Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, has announced the closure of all public markets for this Emancipation weekend. All markets operated by Municipal Corporations will be closed to the public from midnight Saturday, August 1, 2020 and reopen for business at 6:00 am on Monday, August 3, 2020. “This measure is in keeping with the Government’s...

Players in the entertainment sector are being implored to comply with the protocols put in place by the Government in order to move to the next phase of the gradual reopening of the sector. Panellist and member of the Entertainment Advisory Board, Kamal Bankay, made the call as he addressed a recent digital town hall hosted by the Ministry of...

Acting Director of Emergency Medical Services at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Kurdell Espinosa Campbell, says that as part of emergency shelter protocols, persons who wish to use the facilities will be screened and risk-stratified before entering. “So, if you have a respiratory type illness, you will automatically be isolated to an area and transferred to a hospital,...

Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, says he is confident that the gains made in COVID-19 protocol compliance in several areas will not be eroded. Speaking at a digital town hall held by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development on July 23, he pointed out that along with the core protocol monitoring team...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Government will implement tighter measures for funerals if citizens continue to disregard the safety protocols for the staging of these events. The current protocols stipulate that there should be no more than 50 persons at a funeral, depending on the square footage of the church, and no more...

   

The Government is acquiring 30 pumpers for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) at a cost of $3 billion. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who has portfolio responsibility for the JFB, says the first 16 units are slated to arrive next March, with the remainder expected by May. Additionally, the Minister said the JFB has been...