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Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, (right, seated), engages with Customer Service Manager at the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Emoy Henry Tingling, during a job fair and document drive hosted at the Rose Heights Community Centre in St. James on June 4

Rehabilitated Rose Heights Community Centre Hosts Job Fair

Just 10 days after Labour Day rehabilitation activities, the Rose Heights Community Centre in St. James reopened on June 4, hosting a multi-agency job fair and document recovery drive that benefited more than 100 residents. Community members turned out in...

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Errol Greene (left), looks on as (from second left) Rotary Club of St. Andrew North President, Pierpont Wilson; Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) Regional Director, Michael Bent; and SRHA Chairman, Michael Stern, participate in the handover of paediatric medical equipment valued $3 million. The donation, made by the Club to the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth, was officially presented to the SRHA during a ceremony held on Friday (June 5) at Jamaica National’s (JN) Corporate Offices in Kingston.

Rotary Club Donates $3M Paediatric Equipment to Black River Hospital

Mayor of Black River and Chairman of the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Solomon (third left, seated); Senior Director for Hazard Mitigation and Risk Management in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Patrick Watson (second right, seated); and Manager of Resilient Infrastructure Recovery for Local Governments at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Christopher Lopez Maciel (second left, seated), join representatives from government agencies, emergency services, and community groups during Wednesday's (June 3) Recovery Readiness Assessment Framework Workshop, held at the Junction Guest House in St. Elizabeth.

St. Elizabeth Steps Up Disaster Readiness

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, makes his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3).

NSWMA Putting in Place Emergency Measures for Hurricane Season

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, makes his 2026/27 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3).

JFB to Launch New Emergency Communication Centre

3 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentSectoral Debate 2026/27

$60 Million Allocated for Shelter Improvements

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced the allocation of an additional of $60 million to assist Municipal Corporations with improving emergency shelter accommodations across the island. He made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3). Mr. McKenzie said the allocation will assist...

3 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Gov’t Allocates Millions for Critical Road Repairs & Special Drain Cleaning

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be rolling out a Priority Parochial Road Programme, valued at $350 million, targeting for repair badly damaged roads that connect communities and lead to critical places like hospitals and schools. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), shares a photo opportunity with National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) employees (from left) Michael Williams and L. Francis, during the NSWMA Long-Service Awards Ceremony, held at AC Hotel in Kingston on Thursday (June 4).

3 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Prime Minister Hails Workers of NSWMA

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed employees of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), emphasising that sanitation is among the most essential public service in the country. “If you stop, everything else stops. The markets cannot operate, the tourists begin to complain, the hospitals face higher burden and the country smells of neglect. Public sanitation...

3 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentSectoral Debate 2026/27

Gov’t to Invest $200M in Care Facilities Expansion

The Government will invest $200 million this year to expand capacity at care facilities, thereby easing overcrowding and freeing up bed space. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, explained that the issue of social cases occupying hospital beds has been long-standing. He noted that a special effort will be made this year to address the matter...

3 days ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentSectoral Debate 2026/27

Buildings Must Be Constructed to Withstand Category Five Hurricanes in Revised Building Code

The requirement that buildings must be constructed to withstand Category Five hurricanes is a critical feature of the revised Building Code. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the revised Building Code will be rolled out in this financial year. “There will also be stronger enforcement powers for Municipal Corporations, mandatory compliance checks, and stricter penalties for...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, makes his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Ddebate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3).

4 days ago Local GovernmentSectoral Debate 2026/27

$35 Million Marie Atkins Night Shelter Renovation As Gov’t Bolsters Services for the Homeless

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced a $35 million renovation project for the Marie Atkins Night Shelter downtown Kingston this financial year. The project is the latest in a series of initiatives by Government to strengthen services for the homeless population. “Over the last decade, we have been building a growing number of drop-in...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a public education session at the Salt Savannah Primary and Infant School in Clarendon on June 2. The session was part of the education component of Operation CALM (Cleaning, Advising, Leveraging and Maintaining), which was launched earlier in the day in the Rocky Point community in the parish.

4 days ago CommunityLocal Government

Students Urged to Help Keep Communities Clean

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is urging students to play an active role in keeping their communities clean. Addressing a public education session organised by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) at the Salt Savannah Primary and Infant School in Clarendon on Tuesday (June 2), the Minister told students that maintaining clean surroundings is...