Government of Jamaica
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The department is headed by Town Clerk, Mr. Robert H.P Hill, JP , who is the Chief Executive Officer and one of (4) statutory heads of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC). The City Engineer has full responsibility for all civil, structural and building works throughout the Kingston Metropolitan Region (KMR) and is expected to deliver high quality services that are reasonably priced and responsive to the needs of residents and the communities of the Municipality.
The following are the powers and scope of responsibilities of the City Executive Department:
The City Treasurer’s Department provides Financial and Accounting Services for the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC). A major function of the department is the preparation and presentation of the Annual Revenue and Expenditure Budget of the Corporation for approval.The department is headed by the City Treasurer who is charged with the responsibility for Control of the approved budget. This includes inter alia collecting and accounting for all moneys payable to the KSAC inclusive of Fees from – Building and Subdivision approvals, Places of Amusement License, Signs and Billboards, Trade Licenses, Barbers and hairdressers, Vending and markets operations, Real Estate Leases, Operating of Municipal Car Parks and Motor Vehicle Impounding;
The passing for payment of all bills for goods and services provided to the KSAC by its creditors and contractors; the payment of salaries and wages in accordance with personnel directives; the remittance of personal and statutory deductions to relevant agencies; the preparation and submission of Annual Statutory Returns to relevant agencies; the preparation and submission of Annual Final Accounting Statements to the Auditor General, as well as interim monthly reports to the Finance Committee of the KSAC. The department is also responsible for collecting and accounting for funds received for special projects being executed by the KSAC on behalf of other Agencies, these funds include funds originating from the Constituency Development Fund.
The Department is responsible for processing Planning Applications with respect to developments (buildings and subdivisions), modification of restrictive covenants and enforcing breaches of the Planning regulations.
The KSAC is the Local Planning Authority for Kingston & St. Andrew and has responsibility to enforce Planning laws and regulations within its jurisdiction. Planning within the Municipality is guided by the following main pieces of legislations:
The Department is comprised of a Director, Planning Officers and support staff. The main functions are summarized as follows:
The Planning Department processes applications made under the Town & Country Planning Act for the following:
The Department also processes applications for subdivision of land under the Local Improvement Act.
Legal documents served on the KSAC are vetted for accuracy.
In-house records are checked to see whether any approvals were granted. These are then matched against the information contained in the Claim (legal document).
A site inspection is conducted to verify the information contained in the Claim documents and to provide information for the decision making process.
After the decision has been made, the Registrar (Supreme Court) and the applicant’s attorneys are advised.
The Department conducts enforcement with respect to breaches of the Town &Country Planning Act. The process involves confirming breaches, notifying persons of the breach and timelines to cease the activity/breach. Where there is no compliance, the matter is escalated and brought before the Supreme Court.
Defendants,if found guilty, are liable to a fine or imprisonment or both. If found incontempt of court, a defendant could also lose his/her property to the Crown.
The department is headed by City Engineer, Mr. Xavier Chevannes who is the Chief Technical Officer and one of (4) statutory heads of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAMC).The City Engineer has full responsibility for all civil, structural and building works throughout Kingston & St. Andrew and is expected to deliver high quality services that are reasonably priced and responsive to the needs of residents and the communities of the Municipality.
The following are the powers and scope of responsibilities of the City Engineer’s Department:
The Poor relief Department is the welfare arm of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation with the mandate to relieve destitution among citizens living in Kingston and St.Andrew. In keeping with the Poor Relief Act, assistance is offered to the most vulnerable members of the society, particularly the very poor who require not only the input of the government but that of its partners; non-government organizations, the business sector, faith-based organizations, the community and the general public.
To serve as a catalyst for our clients by alleviating destitution in order to improve their standards of living and enhance their quality of life through counselling, rehabilitation and the use of available resources.
The persons entitled to relief in any parish are the persons within the parish who are wholly destitute of the means of subsistence and are unable to work because of physical or mental causes.
The established schedule of Poor Relief Officers for the Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation is:
1 Inspector of Poor, 2 Deputy Inspector of Poor , 2 Senior Inspector of Poor , 8 Assistant Inspector of Poor. There are thirteen (13) zones.
Outdoor services – These are cases relating to persons who are eligible for Poor Relief assistance and can cope outside of an institution. Persons on the outdoor registered poor roll (adults & children) are entitled to an allowance and other basic necessities such as; clothing, bedding, medical attention,nutritious diet, shelter, school appliances, transportation and burial assistance. Outdoor programmes offered by Poor Relief are listed below:
The Disaster Management Unit is responsible for the implementation of actions, programmes, projects and Disaster Risk Management initiatives of the KSA Parish Disaster Committee. The roles of the unit includes the monitoring of hazards/ disasters within the municipality, preparation of community and parish disaster risk management plans, public education for the citizens on hazards and disaster risk management activities, coordinating relief activities,conducting simulation exercises and establishing emergency shelters. The Unit is headed by the Parish Disaster Coordinator who is the designated operational officer under the Disaster Risk Management Act, 2015 Section 20 (2)(a).
Glossary of Warning Words
Flash Flood: This is a flood event that occurs with little or no warning where water levels rise very quickly.
Flash Flood Watch: This means that a flash flood is possible in the area and citizens should be on the alert and be ready to take action if flooding is observed or a warning is given.
Flash Flood Warning: This means that flash flooding is imminent or has been reported. Residents in low-lying areas should be on the alert for fast-rising waters and get ready for immediate action. Motorists and pedestrians are advised not to attempt to cross flooded streets, roads, low bridges or fording.
Gale Warning: This is a warning of sustained winds within the range of 63 km/hr – 87 km/hr.
Hurricane Season: This is the portion of the year from June 1 to November 30 having high incidence of hurricane activity.
Hurricane: This is a warm core tropical cyclone in which maximum sustained surface winds are 119 km/hr or greater.
Hurricane Watch: The first alert when a hurricane poses a possible, but yet uncertain threat to a coastal area. It means, therefore, that you must start preparing by purchasing necessary supplies and securing your home.
Hurricane Advisory: Messages issued by the National Meteorological Service giving a description of the storm, its possible anticipated movement and prospective threat.
Hurricane Center or “Eye”: The relatively calm area in the center of a hurricane with light winds and clouds and warm temperatures.The eye is bordered by the maximum winds of the hurricane and torrential rains.
Hurricane Warning: This means that hurricane conditions will affect the island within 24 hours. These conditions include sustained winds of 119 km/hr or higher and/or dangerously high water.
Small Craft Warning: When a hurricane, tropical storm or tropical depression threatens an area, small crafts are advised to remain in port or not to venture into open sea. Sometimes the hurricane may be a few hundred kilometers from the coast.
Storm Surge: A great dome of water often as much as 80 km wide that sweeps across the coastline near the sea. The surge is the most dangerous past of the hurricane.
Tropical Depression: A system in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 63km/hr.
Tropical Disturbance: A moving area of thunderstorms of tropical origin that maintains its identify for 24 hours or more.
Tropical Storm: A storm in which the maximum sustained surface winds is 63-117 km/hr.Tsunamis: Tsunamis are ocean waves produced by earthquakes or underwater landslides. The word is Japanese and means “harbour waves”, because of the devastating effects these waves have had on low-lying Japanese coastal communities. Tsunamis are often incorrectly referred to as tidal waves, but a tsunami is actually a series of waves that can travel at speeds averaging 450 (and up to 600) miles per hour in the open ocean.
This Committee deals with all matters concerning Public Health and disaster mitigation and assistance.
This Committee is responsible for all matters relating to Markets, Car Parks and Car Pounds.
This is the policy and decision making body of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.
This Committee manages all matters concerning Civic Improvement and general public affairs.
This Committee is in control of all financial matters, examines and passes vouchers for payments by the Corporation and prepares estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
This Committee is responsible for exercising all the functions, powers and duties of the Council by virtue of the provision of the Poor Relief Act, subject to the restrictions and conditions.
This Committee is in control of all matters concerning Roads, Approved Programmes for reconstruction work, including roads, gullies, drains, and Municipal Buildings as well as matters concerning street names and numbers. It also deals with all matters relating to traffic, public transport, public parking places and street lights.
This Committee deals with all procurement of goods, services and works and to ensure that the procurement guidelines are adhered to in order to facilitate transparency, objectivity and integrity.
This Committee is responsible for all matters relating to appointment, promotion, training, transfer, termination of appointment and award of scholarship for all officers of the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation and matters pertaining to other staff not provided for in the Municipal Services Commission Act and establishment , except discipline.
This Committee initiates policies affecting the administration of the affairs of the Municipality to recommend the adoption of such policies to the Council and to see to their implementations when adopted. It also keeps under constant review, the work and functions of all Committees and the administration of the affairs of the Municipality, and where necessary places before the Council recommendations to achieve and maintain a high standard of efficiency.
This Committee deals with Building Applications, Applications for Subdivision of private lands, Housing Schemes and matters related thereto; and to exercise all the powers exercisable by the Council by virtue of the provisions of the Building Act and the Regulations made thereunder; the Local Improvements Act and the Regulations made thereunder; and the Housing Act; also such sections of the Town Nuisances Prevention Act as refer to dangerous buildings.