Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced a $35 million renovation project for the Marie Atkins Night Shelter downtown Kingston this financial year. The project is the latest in a series of initiatives by Government to strengthen services for the homeless population. “Over the last decade, we have been building a growing number of drop-in...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is urging students to play an active role in keeping their communities clean. Addressing a public education session organised by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) at the Salt Savannah Primary and Infant School in Clarendon on Tuesday (June 2), the Minister told students that maintaining clean surroundings is...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) will play a key role in the national reconstruction phase of Hurricane Melissa recovery as a major actor in the Development Approvals process. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, in his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3). “The...

A total of 1,377 applications valued at $68.8 billion were submitted under the development approvals process and the revised building code between January and March this year. Making his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 3), Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that the number of building...

The Government has launched Operation CALM (Cleaning, Advising, Leveraging and Maintaining), a nationwide clean-up and public sensitisation programme aimed at strengthening the resilience of flood-prone communities across Jamaica. Spearheaded by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and involving partnership with local stakeholders and community representatives, the programme is focused on removing bulky waste and educating residents on proper garbage...

The United States-based, Caribbean-owned restaurant chain Golden Krust has pledged to rebuild the canteens of seven schools across Jamaica that were damaged by Hurricane Melissa. The beneficiary institutions include Rusea’s High in Hanover, Crawford Primary in St. Elizabeth, Port Maria Infant in St. Mary, Munro College in St. Elizabeth, Westwood High in Trelawny, Providence Heights Infant in St. James, and...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says that 95 per cent of the island's fire stations are now equipped with generators. “We acquired four more in the last financial year at a cost of $33 million, and two more will be installed this year,” the Minister said in his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in...