Addressing a group of thirty one graduating environmental wardens during a ceremony held on Wednesday June 5, 2013, Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development, the Honourable Colin Fagan affirmed the importance of safeguarding the environment by adhering to proper waste management and public cleansing practises.

The State Minister told the graduates that he was pleased that they had taken the decision to lead the charge of protecting the environment by choosing to be properly educated on the subject. He said that while the onus has been placed on the environmental wardens to apply the expertise they now have to taking care of their environs and entreating others to follow suit, they were not alone in their quest. “The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development have embarked on a number of initiatives to deal with the proper disposal of solid waste and public cleansing”, he told the audience at the function.

He addressed the number of environment issues faced by Jamaica and the impact of improper waste disposal stating that “a contaminated environment can be very hazardous, especially to an individual’s health; causing several diseases and ailments”. He said it was for this reason that that the Ministry has made Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing, one of its top priorities for the 2013-2016 period.

Minister of State Fagan encouraged the wardens to persevere against the many challenges they will face in performing their duties and to seek to get as many communities as possible involved in practising appropriate environmental safety such as recycling and reusing, “I am sure with a little more education on the subject, we will see an increase in the number of persons adhering to these practices” he added.

He also implored members of the public to support the efforts of the Ministry and the environmental wardens pointing out that community participation was very important in ensuring the success in these endeavours.

The environmental warden training programme was developed by the National Solid Waste Management Authority in conjunction with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development, this afternoon congratulated the Jamaica Fire Brigade on plans for National Labour Day May 23, 2013.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade will be partnering with Berger Paints and Sunlight Windows and Doors to refurbish the Portmore Fire Station. Total value of donations and works is estimated at just over J$1.5M. Berger Paints have committed to providing all the paint and painting equipment needed while Sunlight Windows and Doors will supply and install windows on the ground floor of the building. Mayor George Lee has also committed $20,000.00 from the Municipal Council to assist in the efforts.

The Minister of State and MP for the South East St Catherine constituency in which the fire station is located, said the work to be done on Labour Day will not only improve the comfort level of the fire fighters but will also go a far way in preparing the fire station for the programmes he will be seeking to implement in the near future.

“.. it is my intention to revamp the homework programme started some years ago and I will be starting a youth core fire fighting brigade and marching band to be housed at this station” MP Fagan said.

He thanked the sponsors on the project as well as other corporate entities and individuals who have assisted the JFB in the past, particularly those who contributed to the refurbishing of the Santa Cruz and Trench Town Fire stations.

Minister of State Fagan also encouraged other citizens to catch the community spirit and go out and lend a hand on Labour Day.

Regarding the matter of the St James Parish Council contributing to the staging of Montego Bay Night Out, the Honorable Noel Arscott, Minister of Local Government and Community Development is in full support of Councils taking necessary steps to facilitate local economic development in their parishes. This is an integral part of the Local Government Reform process.

The Montego Bay Night Out is a joint venture between the St. James Parish Council and the business community and is aimed at resuscitating businesses in the Gloucester Avenue area popularly referred to as the “Hip Strip”. The event involves the participation of over thirty (30) vendors including craft vendors, five to ten thousand (5,000 – 10,000) patrons including tourists who leave their hotels and spend with the locals and sponsorship from two of Jamaica’s major beverage companies. It is projected to break even. However, the additional benefits derived from the economic activities for the small business operators and the cultural benefit from the exposure of the tourists represent a good example of the Government working together with the business community to enhance local economic development.

As it relates to the accusations levied against the Montego Bay Mayor that he handed out $20,000 to each councilor for the purchasing of bun and cheese during the Easter holiday season, Mayor Harris has assured Minister Arscott that there is no truth to these accusations. He explained that each Councilor was given an allotment to conduct work in their divisions. When the work is done the superintendent of works would do the verification and make the necessary recommendation for payment after which the necessary cheques are drawn to suppliers.   Mayor Harris has also affirmed that there is no basis to the claims as the activities and payment procedures are in keeping with established practice and procedure .

Minister of Local Government, Honourable Noel Arscott is this morning advising that the mayor of St. James is by no means opposed to the renaming of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

“I have spoken to Mayor Harris and he has assured me that his intent was misunderstood” said Minister Arscott.

In June of 2010 a resolution to rename the Cornwall Regional Hospital, the Dr. Herbert Eldermire Regional Hospital was sent by the St. James Parish Council to the Minister responsible for Local Government, who then referred it to the Ministry of Health. The then Minister of Health, Mr. Rudyard Spencer approved the renaming. This decision was and still is fully supported by the St. James Parish Council. Since the resolution has been gazetted, the St. James Parish council has sought to obtain a date for the ceremony from the body with responsibility for this activity, the Western Regional Health Authority; but numerous attempts have proven futile.

“Contrary to reports in the media, Mayor Harris was not trying to block the renaming exercise” Minister Arscott added.

There is still no date set for the ceremony; however, Minister Arscott said he has the assurance of the Mayor that the St James Parish Council stands ready, as has always been the case, to give its full support in the staging of the event.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development wishes to dismiss any misguided notion that the Ministry has paid scant regard to the parish of Portland in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Despite the current global financial crisis and the tight fiscal space in which the Government must operate, the Ministry under the leadership of the Honourable Noel Arscott has been doing its utmost to address the needs of all Local Authorities.

 The Ministry is particularly cognizant of the difficulties experienced in the eastern parishes which were hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy last October. Consequently, substantial financial input has been made to aid the Parish Councils of St Mary, St Thomas and Portland in their recovery efforts. The Ministry allocated to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) the sum of $8M for each of those parishes to effect cleanup activities in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. There was also intervention through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to the tune of $35M to support parish level relief operations. Additionally, a total of $40.0M was allocated to Local Authorities in December 2012 for special work programmes.

In respect of the Portland Infirmary, an estimate of $1.5m was received from the Council for rehabilitation work to be done to the infirmary and the Ministry has since made an allocation of $1.5M. That cheque, dated March 28, 2013, was picked up early last week. An allocation has been made in the 2013/14 budget for repairs to the Portland Infirmary along with three (3) others.