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State Minister Colin Fagan Attends Summit in China

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The Honourable Colin Fagan, Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development, left the island on Sunday, September 1st, 2013 to attend two (2) international summits in China.
The State Minister received an official invitation from the government of China, to attend the 3rd Global Economic Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2013, in Changchun city, Jilin province from September 4- 6, 2013 and the 2ND International Culture Industry Summit (ICIS 2013) in Lanzhou city, Gansu province from September 6 -8, 2013. Minister Fagan leads the charge to establish town centers across the island, and as such the Chinese Government saw it fit to have the Minister’s input at this year’s summit. The themes for the summits are ‘Worldwide development experience of urbanization & Global cooperation opportunities of China’s urbanization’ and ‘The inheritance, innovation and global cooperation of the Chinese civilization’, respectively. About 600 political figures, world business leaders from Fortune 500 & Forbes 2000 companies, industry leaders, investors and bankers, Ministers, MPs, Governors, Mayors, authorities and world-renowned economists & scholars from more than 80 countries are set to be present at the summit.
State Minister Fagan will be the Keynote speaker for one of the round table sessions set to take place on the second day of the first summit; he will make a presentation on Urbanization and International Investments. While in China the Minster is also expected to conduct a tour of the Fire Station in Changchun City and meet with the Provincial Chief where he will discuss matters of Local Economic Development (LED) and other matters concerning Local Government and Community Development. Minister Fagan is expected to return to the island on September 11, 2013.

Minster of State Fagan Touts Consultation as path to Good Governance

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The main community mobilization arm of the Ministry, the Social Development Commission (SDC), held a Development Area Committee (DAC) consultation in St Catherine on April 28, 2013 and Minister of State the Honourable Colin Fagan was on hand to deliver the main address.
Speaking to the community leaders the State Minister emphasized the importance of good public management as a component of good governance. In this respect he said that community leaders must understand the changing dynamics of their roles and make necessary changes in order to remain effective . “Leadership consultations such as these are vital tools to help you in directing, planning, controlling and leading those whom you serve at the community level”, he told participants.
He also lauded the SDC for their continued work in promoting community action and partnerships as an essential ingredient in the process of transforming local governance in Jamaica. “We can’t overemphasize the role of community development, partnership and consultation in the local government reform process” He said.
Minister of State Fagan went on to highlight strides made by the government in the local government revitalization process. He spoke about the strengthening of the Local Government Reform Unit, the move to give recognition to PDCs DACs CDC in the Local Governance Act and the completion of the review of Portmore Municipal Council.
He also mentioned some of the new initiatives of the Ministry including the Local Economic Development programme (LED) designed to stimulate economic activity in communities, and the parish safety and security programme which has made significant strides in developing the awareness of Parish partners in the area of crime prevention and security in the six pilot parishes, which includes St Catherine.
Fagan assured the St Catherine community leaders that more consultations would be done to fully engaging the participatory machinery that underpin the local government reform and revitalisation process. He also commended St. Catherine on the work its PDCs and DACs saying that ‘where some parishes lag behind you are a trailblazer’.

The SDC’s Development Area Committee consultation is one of many consultations hosted by the agency on an on-going basis to foster good community relations and galvanize support around local and national issues.

New Temporary Home Opened for Montego Bay Firefighters

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On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development the Honourable Colin Fagan, opened temporary facilities for fire fighters from the Barnett Street fire station in Freeport Montego Bay, St James.
Minister of State Fagan in declaring the facilities opened explained that while the Ministry was seeking to build a permanent structure at the Barnett Street location there could be no delay in finding a suitable location from which to operate a fire station for the city of Montego Bay. “After visiting the facilities last year, I immediately decided to organize a task force that would aid in finding solutions to the problems that persisted for many years” he pronounced.
The solution which the team came up with comprises two (2) retrofitted forty (40) foot containers that have been equipped with all the equipment and comfort that the servicemen and women need in order to perform their vital functions effectively.
While the State Minister could not give a commitment as to the date when the permanent structure would be ready he reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to upgrading the island’s fire stations incrementally. He pointed to work that was recently done at the Port Royal Fire station – The removal of their asbestos contaminated roof-, as well as, the Trench Town fire station. He added that pans are in place for work to commence on the Savanna La Mar fire station shortly.  He implored the firefighters not to be daunted the by challenges they face, but instead be encouraged and continue to provide the excellent service that they have been providing us with for so many years.

Applying Modern Technology to Keeping Streets Clean

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Minister Noel Arscott was on hand as the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) launched its Love Clean Street Application at the Mandela Park in Kingston on Tuesday August 27, 2013.
Speaking at the function Minister Arscott congratulates the KSAC on the keen interest they were taking in the environment as demonstrated by their use of technology to aid in their bid to have cleaner streets in the capital city. The love clean street appis a free smartphone application and website that allows people anywhere in the world to report environmental issues to their local authority. The report can be made in less than forty seconds.
The Local Government Minister highlighted the fact that the success of the venture is dependent our citizens. “I therefore, want to encourage citizens of this beautiful island to be vigilant in reporting environmental issues and work closely with your local authorities to help resolve these issues as quickly as possible” he said.
The issue that can be reported using the Love Clean Street Application are; graffiti, fly-tipping, fly posting, pot holes, broken paving slabs and abandoned vehicles.
The use of the application should benefit everyone; local authorities should see a reduction in cost of casework associated with the Love Clean Streets application, which will generate a healthy return on investment. For everyone else, the benefit is simply a better, cleaner place to live and work.
Minister Arscott closed his presentation by stating that he was excited about the prospects of the application and encouraging everyone to make use of it.

Minister Arscott Marks Rehabilitation of Lincoln Ave Road as Property Tax Dollars at Work

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In declaring the Lincoln Avenue Road open, Minister of Local Government & Community Development, the Honourable Noel Arscott told citizens that work done was made possible by citizens honouring their property tax obligations.
 The Lincoln Avenue Road in May Pen, Clarendon was opened on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 with a small group of residents gathered to witness the occasion.   The 500m of roadway which has been in disrepair for several years was rehabilitated by the Clarendon Parish Council at a cost of $2m. Chairman of the Clarendon Parish Council Mayor Scean Barnswell,  said that the repairs came about as a result of a new approach being taken by the Council in which $2m is allocated for repairs to a road in each division and selection of the road way is done by way of a priority listing.
In pointing out the number of roadways that have been repaired by the council over the past year and a half Mayor Barsnwell gave the assurance that Ministry allocations to the Council were being well spent. “Let me say to the Minister and his team, that with the monies sent to the parish from the PRF, (Parochial Revenue Fund) we ensure that the people of the parish has seen results; value for money”, he said.
In his response Minister Arscott congratulated the Council on a job well done and told the gathering of the Ministry’s intention to address infrastructural issues islandwide, despite budgetary limitations. He pointed out that a vast majority of the country’s roadways are Parish Council roads nevertheless he said, “We are trying to use creative means to see how best we can upgrade the roads for our citizens”.
 Minister Arscott was also in St. Thomas on August 22, 2013, where he toured a number of roadways and praised the work that was done on a bridge in Hamstead.

Minister Arscott Tours Road in Westmoreland

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On Friday, August 16, 2013 Minister on Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Noel Arscott toured a number of parochial roads in the Parish of Westmoreland.
The Minister was accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry along with the Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). The tour was concentrated in the Grange Hill Division ending in King’s Valley were the team inspected the work being done on that road.  Along the way the Minister and his team look at several road ways, drains, community centres and other areas of concern to the citizens.
During his address to persons on site in the different communities Minister Arscott gave the commitment that the Ministry’s Technical team would examine ways of addressing  the issues relating to the flooding of the Peggy Barry, Kings Valley and Herring Peak playfields  and community centres, as well as, the Church Lincoln Road.
The tour was organized by the Westmoreland Parish Council and led by Councillor for the Grange Hill Division Mr. McKenzie. Minister Arscott continues his road tours in Clarendon on August 21st and St Thomas on the 22nd.

Local Government Minister Endorses Consultation Forum for the Community Renewal Programme

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Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Community Renewal Programme’s mass Consultation Forum held at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, Minister Noel Arscott applauded the consultative approach being taken to the implementation of the programme.
The Local Government Minister congratulated the implementing partners, PIOJ and SDC, for spearheading the stakeholders’ consultation; adding that the PIOJ should be  commended for taking bold steps in developing programs that will render assistance to communities that are often neglected because they are seen as ‘violent and beyond help’.
The Community Renewal Programme (CRP) he said must be seen as a game-changer as it has been conceptualized on the premise that security, justice and community economic well-being are pre-requisites for the sustainable development of Jamaica’s communities and for the country as a whole. The Community Renewal Project targets 100 of the most volatile and vulnerable communities in five parishes. The CPR seeks to empower residents to achieve their fullest potential and contribute to the attainment of a secure, cohesive and just Jamaican society as outlined in Goals 1 and 2 of Vision 2030 Jamaica by providing a coordinating framework for the implementation of a holistic range of interventions.
The consultation marked the beginning of the implementation process for phase 1 of the programme which is currently being piloted the Majesty Gardens community. Participants in the forum included Parliamentarians, Local Government Representatives and most importantly community members. The meeting sought to elicit feedback and to assess community assets as well as your needs and priorities.
Pointing to the important role played by the Social Development Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development, Minister Arscott promised the continued commitment of the Ministry to facilitating the implementation of the CRP.  “I pledge the Ministry’s support to monitor the implementation and provide the necessary policy support as needed” he said.
He also committed to playing a leading role in the development of the Kingston Lifestyle Centre which will be a catalyst for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston and its surrounding communities.

Ministry Establishes Street Light Hotline

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The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development wishes to advise the public that the Street Light Hotline has been established effective since July 1, 2013. The Honorable Minister, Noel Arscott announced in Parliament on June 10, 2013 that his Ministry would establish a hotline for the public to call and report non-functioning or mal-functioning street lights.
Information gathered by the street light audit team, suggests that The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is making payments for lights that are not functional and as such we are now working more closely with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to ensure concurrence between the number of operational streetlights and the amounts being paid for. Once the report is taken by the hotline operator, it is then compiled and sent to the Jamaica Public Service Company, who should effect repairs to these street lights within fourteen (14) days.
The hotline has been in existence for less than three weeks and the line has already been flooded with calls of complaints and as well as commendations. Citizens who wish to report defective street lights should call 1-888-991-4617 and provide the operator with the pole number, pole location and the duration for which the street light has been defective.

Application Management And Data Analysis Training -Enhancing the Development Approval Process

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The Ministry of Local Government & Community Development is deepening its efforts to improve the Development Approval process by strengthening the capacity of Local Authorities to work with the Application Management and Data Analysis (AMANDA) software.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony for the month-long training exercise which began on Monday July 8, 2013, Minister of Local Government & Community Development, the Honourable Noel Arscott said that “the implementation of the AMANDA software is a major stepping stone in helping to improve Jamaica’s development application process”. The Minister applauded the Cabinet Office for their role in sponsoring the training exercise to support the implementation of the software which will be implemented in all Local Authorities and commenting agencies on a phased basis; AMANDA is currently being utilized in eight Local Authorities (LAs).
The Minister explained that the AMANDA will reduce inconsistencies, end bottleneck in task assignment and processes, enhance accountability and increase customer satisfaction. In using the AMANDA software LAs have implemented a Development Application Help Desk where there is consultation to determine correctness and completeness of application before the information is logged into the database from which an acceptance letter and unique reference number if generated.
With the development application process already integrated into AMANDA setting out each task as well as the responsible persons and timeline, once a task is completed and is indicated the programme then prompts the person responsible for performing the next task in the process flow. Applicants are able to view the status of their application via any web portal.
The “Training of the Trainers’ exercise, as it is being dubbed, is being conducted by CSDS Inc. developers of the AMANDA software; ten (10) IT developers and 30 end users from NMLG&CD and Local Authorities and commenting agencies (NEPA) that have already been using the AMANDA system, will be trained and certified.
Other referral agencies to benefit from training are:National Works Agency (NWA), Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Rural Physical Planning Unit (RPPU) of Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Health Unit (EHU) of Ministry of Health.
The Local Authorities that have already using AMAND in the processing of development Approvals for nine lots and under (in the first instance) are: Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), St. Catherine Parish Council, Manchester Parish Council, St. Elizabeth Parish Council, Hanover Parish Council, St. James Parish Council, Trelawny Parish Council and Clarendon.

Community Empowerment & Involvement: Key to successful local governance – excerpt from Minister of State Hon Colin Fagan’s Sectoral presentation 2013/2014

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The Presentation was concluded with a reminder that citizen involvment is “at the very heart of the democratic process”.

Excerpt:

Consequently, while we push the legislative process to conclusion and vigorously pursue avenues for local economic development, as you heard from Minister Arscott two weeks ago, we are deeply conscious that these efforts will be futile unless the citizens whose lives we seek to better through such initiatives are empowered to actively and effectively participate in the process to transform their own lives and that of their communities. In essence Mr Speaker our approach is firmly grounded in that well known adage:  “It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish”.

That Mr Speaker, is the fundamental goal that we seek to achieve through the initiatives, and programmes that we have developed, are developing and are in the process of implementing; and which I have sought to highlight in this Presentation:

  1. The review of and consultation on the Portmore experience, as well as implementation of the subsequent recommendations, all being pursued through citizen participation and involvement.
  2. Taking advantage of the renewed interest of our corporate citizens to bolster our efforts to upgrade our fire services.
  3. Extending application of the principle of local self-governance, through the concepts of Town Centres and Town Managers, and in which citizen participation constitute an essential element in the management of Urban Centres.
  4. Our ambitious plan for fire stations which incorporates teamwork, leadership development and community and empowerment.

See full presentation in the quick Download section of this website, bottom left.