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With the consultations on local government reform completed, Cabinet submissions are being prepared, to facilitate the issuing of drafting instructions for the 14 laws, which are to be repealed as part of the reform process. The intention is to create three key Acts that better reflect the roles and functions of local authorities and which will give the system the...

Students from several high schools in St. Mary participated in a St. Mary Youth Council meeting, organised by the St. Mary Parish Council on Thursday, November 19. The event, which was held as a part of activities to observe Local Government Month (November) in the parish, was convened as a mock version of the monthly meeting of the St. Mary...

The Department of Local Government is turning to green technology in a major thrust to cut expenditure at the local government level. One of the areas being looked at is the use of solar-powered streetlights, and the Department is already testing one of these lights on Hagley Park Road in Kingston, just outside its offices. The Department began testing the...

His Worship the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, says that downtown Kingston can look forward to a number of positive developments in 2010. The Mayor, who was speaking at a Church Service launching Kingston and St. Andrew's Local Government Month celebrations, also commended telecommunications company, Digicel, on its decision to move downtown, next year. "I am encouraged by certain...

Despite financial constraints, the St. Ann Parish Council will continue to reach out to indigent persons in the parish through its street feeding programme. Administrator for the Parish Council, Ms. Claudiah Carter, told JIS News that the Council provides a hot meal for the poor and needy on a daily basis. "This street feeding programme started in the early 1990s...

Mayor of Savanna-La-Mar and Chairman of the Westmoreland Parish Council, Councillor Bertel Moore, has bemoaned the deterioration of proper values and attitudes, especially among students. The Mayor urged parents and guardians to continue training the young people, in order for them to adapt the right principles and become heroes in their own rights. He was addressing hundreds of citizens at...

The long awaited reform of Jamaica's Local Government system, to empower the Councils to be more efficient and responsive, is expected to be completed in June, 2010. Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with responsibility for Local Government Reform, Hon. Robert Montague, informs JIS News that the extended timeline is achievable, and "we are working...

Member of Parliament for North West St. Elizabeth and State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, has projected that Maggotty's new sausage factory will be of tremendous benefit to agricultural producers in the area. "The factory will employ a number of persons in the area and, on top of that, it is going to provide an outlet for meat products,...

Twenty-two new Justices of the Peace (JPs) were sworn in on October 7, to serve St. Mary, adding to the 248 JPs already serving the parish. The swearing-in ceremony, which was presided over by Custos of St. Mary, Hon. A.A. 'Bobby' Pottinger, was held at the St. Mary Anglican Church Hall, in Port Maria. Those sworn in were: Mr. Lincoln...

Effective Monday, October 12, permit parking will be officially introduced in the town of Lucea, Hanover.The move is aimed at eliminating indiscriminate street parking, which causes traffic congestion and general disorder in the town, and also earn revenue for the Hanover Parish Council. Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Lloyd Hill, told JIS News that everything is in place for Monday's start....

The St. Ann Parish Council is undertaking drain cleaning work across the parish, in preparation for expected increase in rainfall in the upcoming months. Secretary/Manager at the Council, Clinton Gordon, told JIS News that $3 million has been allocated for the work, while various Members of Parliament (MPs) for the parish have pledged financial support. He said that even though...

Former Public Health Inspector for Manchester, Vesta White, has been honoured by the Parish Council for his years of voluntary service to the poor of the parish. Mr. White served the parish for 37 years, 25 as a member of the Poor Relief Committee. At a ceremony held on Thursday (Sept. 24) in the Council's Chamber, Her Worship the Mayor...