ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be carrying out an assessment of parish council buildings to identify those in need of repairs.

Portfolio Minister Desmond McKenzie made the disclosure at a sensitisation session with local government representatives yesterday at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

He cited the St Thomas Parish Council building as among the facilities that require critical attention.

“I am making a commitment to you that in the next financial year, we are going to try and make provisions to start something for you,” he said.

Work is far advanced on a new building for the Westmoreland Parish Council, which, the minister said, should be completed in February 2017.

He noted that the intention is to bring all municipalities on par with Clarendon, Kingston and St Andrew, St James, St Elizabeth, and St Mary, which, he noted, have model facilities.

McKenzie, in the meanwhile, indicated that he will meet with all mayors on a monthly basis, quarterly with councillors, and twice every month with the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA).

He said the meetings with ALGA are to address issues that have been raised during meetings he has had with workers.

 “It is clear that there has not been much interaction between some of the municipal corporations and the workers,” he said.

He noted, for example, that the municipal police officers have complained about poor working conditions.

“It is important that all of us understand that if we are to increase enforcement in the municipal corporations, that  it is the municipal police officers that are going to help us to do that. If they are unhappy, then you can’t get anything out of them. I am going to meet with them because we want to have workers that are happy so we can get the best out of them,” he said.