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Executive Director, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, speaking during a recent interview with JIS News at his office on Half-Way-Tree Road, Kingston 10.
Executive Director, National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Audley Gordon, speaking during a recent interview with JIS News at his office on Half-Way-Tree Road, Kingston 10.

E-Waste Can Now Be Dropped Off at Any NSWMA Facility

Jamaicans can now drop off their e-waste at any of the four National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) regional offices or its head office located at 61 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10. The four regional offices are MPM Waste Management...
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie

Local Government Minister Deplores Spate of Crashes
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second left), listens as one of the 2022 Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Integrated Community Development Project (II) Spelling BEE finalists, Mikaelia Campbell (third right), asks him a question. The other finalists are (from right) Devario Dawes, Kadoyah Watson and Jeneil Ellis. Looking on is Guidance Counsellor, Mahallia Dennis-Edwards. Minister McKenzie met with the students during a courtesy call at his constituency office on Charles Street, on Wednesday (July 27).
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (second left), listens as one of the 2022 Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Integrated Community Development Project (II) Spelling BEE finalists, Mikaelia Campbell (third right), asks him a question. The other finalists are (from right) Devario Dawes, Kadoyah Watson and Jeneil Ellis. Looking on is Guidance Counsellor, Mahallia Dennis-Edwards. Minister McKenzie met with the students during a courtesy call at his constituency office on Charles Street, on Wednesday (July 27).

PHOTOS: Local Government Minister Meets with Spelling Bee Finalists
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), greets Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica, His Excellency Daojiang Chen, during the diplomat’s recent courtesy call at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), greets Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica, His Excellency Daojiang Chen, during the diplomat’s recent courtesy call at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston.

PHOTOS: Minister McKenzie Receives Courtesy Call from China’s Ambassador to Jamaica
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.

Public Education on How to Respond to Threat of Flooding for Vulnerable Communities

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Mayor of Black River, Councillor Derrick Sangster (seated, second from left), and Parish Coordinator for Disaster Preparedness at the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Ornella Lewis (seated, third from left), with Shelter Managers who were honoured during a Shelter Management Symposium & Awards Ceremony at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, on Thursday (July 21).
Local Government

St. Elizabeth Shelter Managers Honoured

The St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation has awarded 23 Shelter Managers for their years of service in fostering a safe and protected environment for displaced citizens across the various communities, in the event of a disaster. They were honoured during a Shelter Management Symposium & Awards Ceremony at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School, in Santa Cruz, on July 21, under...
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Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (centre), in discussion with Member of Parliament for St. Mary Central, Dr Morais Guy (left), and Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Richard Creary, while on a tour of the fire-damaged Highgate Market in St. Mary on July 21.
Local Government

Renovation of Highgate Market to Be Done on Phased Basis

Renovation of the fire-damaged Highgate Market in St. Mary will be done on a phased basis, starting with a cleaning of the structure and the setting up of a temporary facility to accommodate affected vendors. Addressing vendors and political representatives at the market on July 21, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said discussions are also...
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Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (left), in discussion with National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Executive Director, Audley Gordon.
Local Government

Plans Advanced for Purchase of Additional Garbage Trucks

Plans are advanced by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to acquire 50 additional trucks for the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, who indicated that the Ministry is looking to secure a further 50 trucks for the agency. He was speaking during the Ministry’s semi-virtual town hall meeting...
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Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 19).
Local GovernmentParliament

Jamaica is the Third Most Exposed Country to Hazards

Jamaica’s Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Policy and Strategy, 2020-2040 Green Paper, was tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 19), by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie. In his remarks, Mr. McKenzie said the essential purpose of this policy is to ensure that by the year 2040, Jamaica will have strengthened its social and...
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Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, addresses a Disaster Preparedness Town Hall Meeting in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, on July 14.
Local Government

Residents Should Not Ignore Pleas to Evacuate – Mckenzie

Residents have been cautioned against ignoring pleas by the local authorities to evacuate their homes when threatened by a natural disaster. Speaking at a Disaster Preparedness Town Hall Meeting in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, on July 14, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said this is especially important for residents living in flood-prone and disaster-risk areas, some of...
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The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development will be undertaking electrification and water supply projects in Chamber’s Pen, Hanover. “In another couple of weeks, I will be signing the contract for [electrical] installation of 150 households in Chamber’s Pen and another 150 [communities] between the Corporate Area and Portland,” portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, told JIS News. The installation works will be undertaken as part of the Ministry’s Rural Electrification Programme (REP) being spearheaded by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The programme aims to extend electricity to rural Jamaica as part of measures to stimulate economic and social activity, and improve the quality of life in rural communities. So far, several rural areas across the island have been benefiting from the project. Chamber’s Pen will also be the focus of a major water supply project. “An extensive amount of work [will be done] to bring water to the community… and that will be done by Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL),” Minister McKenzie said, while addressing a water supply commissioning ceremony in Top Aberdeen in St. Elizabeth, recently. Chamber’s Pen is the pilot community under the Ministry’s $650-million Rural Development Programme. The programme, which will create temporary and permanent employment opportunities across the country, includes the installation of water, electricity, Internet access, roads, sidewalks, community parks and indigent housing. -30-
Local GovernmentWater

Improved Access to Water Supply for Westmoreland Communities

Hundreds of residents of communities in Westmoreland are to see improvement in access to water supply. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said that come September, the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL) will commence the rehabilitation and upgrading of the storage system in Ashton. “This is a catchment tank in the community and it is expected...
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Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Regional Coordinator, Camille Beckford-Palmer.
Local Government

ODPEM Reminds Citizens to be Prepared for Hurricane Season

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reminding citizens to have a plan of action and be prepared this hurricane season. Addressing a disaster preparedness town hall hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, in Rocky Point, Clarendon, on July 7, ODPEM Regional Coordinator, Camille Beckford-Palmer, cited preparedness work done in the parish and...
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