FALMOUTH, Trelawny – Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie has announced that Trelawny is to receive a drop in-centre, which will be constructed at a cost of $14 million.

Ground for the construction of the facility, which will be sited on lands in close proximity to the Trelawny Police Divisional Headquarters in Falmouth, is expected to be broken later this month, Chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation Mayor Colin Gager later revealed.

The facility will be used to assess, feed, treat and counsel the homeless, as well as being a temporary shelter during disasters.

McKenzie, in his address, urged the Trelawny Municipal Corporation to accelerate the process of having it constructed.

“I will urge the municipality to expedite the process and to have work commence as quickly as possible on the construction of this facility,” McKenzie enjoined.

McKenzie, who was addressing the regular monthly general meeting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation last week, later told reporters that the local authority has already received the first tranche of funds for the construction of the centre.

He also emphasised that the facility must be completed by the end of this financial year, adding that the local government ministry will be providing funds for the day-to-day operation of the centre.

To date, four other such facilities have been constructed across the island, including one in the western parish of Hanover, which is expected to be opened next month.

Meanwhile, during last week’s regular monthly meeting, McKenzie presented 13 tablet personal computers (PC), one copier/printer and a desktop computer to the corporation.

The copier/printer, desktop computer and four of the tablets are for the poor relief department of the corporation, to assist the officers with their daily duties, while the remaining nine tablets were given to the nine councillors.