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Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says the Government is committed to putting a fully developed local government structure in place, as a means of effective governance and sustainable urban development. He said the administration also “firmly believes” that in order to advance an urban development agenda for Jamaica, “the voice of the people must be...

The rehabilitated Negril Wastewater Treatment Ponds, in Westmoreland, were commissioned Wednesday March 14, by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. The rehabilitation work was funded by Jamaica and the European Union (EU), at a cost of approximately $278 million. Original construction of the facility was completed in 1999, to serve Negril and its surrounding communities. The upgrade has...

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), fortified by a budget of some $900 million, is reporting that all is in place for the March 26 Local Government Elections. The upcoming elections, to allow for political representation in 228 divisions in the 63 constituencies island-wide, take place just under three months after the December 29, 2011 General Elections. The voters’ list...

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...