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KINGSTON — Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Shahine Robinson, says there is need for strong and dynamic leadership in the local authorities, as the issue of governance would impact on the Councils’ finances and administrative processes. She was addressing members of the Westmoreland Parish Council at the opening session of their Financial Management Retreat, at the...

MONTEGO BAY — The St. Ann Parish Council will be taking action against persons who encroach on its roads, by dumping building materials and leaving them for some time. Secretary/Manager of the Council, Clinton Gordon, told the monthly meeting on Thursday July 14, 2011 that action would be taken under the Parochial Roads Act. “These materials - sand, gravel, marl...

MONTEGO BAY — Thousands of residents of six volatile communities in St. James are soon to benefit from a range of sustainable development initiatives to be undertaken through partnership between the Ministry of National Security and the Social Development Commission (SDC). The communities are Farm Heights, Rose Heights, Canterbury, Glendevon, Granville and North Gully. Already, a memorandum of understanding (MoU)...

PORT ANTONIO — The water supply system which serves residents of Carron Hall in St. Mary has been upgraded, and the people will now be able to access more of the commodity. The upgrading was made possible through the collaborative effort of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), the National Water Commission (NWC), the St. Mary Charities Organisation and the...

MONTEGO BAY — Roads in St. James that are being refurbished and constructed under the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) were toured by Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry, and Minister of State in that Ministry, Hon. Othniel Lawrence, on July 8, 2011. Some of the roads toured included Granville and Johns Hall, Kings Street through Cornwall Court...

MONTEGO BAY — The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), says it will be working with local government authorities to address flooding in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland and Black River, St. Elizabeth. The move comes against the background of a study, which identified flooding as the primary hazard in the coastal towns. The study, done by a consulting firm, Smith...

KINGSTON — Effective Monday, July 11 the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) will be extending a six-week amnesty to persons, who are building or have had construction done without the approval of the council. “We are appealing to persons to take in whatever drawings they have to be reviewed and we will see whether or not it is possible...

KINGSTON — Residents of Homestead in St. Catherine have welcomed the upgrading of the community centre as a critical element in the process of moving the area forward while contributing to their own development. The $44 million project, undertaken by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) under its Poverty Reduction Programme (PRP II), includes construction of a computer laboratory and...

KINGSTON — A Bill to give Parish Councillors and Mayors the powers of a Justice of the Peace (JP) was approved by the Senate on June 24. Under theAttestation of Instruments (Facilities) (Amendment) Act, Councillors and Mayors of municipalities will be able to verify and attest documents for the period they hold office. Minister of Justice and Leader of Government...

PORT ANTONIO — Increasing incidents of depression leading to acts of suicide, have led mental health facilities to commence a more vigorous campaign to alert persons to the warning signs. The Portland Community Mental Health Service has established additional rehabilitative methods and revamped its outreach programmes, to sensitize persons and bring awareness to prevent its progression. Mental Health Officer at...

KINGSTON — The Department of Local Government will be hosting a roundtable discussion targeting key stakeholders, as it seeks to ramp-up the local governance reform process. The forum, to be held on Tuesday, June 14 at the department’s Hagley Park Road location in Kingston, is being convened under the theme: ‘Perspectives’. It will facilitate the views of stakeholders and assess...

MONTEGO BAY — As cruise ship arrivals become more common in Falmouth, the Trelawny Parish Council is moving to formalize craft vending in the town. Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collin Gager, told the monthly meeting of the Trelawny Parish Council, on Thursday (June 10), in Falmouth, that a registration process has taken place, and background checks are being done on...