Jamaica Appoints New Local Development Minister
Delroy Williams, the newly-elected Member of Parliament for Clarendon Central, has been appointed as Jamaica's Minister of Local and Rural Development. He will now oversee all local government initiatives across the country.
Delroy Williams brings extensive municipal experience to his new national role, having served as the Mayor of Kingston from 2016 to 2024. Prior to his new appointment, he also held positions as a Senator and has been a councillor for the Seivwright Gardens Division since 2003. During his eight-year tenure as Kingston's mayor, Williams focused on transforming the capital into a sustainable "destination city." Key initiatives under his leadership included improving green spaces, working to formalize the city's street vendor economy, and boosting Kingston's international profile for trade and tourism. His appointment follows his victory in the September 3, 2025 general election, where he won the parliamentary seat for Clarendon Central. Williams, representing the Jamaica Labour Party, secured 6,674 votes to win the constituency. As Minister of State, Williams will now support the administration of all 14 Municipal Corporations. The ministry's broad portfolio includes overseeing parochial roads, public markets, solid waste management, development planning, and disaster preparedness. A key focus of the ministry is the Local Economic Development (LED) program, designed to help local authorities partner with stakeholders to stimulate economic growth and job creation. This initiative specifically targets the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through technical assistance and support. The ministry is actively pursuing the modernization of public markets across Jamaica, recognizing them as vital hubs for agriculture and small-scale commerce. Citing that 98% of markets are over a century old, the government aims to upgrade the infrastructure to boost local economic activity for vendors and customers. Williams will serve under the senior Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie. He joins the executive of an Andrew Holness-led government that secured a third term in the 2025 election, albeit with a slimmer majority in parliament.
