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...

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...

Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says Emancipation Park in St. Andrew has reopened to the public. Parks were among venues allowed to reopen for an initial period of two weeks, beginning June 15. However, Emancipation Park had remained closed. “I spoke with the Managing Director of the National Housing Trust (NHT), which operates Emancipation Park, and the… management wanted...

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...