KINGSTON, Jamaica — In recognition of more than four decades of service to the people of Jamaica, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, will be conferred with the Order of Jamaica (OJ).

McKenzie, who is member of parliament (MP) for Kingston Western, will be formally invested with the honour during the National Investiture Ceremony at King’s House on National Heroes Day, Monday, October 20.

The minister, whose career in public service commenced in 1977 as a councillor, expressed profound gratitude upon being selected for the Order of Jamaica, describing it as a deeply meaningful honour.

He credits the honour to the people of Kingston Western, his family, and late former prime minister and MP for the constituency, Edward Seaga.

“I believe the way was paved for me because of Mr Seaga’s coming to West Kingston. To receive an honour of this nature speaks volumes to the work, the contributions that I have made. I believe that such an honour comes with a lot, and I am prepared to actually even work harder, because the Order of Jamaica is something that I never dreamt of,” McKenzie states.

Reflecting on his career, the minister affirms that his greatest pride lies in the work he has undertaken to uplift and positively impact the lives of the less fortunate across Jamaica.

This includes the implementation of feeding programmes for the homeless during his tenure as mayor of kingston, and the subsequent establishment of drop-in centres and night shelters for vulnerable groups through the ministry.

The most recent addition to this national network of facilities supporting individuals experiencing homelessness is the Desmond McKenzie Transitional Centre, located in downtown Kingston.

The facility serves as a transitional bridge, supporting vulnerable individuals in their reintegration into formal society by facilitating access to employment opportunities and safe, stable accommodation.

“I really went out on a limb to provide a safe haven for the homeless [and] destitute of the country. I believe if you ask me what I get pleasure more in doing… it’s the new infirmaries, the repairs that I’ve undertaken, the shelters, the many programmes that have been implemented by the Government that have met the needs of those who are less fortunate,” McKenzie tells JIS News.

He underscores his pride in the work of the Social Development Commission (SDC), particularly its role in strengthening communities nationwide.

The minister further highlights the entrepreneurial grants programme as a transformative initiative that has empowered small business owners and everyday Jamaicans to establish viable enterprises, noting that “they are living testimony to the success of that programme right across Jamaica.”

McKenzie also expresses pride in the strides he and his team have made to modernise and enhance the Indigent Housing Programme.

“We have expanded the programme in such a way now, that we have built studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom units. We have equipped them with water harvesting and we have put in electricity.

“But the part that makes me happy is the furnishing of the homes, because you can give somebody a home, but they don’t have what to sleep on… they don’t have what to cook on. So we have put in the requisite furnishing in these houses… and I have seen families who breakdown and cry over our Indigent Housing Programme. It is something that I would say has made a tremendous difference,” he outlines.

McKenzie believes that since assuming the role of minister in 2016, he has worked diligently to elevate the stature and respectability of local government.

“Persons have started to look at local government differently from how they used to view it; and I think that is important, because local government is a critical component of the daily activities of many Jamaicans. We are responsible for 80 per cent of what takes place in the country. My contribution in the field of local government is something that I’m proud of,” the minister states.

Meanwhile, he tells JIS News that his achievements have been made possible through the unwavering support of his family, whose encouragement has sustained him throughout his public service journey.

He also acknowledges the critical role of the Government in enabling his success, noting “they have given me the platform and they have provided resources to execute the programmes.”

On the matter of staying grounded and motivated in public life, McKenzie affirms that his inspiration stems from the trust placed in him by the Jamaican people.

“If you ask me, ‘what are the things that motivate me?’ When I get up in the mornings and I am confronted with an issue, let us say we look at the state of garbage in Jamaica… and I ask, ‘what contribution have I made?’ I can say that it was under my stewardship that we have brought in more garbage trucks in this country in less than 10 years than what the country had provided in the last 30 years. That is something that makes me comfortable,” he maintains.

— JIS