Local authorities and partner agencies received 3,773 development applications valued at $148.3 billion in the last financial year, with 2,777 approved within 90 days, representing an approval rate of nearly 84 per cent. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the disclosure during his 2020/21 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21),...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is in the process of instituting measures aimed at further strengthening the accountability framework at Municipal Corporations. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says chief among these is the implementation of a new accounting-based system, for which technical assistance support is being provided by the European Union (EU). He also mentioned the proposed...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) will be hosting two community markets and business fairs to benefit residents of St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas on July 23 and July 25, respectively. The events form part of the SDC’s initiatives to keep community businesses in operation during this period of economic downturn caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Currently, many of the [St....

Four hundred and fifty care packages were distributed to residents of Canterbury, Albion Lane, Williams Street and surrounding communities in Montego Bay, St. James, on July 21 by the St. James Municipal Corporation and United Nations (UN)-Habitat. This is part of a US$100,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) response programme being undertaken by the Corporation. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, led...

Hundreds of residents of Clifton in South St. Catherine are to benefit from free skills training and titles for the lands they occupy, as part of Government’s programme to transform the former sugar-dependent area. Speaking at a community meeting in the area on Wednesday (July 15), Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government has been providing more than 30,000 meals per day for poor and vulnerable persons in communities islandwide. The meals are being provided at drop-in centres and other facilities across the country. Minister McKenzie informed that more than 2,000...

More than 6,000 Jamaicans from vulnerable communities across the island have received birth certificates through the Operation Certification Programme, which began in 2017. The initiative is being implemented through a partnership between the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Registrar General’s Department (RGD). Funded by the World Bank, the programme, which is now in its final stage, has spearheaded...

Tributes continue to flow for the late Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson. Mrs. Robinson, who served as Member of Parliament for North East St. Ann, died on May 29 after a prolonged illness. She was 66 years old. Among those remembering the veteran parliamentarian, is Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. Speaking...

Shelter managers in St. Elizabeth recently underwent a refresher course, as part of a shelter management forum held to better prepare them for the 2020 hurricane season and other disasters. The forum was held at the St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on Friday (July 10), where new shelter management guidelines were outlined for an active hurricane...