Minister of Local Government and Community Development Hon. Desmond McKenzie has moved to assist the family of 17 year old Raheem Powell, whose living circumstances were the subject of a publication in the media this week. Young Raheem was one of the over 500 athletes in the Ministry’s Cross Island Run, but was the only participant who competed without shoes.

Local Government and Community Development Minister Hon. Desmond McKenzie has announced that work on constructing two new Fire Station in St. James and St. Mary, is expected to commence approximately three months into the new year. At a special news conference held on Friday, the Minister announced that the construction project, which will be managed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund under the World Bank Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Programme, is closer to commencement with the impending end of the procurement process.

KINGSTON, Jamaica: The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) has received a donation of $1 million to ramp up security at the Riverton City Dump in St. Andrew. The monies were made possible by Red Stripe through its Desnoes and Geddes Foundation and will go towards surveillance equipment.

The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development rolled out its Youth Summer Employment Programme (YSEP) for a second consecutive year and will employ approximately 3590 participants.