Desmond McKenzie
Quick Facts
Biography
Desmond A. McKenzie, JP (born 1 December 1952) is a Jamaican politician, former mayor of the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation (KSAC), in office between July 2003 and January 2012, when he was elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kingston Western. He also currently serves as the Jamaica Labour Party spokesman for urban renewal, rural development and local government.
Prior to that, McKenzie, a Labour Party member, served as a Junior Spokesman of the Opposition in the Senate of Jamaica in 2002 to 2003. He was a councillor for Denham Town from 1977 to 1984 and councillor of Tivoli Gardens since 1990.
McKenzie is regarded as one of Jamaica's most active mayors, noted for his direct attitude towards stopping crime. He is the youngest serving mayor in KSAC's history, taking office at the age of 50. McKenzie is the current vice president of the World Conference of Mayors. Desmond McKenzie has announced a major initiative to restrict selling in school property but this is controversial and interpreted by some detractors as an attack on the poor.