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Minister of Local Government, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), listens to Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt (fourth right), during a meeting on March 16.
Minister of Local Government, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), listens to Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt (fourth right), during a meeting on March 16.

Local Government Minister Commends Fire Service

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade continue to perform their duties with diligence, despite the numerous challenges they face. Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the fire service,...
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (2nd left), addresses Secretary Managers of the island’s Parish Councils at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road offices in Kingston on March 18. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (2nd left), addresses Secretary Managers of the island’s Parish Councils at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road offices in Kingston on March 18. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe.

Local Authorities Urged to Improve Fee Collection
Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), is welcomed by Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Major Clive Davis, on his arrival at the agency’s Haining Road head office in Kingston, on Thursday, March 17, for meeting with the management and staff.
Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), is welcomed by Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Major Clive Davis, on his arrival at the agency’s Haining Road head office in Kingston, on Thursday, March 17, for meeting with the management and staff.

Minister Mckenzie Pledges Full Support to ODPEM
Training Manager, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Cheryl Nichols (2nd left), speaks about measures to increase tsunami awareness during a recent JIS Think Tank. Listening (from left) are: Scientific Officer, Earthquake Unit, University of the West Indies (UWI), Karlene Black; Programme Director, University of Texas, Dr. Katherine Ellins; and Director of Safety and Security in Schools at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Coleridge Minto.
Training Manager, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Cheryl Nichols (2nd left), speaks about measures to increase tsunami awareness during a recent JIS Think Tank. Listening (from left) are: Scientific Officer, Earthquake Unit, University of the West Indies (UWI), Karlene Black; Programme Director, University of Texas, Dr. Katherine Ellins; and Director of Safety and Security in Schools at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Coleridge Minto.

ODPEM Raising Awareness about Tsunamis
Minister of Local Government Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre) listens intently as Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Errol Mowatt (4th right) gives a briefing on the fire service. The Minister met with members of the fire service recently (March 16).
Minister of Local Government Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre) listens intently as Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade Errol Mowatt (4th right) gives a briefing on the fire service. The Minister met with members of the fire service recently (March 16).

St. Elizabeth to Get Three Fire Trucks

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CommunityLocal Government

Shelters More Suitable for Temporary Accommodation to be Set Up

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development is seeking to establish emergency shelters deemed more ideally suited to provide temporary accommodation for persons who have to be evacuated from communities affected by disasters, such as flooding. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Ministry will be working closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), which...
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Local Government

Minister Highlights Role of SDC in Growth Agenda

The role which the Social Development Commission (SDC) must play in the Government’s growth agenda was highlighted yesterday (March 16) by Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. Mr. McKenzie said the SDC would be integral in employment creation, which would be linked to the growth agenda. “The SDC is going to be a critical part of the urban and rural changes....
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Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), is greeted by Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Dr. Dwayne Vernon, ahead of a staff meeting at the agency, located on South Camp Road, in Kingston, on March 16.
Local Government

SDC to Play Significant Role in Apprenticeship Programme

Local Government Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says the Social Development Commission (SDC) will play a significant role in the National Apprenticeship Programme to be implemented by the Government. The programme, which was announced recently by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, seeks to have trained young persons employed in data entry, which should result in more records and business...
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Justices of the Peace (JPs) from St. James who attended the second quarterly church service of the St. James Lay Magistrates Association, held at Calvary Baptist Church, in Montego Bay, on March 13.
Local Government

JPs Urged to Carry out Tasks with Integrity

President of the St. James Lay Magistrates Association, Claudette Bryan, is reminding Justices of the Peace (JPs) to remain true to the position they hold, and to carry out their tasks with integrity, professionalism and fairness. Speaking at the association’s second quarterly church service at the Calvary Baptist Church, in Montego Bay, St. James, on Sunday, March 13, Mrs. Bryan...
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Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Dr. Angela Brown Burke, addresses the monthly meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), at the council’s downtown Kingston offices yesterday (March 8)
Local Government

KSAC to Enter Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2016 Mayors Challenge

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has signalled its intention to enter the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2016 Mayors Challenge, where the municipality could earn a top prize of US$5 million. Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Dr. Angela Brown Burke, made the announcement during yesterday's (March 8) monthly meeting held at the KSAC’s downtown Kingston chambers. The competition, which was conceptualised by former...
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The USAID Mission Director told JIS News that the project involves partnership with the JCF, Social Development Commission (SDC), Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), and the Community Development Committee (CDC).
Local Government

Ground Broken For Community Resource Centre in Cambridge

Ground was broken on Wednesday (March 2) for the construction of the Cambridge Community Development Resource Centre in St. James. The facility, to be located in the Cambridge town square, is being built through $20 million in funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under its Community Empowerment and Transformation Project (COMET) Phase 2. The building will...
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Three new fire units were handed over to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), during a ceremony on February 4, at the York Park Fire Station, Orange Street, Kingston.
Local Government

Gov’t Boosting Resources of Jamaica Fire Brigade

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) is benefitting from improvements to infrastructure, equipment and personnel in order to more efficiently and effectively serve the public. Commissioner at the JFB, Errol Mowatt, tells JIS News that the human capacity of the brigade is being boosted through the recruiting of additional firefighters. “In 2015, the brigade was short of about 300 firefighters, which...
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