A Bill to validate and indemnify the official activities of the Portmore Municipal Council and the Acting Mayor, Leon Thomas, was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 15. The Municipalities (Validation and Amendment) Act was piloted by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott. Mr.Thomas has been acting in the post of Mayor since...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is looking to increase the pool of funds available for disaster response. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, said he will be making representation to the Ministry of Finance and Planning with the view of accessing a percentage of the funds paid to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. If this is granted,...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says discussions are ongoing with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) regarding outstanding payments, and defective or malfunctioning streetlights, among other things. “There are some issues with the JPS…some lights are not working, many sections of the Corporate Area are in total darkness, and they send us a flat rate that we...

The country’s emergency systems are in place and ready to be activated in the event of any disaster during the hurricane season. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott says the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and the Parish Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC), which are responsible for emergency response co-ordination at the national and local levels, have been...

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be providing local authorities with an additional $70 million for the cleaning of major drains island-wide. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, who made the disclosure during Wednesday’s (July 9) Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, said the funds will be allocated in “short order.” This figure is an...

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in the Bog Walk Gorge, as part of automated early warning system developed by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). The system, which also involves text message alerts, is to warn emergency personnel in the event of flooding in the area. “The Bog Walk Gorge, which has been a...

Custos of St. James, Hon. Ewan Corrodus, says the time has come for all Jamaicans to truly embrace the buy Jamaican campaign, especially in the area of agriculture. Addressing the annual general meeting of the St. James Agricultural Branch Societies on June 25, at the St. John’s Methodist Church Hall in Montego Bay, Custos Corrodus said based on Jamaica’s present...

Residents of Portmore, St. Catherine, are benefitting from Government’s investment in infrastructural projects, including major expenditure on water supply, roads, and waste facilities. Over $1 billion was spent on developing water systems for the area, while work has commenced on the $2.3 billion Portmore Sewage Project, which will benefit some 200,000 residents of the Municipality. “The (water) project involved the...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is to continue its work to rehabilitate fire hydrants island-wide, within the next few weeks, with the assistance of a $13 million grant from the Japanese Government. This, as the JFB intensifies its hydrant maintenance programme. Currently, only 65 per cent of fire hydrants are working. State Minister for Local Government and Community Development, Hon....