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A care centre to support persons living on the streets was officially opened in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on July 19, by Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott. The Minister lauded the work of the St. Elizabeth Care Committee, which spearheaded the project at a cost of some $3 million, with support from Food for the...

Thousands of shoppers are expected to descend on downtown Kingston next weekend to take advantage of a massive shopping extravaganza organised by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation in partnership with the merchants and vendors. Dubbed the ‘Downtown Sizzling Summer Savings', stakeholders are promising to have prices slashed as much as 70 per cent on some items from Thursday, July...

Minister of State for Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, said that focus will be placed on the upgrading and modernization of the country’s markets to make them more appealing to the consumers they serve.  He noted that a number of the island’s 85 markets are in need of serious renovations and aesthetic modifications. “Many are in need...

The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) intends to have in place, a comprehensive development plan for the land at Twickenham Park, which will include the design for a Training Institution, Divisional Headquarters for St. Catherine and the Vehicle Maintenance Department. Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, made the disclosure during his contribution...

A company has been recommended to remove and dispose of the asbestos material at the Poor Relief Department, in the sum of $474,408.  Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Colin Fagan, made the disclosure during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, on July 11. "Work should commence in...

Town centres will come alive with street dances this Independence as the country celebrates it Golden Jubilee. Acting Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Delroy Gordon, told a recent JIS Think Tank that some 80 street dances are projected to be held across the island. [Related Story: JCDC Promises Spectacular Grand Gala] Street dances are popular avenues...

Parish councils across the island are to play a major role in the success of activities marking the country’s Jubilee Independence celebration. This was disclosed by Acting Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Delroy Gordon on July 5, as he addressed a JIS Think Tank. Mr. Gordon stated that parish councils have, over the years, been a...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the region must place high priority on the issue of disaster management. He noted that the Caribbean region is considered to be the second most disaster prone in the world, and  revealed that for Jamaica alone, it is conservatively estimated that for the past 10 years, the country has...

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Hon. Noel Arscott, says he is on a mission to transform the imageof his Ministry and to institutionalise a culture of openness and accountability. “We (pledge) to build an image of local government that runs contrary to any view that the system is inefficient and not accountable in delivering high quality services,” he stated....

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, has assured that the affairs of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) are being tidied up, with new control guidelines issued for the agency’s accounting practices. “As we go forward, we will continue to tighten up the system, to put more checks and balances there, and a sub-committee of...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, says the government is committed to establishing long lasting partnerships among its Ministries, departments and agencies with international and private sector groups. This, he said, is to improve safety and security in communities across the island, as well as continuing Jamaica’s development process. “We have to recognise that we are...

With the budget for public cleansing and garbage disposal amounting to $150 million per month, the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, is appealing to Jamaicans to stop littering. “Stop littering and throwing waste from the windows of our cars and throwing garbage wantonly in our gullies and water-ways. For far too long, we have taken...