The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will launch the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Programme, which will assist firefighters to better manage emergency situations. Making the disclosure during his contribution to the 2021/22 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 18, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said under this programme two drones will be purchased. The...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that the Denham Town Golden Age Home in Kingston has not recorded a positive case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) to date. He gave this update during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (May 19). “To date, 220 persons have been infected with...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will shortly roll out the national hurricane preparedness campaign, as the country readies for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which forecasters have predicted will be more active than usual. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie made the disclosure while making his contribution to the 2021/22 Sectoral Debate...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says he is pleased with the distribution of the care packages by councillors within municipalities across the country, for which $280 million was provided. The care package distribution was initiated as a response to the negative impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on families across Jamaica. Minister McKenzie, who was...

Approximately 4,580 building permits were issued by the municipal corporations in the last fiscal year, reflecting a total investment of $159.1 billion. “I must commend them, because 90 per cent of those applications were completed in 90 days,”  Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said in his 2021/22 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives...

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is to finance an islandwide rural electrification programme valued at $189 million. Giving details of the programme while making his contribution to the 2021/22 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 18, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the programme is to be implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund...

A total of 6,000 young people will be engaged under the Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) this year. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that the new cohort will begin the programme in August and will be paid $40,000. “The municipal corporations and the Social Development Commission (SDC) will play key roles in the selection...