A water shop was opened in Marlie Hill, Manchester, on May 14, by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. “There is a need, and we are responding to that need,” the Minister said at the ceremony. Mr. McKenzie explained that the Ministry is utilising water shops as a way to immediately address the chronic water shortage...

Three thousand young people are to participate in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s Summer Employment Programme. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, provided details of the initiative during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 16. In 2017/18, more than 2,300 young people from the 228 divisions were employed to undertake...

Twenty-eight houses will be built for indigent persons across the island this financial year at a cost of $52 million. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 16. He noted that two concrete structures will be built per...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is erecting additional drop-in centres for homeless citizens at a cost of $28 million. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the facilities will be used to assess, feed, treat, counsel and otherwise care for the homeless. He was making his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the $15-billion local bond facility established by the National Water Commission (NWC), will now help to transform the entity into a viable asset for long-term investment. “We are now creating the NWC as an asset in which pension funds, and other such funds, like insurance funds, can invest,” he explained, while addressing...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the island’s Municipalities need to be more vigilant in revenue collection, noting that a lot of money has been allowed to fall by the wayside. Mr. McKenzie, who was speaking at a special meeting of the St. Ann Municipal Corporation in St. Ann’s Bay on May 10, said a...

A drop-in centre was opened in Buckfield, Ocho Rios, in St. Ann on May 11 by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. The Minister said homeless persons have been taking up valuable space at the island’s hospitals, oftentimes at the expense of patients in dire need of medical care, and for this reason, drop-in centres for...