Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
![Desmond McKenzie](http://esirom.com/web/nswma/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/image1.jpg)
Desmond McKenzie
Minister CD, MP, JP
The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development acts as the agent of local development. This covers the areas of:
- Development planning
- Minor water supplies
- Municipal parks & beautification
- Markets
- Parochial road maintenance
- Poor relief
- Street lighting
- Solid waste management
- Fire services
- Disaster preparedness and emergency management
- Local government amenities i.e. abattoirs, pounds and cemeteries
Structure
The Ministry dispenses its function through Five (5) agencies and Fourteen (14) local authorities namely;
- The National Solid Waste Management Authority -NSWMA
- Jamaica Fire Brigade
- Board of Supervision (which is responsible for the nation’s infirmaries)
- Social Development Commission -SDC
- Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management -ODPEM
- 14 Municipal Corporations – Local Authorities