McKenzie says J’cans more appreciative of his ministry’s work

WESTERN BUREAU:

Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie on Tuesday stated that after eight years of making major investments in the agencies under his ministry, Jamaicans are now feeling their impact and becoming more appreciative of their roles.

Making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, McKenzie drew attention to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Social Development Commission, municipal infirmaries, public cemeteries, and municipal markets, outlining works that have been done and projects in the pipeline.

“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,” the minister said.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade was highlighted as a major success story, as according to McKenzie, it is in its best shape ever, having benefited from a $400-million investment in new vehicles and the addition of 206 highly trained new firefighters in the last financial year.

McKenzie also noted the roll-out of standby generators at the fire stations to guarantee 24/7 operations.

“[Some] $24.5 million was spent to obtain five generators in the last financial year, and seven more will be purchased this year. This will result in an overall 25 standby generators in service at the fire stations, something that has never happened before,” said McKenzie. “In the last financial year, $138 million was spent to repair and rehabilitate 10 fire stations across the country, from Morant Bay Fire Station in the east to Negril Fire Station in the west.”

He added that the Jamaica Fire Brigade will also be installing a modern electronic records management system for the first time.

“In addition to providing inventory management, this system will streamline the JFB’s entire building inspection process for properties, including inspection schedules, reports of violations, and compliance tracking. It will store building plans islandwide in an electronic database … . It will provide live tracking of fire personnel and equipment to ensure maximum safety and efficiency,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie said the NSWMA, which recently received 50 new compactor trucks, which allowed it to move 1.1 million tonnes of solid waste in the last financial year, is to get 50 new trucks, which will significantly improve its capacity. He also spoke to a ‘Drum A Di Gate Campaign, which is designed to boost public cleansing.

The local government minister said large sums are being spent to create night shelters, which include the $42 million spent on constructing two such facilities in Falmouth, Trelawny, and Ocho Rios, St Ann. He said $50 million is currently being spent on the construction of another facility in Port Antonio, Portland.

McKenzie said an ongoing project to rehabilitate homeless persons and reintegrate them into their communities and with their families is enjoying much success.

“Since 2020, sixty-six of them have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into their communities … . They have become productive members of society. Some are employed within the private and public sectors, and a few have become entrepreneurs,” he said.

Public cemeteries, which have been an embarrassment to many municipal corporations, are also getting attention with $100 million spent on these facilities last year and another $100 million has earmarked for this year.

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

editorial@gleanerjm.com