KINGSTON, Jamaica — All infirmaries across the island will be outfitted with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, says Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie.

Speaking at the inaugural Youth Mayors’ Forum, held at the Clarendon Municipal Corporation in May Pen today, McKenzie said the cameras should be in place at all the infirmaries by the end of 2020, adding that “the one we started in Hanover is not a one-off situation… . It is going to become a permanent feature”.

The forum was held as part of the activities to commemorate Local Government and Community Development Month in November.

In keeping with the Month’s theme, ‘Protecting the Vulnerable…Establishing Hope through Local Governance’, youth mayors from around the country presented their concerns and recommendations to the Minister on the state of infirmaries.

Among the many recommendations made by the youth mayors is for the 24-hour protection and surveillance of infirmaries, along with professional training of infirmary staff.

“In a Bill that was tabled recently, the decision is made already that in order for you to be employed at a certain level within the service, you have to ensure that you can acquire the requisite qualifications to deliver service to those who are in the care of the State,” McKenzie said, in response to the recommendation on training.