Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Delroy Williams, says a coordinated approach to urban planning and development in the town centres and cities will improve responsiveness and accountability in the Municipalities. Mr.  Williams,  who made a presentation at the recent Local Governance Conference in Montego Bay, St. James, said the urban sector is a key contributor to economic growth,...

Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, is reporting that the agency has successfully extinguished the smoke nuisance that affected Montego Bay following the extinguishing of the Retirement Dump fire. "The fire was extinguished earlier in the week, however, there was a thick covering of smoke that lingered. We implemented covering activities, using marl and...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the staging of the inaugural conference on local governance provides the opportunity to explore strategies aimed at enhancing operations. He noted that with the local authorities being responsible for 75 per cent of the services provided to the public, it is important to review and examine measures to improve...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, is recommending that community members be trained as disaster first responders. Addressing the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development governance conference in Montego Bay on July 17, Mr. Holness also challenged the island’s municipal corporations to train their staff in disaster management. “If the corporations require assistance, they should collaborate with existing...

The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) has partnered with Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) to facilitate a six-month apprenticeship programme aimed at providing training and work experience for young persons. In May, five young adults who have completed their secondary-level education began on-the-job training in the administration, human resources, information systems and preparedness and emergency operations...

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, is calling for greater synergy between the municipal corporations and central government. Speaking at the opening of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development local governance conference in Montego Bay, St James, on July 17, Mayor Davis said he welcomes the conference, as it brings together the decision makers from the municipalities...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced that there will be an increase in the number of participants employed in the agency’s Youth Summer Employment Programme. The programme, which is in its second year, will commence on August 9 and employ young persons over a four-week period to conduct an audit of street lights, and...