Building a Better Jamaica

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Observer senior reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, February 02, 2012

MEMBER of Parliament for South West St Catherine Everald Warmington has urged Parliament to consider whether or not there is still need for a political ombudsman, arguing that the original mandate of that office has already been met.

Making the case in a resolution tabled in Parliament Tuesday, Warmington said that his call was also made against the background of the budgetary constraints and the amount needed to maintain that office.

Threaten to take to the street if minister fails to release money for drain work
BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Friday, February 03, 2012

JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) councillors in the Portmore Municipality are expected to say by today what action they intend to take to put pressure on Local Government Minister Noel Arscott to lift a stop order on more than $14 million worth of road works in their respective divisions.

Published: Wednesday January 25, 2012
Damion Mitchell, News Editor radio@gleanerjm.com
The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre

The Opposition Spokesman on Justice, Delroy Chuck, is urging the Custos of Manchester Sally Porteous not to yield to the pressure to resign.

Porteous has been facing mounting opposition from several Justices of the Peace and some citizens of Manchester, who claim that her appointment was political.

Published: Thursday | January 12, 2012
Jamaica Gleaner

The number of homeless persons on the streets of the Corporate Area is on the increase, according to former Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie.

In his final address as mayor on Tuesday, McKenzie said the number of homeless persons in the downtown Kingston area has now surpassed 2,000.

McKenzie, the member of parliament (MP)-elect for West Kingston who was first elected mayor in 2003, said he has also detected an increase in crimes against homeless persons.

BY CLAUDIENNE EDWARDS Observer writer edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) councillor Lee Roy Clarke, at his swearing-in yesterday as the parish of Kingston's 52nd mayor, bemoaned the fact that the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) was in charge of more than 2,000 roads, drains and gullies but had "virtually no funds to repair or maintain them".

Monday, 19 December 2011
Jamaica Information Service

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security wishes to advise pensioners that arrangements have been made at Post Offices Island wide for the early encashment of pension vouchers under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

Pension vouchers payable from December 20, 2011 to December 23, 2011 may be cashed as of Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

Pensioners should note, however, that the National Commercial Bank (NCB) will only cash vouchers on or after the date on which they are payable.

Monday, 12 December 2011
By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter
Jamaica Information Service

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information and the Public Service, Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, is urging greater dialogue among stakeholders in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the Public Sector Transformation Programme (PSTP).

This is necessary, he contends, if the initiative is to deliver on its vision of a transformed public sector that is performance-based, efficient, cost effective and service oriented.

Published: Thursday | December 1, 2011
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer rural@gleranerjm.com
Jamaica Gleaner

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

LABOUR AND Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles used the 90th anniversary celebratory seminar of law firm Murray & Tucker to update lawyers and employers on recent developments in labour legislation last Thursday night at the Passage to India Restaurant in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Thursday, November 24, 2011
Jamaica Observer

MINISTER with responsibility for Information, Senator Arthur Williams, says public sector workers have been responding positively to the first phase of implementation of the Master Rationalisation Plan by the Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU).

He said Cabinet has received the first status report of implementation.

Published: Wednesday | November 9, 2011
Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Gleaner

Boundbrook, Portland:

The Portland Parish Council held its thanksgiving church service to kick-start the observance of Local Government Month at the Boundbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday.

Under the theme, 'Local Government Your Partner in Community Development', the church service also attracted personnel from the Port Antonio Fire Department, the Ministry of Health, and Port Antonio Red Cross.