Local authorities and partner agencies received 3,773 development applications valued at $148.3 billion in the last financial year, with 2,777 approved within 90 days, representing an approval rate of nearly 84 per cent. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the disclosure during his 2020/21 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 21),...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is in the process of instituting measures aimed at further strengthening the accountability framework at Municipal Corporations. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says chief among these is the implementation of a new accounting-based system, for which technical assistance support is being provided by the European Union (EU). He also mentioned the proposed...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) will be hosting two community markets and business fairs to benefit residents of St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas on July 23 and July 25, respectively. The events form part of the SDC’s initiatives to keep community businesses in operation during this period of economic downturn caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Currently, many of the [St....

Four hundred and fifty care packages were distributed to residents of Canterbury, Albion Lane, Williams Street and surrounding communities in Montego Bay, St. James, on July 21 by the St. James Municipal Corporation and United Nations (UN)-Habitat. This is part of a US$100,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) response programme being undertaken by the Corporation. Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Homer Davis, led...

More than 2,000 persons will be engaged in communities across the island to monitor the operations of water attractions, amusement parks, day cares and small outdoor events during the two-week conditional reopening period for these activities from July 21 to 31. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, made the disclosure on Thursday (July 16); during the...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is reminding the public that all nightclubs are to remain closed, as the ban on such establishments has not been lifted. “Nightclubs are not open, there is no order for nightclubs to operate and I just want to make that clear. The ban on the operation of nightclubs is still...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government has been providing more than 30,000 meals per day for poor and vulnerable persons in communities islandwide. The meals are being provided at drop-in centres and other facilities across the country. Minister McKenzie informed that more than 2,000...