Valued at over $30 million, the first responder equipment includes 42 fire proximity suits, 244 fire proximity gloves, 27 fire boots, 10 coveralls, 360 bed nets, 18 cots, 60 axes, 60 shovels, six rakes and two large military-grade tents. These will be distributed to the 34 fire stations across 13 divisions of the JFB islandwide.

The donation was made by the United States Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Programme Office, through the United States Embassy in Kingston.

The handover ceremony was held on Monday (July 15) at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hagley Park Road in Kingston.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, expressed his gratitude for the equipment, which he said will go a far way in saving lives.

“We are a grateful nation. It is of importance that when we ask the men and women of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to put their lives on the line that we do so by providing the necessary equipment to enable them to perform their duties,” he said.

“The Government has spared no expense in providing the requisite support to maintain the JFB. On behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica, we express our thanks and appreciation. These equipment will come in handy and I know that you will use it to the best of your ability and continue to uphold the high standards you have set,” the Minister told the JFB members in attendance.

For his part, Chargé d’Affaires, United States Embassy, Eric Khant, said the United States Government remains a committed partner in strengthening Jamaica’s capacity to counter man-made and natural disasters.

“The relevance of the nation’s first responders never dissipate or wane. The need is always great, as no one can ever tell when a disaster will strike. The United States believes in Jamaica’s future and we are committed to working with Jamaican partners, as well as international partners, to ensure when a disaster strikes, Jamaica is fully prepared to manage that disaster and minimise the devastation,” he said.

Mr. Khant reiterated the United States Government’s continued support in enhancing Jamaica’s disaster risk mitigation plans, pledging US$5 million towards the effort.

He noted that a joint exercise by members of the District of Columbia National Guard, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) was recently conducted. This was one of several initiatives to improve Jamaica’s disaster response. It focused on real time, on-the-ground response to a major earthquake event.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, JFB, Warren Malcolm, said the United States Embassy has been a very important partner of the JFB and has contributed to the growth and development of the Jamaica fire service.

“Their assistance over the years has assisted the Brigade tremendously in increasing our inventory of tools and equipment and even enhancing our capabilities by way of training opportunities from which the JFB has benefited, mainly in the areas of fire-fighting, rescue operations and hazardous materials response,” he noted.

Condolence books open for the Most Hon. Edward Seaga at Municipal Corporations

Posted on June 17, 2019October 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Condolence books have been opened at all Municipal Corporations and the Municipality of Portmore for the late former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga.

Members of the public are invited to sign the books that will remain open until Friday, June 20.

Mr. Seaga, Jamaica’s fifth Prime Minister, passed away on May 28. The statesman, who was 89 years old at the time of his death, served as prime minister from October 1980 to February 1989.

He was also Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Kingston from 1962 until his retirement from active politics in 2005.

The Office of the Prime Minister announced June 19 to 22, 2019 as the official period of mourning for the former Member of Parliament of West Kingston.

In keeping with the protocol for this period; no social events, public functions or activities of a flamboyant and noisy nature should be held. Travel by public officials is also limited.

During the period of mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all public buildings. The official code instructs that the flag is customarily flown from 8:00am until sundown.

According to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), flags hoisted at locations outside the public sector domain will follow the same procedure. ‘Half-mast’ refers to approximately the ‘hoist’ or width (short side) of the flag below the peak of the flagstaff and not halfway down the mast.

 

The flag should first be hoisted close up and then lowered to the half-mast position. Before the flag is lowered at sunset, it should again be hoisted close up and then lowered fully.

 

The State Funeral for Mr. Seaga will be held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Kingston on Sunday, June 23. The service will begin at noon.

The former Prime Minister will be interred at the National Heroes Park.

Prior to Mr. Seaga’s funeral, a special sitting of the Houses of Parliament- to honour his life and work- will be convened on Wednesday, June 19 followed by a wake on Saturday, July 22 in Tivoli Gardens Square, Kingston.

Local Government Workers to benefit from scholarships

Posted on May 30, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will this year introduce a Local Government Education Scholarship to assist employees pursing studies in keeping with its portfolio responsibilities.

The initiative, which is being done in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, will see six scholarships with a total value of J$2.1 million being awarded yearly.

The scholarships will be open to staff of the Local Government Ministry as well as those employed in agencies within its operational scope.

“The focus here is in strengthening the urban planning and technical services capacity of the Ministry and its portfolio entities,” disclosed Minister Desmond McKenzie during his 2019/2020 Sectoral Presentation.

“As we perform the people’s will, I salute employees of my Ministry and its portfolio entities. They deserve every encouragement as they respond to human needs.”

According to the Minister, his passion as a local government practitioner is the development of people and their communities.

“Local Government is here to stay and I will do everything in my power to improve lives right across the 228 (parochial) divisions and the municipalities of Jamaica,” he noted.  “That is why we are implementing institutional change through innovation and major capital investment. We are not just doing things better, we are doing them differently.”

Minister McKenzie stated that lives are being transformed through the construction of water shops especially in drought-stricken areas; the installation of closed circuit television systems, provision of autoclaves and infrastructural upgrades to the infirmaries to enhance the lives of residents.

“That is why we are making credible inroads into the repair and rehabilitation of parochial roads with over J$100 million invested and over J$100 million to be spent this year. Our markets are being expanded and transformed to become critical business, community development and spatial order hubs for our towns and cities.”

He also reiterated that Local Government, working with Central Government, is changing the psyche of the citizens as the Administration takes on social and economic challenges through hard work and innovation.

Salary hike for NSWMA sidemen

Posted on May 30, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Sidemen employed to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) will receive a 28 percent increase in their salaries come July 1.

The announcement was made by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie during his 2019/2020 Sectoral Presentation in the House of Representatives on May 28.

“With regard to its core responsibilities, the NSWMA collected nearly 700 thousand tonnes of solid waste, or over 70 of the total solid waste generated islandwide,” he stated.

“Adherence to the collection schedule of once per week in the last financial year was nearly 80%, and compliance with the sweeping schedule for major roadways and town centres was almost 90%.”

Minister McKenzie explained that the main reasons for this improved performance are the procurement and introduction of new collection units and systematic repairs to dysfunctional units – 15 of which have been restored.

Since 2016, the NSWMA has acquired 43 new units – the last 12 of which were handed over in February of this year. The entity is also in the process of finalizing a lease arrangement for 100 collection units for the current financial year.

“The National Solid Waste Management Authority continues to be a positive example of Government in action. The Agency continues to practice sound corporate governance with all outstanding audited financial statements and annual reports being updated,” added the Minister.

“The Agency is also 70% compliant with current statutory requirements and life insurance, and nearly 80% of all disposal site workers, sidemen and drivers have been vaccinated.”

The NSWMA is also on track to submit its 2018/2019 audited financial statements and the corresponding annual report within the timeline required by the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act.