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Revitalizing Local Government Through Capacity Building & Institutional Strengthening: orientation workshops to be implemented

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As the process of preparing the country’s Local Authorities (LAs) to assume the leading role the new local governance paradigm continues, the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development will be implementing a series of workshops across the island.
The series, entitled Consolidating the new Local Governance paradigm: Challenges, Opportunities and Imperatives for the Next 3 Years, is being undertaken in partnership with the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) and is being viewed as an orientation exercise for new members of Council.  As such the workshops will:
·        Provide orientation, training and general sensitization for local officials and their civil society counterparts regarding the new subject areas and responsibilities that are now being conferred on local government, as part of Local Government Reform.
·         Ensure that Local Authorities and their civil society counterparts have a sound appreciation of the new concepts that will guide the role and functions of LAs and the mandates given to them.
·         Prepare LAs to effectively discharge these functions as well as to identify and undertake immediate and/or medium term enhancement to the institutional capacity of LAs and their partners, in respect of these new mandates.
The series which comprises four (4) 2day workshops, came about as a result of the Ministry being approached by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) to develop and submit a project proposal that would emphasize and focus on initiatives pertaining to Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening in the Local Authorities with particular regard to the emerging governance framework and the enhanced role and function of main stakeholders at the local level.
The Ministry submitted a proposal that included a short term and a medium term model and the CFTC through the PIOJ, agreed to support the short term model. In late March 2012, a CFTC Mission Team met with the Permanent Secretary and Senior Officials of the Ministry of Local Government as well as Senior Officers from the PIOJ to discuss, support and ratify the project. The Mission Team was also able to meet with some key stakeholders in the process including Mayors, Secretary/Managers, ALGA and the PDCs.
The workshops are scheduled as follows:
·         June 20 -21, 2012: Workshop #2 (Portland, St. Mary & St. Ann)
 
·         June 26–27, 2012: Workshop# 3 (Trelawny, St. James, Hanover & Westmoreland)
 
·         July 3-4, 2012: Workshop # 4 (St. Elizabeth, Manchester & Clarendon)

Ministry Receives Sample LED lamps

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As the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development continues to explore energy saving alternatives, Minister Noel Arscott graciously accepted a visit from a representative of the Canadian company LED Roadway Lighting Inc.
The Minister, who was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Mrs Sharon Crooks, met with Mr. Marcos Miranda Director of Business Development for Latin America and the Caribbean, and was presented with samples of the company’s products.
LED Roadway Lighting Inc. is a leading designer and manufacturer of LED based street, roadway and area lighting fixtures and control systems.
 Mr. Miranda was in Jamaica as part of a Canadian Trade Mission, from May 28th to May 31th 2012.

Registered Labour Day Projects

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Please see below, alist of the parish projects followed by community projects

PARISH PROJECTS

Local Authority
Projects
St. Thomas Parish Council
Paul Bogle Square
Portland  Parish Council
Clean up of Foreshore road and beach line
Clean up and repairs of Port Antonio Sanitary conveniences
St. Mary  Parish Council
Clean Up the Town of Port Maria from Outram Bridge to the Post Office (westward) and to JPS (eastward)
St. Ann  Parish Council
Cleaning – St. Ann’s Bay
Trelawny  Parish Council
 
Cleaning-Clark’s Town Square
St. James Parish Council
 
Cleaning up & beautification of Sam Sharpe Square including Library park
Hanover  Parish Council
 
Lucea Cemetery de-bushing & painting of wall
Westmoreland  Parish Council
 
Sheffield All Age School – Painting Pedestrian Crossing- Erecting a Bus Shelter and General Clean Up of the Community
St. Elizabeth  Parish Council
 
Cleaning and Beautification of the Town of Black River
Manchester  Parish Council
Mandeville Town Centre – to include Cecil Charlton Park Beautification and upgrading of Town Centre- including Painting, Concrete Works
Clarendon  Parish Council
CLASP -General Clean up
St. Catherine  Parish Council
 
Linstead Park
Portmore Municipal Council
Cleaning all the entrances to Portmore
Kingston and St. Andrew
Corp
 
Cleaning Ward Theatre & St. William Grant Park

 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

 

PROJECT DETAILS
Registered by
PARISH
COMMUNITY
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
NAME
Clarendon
MAY PEN
Repainting of the pedestrian crossing at the Glenmuir Prep School gate on Jackson Street in May Pen…..and other minor painting on the school compound eg. the school name.
Glenmuir Preparatory School PTA Executive
Clarendon
PENNANTS CLARENDON
REBUILDING,GRILLING,PAINTING OF ROBERT RUMLES TOMB ON THE PLAYING FIELD AND COM. CENTER PENNANTS. ROBERT RUMBLE IS OUR LOCAL HERO
lusson Bartley
Hanover
Bethel Primary and Junior High School, Hopewell
repair and restoration of the auditorium’s restroom facilties and general beautification of the hall
Michael Webster
Hanover
Green Island
The school needs to be painted. The principal says teachers and students have to wash the building occasionally in an attempt to improve the look. The Negril Region will work on the front of the building, which hosts the grade 1 and 2 classrooms and the administrative building.
Sheryl McGaw-Douse
Hanover
Cousin Cove
Cousin Cove Basic School – painting
Scotia Bank. Lucea
Kingston & St. Andrew
Allman Town
The Ministry of Finance team will participate in a painting and vegetable garden planting at the Allman Town Basic School
Cheryl Smith
Kingston & St. Andrew
August Town
The UWI Township will be joining hands with the residents of August Town to construct and paint a perimeter wall for a mini sports complex located in African Gardens, Greater August Town.
Dr. Olivene Burke
Kingston & St. Andrew
Barbican
Painting of Walls and creation of Garden Area
Stephen Davidson
Kingston & St. Andrew
Burgher
Beautification and planting of Flowers
Debra Francis
Kingston & St. Andrew
Burgher
Repair to Invertmen
Carlos Murray
Kingston & St. Andrew
Cavaliers District
To clean up the school yard at the basic school and to help repaint as well as bushing of shortcut road
Allan Ismail
Kingston & St. Andrew
Chisholm Avenue
The objective is to make the school environment for the children of Chisholm/Maxfield Avenue and its environs more beautiful. As such, the focus will be on enhancing and renovating this Basic school.
Petra-Kene Williams
Kingston & St. Andrew
Content Gap District
Enhancement and beuatification of school surrounding and making the play area and equipment/rides safer for the students.
Meloney Murray
Kingston & St. Andrew
Franklin Town
erecting a small pedestrian gate, paint pedestrian crossings, paint fence, patch gate way and general cleaning up.
Devon Levy
Kingston & St. Andrew
Ginger piece and Content Gap
From Guava Ridge to Silver Hill Gap we have thirteen miles of road and 10 miles are in dire needs for repair. We want to grade off some parts and dump some part with dirt, shale, marl whatever we can use.
Ikiel Johnson
Kingston & St. Andrew
Goldsmith Villa, August Town
The University Township Project and the residents of Greater August Town are joining hands to work on a project to repair and paint damaged areas of the Goldsmith Basic School to ensure that the children will be able to learn in a comfortable and safe environment.
Olivene Burke
Kingston & St. Andrew
Hagley Park Road – Promise Learning Centre
Promise Learning Centre is a school for Children with Autisim situated at 58 Hagley Park Road. The school is partly funded by the government. Due to lack of funds it is unable to provide proper maintenance of the building. As such a Team of Guardian Life employees will provide assistance in the areas of painting, landscaping and general repairs.
Sophia Henry
Kingston & St. Andrew
Herrick Basic School
Painting of Exterior of basic school
Michelle-Ann Letman
Kingston & St. Andrew
Holy Trinity High School
Members of the Rotaract Club, RCSA long with the sponsoring parent club will be painting the perimeter walls that line the drive way, along with sprucing up the garden in same vicinity.
Paulette Smith
Kingston & St. Andrew
HWT Road
repainting the pedestrian crosswalk on Half Way Tree Road (crosswalk runs from Ministry of Health Nurse Dorms to Tik and Save/Access Financial).
Tonya Russell
Kingston & St. Andrew
Islandwide-Kingston 11, Mandeville and Bickersteth
First Global Bank and First Global Financial Services have embarked on a pilot project for the 2011/2012 school year. This Labour Day we will be visiting three of the schools involved in Kingston, Seaward Primary located at 119A Olympic Way, in Mandeville, we will visit McIntosh Memorial Primary School and in Montego Bay we will be at Bickersteth Primary and Infant School.
Sheraine Campbell
Kingston & St. Andrew
Johnson Town / RockFort
Brithen and Clean community as well as paint sidewalk of St Patrick Road
Camille Ming
Kingston & St. Andrew
Maverly
-Prepare and paint the surface of two outside walls
 -Pruning of trees on the school compound
–Make and install school sign on the premises
Akilah Nangwaya
Kingston & St. Andrew
MeadowBrook Estate Citizens Association
We will be Painting Bushing and Planting Trees in the community in order to beautify the community.
Camille Carty
Kingston & St. Andrew
Michael Manley Highway
The teachers and students of Dunoon Technical High School’s clubs and societies will be removing the garbage along the shoreline of the Michael Manley Highway. this project aims to rid the area of solid waste and to enhance the plastic bottle recycling project that the school has embarked on.
Marsha-Lee Poleon-Henry
Kingston & St. Andrew
Papine
The Danny Williams Primary School for the Deaf has never gotten a fresh coat of paint since it was built 25 years ago. With a fresh coat of paint and brighter colours, we plan to make a brighter school environment for the students.
Kimberley Sherlock
Kingston & St. Andrew
PARKS ROAD
The Parks Road Health Centre is severely overgrown.
Wilfred Pitters
Kingston & St. Andrew
Poker Flat / RockFort
Clean up and paint sidewalk of Waneika Rd
Clair Osbourne
Kingston & St. Andrew
Port Royal
– Painting of wall behind the auditorium and canteen area – Planting vegetables and plants in ddesignated areas
Steven Kerr
Kingston & St. Andrew
Promise Learning Centre
The project will include, painting indoors and outdoors,tiling,gardening and cleaning up.etc
Darrington Hylton
Kingston & St. Andrew
Rock Fort
Painting of Community Centre
Samuel Buchanan
Kingston & St. Andrew
Southside and Rae Town
The beautification and adopting of the round-a-bout located at the intersection of South Camp Road and Hanover Street, Downtown(infront of the General Penetentiary)in partnership with the communities of southside, rae town and televiv
Eleen Rankine
Kingston & St. Andrew
TRENCH TOWN
This Property has been turned over to Boys’ Town,it is overgrown with bushes and is being used as a Dump.This is contributing to a Rat infestation problem and is a threat to the H.E.A.R.T skills training centre next door and the community at large.
Delroy Simmonds
Kingston & St. Andrew
University of Technlogy
The Union will be embarking on remodeling the Barn Office which houses the Representatives of some 13, 000 students.
Karen Manning- Henry
Kingston & St. Andrew
Dunrobin Early Childhood Center- painting interior, exterior and murals in play area
Scotia Bank
Processing Centre, New Kingston
Kingston & St. Andrew
Liguanea
New Providence Primary School – creating garden space with flowers and fruit trees
Scotia Bank, Liguanea
Manchester
Caledonia
The objective is to make the school environment for the children of Caledonia Early Childhood Institution more beautiful and safe. As such a foundation is being built to support a chain link fence
Petra-Kene Williams
Manchester
Caledonia Early Childhood School
Painting of Exterior of basic school
Michelle-Ann Letman
Manchester
Caledonia Meadows
To resurface a piece of road using marl or cement or donated asphalt
Joan O’Connor
Manchester
Mandeville Infant School
leaning the play ground and re-painting the slides, swings and other equipment in the play area
Stephen Davidson
Portland
Balcarres
constructing 5 pit latrines and repair 10 latrines to improve the health status of the community, and prevent the outbreak of fecalborne diseases such as Typhoid fever and Cholera. project will involve buillding concrete slab for pits and concrete seat boxes with seat box cover. Project is a joint effort by Portland Health Department,University of Technology, and Balcarres Community Development Committe. The proposed budget for the project is $160,000 JA.
Darryl Guy
St. Ann
Discovery Bay
Assist other community organisationa to paint the pedestrian crossing. Aswell as ge the community footbal feild into working condition. Both projects are associated withe Safety Security and Youth.
Evadne Scarlett
St. Ann
Freefield Basic School
Painting of Exterior of basic school
Michelle-Ann Letman
St. Ann
Mammee Bay
CCut trees hanging across roadleaning verges and paving road
Ken Thompson
St. Ann
Mansfield
General repairs – beautification and painting will be undertaken at this centre which will be a ray of hope for the many persons who utilize this facility.
Sheryl mc
St. Ann
Ocho Rios
In association with the St. Ann Parish Council, Clean up of the Town
Stephen Davidson
St. Catherine
Angels Estate 2 Citizens Association
Cleaning and painting of sidewalks, cleaning up of community centre, re-painting of speed bumps, cleaning verges and drains and planting of trees
Ainsworth Lawrence
St. Catherine
Bodles Crescent
i. The Bus stop sign – Here, this sign should be surfaced and painted for completion. ii. The Community Entrance signs – For this, one needs to be constructed and painted, while the other needs painting only. iii. The Golden Agers Care Day – Here, club members will visit the homes of each elderly community member, treat them by talking, combing the hairs of the females and giving them gifts. iv. The Planting of Fruit Trees and Flowers – This will be done in the triangular are stretching from the bus stop to the train gate, as well as through the length of the lane.
Shamica Peart Williams
St. Catherine
Eltham Meadows
creation and landscaping of green space at the corner of Allamander Ave & Orchid Blvd, across from the Resource Centre.
Albert Anderson
St. Catherine
Eltham View
Construction of Entrance Sign, drain cleaning & Beautification
Donna Tcker
St. Catherine
Ensom Acres
General cleaning and beutification of entire scheme to include painting of curb walls, clearing of bushes/land at both entrances and other main areas, planting of trees and/or plants, minor patching of roads, etc.
Kepton Wright
St. Catherine
Gillette Street Community
Install road signs and garbage bins,fill pot holes, white-wash and repair curve walls and beautification, etc.
Frank Otto
St. Catherine
Lluidas Vale
Construction of building for elderly man
Moneque Brown
St. Catherine
Old Harbour Bay
1.Cleaning, bushing,collecting and removal of the garbage bathing beach.
Andrew Gordon
St. Catherine
Old Harbour Bay
Cleaning,Tree planting and Fencing of area.
Andrew Gordon
St. Catherine
Orangefield
Assistance with housing for a fire victim and destitute woman.
Moneque Brown
St. Catherine
Sydenham Garden Citizens Association
The general cleaning of the curb walls, filling pot holes, brushing empty lots and white washing curb walls
Kingsley Henry
St Catherine
Spanish Town
Spanish Town Primary School- painting administrative block
Scotia Bank Spanish Town
St Catherine
Old Harbour
Davis Primary School – perimeter fencing
Scotia Bank Old Harbour
St. Elizabeth
Black River
beautification work on the hospital grounds
Stephen Davidson
St. Elizabeth
Burnt Savannah
Roofing of classroom
Emily Smith
St. Elizabeth
Burnt Savannah
Placing of marl in potholes on the Burnt Savannah main road
Micton Wallace
St. Elizabeth
Chocolate Hole, Junction
Marling, bushing and construction of drains
Hamlet Thompson
St. Elizabeth
Cotterwood
Construction of house for Stervin McKnight at Cotterwood
Sandra White
St. Elizabeth
Crane Road, Arlington, Pondside and Barbary Hall
Bushing and Beautification of Crane Road Bushing and Beautification of Pondside Completion of Bus Shed at Arlington Cleaning of field and fence ar Barbary Hall
Joyce Brown
St. Elizabeth
Goshen
Construction of room and bathroom in Content, Goshen
Donovan Pagon
St. Elizabeth
Leeds, Malvern
Construction of Bus Shed in Leeds Reconstruction of Basic School in Malvern
Daren Powell
St. Elizabeth
Luana
Beautification
Doral Lawrence
St. Elizabeth
Maggotty District
Construction of room in Bethsalem
Jonathan Brooks
St. Elizabeth
Myersville
Construction of a bus shelter
Layton Smith
St. Elizabeth
New Market
Painting and construction of doorway at the New Market Poor relief office
Cyril Martin
St. Elizabeth
Quickstep, Benlomonds, Content, Balaclava
Construction of building at Quickstep All Age Painting and whitewashing of Balaclava town patching of roadway – Content, Quickstep and Benlomond
Everton Fisher
St. Elizabeth
Red Hill, Lacovia
To rehabilitate the Red Hill roadway to include marling and putting in concrete drains
Tom Smith
St. Elizabeth
Rocky Hill
To fix section of Coffee Piece Road
Eugene Campbell
St. Elizabeth
Santa Cruz
To paint the inside of both male and female wards, shower area and toilets
Joycelyn Bryan
St. Elizabeth
Santa Cruz
The markings on all six Pedestrian crossings in the town have faded and TWO have been gazetted but not marked. The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz has undertaken to marked the crossings thus making more accessible to pedestrians and visible to motorists.
ERIC SPENCER
St. Elizabeth
Siloah
Fencing of Siloah Police Station
Audie Myers
St. Elizabeth
Top Hill
Construction of a multi purpose court at the Top Hill Primary School to include foundation work
Gregory Myers
St. Elizabeth
Santa Cruz
Building house for poor family of 9
Scotia Bank, Santa Cruz
St. James
Bogue Village
This year we will be cleaning the five green areas – Phases I, II, III, IV, & V. This includes the cutting of shrubs, removal of stones, and the planting of trees.
Donovan Dove
St. James
Montego Bay
The Sandals Montego Region – SRC, SMB, SC – will be visiting the CUMI Day Center on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 between 10AM – 3PM. While at the location the team will be painting the veranda of the center as well as the exterior of the center. There will also be some minor infastructural updates and minor landscaping of the area.
Sheryl McGaw-Douse
St. James
Paradise
The objective is to make the school environment more beautiful. As such, the focus will be on painting the school building and bushing the school yard
Petra-Kene Williams
St. James
Providence
cleaning and painting the community center,and weeding the area sorrounding the center.
Hillary Anderson
St. James
Railway Lane Basic School
Painting of Exterior of basic school
Michelle-Ann Letman
St. James
Tower Hill
Painting and refurbishing of Tower Hill Basic School
Omar Robinson
St James
Flankers
Flankers Primary & Junior High – painting
Scotia Bank, West Gate
St James
Montego Bay
St james Parish Library – painting, marking car park, planting flowers & trees
Scotia Bank, Sam Sharp Square, Ironshore & Westgate
St. Mary
Annotto Bay
Bushing, gardening, painting of conference room and general clean up of children ward
Patrick Prendergast
St. Mary
Hunts Town
the School yard is on a hill we are trying to make it level we started on labour day 2011and working to have it complete as soon as it is posible
Alphanso Clarke
St. Mary
Jacks River
The objective is to make the school environment for the children of Jacks River Basic School more beautiful. As such, painting and minor repairs will be done to the school
Petra-Kene Williams
St Mary
Highgate
Cromwell Basic School- cleaning, painting repairs, beautification
Scotia Bank
Highgate
St Mary
Port Maria
Port Maria Infant School – painting perimeter wall
Scotia Bank, Port Maria
St. Thomas
Holland Town, Dalvey
Scope of work with details: (1) Construction of a new pit latrine. (2) Painting of the interior and exterior walls. (3) Donation of a plastic drum for water storage. (4) Donation of grocery supplies. (5) Bushing of the yard and planting of evergreens and crotones.
Kadian Francis
St. Thomas
Spring Garden
General clean up of road way leading to Paul Bogle site at Stony Gut, planting of flowers, clean up of gully, bushing of road and painting of drive way to the site.
Mr. Rose
St. Thomas
Morant Bay
Morant Bay Basic School – painting and repairs
Scotia Bank Morant Bay
Trelawny
Flamingo Beach
Bushing and clean up beach to create a Hip Stripe for long term, sustainable clean-up as the community/visitor attraction
Ras Astor Black
Trelawny
The Greenside/Bogue Gate Residents Association
Residents will be clearing the roadside of trees and bushes along the road the joins both communities as the bushes have led to hold-ups in the area
Janet Shirley
Trelawny
Falmotuh
St Peters Basic School – painting playground equipment & mural
Scotia Bank Falmouth
Westmoreland
Beeston spring
Bush Roadway-Plant Shurbs,Plan6ts and Flowers
Osmond Bushay
Westmoreland
Bethel Town
Construction of garbage receptacle along the Galloway main road near the entrance of Hermitage Operation Pride Scheme.
Danree Delancy
Westmoreland
Coote Savannah
Install Rail on Bridge
Chaplin Jamieson
Westmoreland
culloden
patching of potholes in road,painting curve walls and bridges.
Carolyn Simpson
Westmoreland
Darliston
Clean road ways and paint curve walls from darliston tax office to darliston library
Trevor Jamieson
Westmoreland
Davis Lane
.
Merna Pulsey
Westmoreland
dELVELAND
Fixing the roof of health centre at Delveland
Berenda Jackson
Westmoreland
Dumbar river
Painting of the Kitchen at the savlamar infrimary
Julie-ann Lewis
Westmoreland
Farm Pen
Develop and fence play area.Painting and repairs to bathroom.
Kemar Christie
Westmoreland
Godfrey Stewart High School
to rehabilitate multi-purpose lunch room wash/clean and paint
Annette Saddler
Westmoreland
Hudson Street
Cleaning drains and sidewalks Filling pot holes & erecting garbage receptacles
Josephine Goldsmith
Westmoreland
Hudson Street, Savanna La Mar
Cleaning drains and sidewalks Filling pot holes & erecting garbage receptacles
Josephine Goldsmith
Westmoreland
Kentucky
Cleaning of drains,building speacial walls to be used as beautification planting of flowers renovation of cmmunity sign using cement mixtire ti fill out pot holes and to strengthen the walls.
Thelma Foote
Westmoreland
Little London
Rehabilitation of the Play Field and repair work to the perimeter fencing
Principal
Westmoreland
Negril
Beautification of roads and works and bushing
Elaine Bradley
Westmoreland
petersville
Rendering and roofing of the building of the garbage skip.
Leroy Robinson
Westmoreland
petersville
The School in collaboration with the petersville CDC is constructing a garbage receptacle.This will serve the school and near by communities.
Sonia Heath
Westmoreland
Retreat
Making a Skit to put garbage in.
Myrtle Samuels
Westmoreland
Ricketts Ave
Clean up drain,garbage,bushing and disposal.
Simone Love
Westmoreland
Savanna la Mar
Sandals Whitehouse is committed to assisting those in need in and around our surrounding communities. For our 2012 Labour Day Project, the resort has decided to take on a beautification project in partnership with the Savlamar Infirmary. Currently, the infirmary house 100 patients both male and female ranging from ages 30 up 104 years and also caters to the mentally ill and the homeless. This year Sandals Whitehouse wanted to engage in a project that is caring and meaningful and that will have great impact as such after recognising that the Savlamar Infirmary has great needs we have decided to play our part.
Sheryl McGaw-Douse
Westmoreland
savlamar
To repaint pesdestrian crossing in front building in sav n negril
Caswell Dawes
Westmoreland
Town Head
Painting inside and outside of school kitchen and also tiling.
Principal
Westmoreland
waterwheel
To clean all drains and bushing.
Lyndell Gooden
Westmoreland
Whitehouse
Painting of auditorium,fencing of perimeter fencing and cleaning of raodway to school entrance.
Foster Jackson

Activities for Labour Day 2012

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Workers’ Week & Labour Day 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Programme
 
THEME
 “STEP FORWARD … MAKE JAMAICA BEAUTIFUL”
NATIONAL PROJECT
NATIONAL HEROES PARK
NATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012 MONTEGO BAY,  ST. JAMES
 
 
Workers’ Week Information Hub
HWT Transport Centre Exhibition by Govt.  Agencies 9-3pm
               
 
Workers’ Week Panel Discussion.
Emancipation Park 5-7pm.                                                          
Theme: “50 years of Trade   Union Struggle: retrospection, introspection &  reflection”
CIVIC CEREMONY:       
SIMULTANEOUS COMMEMORATION OF THE MARTYRDOM  OF THE RT. EXCELLENT SAM SHARPE NATIONAL HERO – MAY 23 9a.m.
 
 
NATIONAL HEROES PK.  KGN.& SAM SHARPE SQUARE, MO BAY
PROJECT REGISTRATION    
You may register your projects by downloading the registration form from this this website’s home  page (see quick downloads), and submitting same to your Parish Council, KSAC or Portmore Municipal Council, the nearest SDC office or[email protected]. You may also register your project online at    Www.Jis.Gov.Jm/Labourday
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU MAY CALL:           754-0992-9 extn 2093, 2002/3 

Ministry of Local Government & Community Development Moves to Improve Minor Water Supply Facilities

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While the Ministry, working in conjunction with the Local Authorities, have been able to provide limited financial support for the trucking of water from the Equalization Fund to drought affected communities across the island, efforts are underway to find a more extensive solution. Minister of Local Government & Community Development, the honourable Noel Arscott made the disclosure at a recently held press briefing.
The Minister also revealed that during the first quarter of this financial year the work was done on the catchment tanks and entombed springs in two parishes, bushing was also done in the vicinity surrounding the facilities. The areas in which these works were done are the Kensington Catchment Tank, Mount Dawson Water Supply System and Seafield Spring Catchment in St Catherine. In St Thomas the areas surrounding the Hayfield Minor Water Supply System, Beacon Hill Minor Water Supply System and Aeleus Valley Minor Water Supply System were cleared.
“These upgrades have not only created worthwhile employment but have benefitted the over two thousand (2000) people they (catchment facilities) serve”, the Minister said.
He also disclosed that the Ministry is now engaged in an Inter-Ministerial effort to respond to drought affected communities through financing of $50M, of which $10M will be used to repair Rapid Response trucks.
Additionally, it was revealed that the Ministry will be seeking to conclude an audit of standpipes across the island to ensure that those that are needed are operational and maintained, while those that are no longer necessary are disconnected accordingly.
 
Meanwhile, the Ministry has been able to clear outstanding balance due to the National Water Commission for Public Water totalling $239.7M this amount has been carried forward over the last three (3) financial years.
Minister Arscott was speaking at a press brief held on Thursday, May 2012, to highlight his first 100days in office.

Alternate Energy Pilot Underway at the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development

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The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is forging ahead with its agreement with Green RG LLC, an alternative energy company based in the United States, to conduct a pilot project involving several Local Government entities.
On Thursday May 3, 2012, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the Honourable Noel Arscott announced the selection of the facilities that will be used for the project. The Minister said that a work order has been issued for the supply of solar-LED technology and retrofitting of:
1.      Five thousand (5,000) street lights in Clarendon, St. Catherine and Kingston
2.      The Ministry’s Administrative Buildings
3.      The St. Mary and Manchester infirmaries
4.      The Brown’s Town and Coronation Markets
5.      The St. James Parish Council Building
This pilot project is being conducted under the terms of an MOU signed between the Ministry and Green RG LLC late last year and is designed to demonstrate the United States based company’s patented technology which it asserts will result in at least a 20% reduction in electricity costs in the selected entities.  The company has been conducting energy audits of various local government facilities.
While welcoming the initiative which he says will result in an initial saving of approximately $40 million per year ($30 million of which is on the streetlight bill alone), Minister Arscott said the pilot programme is but a drop in the bucket as the cost for streetlights has increased by an alarming 83% between January 2009 and February 2012 and there are approximately ninety-three thousand (93,000) street lights in Jamaica which is projected to cost the Ministry approximately $2.62 billion this year alone.
As a result, the Minister says he will be pursuing other energy saving alternatives, “two months ago I (along with the Hon. Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining) established a street light task force with a view of drastically reducing our streetlight bill. The first report of that Committee is now ready”.
Meanwhile the Green RG pilot, which is still in the energy audit phase, is expected to be completed in September 2013. The programme is being conducted at no cost to the Government of Jamaica and the Office of the Contractor General has issued a ‘No Objection’ to this pilot.

Steady Progress During Minister Arscott’s First 100 Days

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Minister of Local Government & Community Development the Honourable Noel Arscott, says he intends to finalize the entrenchment of Local Government in the Jamaican constitution in this the fiftieth year of the nation’s political independence.

The Minister, who was speaking at a press briefing convened to highlight the achievements of his first 100 days in office, said that the entrenchment of local government in the Jamaica constitution is an important part of the legislative agenda of the reform programme as it will provide the necessary protection to the Local Government System from the political agendas of different Ministers.
In addition to providing on update on the progress of the legislative agenda, Minister Arscott highlighted efforts being made in the areas of institutional strengthening, upgrading of markets and social water provisions, as well as, efforts to transform the status quo as it relates to streetlights and solid waste management.
Some of the highlights included, the review of the Portmore model which is being done with a view to replicating the model in other parishes, an announcement that the Ministry is looking into creating new positions for Town Managers under a Town Council Model in an effort to concentrate higher levels of service and responsiveness in areas where there is greater demand, and the clearing of outstanding balances owed to the National Water Commission for public water as well as an inter-ministerial effort to aid drought affected communities.
Minister Ascott also spoke to other joint venture efforts such as the arrangement with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) for the upgrading of the island’s market which has resulted in the refurbishing of Spaulding Market, and the commencement of work on the Rocky Point and Black River Markets; the signing of an MOU with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for expansion of the NSWMA’s composting facility; the establishment of a street light task force to examine ways of reducing the country’s streetlight bill as well as, an Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the management of waste disposal and waste to energy development. The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining is part of both task forces.
In closing the Minister expressed his desire for greater achievements under the reform programme.
“It is my sincere hope that together we can continue to positively impact the lives of all Jamaicans through our stewardship, representation and provision of improved services through a reformed local government system which is reflective of the high expectations, greater efficiencies within the Local Authorities and agencies and selfless service of those who serve at all levels”, he said.

Minister Noel Arscott presides over the recently held inaugural board meeting of the Board of Supervision

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Minister Noel Arscott presides over the recently held inaugural board meeting of the Board of Supervision at the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development   in April.  The Board of Supervision, (for the relief of the poor in Jamaica), is a statutory body operating under the portfolio of the Ministry.  It was established under the Poor Relief Act to supervise and monitor the delivery of the poor relief service performed by the Parish Councils and KSAC.

Seated from left: Recording Secretary Lois McGregor, Secretary to the Board, Barrington Parsons, Chairman of the Board, Prof. Denise Eldemire Shearer, Minister Noel Arscott, Permanent Secretary, Sharon Crooks, Marcia Vidal, Cllr. Carlton Bailey and Marlon Lowe. Other Board members missing from photo are: Joy Fagan, Dwight Campbell and Dr. Winston De La Haye.

Newly elected Mayors and deputy Mayors

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Mayors meet with Minister Arscott (sitting 3rd left), Permanent Secretary, Sharon Crooks (sitting 3rd right) & State Minister Colin Fagan(sitting 2nd right) during an official meeting at the Ministry’s offices at 85 Hagley Park Road, Kingston as part of their first official engagement with the Ministerial team.
Seated in front row from left: Mayor of Morant Bay, Cllr. Marsha Francis, Mayor of Kingston, Cllr. Angela Brown-Burke, Mayor of Lucea, Cllr. Shernet Haughton. Standing in first row from left: Mayor of Port Antonio, Cllr. Benny White, Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, Mayor of Black River, Cllr. Everton Fisher, Mayor of Port Maria, Cllr. Levan Freeman, Mayor of Falmouth, Cllr. Garth Wilkinson, Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Cllr. Desmond Gilmore, Mayor of Savanna-la-mar, Cllr. Bertel Moore. Standing in back row from left: Mayor of Spanish Town, Cllr. Norman Scott & Mayor of May Pen, Cllr. Scean Barnswell .
Missing from photo are: Mayor of Mandeville, Cllr. Brenda Ramsay and Mayor of Montego Bay, Cllr. Glendon Harris.
 
Jamaica’s newly elected mayors and deputy mayors met with the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Noel Arscott and State Minister, Hon. Colin Fagan at the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development offices on Wednesday April 4, 2012.
The meeting was the first since the Local Government political officials were sworn in as Chairmen of their respective councils. The meeting was designed to facilitate face-to-face dialogue with the Ministerial team at which the mayors raised critical issues of local governance as well as outlined their vision for their parish.
In his charge to the political directorate of parish government, the Minister underscored the need for councils to operate in a transparent, responsive and responsible manner in approaching the issues of governance.
The Minister also used the opportunity to outline the current status and priority programmes of Local Government Reform.

Jamaica Set to Benefit From CD$23 Million Regional Local Economic Development Project

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Jamaica’s local government system has the opportunity to benefit over the next six years from a C$23 million regional local economic development project of which $18.9m will be a contribution from the Government of Canada through CIDA.
 This information was provided to the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott at his office recently during a visit by an inception mission led by Programme Director, Dr. Naresh Singh. He was accompanied by Miss Sekeywi Carruthers, Project Manager of CIDA. During the inception phase of the programme, six (6) countries will be selected to be the initial beneficiaries in the first three (3) years of the programme.
In his welcoming remarks, Minister Arscott expressed his endorsement of the project noting that it coincides with the government’s thrust in promoting a community based approach to economic growth and job creation as a key strategy in revitalizing local governance.
The Minister in his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers (CFLGM) added that he was extremely pleased with the timeliness of the project as the CFLGM had played a pivotal role in the development of this project.