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.

Local Government Minister attends Global Disaster Risk Reduction Platform in Switzerland

Posted on May 22, 2019June 21, 2021

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie is leading a Jamaican delegation to the sixth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Management in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Conference, organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, will among other things examine the progress made by signatory countries to the Sendai Framework in devising and implementing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020.

While in Geneva, Minister McKenzie, who also has ministerial responsibility for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and is the deputy chairman of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, will address a number of sessions at the Conference and participate in a series of high-level dialogues involving policymakers from participating countries.

He will also provide an update on Jamaica’s planning of the 7^th Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean, which will be held in Montego Bay in July 2020.

At the last Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas held in Colombia, the Minister accepted on the Government’s behalf, a formal invitation to be the host of next year’s event.

“The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which is a biennial forum, is critical to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Jamaica, as it directly facilitates information exchange and knowledge and partnership-building across sectors,” stated Minister McKenzie.

“Therefore our Government and other governments, non-government organizations, the scientific community and various organizations will not just share what is being done now to achieve disaster risk reduction, but will also develop practical recommendations that we, as policy makers in charge of sustainable development, finance, economic planning and disaster risk reduction, can implement for the improvement of our peoples’ lives.”

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will end on May 17.

Ministry opens watershop in Bellefield, Manchester

Posted on May 7, 2019June 25, 2019

BELLEFIELD, Manchester: Residents of several communities in Central Manchester are now accessing potable water with the infrastructure of a $9.3 million water shop in Bellefield.

Some 20,000 gallons of purified water will be provided daily to the persons living in Bellefield, Coffee Grove, Virginia, Davyton, Blue Mountain, Bombay, Top Bellefield and Banana Ground.

“For the next year, the water will be provided free of cost. We will review it then to see how it works. No resident should be turned away because there is no fee associated to the water at this time,” Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, said during the ceremony to hand over the facility on April 25.

It is the third such facility to be constructed by the Ministry following one in Pennants, Clarendon in 2017 and another in Marlie Hill, South Manchester that was opened in May last year.  Two water shops are currently under construction in the parish of St. Elizabeth.

The Bellefield Water Shop will be operated by the Manchester Municipal Corporation.

“It is a watershed day in the community and a mature day for Local Government. The Manchester Municipal Corporation has demonstrated that the capacity to operate in the best interest of the people of this parish,” added the Minister. “We want by the end of 2019/2020 fiscal year to install water shops in critical constituencies across the country.”

The residents were also urged to protect the facility, which was built on lands donated by community member Mr. Dillon Dawkins.

The Ministry introduced water shops in 2017 as a means of addressing the needs of residents in drought-affected communities across Jamaica, in a sustainable way. Southern sections of Jamaica, particularly Manchester and St. Elizabeth traditionally suffered from prolonged drought.

Infirmaries furnished with autoclaves -Equipment funded by NHF

Posted on May 7, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The country’s infirmaries are now equipped with medical autoclaves as the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s intensifies its mandate to improve the care of residents in state care.

Twelve medical autoclaves were procured for the Ministry, through financing from the National Health Fund (NHF), at a cost of $5.025 million.

All infirmaries, with the exception of the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home, were without this piece of sterilizing equipment used mainly in wound care and reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination of germs.

“I am not going to rest inti all the needs of our people are addressed,” said Honourable Desmond McKenzie, Portfolio Minister, during the official handover ceremony on Friday, May 3.

“I am also committing that by the end of this year, all our infirmaries would been fitted with close circuit television, improved security, all the standby generators would have been installed.”

Minister McKenzie noted that the NHF is an integral partner in lifting the quality of lives at the infirmaries.

Chief Executive Officer at the NHF, Mr. Everton Anderson, lauded the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s project for the autoclaves.

“It is a good project and we embraced it because it really raises the bar in our line of work,” he shared.  “I have been to so many infirmaries and the work that is being done is tremendous. For the most part the care that is given is very good.”

The NHF has also partnered with the infirmaries on social improvement projects and pharmaceutical care for its residents.

Minister McKenzie also disclosed during the ceremony at the Ministry’s Offices that all infirmaries will be retrofitted with closed circuit television; improved security, mattresses as well as industrial washers and dryers by the end of the 2019/2020 fiscal year.

Trelawny Municipal Corporation tops Public Sector Debate Competition

Posted on May 6, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Trelawny Municipal Corporation has copped the title of the inaugural Public Sector Debate Competition.

The competition – organized by the Transformation and Implementation Unit (TIU) under the theme ‘Facing Issues, Influencing Solutions’, was contested by 20 teams.

“Winning the title is a most rewarding feeling as we were viewed as one of the underdogs in the competition. No one expected the little ‘country team’ to win. We are still basking in the victory as our sleepless nights have paid off and Trelawny and Local Government is now being celebrated,” said team captain, Shakera Williams.

“The team had to endure rigorous preparation for each debate. Though we are public sector workers, we were not so au fait with all the information pertinent to the sector. The debate called for intense research while we tried to complete our various tasks at work.”

Trelawny Municipal Corporation went up against the Ministry of National Security during the finals at the Jamaica Conference Centre on April 25, 2019. The final moot was “Be it resolved: The goal of Vision 2030 to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business is a realistic one”.

Miss Williams was also adjudged the Best Speaker for the competition and her team also copped the prize for being the Best Team Outside of Kingston. The team lifted the winning trophy; a $100,000 cash prize; a weekend for two for each team member and $75,000 from the Jamaica Civil Service Association.

The Jamaica Information Service defeated Victoria Jubilee Hospital for third place during the finals.

Executive Director of the TIU, Maria Thompson Walters, said the competition exceeded her expectations and that her team, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, looks forward to the competition’s renewal in 2020.

“The Trelawny Municipal Corporation really surprised us and they were consistent throughout the Debate and they did well in all their matches.”

PEP talk on local government

Posted on April 12, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Fifth and sixth graders at Emmanuel Christian Academy, who will be sitting the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam early next week, got an introductory talk on the role of Local Government “ straight from the source “ in the person of Hon. Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development.

Speaking at the school on Thursday (April 11, 2019), Minister McKenzie outlined the roles and functions of the ministry as a whole as well as those of the affiliate Agencies, the Local Authorities and the elected representatives. He zoomed in on the role of the Fire Brigade, and impressed upon the students the importance of fire safety practices at home, at schools and other buildings. Special interest was shown by both students and directors in the Building Approval process as a new church is being built adjacent to the school, and this was, of course, subject to approval.

Minister McKenzie also spoke to the maintenance of gullies and drains and the sanitation and garbage collection systems, another point of interest given the gully nearby the school.

The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) is the series of tests designed to replace the Grade Six Achievement Test ( GSAT) as the national secondary school entrance exam.

More trucks for NSWMA

Posted on April 3, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The operational capacity of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has been boosted with an injection of 11 new compactor trucks.

The trucks, which are valued at some US$1.75 million, swell the number of new units handed over to the garbage collection and disposal entity in the last three years to 42.

“The Government is cognizant of the need to increase the stock of the National Solid Waste Management Authority. We have made significant investments in the Authority and will continue to do so, as a lot more will be done,” said Honourable Desmond McKenzie.

The Minister of Local Government and Community Development was speaking during a handover ceremony for the new units on Tuesday (February 19, 2019).

The Metropolitan Parks and Markets will receive four of the units; three has been deployed to the Western Parks and Markets; and the Southern Parks and Markets and North East Parks and Markets will receive two each.

Minister McKenzie also underlined the need for amended legislation to ensure that persons adhere to their civic responsibilities given the nuisances of littering and the burning of garbage.

“I am really concerned about the level of indiscipline in this country by persons who can do better. I am calling on well-thinking Jamaicans to join the crusade to make Jamaica cleaner.”

To strengthen this call to action, the NSWMA will be undertaking an islandwide public education campaign targeting schools, communities through town hall meetings and media messaging among other strategies.

During the 2019/2020 fiscal year, an additional 100 trucks will be leased and placed in the services of the NSWMA to further augment its operational capacity.

“I want us to deploy the trucks in a way that we will start to see the result of increased resources…have them washed and cleaned to maintain pride and dignity,” Minister McKenzie advised NSWMA workers.  “Take pride in your duties and remember to consider yourself as a critical stakeholder in the development of this country.”

New Building Act in effect

Posted on April 3, 2019June 25, 2019

KINGSTON, Jamaica: A new Building Act with a modern legislative framework that will serve to reduce the vulnerability of Jamaica’s built environment and ensure public safety, is now in effect.

The Building Act 2018 came into force on January 15 and repeals the Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act and the Parish Councils Building Act.

“The Act is critical to the effort to prevent new squatter settlements from being built, promote sustainable development, establish and enforce internationally-accepted building standards and rules for individuals and entities providing construction material and services,” said Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie.

“The Ministry through all the local authorities as building authorities as well as the Bureau of Standards and regulatory and appeals tribunals established through the Act will be enforcing its provisions rigorously.”

The Minister was addressing the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Campaign 2019 press conference on January 14.

He explained that the enforcement measures will not only apply to persons and companies who are building structures; but also those who occupy and otherwise use structures.

“Section 48 to 58 of the Building Act give the Local Authorities clear powers to intervene through Emergency Orders to stop the dangerous use of land as well as to require owners to repair buildings certified as dangerous structures.”

According to Minister McKenzie, the new legislation is part of Government’s thrust for the country to be more disaster-resilient.

“The logic is very simple, in the event of an earthquake, better buildings in properly planned and approved location, improve the chances of people’s survival,” he added.

The Building Act 2018 also facilitates the adoption and efficient application of the National Building Code of Jamaica. It also regulates building work and change of building use by requiring permits so as to protect public safety and public health and other public interest considerations.

It also will see the establishment of a building practitioners’ board; identifying and appointing a registrar; developing standard operating procedures and guidelines for the operation of the registrar; establishing a building advisory council and building appeal tribunal.

The Minister with portfolio responsibility will be able to review the Act’s operation and effectiveness, three years from the appointed day.