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Minister of Local Government & Community Development, Hon. Desmond Mckenzie (front row, centre) responds to questions at the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee at Gordon House on Friday (March 7). He is joined by Permanent Secretary, Marsha Henry-Martin (front, left) and other representatives from the Ministry.

Expansion of Garbage Collection Services

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has expanded its garbage collection services to several new communities. This was disclosed by Minister of Local Government & Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, at the meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of...

Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Stewart Beckford, addresses a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, in Kingston.

JFB Training Members to Respond to EV Fires

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, addresses the Ministry’s press conference on Tuesday (March 4), at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in Kingston.

Taxi Car Park at South Parade

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addresses residents of Kingston Central during Tuesday’s (March 4) tour of communities affected by a recent fire which displaced a number of householders. At right is Member of Parliament for the constituency and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

Gov’t Pledges Support for Downtown Kingston Fire Victims

Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, says installing fire extinguishers in motor vehicles can make a critical difference in emergencies. He was speaking to JIS News recently.

JFB Urges Every Motorist to Get a Working Fire Extinguisher

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), speaks with journalists after visiting the Morant Bay Drop-In Centre in St. Thomas on Wednesday (February 26). With Mr. McKenzie are Councillors and staff of the St. Thomas Municipal Corporation and the Ministry, including Morant Bay Mayor, Councillor Louis Chin (third left).

11 months ago HousingLocal Government

New 16-bed Wing to Be Constructed at St. Thomas Drop-in Centre

An additional wing is to be constructed at the St. Thomas Drop-In Centre that will facilitate the provision of another 16 beds to accommodate homeless persons in the parish. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who visited the facility on Wednesday (February 26), said the procurement process is almost completed and funds are already available for...

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

11 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Yallahs Market to Be Cleaned Up

An extensive clean-up of the Yallahs market in St. Thomas is to be undertaken, with a view to begin accommodating vendors as soon as possible. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who visited the facility on Wednesday (February 26), disclosed that he has “given instructions to the technical team in the Ministry to work with the...

The new St. Thomas Municipal Corporation building, which is in the final stages of construction at the Morant Bay Urban Centre.

11 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentWorks / Construction

New St. Thomas Municipal Corporation Building Projected for Completion in Six Months

The new St. Thomas Municipal Corporation building, being constructed at the Morant Bay Urban Centre, is projected to be completed within six months. Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, provided the update during a tour of the facility on Wednesday (February 26). “We are looking at a possible six months to fully conclude and occupy this...

Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Stewart Beckford, says bush fires remain a major concern for his team.

11 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Bush Fires Major Concern for JFB

Despite a decline in bush fires across the country last year, Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, says these incidents remain a major concern for his team. Approximately 4,523 bush fires were recorded in 2024, reflecting a 30 per cent decrease compared to the 6,443 recorded in 2023. However, Commissioner Beckford told JIS News in an interview,...

Social Development Commission (SDC), St Ann Parish Manager, Hillory McBayne (left) and Community Development Committee (CDC), President, Delroy Redway, with the recipient of the Most Committed to Brown

11 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal Government

Senior Citizens to Benefit from Brown’s Town Elderly Celebration and Social Fair

More than 500 senior citizens are expected to benefit from the ninth annual Brown’s Town Elderly Celebration and Social Fair 2025, set to take place on Thursday (February 27) at the Brown’s Town Community Centre in St. Ann, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The event, being hosted by the Social Development Commission (SDC) in partnership with the Brown’s Town Community Development...

Official flyer for the Social Development Commission (SDC) Club in School Day event, slated for Bucknor Community Centre in Clarendon on Thursday (February 27).

11 months ago CommunityDevelopmentLocal GovernmentYouth

‘SDC Club in School Day’ Slated for Clarendon on Feb. 27

The Social Development Commission (SDC) will bring together more than 350 students, teachers and community stakeholders on Thursday (February 27) for an inspiring day of youth engagement and empowerment, when it hosts the inaugural ‘SDC Club in School Day’. This event takes place at Bucknor Community Centre in Clarendon under the theme ‘Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Unity’. The initiative will...

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. (seventh left); Minister of State in the Ministry, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn (fourth left), and Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dione Jennings (sixth left), with recipients of Hurricane Beryl cheques under the Government’s Rebuild Jamaica initiative, at a ceremony held at the Church of God of Prophesy on Old Harbour Road in St. Catherine, on February 25.

11 months ago Hurricane Relief & RecoveryLabourSocial Security

Residents of Old Harbour Receive Hurricane Beryl Cheques

More than 100 residents of communities in Old Harbour, St. Catherine, have received support under the Government’s Rebuild Jamaica initiative for persons who were impacted by Hurricane Beryl in July. Sixty-nine persons in the Old Harbour Road area and 33 residents from Old Harbour received cheques worth $50,000, $150,000 and $400,000, based on the severity of damage done to their...