ST MARY CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
One of the most notable takeaways from last Friday’s (March 13), handing over ceremony of two Foton buses to the Jamaica Fire Brigade by the Sandals Group, was the footprint of the impact that the Local Government Ministry has across the parish of St Mary. This insertion of capital spending has continued to bolster the capacity of the local authorities and the agencies under the Ministry.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie spoke to the growth of the Jamaica Fire Brigade following the injection of investments into the agency over the last few years and the future developments for the parish.
“We have provided, within the last eight and half years, more than thirty trucks to the brigade… substantial amount of equipment to withstand the challenges, that they face…” he said
“There are two outstanding issues here in the parish of St Mary that needs to be accomplished, this fire station [Port Maria Fire Station] was opened in 2022… I wouldn’t call it refurbished, it was a new built station in Annotto Bay in 2024… sin
ce 2016, this administration has done a number of things in St Mary, I am waiting now on the proposal for the upgrade for the Port Maria Market… we spoke about the Highgate Market; once the design has been examined, we are going to be making arrangements in this new financial year to provide the funds to commence the rebuilt Highgate Market,” Minister McKenzie added.
He further addressed the request for a Fire Station in Gayle, St Mary, stating that he will be meeting with the Commissioner of Fire, Stewart Beckford, regarding the matter before adding that funding has already been provided for the purchasing of land to construct a fire station in Balaclava, St Elizabeth.
“The question of the Fire Station in Gayle, is very important, and Minister [Robert Montaque] and Mayor, I will engage the Commissioner… more communities have developed right across, and it makes the work of the brigade more challenging,” he said while acknowledging the need for quicker accessibility to emergency services since the insurgence of residential growth in deep rural communities.
Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Delroy Williams spoke to the critical role of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to the Local Government structure, emphasizing that the brigade not only put out fires, but shoulders disaster management in general.
“ The Jamaica Fire Brigade is integrated in the entire Local Government apparatus…in fact
, the Jamaica Fire Brigade is deeply integrated in our disaster response and management apparatus… so the resource capability, resource build-up of the Fire Brigade is important, its important in their planning, managing and introducing measures to prevent, mitigate, respond to, prepare for, and recover from disasters and today we see the donation of these two buses as critical to the Jamaica Fire Brigade and its resource build up and building its capability,” Minister Williams said
For his part, Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Fitzroy Wilson extended gratitude for the donation and underpinned the value of the collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“I am sure that the people of St Mary will feel much safer knowing that transportation is also available and not just the response to douse the fires… initiatives like this demonstrates what can be achieved when government and the private sector work together to the benefit of the communities”, he said.
“It represents investment in public safety, preparedness and wellbeing of the people of St Mary and the Jamaica Fire Brigade at large. We commend the Sandals Groups for its continued commitment to National Development and corporate responsibility” he continued.