Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right), presents United States Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Nick Perry (left) with a copy of his sectoral presentation when the Ambassador visited the Minister’s Hagley Park Road offices in Kingston on May 30. Sharing in the moment are Country Representative for the United States Agency for International Development...

Dennis Chung is the new Board Chairman for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, officially introduced Mr. Chung during the National Disaster Risk Management Council meeting at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St. Ann on Wednesday (May 29). “He has been duly appointed to serve for the...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has commended the Board of Supervision for remaining steadfast in its mission to offer hope and support to vulnerable citizens, particularly those experiencing homelessness. Making his contribution to the 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday (May 28), the Minister said the organisation has brought hope to...

Jamaica’s National Disaster Fund now stands at more than $550 million, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced. This marks a substantial increase from the $100 million in the fund at its inception, said Mr. Holness, who also Chairs the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC). He noted the Government’s significant strengthening of the country’s disaster preparedness efforts...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is reminding Jamaicans of the importance of preparing for what is expected to be an active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States has forecast an above-average season, with projections of 17 to 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes,...

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...