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Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses the monthly meeting of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), held at the chamber’s downtown Kingston chambers on April 12. At left is Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Angela Brown Burke.

Minister McKenzie to Discuss Street Light Service with JPS

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, will be meeting with representatives from the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) this week to discuss the current arrangements regarding street lights. Addressing the monthly meeting of the Kingston and...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), and World Bank Country Manager for Jamaica, Galina Sotirova, peruse multilateral programme briefs, during a meeting at the Ministry’s offices on Hagley Park Road in Kingston, on Friday, April 8.

Minor Water Systems to be Established in Four Parishes

Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano (front, second left ) and Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), Dr. Fritz Pinnock (left) sign the agreement for a donation of $9.6 million to acquire three refurbished fire trucks and an ambulance. The money is given under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots and Human Security Project. At right is advisor to the Minister of Transport and Mining, Mr. Leroy Lindsay. Standing (from left) are: Director of the School of Advanced Skills, CMI, Osric Forrest; Councillor for the Springfield Division, East Kingston & Port Royal, Lorraine Dobson and Resident Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Kenji Tobita.

CMI Receives Fire Trucks and Ambulance from Japan

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, speaking with journalists during a recent tour of the May Pen Cemetery.

Gov’t to Make Better Use of Burial Space at May Pen Cemetery

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), is accompanied by National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Executive Director, Colonel Daniel Pryce (second left), and Regional Operations Manager, Adrian Grant (right), on a tour of the Riverton City Landfill, in Kingston, on March 24.

Many Entities Interested in Managing Riverton Landfill

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (foreground), leads a tour of the May Pen Cemetery in Kingston, on Thursday, March 24.

10 years ago Local Government

May Pen Cemetery to be Renovated

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, has announced plans for the renovation of the May Pen Cemetery in Kingston. This, he says, in order to encourage and facilitate increased use of the over 200-acre property, of which 130 acres have been utilized for burials. The cemetery is located between the Horizon Adult Remand Centre on Spanish Town...

10 years ago Local GovernmentRiverton Landfill

Work on Access Road to Landfill to Be Completed by September

Reconstruction of the access road to the Riverton City landfill in Kingston, being undertaken at a cost of approximately $219.6 million (US$1.8 million), is on course for completion by September. This was noted by Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, during a tour of the landfill on March 24. The project, which includes the construction of a...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (right), addresses Secretary Managers of the Parish Councils at the Ministry’s Office on Hagley Park Road, in Kingston, recently. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe.

10 years ago Local Government

Minister to Review Use of Equalization Fund

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says he is going to review the use of the Utilization Fund by the Parish Councils. The Minister explained that this will be done to find creative ways to maximize the use of the money. The Equalization Fund was created in 1997 and is financed by a 10 percent of...

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.

10 years ago Local Government

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, on March 16, Mr. McKenzie said the men and women continue to perform under adverse conditions, and they should be...

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.

10 years ago Local Government

Local Authorities Urged to Improve Fee Collection

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, is urging local authorities to put measures in place to improve collection of fees and taxes. “What I think you need to increase is your ability to collect the revenue that is due that is out there. If you can go out there and collect 30 – 35 percent of...

10 years ago 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...

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.

10 years ago CommunityLocal Government

Minister Mckenzie Pledges Full Support to ODPEM

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is adequately resourced and supported to carry out its functions. Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, gave the assurance during an address to management and staff of ODPEM at the entity’s Haining Road head office in Kingston on March 17. Mr....