In a bid to increase property tax compliance, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, will be holding a series of town hall meetings right across the island to sensitise citizens and to answer their questions. The first will be held in St. Elizabeth on May 4, which has the lowest levels of property tax collection. Portfolio Minister, Hon....

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says a review is currently being undertaken on the role and function of Municipal Police personnel. “We have put a stop on recruitment, for the time being, to reassess the present crop and to see how best they would fit into the new dispensation,” Mr. McKenzie said during his post-Sectoral...

The Social Development Commission (SDC) is seeking to expand its Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP), says the agency’s Executive Director, Dr. Dwayne Vernon. Speaking at a post-Sectoral Debate press conference at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, on Hagley Park Road, yesterday (April 20), Dr. Vernon said the SDC has been having tremendous success in terms of...

The Government is spending $95 million to improve five infirmaries across the island. Work has started at the Manchester and Portland infirmaries, at a cost of $15 million each; $5 million is being spent at the Trelawny facility; and $40 million and $20 million at the St. James and Westmoreland infirmaries, respectively. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon....

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says another mobile unit will be acquired to assist in the collection of property taxes. Making his 2017/18 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on April 19, Mr. McKenzie said the property tax collection target of $7.26 billion for 2016/17 was exceeded by $350 million, totalling $7.61 billion. This,...

Effective Saturday, April 22, the National Works Agency (NWA) will be implementing major traffic and lane changes along a section of the Mandela Highway in order to facilitate road work associated with the expansion and upgrading project underway. “We are going to be closing down a section of the eastbound carriageway between the Highway 2000 off-ramp and the Ferry Police...

During the current fiscal year, the Government will be improving five markets across the island at a cost of $75 million. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said the facilities slated for upgrades are the Buff Bay Market in Portland; Clarks Town, Trelawny; Black River, St. Elizabeth; Linstead, St. Catherine; and Charles Gordon, St. James. Making...