Latest News

» Media » Latest News

Category: News

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

Posted on

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

Posted on
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

Posted on
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.

Major Clean-up & Rodent Eradication Programme for Corporate Area

Posted on
The government is to take a multi-stakeholder approach to launching a major rodent eradication programme within the corporate area and its immediate environs and some townships.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Noel Arscott at a meeting this morning of principals of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, the Ministry of Health, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and technical personnel from his ministry articulated a multi-pronged plan for managing what has been identified as a major rat infestation problem within the Corporate Area.
The immediate plans will include an inspection by the chief public health inspector’s team following which a report will be produced within two weeks. The findings of the report will serve as the base in determining the application of the other methodologies to be employed in the eradication programme which will include:
·        cleaning of some drains and gullies
·        Public education programme to highlight personal responsibility of citizens including business owners on proper disposal of waste and
·        Strengthening of enforcement of regulations
The meeting was called by Minister Arscott amid reports of rat infestation, the closure of a prominent high school as a result, and general complaints of unscheduled garbage collection and drain cleaning which are viewed as contributory factors.

New Executive Director for NSWMA

Posted on
Jennifer Edwards, holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration who has also studied at the graduate level in public sector management has been appointed Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, effective yesterday, February 27.
Driven by a passion for hard work and dedication, Ms. Edwards brings to the position her professionalism and expertise in Public Administration and General Management. Her ability to get the job done will no doubt complement the new thrust of the Authority to be transparent and accountable to all stakeholders.
A former member of the local government fraternity that embraced service delivery, accountability and transparency as the main principles of good governance, Ms. Edwards is well poised take on the task of steering the organization to be responsive to the needs of the public.
No stranger to the public service, Miss Edwards spent the better part of her  professional life in public administration as councillor for the Sydenham division in St Catherine as well as Chairman of the St. Catherine Parish Council and Mayor of Spanish Town from 1992-1997.
The former Minister of State in Agriculture in 2002, has identified as her key priority the streamlining and re-positioning of the organization in line with its mandate to deliver quality service and remain the key player in the management of the island’s solid waste .
Some key areas that she will be addressing immediately will include strengthening and expanding the revenue base of the authority to assist in meeting its operating costs. One such revenue base is that of  composting and landscaping.

Minister Arscott Encourages Teamwork in Local Authorities

Posted on
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon Noel Arscott is encouraging teamwork as one way of addressing service deficiencies in Local Authorities.
The Minister made the proposition during meetings at the Trelawny and St. James Parish Councils on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, where he sought to address a number of issues being faced by the Local Authorities. Minister Arscott also encouraged the Councils to develop good working relationships with other Councils in order to share ideas ‘.. look at their best practices and see how these can be applied to your situation’, Minister urged.
Minister Arscott told Councils that he will be utilizing teamwork and partnerships as much as possible in his administration. He disclosed that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is working with the Ministry, Science, Technology Energy and Mining to explore alternate sources of energy particularly for use in street lighting, as well as, with the Ministry of Water Environment and Climate Change to implement more effective means of tackling the perennial problem of water shortages in areas not serviced by the National Water Commission.
The Minister also expressed his commitment to working with the Councils to solve the problems being experienced even while suggesting that they have it within their power to work out most of the issues they have been facing themselves. This point was endorsed by Minister of State Colin Fagan, who also attended the meetings. ‘It is important as we continue to move the reform process forward that you apply a level of creativity in sourcing funding to meet the needs of your constituents’, Minister Fagan said.
The Local Government Ministers have been conducting a familiarization tour of councils and have already visited the St Ann, St Catherine and Clarendon Parish Councils; next stops will be the Hanover and Westmoreland Parish Councils on Thursday, February 16, 2012.

Minister Arscott Responds to Claims of Political Cronyism in the Handling of Fire at Riverton Landfill

Posted on
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon Noel Arscott has expressed disappointment at the outrageous claims made by the former Minister of Housing, Water Environment and Local Government.
Minister Arscott says that it is unfortunate at this time of National crisis when we should be coming together to solve a problem that was not created by any one administration that the former Minister should take such an adversarial position.
“I urge Dr Chang not to politicise such a catastrophic event” the Minister said. “The problem at the landfill is a long-standing one; the Ministry took action as soon as we became aware of the situation”, he added.
The Minister has extended an invitation to meet with Minister Chang to discuss the situation and to address any issues he might have.
The Minister held a press conference earlier today at the landfill at which he updated the media and the public on the status of the fire fighting activities.

Landfill Fire being monitored

Posted on

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Noel Arscott is this evening assuring the nation and residents in the environs of the Riverton City Landfill that every effort is being made to address the current situation relating to a fire which started at the landfill yesterday.

The Minister in quick response to alert from National Solid Waste Management  Authority (NSWMA),  visited the landfill and coordinated and deployed machinery and resources with the assistance of the Jamaica Fire Brigade and the Jamaica Defence Force.

The Minister said he will be meeting with other gpvernment Ministers and relevant agency heads to continue the coordinated response in controlling and extinguishing the fire.

“I regret the inconvenience that this fire and smoke may cause to persons, and will provide timely updates as we work to bring the situation under control” the Minister said.

The landfill is currently under 24-hour surveillance by the landfill director, NSWMA personnel and the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

Minister Arscott who is currently in St. Ann on a familiarization tour of the parish will be returning to the landfill this evening to ascertain the staus and continue to mobilise resources.  He is hoping that the fire will be extinguished by tonight.

Ministers on Familiarization tour of Councils and Agencies

Posted on
Minister Noel Arscott and State Minister Colin Fagan in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development have embarked on an official tour of the island’s fourteen local authorities and affiliated agencies today as part of a series of face-to-face dialogue with members of the local government fraternity.
The Ministers who are accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry have used the familiarization tour as an opportunity to outline their vision for the local government portfolio as well as address outstanding issues and challenges being experienced by councils in their pursuit of an efficient and effective reform of the local government system.
In his main address Minister Arscott underscored the commitment of the government to moving the local government reform programme “ … from reform to local government implementation.”
The Minister also reminded council that “while autonomy is a long term goal of council, each council will have to conduct its affairs with transparency and accountability to be able to stand up to scrutiny in order to defend your quest for autonomy.”
Minister Fagan who was also on his first official visit, encouraged councils to; “demonstrate your relevance (to the parish) be creative in maximising your revenue earning potential in order to be better able to sustain your parish needs without dependency on central government”.
While not giving any commitment the ministers outlined the priority programmes under the new administration which included the rehabilitation of fire stations and markets which should include the erection of a new fire station in Moneague , St. Ann.
The Ministers who were on the first leg of their tour at the St. Ann Parish Council also visited the fire station, market, NSWMA office in St. Ann and will join the St. Catherine Parish Council tomorrow at 2:00 pm.

$3m for Portmore Mosquito Eradication Programme

Posted on

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has approved 3 million dollars for an interim mosquito eradication and fogging in the Portmore Municipality. The fund will provide some relief to the residents who have been complaining of the mosquito nuisance in that community.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Noel Arscott says he is aware of the issues caused by the condition of the drains in the community and is moving with dispatch to address them.

The Minister explained that funds were withheld from the Portmore municipality following the failure of the Mayor to respond promptly to a request for details on the programme of work in six communities. The details on the contracts, tender documents and proof that the work had been completed were requested on January 11, 2012. The report was finally received this week and is being reviewed by the technical officers within the ministry.
Minister Arscott says in light of the findings of the Auditor General he has a responsibility to ensure that the public funds are being spent in a responsible manner. He says as soon as the review is completed and if there are no irregularities, the funds will be released.He says the Ministry will continue to monitor and safeguard the expenditure of all monies and will ensure that there is transparency and accountability.