LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER BREAKS GROUND FOR $190 MILLION PORTMORE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION BUILDING

Posted on June 1, 2017July 2, 2019

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, officially broke ground on Wednesday May 31 for the construction of a J$190 million Administrative Building for the Portmore Municipal Corporation.

The construction of an official Municipal Building for Portmore, was one of the commitments given by the Minister in his contribution to the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in April.

In his remarks at the ground-breaking ceremony held at the site of the project in Portmore, Minister McKenzie noted that, the Municipal Corporation “is now on a clear path to getting its new home, from which I expect highly enhanced service to the people of the Municipality of Portmore.”

The new Administrative Building will be:

A new 22-thousand square foot facility (22,654 sq. ft.) will be a modern, stand-alone building, which will be located on 4 acres of Government land in the vicinity of the Braeton Parkway and Municipal Boulevard. This is near to the South St. Catherine Division Police Station (popularly called hundred-man police station).

 

·         The J$190 million cost of the project will be financed from the Equalization Fund, as well as the Municipal Corporation’s funds.  
 
·         Construction is expected to last for twenty (20) months, beginning on June 1. It is expected that the building will be completed by February, 2019.
 
·         The building will feature a ground floor, first floor and attic floor, and will have energy-efficient features such as solar street lighting and LED lighting. The overall development plan also includes landscaping, adequate car parking and water harvesting. 

 

The ground-breaking ceremony was also addressed by Member of Parliament for Southern St. Catherine Mr. Fitz Jackson and His Worship the Mayor of Portmore Mr. Leon Thomas, who both described the development as a welcome and eagerly anticipated lift for the elected and administrative servants of the people of Portmore, as well as the residents of Portmore themselves.

Statement to the House of Representatives about the incidents of flooding and landslides in central, eastern and south-eastern parishes of Jamaica, by the Hon. Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development

Posted on April 25, 2017July 2, 2019

Mr. Speaker…

 

• The Trough that affected the western Caribbean and brought sustained light to heavy rains to Jamaica since late last week, is expected to dissipate today.
• In the space of a few short days, a number of parishes have been affected by flooding and landslides, as a result of the extensive rains influenced by the Trough.
• In Clarendon alone Mr. Speaker, information from the National Meteorological Service is that almost 10 inches of rain was dumped on the parish in two days.

 

• The Government is mindful of and sensitive to the losses of personal items, and of crops and livestock, that some of our residents and farmers have experienced.

 

FLOODING AND LANDSLIDE EVENTS

• The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has reported, that incidents of flooding have affected residents of 11 communities in Clarendon, 3 communities St. Thomas, 3 in Portland, 2 in St. Mary, 4 in St. Elizabeth, 1 in St. James and 2 in St. Catherine.
•   At the same time, landslide events have occurred in 5 communities in Clarendon, 3 communities in Portland, 3 communities in St. Thomas and 1 community in St. Catherine. The Reports from ODPEM reveal that Clarendon has been the most seriously affected parish Mr. Speaker.

 

 

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE MECHANISMS

•                The ODPEM and the Local Authorities responded quickly to the needs of residents, and ensured that relief materials including mattresses, blankets, sheets, cases of drinking water and tarpaulins were supplied.
• A total of 49 people visited emergency Shelters in Clarendon and in St. Thomas last Saturday, April 22.
• 23 people received emergency care in Clarendon, while the remaining 26 were cared for in St. Thomas. All Shelters, Mr. Speaker, were deactivated the next day, Sunday April 23.
• The ODPEM paid special attention to the parish of Clarendon during the passage of this rain event, as it was asked by the Clarendon Municipal Corporation to intervene at that point. The other Municipal Corporations did not ask ODPEM for assistance during the rains, but the Agency stands ready to provide any post-event assistance that they may need.

 

OTHER RESPONSES – SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

• As is expected Mr. Speaker, various Ministries and Agencies of Government are now assessing the full impact of the rains.
• The social impact is of great concern, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, along with the Poor Relief Departments of the Local Authorities, voluntary agencies such as the Salvation Army, ABRA and the Red Cross, are gathering the necessary information.
• The intention, Mr. Speaker, is to use this information to implement a comprehensive Assistance Programme, to restore dignity to our affected citizens. The details of the Programme will be shared with the House in due course Mr. Speaker. The Ministry will also be providing financial assistance to affected Municipal Corporations.
• Additionally, the rubble created by the flooding and landslides will be removed.
• Just as importantly, the Ministry of Health is being engaged, as we try to guard against any potential mosquito nuisance or waterborne diseases, as the floodwaters subside.

PRELIMINARY ROAD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT

• The National Works Agency is conducting an assessment of damage to the main road network, while the parochial road and minor water supply network, is being assessed by the Ministry’s Technical Services Division, supported by the Municipal Corporations.
• The Preliminary report of the National Works Agency is that there is damage to the main road network across ten parishes, with Clarendon, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth and Portland being particularly affected.
• The estimate to repair the damage is J$352 million.
• The assessment of the municipal infrastructure by the Ministry’s Technical team and the local authorities, has so far revealed a damage assessment total of J$139.8 million across three parishes: Clarendon, St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas. (St. Elizabeth: $23.5 million, St. Thomas: $30 million, Clarendon: $86.3 million).
• The total damage estimate to this point Mr. Speaker, is therefore J$491.8 million.

 

MAJOR REVIEW OF DRAINAGE NETWORK CAPACITY

• The events of the past few days have exposed the need for a comprehensive review of, and major changes to the drainage infrastructure in many parts of the country, Mr. Speaker.
• It is clear that our ability to absorb extraordinary weather events without disruption to normal life, is not where it ought to be.
• The civil works infrastructure has not matched or exceeded the pace of population growth and physical development over time. Flooding has become a recurring experience, even in the absence of Hurricanes or Tropical Storms, and even where existing drainage is properly maintained.
• To use 19 Miles, Mineral Heights and parts of May Pen in Clarendon as examples, the National Works Agency has specifically reported that “The drainage features were simply overwhelmed by the volume of water that was dumped on the areas in such a short space of time. Checks after the event on Sunday revealed that many of the drains were in fact clean and functional, even after the flooding.”
• One of the responsibilities of Local Government is the maintenance of the network of parochial infrastructure, which includes drains. We continue to collaborate closely with the National Works Agency, which has responsibility for main roads.
• I wish to advise that the Ministry will be reviewing the existing structures, particularly in town centres and other urbanized areas of the country, to see where runoff capacity can be significantly expanded in the short to medium term. While there are other factors that can be cited as causes of flooding Mr. Speaker, there is simply no denying that insufficient drainage capacity is a fundamental reason, and the time has come to address the problems associated with rain events in a fundamental way.
• In keeping with the joined-up-government approach that I have outlined today, this Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, under which the National Works Agency falls.
• The objective is to develop a programme to expand the country’s infrastructure, to put an end to flooding once any type of rain occurs.
• This is a crucial element of the strategy to reduce the impact, and therefore the macro-economic costs of weather systems on the country.

 

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER RAISES CONCERN ABOUT HIGH ACCIDENT RATES IN WESTMORELAND, AS AMBULANCE IS HANDED OVER TO THE PARISH

Posted on March 31, 2017July 2, 2019

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie is expressing renewed concern that  the high number of motor vehicle accidents across the island generally, and in Westmoreland in particular, is putting a great strain on the country’s health services.

“The rate of motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents across the country is creating great cause for concern… I can only urge the people here in Negril to be more understanding, to be more responsible… Let us try and work to reduce the level of accidents across the parish of Westmoreland,” he said.

The Minister was speaking at a ceremony at the Negril Fire Station, where a specially retrofitted Ford E250 6-seater ambulance, valued at US$35,000, was handed over by the Issa Trust Foundation/Health for Life and Wellness Foundation Limited to the Jamaica Fire Brigade for use in the parish.

The Minister noted that Westmoreland has the highest rate of road fatalities across the island, and urged Chairman of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar Bertel Moore, who was in attendance at the ceremony, to assist in the implementation of programmes aimed at reducing accidents in the parish.

“I would advise you, Mr. Mayor, to get these people to form themselves into Associations, to sit down to talk and look at the best way to operate, because unless there is a certain level of discipline, we will be at the same place where we are today.”

Minister McKenzie emphasized the critical need for the ambulance in Negril, and stated that “the pressure that is brought to bear on the response capabilities of the Jamaica Fire Brigade is enormous…the parish of Westmoreland has an average of 110 calls into the Fire Department every month.” He also stated that the ultimate aim is to ensure that each of the thirty-three Fire Stations across the island is equipped with an ambulance.

The Minister also pledged to address security concerns at the Negril Fire Station, by facilitating the removal of the current chain link fencing, and replacing it with a concrete perimeter wall.

Mr. Elias Issa, who represented the Issa Trust Foundation at the ceremony, noted that the town of Negril, like many other communities across the island, has not had a reliable working ambulance for quite some time.

“We understand that Government does not have the resources to equip every town in Jamaica with an ambulance. But what the Issa Trust Foundation has done, in this case, is to purchase a pre-owned, but re-conditioned ambulance at a reasonable price and ship it to Jamaica,” he explained.

He also urged the Government to partner with Foundations and service groups in a bid to help facilitate the eventual goal of having a working ambulance in every community in Jamaica.

Mobile property tax collection unit makes positive impact in St. Elizabeth

Posted on March 14, 2017July 2, 2019

From the Jamaica Observer: Black River, St Elizabeth — The figures show gradual improvement year by year, but St Elizabeth remains among the most backward regions in terms of property tax collections.

In late February, the south coast parish was running a 58 per cent property tax compliance rate for the 2016-17 financial year which will end on March 31. That’s up from 52 per cent at the same point the previous year, but still $300 million behind where tax collectors say it should be.

No wonder then that St Elizabeth tax collectors recently welcomed with open arms, a new pilot project aimed at boosting collections using a mobile unit (small bus) to get to property owners in their communities.

“We are looking to see how we can collect and maximise our efforts between now and the end of March and this project certainly helps,” Dwayne Elliott senior compliance officer, St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, told the Jamaica Observer Central.

A visit by the mobile unit over three days to a number of communities including Lacovia, Siloah, Mountainside, Treasure Beach among others, netted in excess of $777,000, Elliott later told Observer Central. Crucially, tax collection and compliance personnel from the municipal corporation and the tax department were able to interact with people regarding their tax status and how best to pay, he said.

At Siloah, several property owners said the visit of the mobile unit had saved them a costly and time-consuming trip to the tax office in Santa Cruz, 20 miles away.

Mayor of Black River and chairman of the St Elizabeth municipal corporation, Derrick Sangster, councilor for the Siloah Division Audie Myers (PNP) and Diana Sutherland, acting director of finance at the municipal corporation were among those visiting Siloah to encourage property owners to pay their taxes.

“Property taxes go a long way in helping local authorities to carry out their functions,” said Sangster (JLP) who is councillor for the Mountainside Division. “These are the revenues that help us to pay for some of our most vital expenses including street lights and collection of garbage,” he added.

Myers pointed to the value of the mobile service especially for elderly folk who find it difficult to travel.

“You have a lot of old people who would have a hard time going to Santa Cruz and back, so this (mobile tax collection service) is very useful. I am looking forward to seeing it continue and expanded,” he said.

JaBudget2017: Shaw warns of clampdown to collect $13.5b in property tax arrears

Posted on March 10, 2017July 2, 2019

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw has announced that a new project is to be launched to collect approximately J$ $13.5 billion in outstanding Property Taxes.

In opening the 2017-2018 Budget Debate on Thursday, Mr. Shaw stated that tax compliance is one of the most important issues for the new Financial Year, which will commence on April 1.

Property Taxes are a critical revenue stream for the operations of the island’s Municipal Corporations, which fall under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development. These taxes pay for, among other things, garbage collection and the provision of streetlights.

Local Government Ministry to Carry Out Improvements to Bustamante’s Birthplace and Blenheim Community Centre

Posted on February 27, 2017July 2, 2019

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be undertaking significant   improvement works at the Blenheim, Hanover, birthplace of National Hero, Sir William Alexander Bustamante.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie says the site of the former Prime Minister’s birth “requires a level of improvement, to a standard that is worthy of his status as the country’s first political leader elected under Universal Adult Suffrage, and as the first Prime Minister of Independent Jamaica. We also have a special interest in this, as Bustamante was a pioneer of Local Government who served as Mayor of Kingston in the late 1940s.”

Accordingly, the Minister announced that “the Ministry will be allocating J$20 million, to repair the road that leads to his birthplace. Additionally, the Ministry, through its Agency the Social Development Commission, will rehabilitate the Community Centre in Blenheim.”

Minister McKenzie was speaking at a special Civic Ceremony to mark the 133^rdanniversary of Bustamante’s birth. The event was held at Blenheim on Friday, February 24.

Contact: Communications Unit

Ministry of Local Government and Community Development

754-0992-9

Local Government & Community Development Minister breaks ground for first “Water Shop” in Clarendon

Posted on November 30, 2016July 2, 2019

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has launched the pilot of a planned series of Water Shops that are intended to raise living standards in drought-stricken and otherwise water-deprived communities.

At a ground-breaking ceremony at Pennants in Clarendon recently, the Minister described the Water Shop initiative as “the start of a process to eliminate once and for all, the degrading experiences of our citizens who have to be seeking water every day, in order to live like modern human beings. This is the start of the movement to wipe away the image and the reality of our citizens, in various communities around the country, demonstrating against the lack of water. This is the start of the movement to ensure that our public health services are constantly supported by peoples’ dignified access to clean water every day.”

The Minister said the Water Shop to be constructed in the community, will serve approximately 1,000 people.

The first phase of this project will last for three months, and will involve the construction of a structure that will contain eight, 1000-gallon plastic tanks. These tanks will be mounted on a concrete base and pipes will be attached to them. Trucks will fill the tanks on a regular basis and, and then the water will be dispensed from the Water Shop.

A 20-foot shipping container will also be provided and retrofitted, and will be the Office and Administrative area for the Water Shop. For Phase 2 of the project, the intention is to harness water from the river nearby, through the installation of pumps and pipelines to draw water from the river to the Water Shop. This will reduce the need for trucking water to the facility.

The Water Shop will be built by the Ministry of Local Government, along with the Clarendon Municipal  Corporation and the Rural Water Supply Company Limited, at a cost of J$10 million. Additionally, repair works will be done to the road leading to the facility.

In charging the residents to cherish the facility once it becomes operational, the Minister also announced water will be dispensed for free for the first three months, after which users will pay for the commodity.

“Everyone knows that if you’re going to get something from the shop, you have to pay for it. The same thing is true here. Everything has a cost, and we expect that when people come here, they will go to the Office, order the amount of water they want, pay for it, and then the water will be measured out and given to them. This is public money that is being pumped into every Water Shop, and everything has to be accounted for.”