Latest

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), examines the plan for the homeless shelter to be built on Victoria Street in Falmouth, Trelawny, with (from second left) Mayor of Trelawny, Councillor Colin Gager; Member of Parliament for Trelawny South, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert; Custos of Trelawny, Hon. Hugh Gentles; Acting Superintendent of Roads and Works, Kayon Hall and Councillor for the Falmouth Division, Garth Wilkinson. Ground was broken for the construction of the facility on Thursday (July 8).

Homeless Shelter to Be Constructed in Falmouth

Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, broke ground for the construction of a state-of-the art homeless shelter in Falmouth, Trelawny, on July 8. The facility, which will be built at a cost of $25 million, will have...

Parish Coordinator for Disaster Preparedness at the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Ornella Lewis, gives a presentation during a shelter management refresher course at the St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on Tuesday, July 6.

Shelter Managers Take Part In Refresher Course

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), looks on as Clarendon Parish Disaster Coordinator, Eleanor Coombs-Waithe (left), highlights the shelter rules, during a visit to the Osborne Store Primary and Junior High School shelter in the parish on Friday (July 2). At right is Member of Parliament for South-Western Clarendon, Lothan Cousins.

Gov’t Prepared for Any Impact from Tropical Storm Elsa

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second right), makes a point to Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford (right), while on a tour of the Port Maria Fire Station in St. Mary on July 1. The facility is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Others pictured (from left) are Member of Parliament for Central St. Mary, Dr. Morais Guy, and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary.

Four New Stations for Firefighters by Year End

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), tours St. Mary High School on July 1, during his visit to several shelters in St. Mary. Accompanying the Minister are Member of Parliament for St. Mary Central, Dr. Morais Guy (left), and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary (right).

Disaster Committees Activated

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left); Managing Director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (centre) and Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Home Davis, tour a section of the Steer Town community recently, during the launch of the Ministry’s electrification programme.

5 years ago Local Government

Failure To Comply With New COVID-19 Measures Will See Return To Restrictions – Minister McKenzie

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is imploring citizens to adhere to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols that come into effect on Thursday (July 1), noting that non-compliance will see the Government reverting to stricter measures. Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, recently announced adjustments to the measures, which include the relaxation of the curfew...

5 years ago Local GovernmentWeather

Designated Hurricane Shelters In St. Ann Ready

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has commended the St. Ann Municipal Corporation for ensuring that designated hurricane shelters in the parish are in a state of readiness. The Minister was addressing a press briefing during a tour of designated hurricane shelters in sections of St. Ann on Thursday (June 24). Also on the tour were...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Leeroy Williams, addresses a media briefing at the St. James Municipal Corporation on Wednesday (June 23).

5 years ago Local Government

Registration Programme For MoBay Vendors

The St. James Municipal Corporation is moving to address unregulated vending on the streets of the Second City. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Leeroy Williams, said that starting July, the Corporation will embark on a registration programme for vendors who wish to ply their wares legally along designated streets in the downtown area. He made the disclosure at a media...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a special sitting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation in Lucea, recently.

5 years ago Local GovernmentWeather

Jamaicans Urged To Heighten Hurricane Preparedness

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is imploring Jamaicans to heighten preparedness for any eventualities during the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season, which got under way on June 1 and runs through to November 30. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica is reporting that the forecast is for 13 to 20 tropical storms to develop, of which six...

(FILE) Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, speaks at a quarterly press briefing, at the Ministry in Kingston, in December.

5 years ago Local Government

Minister McKenzie Warns Persons Who Flout Building Regulations

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Government is prepared to take action where persons continue to build in unsafe zones or without the required approvals from the municipal authorities. He noted that the State has a duty to act within the ambit of the law to ensure safety in the built environment. “Once a...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, looks at a bed in the new female ward at the Manchester Infirmary, at the official opening of the facility on Friday (June 18). At right is Matron of the infirmary, Nurse Tracy Thompson-McLean.

5 years ago Local Government

New Ward Now Open At Manchester Infirmary

The spanking new female ward at the Manchester Infirmary was officially opened on Friday (June 18) by Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. Work on the 41-bed ward, which cost just over $48 million, has been completed for more than a year, but the official opening was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Minister McKenzie said...

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), listens as Acting Parish Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for Manchester, Keval Lewis (left), provides an update on the state of readiness of the Porus High School to provide shelter for residents during the hurricane season. The Minister toured several shelters in the parish on Friday (June 18).

5 years ago Local GovernmentWeather

Emergency Shelters In Manchester Ready

The 66 emergency shelters in Manchester are ready to accommodate up to 1,500 residents under the coronavirus (COVID) protocols should the need arise during this hurricane season. Acting Parish Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, Keval Lewis, made the disclosure to JIS News, during a tour of some of the proposed emergency shelters on Friday (June 18) by a team led by Minister...