$10 Million Resource Centre Opens in Eastern Hanover

Residents of Mt. Hannah and surrounding districts in eastern Hanover are to benefit from the opening of a resource centre valued at approximately $10 million in their area.

The Mt. Hannah Resource Centre, established by the Mt. Hannah Primary School Past Students Association in collaboration with the Organization of International Development (OID), was officially opened on August 5, the eve of Jamaica’s 51^st anniversary of Independence.

The facility includes a community library, internet café, bathrooms and multi-purpose hall; and will benefit hundreds of students and adults from across the districts of Donalva, Mt. Hannah, Maryland and adjoining communities.

Member of Parliament, Dr. D.K. Duncan, congratulated the Mt. Hannah Past Students Association and the wider community for “persevering together and achieving great things for the community.”

He presented the group with a gift of $100,000 that will go towards further construction work on the resource centre.

“In consultation with Councillor Lloyd Hill, we have decided that this is an appropriate venture for us to make even a small contribution of $100,000 to the project out of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).  This is in appreciation for what you have together achieved for the benefit of many of this immediate community and surrounding areas,” Dr. Duncan said.

Delivering the main address at the opening ceremony, Representative of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation, Virginia Turner, said the activities at the Mt. Hannah Resource Centre are going to be successful because the entire community has “embraced and bought into the dream.”

“We at JN Foundation firmly believe if you give persons the resources and you get them to buy in, that they are responsible for the development of their communities and if they are given the opportunities and the resources, then they can make changes in their societies,” Ms Turner noted.

She pointed out that unless the young people and seniors alike are engaged in these tough economic times to get themselves trained and to become self reliant, the country will be in trouble.

“I am therefore encouraging all citizens across this and adjoining communities to make the best use of the many opportunities that will be emerging from this resource centre. I am also encouraging the formation of senior clubs for both females and males, in order to bring out their creative and resourceful abilities.” she said.

Ms.Turner noted that the centre has to make money to be sustainable. “If the centre is not sustainable after a while nothing will go on here, so be resourceful and the centre will benefit entire communities of the parish,” Ms.Turner said.

She announced that the JN Foundation would be dedicating resources to working with the centre in the extensive structuring of programmes and activities in ensuring that members benefit as they prepare for the future.