The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is scheduled to officially hand over the disaster emergency communication equipment and related infrastructure to the Government next month. More than $2 billion has been invested in the project, aimed at developing a national emergency communication system to coordinate incident response among key government agencies and volunteers. Providing an update in the House of...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is using the Bushfire Warning Index provided by the National Meteorological Service to better anticipate and respond to bush fires across the island, says Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. He was making his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate on Tuesday (May 28) in the House of Representatives. Minister McKenzie...

The Government is investing millions of dollars in building out fire stations across the island. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 28), said rehabilitation works are being carried out at the Half-Way Tree Fire Station in St. Andrew at a...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will be installing a modern, First-World electronic Records Management System this year. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in making the disclosure in his Sectoral presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 28), said the system, which is being installed for the first time in the history of the...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to provide indigent houses, construct water shops, and repair and upgrade markets, roads, and public cemeteries across the island. Outlining the various initiatives while making his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 28, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond...

The Government will, this year, employ 10,000 young people under the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP). Making the announcement, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said this year’s intake will be the largest since the programme’s inception in 2017, adding that the 2024 renewal will be formally launched soon. He was making his contribution to the...

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) will get a boost in its fleet of trucks with the acquisition of 50 additional units. These will bolster the agency’s operational capabilities, thereby resulting in improved garbage collection islandwide. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who made the disclosure, indicated that “10 of these trucks are already here...

School administrators are being encouraged to support and participate in the Fire Wardens Club in Schools Project, being implemented by the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB). Speaking during the 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 28), Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that the project is a new and special component...

A massive islandwide derelict vehicle removal programme will commence shortly, says Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. Making his contribution to the 2024/25 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 28, he said that the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has acquired four new crane trucks, which will facilitate the undertaking. “We continue...