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State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, is assuring that the Government is committed to fast-tracking the local government process. Addressing a special meeting with the Manchester Parish Council in Mandeville last week, Mr. Fagan said the administration wanted to ensure that “the work that was started some time ago…gets to the point...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, said the Ministry is exploring ways to reduce the high cost to the parish councils for street lights, which is projected at approximately $2.6 billion this year. He was responding to concerns raised at a special meeting of the Manchester Parish Council in Mandeville on February 24, that the local authority...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says conditions at the Riverton Landfill and disposal site, in Kingston, are back to normal, noting that the government’s response to the problem has been successful. Speaking at a press briefing, on February 17, at Jamaica House, the Minister informed journalists that the Ministry is further working to meet its...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, has called on Parish Councils to ensure that comprehensive audits are carried out on street lights, in order for the Ministry to make submissions to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) Limited for a reduction of the tariff on electricity. “The prevailing charges from street lights cannot be borne by...

Secretary Manager of the St. Catherine Parish Council, Christopher Powell, has said that the Local Government reform process has brought a number of changes over the years, which have improved the condition of councillors, while enhancing the operations of councils. He was responding to criticisms from councillors at a recent meeting of the St. Catherine Parish Council in Spanish Town...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, is encouraging Parish Councils to seek out partnerships with the private sector, to ensure that projects undertaken on behalf of their constituents, can be completed. Speaking at a meeting of the Clarendon Parish Council, in May Pen, Friday February 10, the Minister said that parish councils had a lot of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott,  says the Local Government reform process should move into the implementation stage soon. “Our commitment to Local government is unquestionable, and we are here to ensure that we advance the process. We are doing a series of consultations, and we intend to carry the process further than it has ever...

Justices of the Peace (JPs) will require additional training, so as to enable them to preside over matters that are not now within their purview. This was disclosed by Minister of Justice, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, in a message read by Senior Director for Strategic Planning, Policy Research and Evaluation at the Ministry, Mr. Peter Parchment, at the annual...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, is to meet with the management of the six parish councils cited for breaches of government guidelines by the Auditor General, on Wednesday (February 1). The six councils are also being requested to take along with them supporting documentation and provide the Minister with the appropriate responses to the incidents...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, has announced that the Brown’s Town market, in St. Ann,  which was extensively damaged in a massive fire some months ago, will be refurbished at a cost of  $14 million. Speaking to JIS News after a tour of the facility  on January 25, the Minister said the priority is to...

Justice Minister, Senator the Hon. Mark Golding, says Justices of the Peace (JPs) are ideally suited to assist in the government’s efforts to implement pro-active and holistic approaches to solving conflicts within communities, such as the restorative justice initiative. Speaking at the Manchester Lay Magistrates Association’s half yearly meeting at the Golf View Hotel, Mandeville, on January 19; Senator Golding...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, will be visiting all parish councils next week. Speaking at a press briefing, held at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) on January 18, the Minister emphasised  that the parish council is a vital part of local government and he  wants “to get to the councils as quickly as...