McKenzie outlines major investments for local government

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says billions of dollars are to be spent to improve local government services for Jamaicans.

In delivering his Sectoral address in parliament this afternoon, McKenzie touted the investments already made and those to come in agencies such as the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), night shelters for the indigent, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Social Development Commission, public cemeteries and municipal markets.

“After eight years of leading local government, I am very heartened to report that, despite historical challenges, there is a greater public appreciation about the role of local government and the huge national impact that it has when its functions are effectively implemented,” said McKenzie.

As it relates to the fire brigade, whose fleet has been beefed up with a $400 million investment in new vehicles, McKenzie said that with the recent addition of 206 highly-trained new firefighters in the last financial year and the addition of essential vehicles and equipment, the brigade is now up to its full complement for the first time in its history.

McKenzie said the NSWMA is now a fair, efficient agency, as, with the addition of 50 new compactor trucks to the fleet, it was able to move over 1.1 million tonnes of solid waste in the last financial year.

He also noted that 50 new trucks are to be added, and that of that number, 10 are already on the island.

The local government minister said rapid strides are being made in the creation of night shelters across the island, noting that $42 million has been spent on creating two such facilities in Falmouth, Trelawny and Ocho Rios, St Ann.

He said $50 million is currently being spent on the construction of another such facility in Port Antonio, Portland.

Public cemeteries, which have been an embarrassment to many municipal corporations, will be getting some much-needed attention as $100 million was spent on these facilities last year and another J$100 million is earmarked for this year.

As it relates to municipal markets, McKenzie said that with 98 percent of the nation's market over 100 years old, several markets are being rehabilitated and in the case of Alexandria, St Ann, a new $500 million facility will be constructed.

- Adrian Frater 

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