Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says citizens who refuse to wear masks in public could soon face prosecution under the Disaster Risk Management Act. In April of this year, the Government announced the mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces as part of measures to contain transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Wearing the protective device...

The Government’s three-year LED streetlights installation programme, being implemented by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), is expected to be completed by the end of the 2020/21 fiscal year. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says approximately 65 per cent of the overall target of 105,000 lights have been installed since the programme’s commencement in the 2017/18...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says work to build and renovate several markets islandwide is at varying stages of completion. He provided an update during his 2020/21 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21), under the theme ‘Building National Resilience through Continuous Investment in Local Government’. Mr. McKenzie advised that...

A total of 5,000 persons will be facilitated under this year’s renewal of the Government’s National Youth Summer Employment Programme (NYSEP), slated for August. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who indicated that the number represents an increase of 1,000 persons over the number of participants last year. He was making his...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says he has asked the Commissioner of Police to investigate and take the necessary actions against the operators of the Reggae Mill Restaurant and Bar for continued breaches of the Disaster Risk Management Orders. Reggae Mill, located at Devon House in St. Andrew, was earlier this month ordered closed for...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, on Thursday (July 23) officially handed over 20 new trucks to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), which will improve garbage collection across the island. Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Jamaica House, Mr. Holness said that the Government is making capital investments in equipment that will improve service delivery and build...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says work on the final phase of the National Housing Trust (NHT) $200-million infirmary improvement project is “well under way”. Making his contribution to the 2020/21 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21), Mr. McKenzie said construction of the new female ward at the Manchester...