Russell urges national rural development plan as ministers address jobs and waste management

Opposition spokesperson on rural and community development Dr Kenneth Russell used the sectoral debates to press the Government for a coordinated rural development plan, arguing that hardship remains concentrated outside urban centres.

Dr Russell said poverty levels are higher in rural Jamaica, pointing to figures showing 11.5% of rural residents live in poverty compared with 3% in the Kingston metropolitan area. "The pattern is unmistakable. Things are worse off for you if you live in rural Jamaica. This is a shame and is unacceptable," he said.

He contended that rural Jamaicans face repeated burdens through poor roads, weak connectivity, limited transportation, unreliable water access, and delayed services — costs he described as a "quality of life tax" paid through "opportunities deferred, treatment delayed, earnings lost, and human potential diminished." He also challenged claims that no new taxes had been introduced, saying rural citizens effectively pay multiple times over.

Dr Russell called for completion of parish development orders, improved rural infrastructure, a national rural development framework, and a rural development coordination council. He said an annual rural development report should be tabled in Parliament, alongside modernised community development legislation, upgraded community centres, and stronger parish and community development committees.

Among his proposals were a rural achievement initiative for youth, community skills and innovation hubs, expanded child development and educational support, digitalisation, enterprise zones, value-added agriculture and agro-processing, local wealth creation partnerships, and a rural community development partnership fund. He stressed that people remain rural Jamaica's greatest asset and that local economies must be diversified.

Justice Minister Delroy Chuck, meanwhile, said greater numbers of skilled workers will be needed as the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority rolls out major projects. He urged young Jamaicans to train for construction work, noting a islandwide labour shortage and anticipating large movement of workers to western Jamaica as NARA-led development expands.

Separately, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie renewed appeals for a sharp change in garbage disposal habits, warning that the burden cannot rest on the state alone. Speaking at a long-service awards ceremony for Southern Parks and Markets staff at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester, he said improper waste disposal threatens public health, the environment, and national infrastructure.

"We must recognize and respect our environment. And if we don't have an appreciation for cleanliness, then we'll always be here talking about garbage," McKenzie said. He highlighted efforts to strengthen the sector, including a commitment to make more than 4,000 workers across the island permanent government employees with improved job security and wages.

National Solid Waste Management Authority Executive Director Audley Gordon reported significant gains in the agency's financial management over the past five years, including timely filing of external audits, annual reports, and audited financial statements. The ceremony recognised 134 employees for between 16 and 30 years of service.