KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is set to deepen its ties with the University of Technology (UTech) through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at boosting the technical capacity of members of the council’s Building and Town Planning Committee.

According to a KSAMC media release, the collaboration will support targeted training initiatives designed to strengthen committee members’ analytical skills and improve decision-making on development approvals across the Corporate Area.

The partnership is intended to ensure that planning decisions are informed by stronger technical analysis and evidence-based assessments.

The Building and Town Planning Committee plays a central role in evaluating applications for new construction and land-use changes in Kingston and St Andrew.

The MOU with UTech is expected to provide committee members with specialist training and resources that can help expedite and enhance the rigour of the development-approval process.

Officials said the initiative reflects a broader effort by the corporation to professionalise local planning functions and to ensure development aligns with strategic planning objectives and regulatory standards. UTech, a major tertiary institution with programmes in architecture, engineering and planning, will bring academic expertise and training capacity to the partnership.

KSAMC and UTech have not announced a date for the formal signing but indicated the MOU will be followed by a schedule of workshops and training sessions for committee members and municipal staff.

Municipal leaders expect the collaboration to contribute to more consistent, transparent and timely decisions on development matters that affect residents and businesses in Kingston and St Andrew.