Western Parishes Carry Out Labour Projects

With a little over 150 registered Labour Day projects in Western Jamaica – Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland – activities for Labour Day 2010 got off to a slow start, but picked up as the day progressed.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councilor Charles Sinclair (third left) assists representatives of Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited (JMMB) to install a swing in the play area for the Hartfield Basic School, Salt Spring, St. James Monday (May 24).

Indications are that many individuals and organisations did not properly register their projects, but were still volunteering their services as they were seen in the many towns and villages clearing verges, painting curb walls and pedestrian crossings, refurbishing schools, churches, and homes of elderly persons and clearing drains and gullies among other activities.
With the focus for Labour Day 2010 being on children, the activities were carried out under the theme: “Our Children.Show Them We Care”. As such the Parish/National Projects in all four parishes were carefully chosen, in keeping with the national focus.
The Trelawny Project was the construction of a playfield at the Stewart Town Basic School; in St. James, it was the refurbishing of the Hartfield Basic School in Salt Spring; Hanover, the refurbishing of the West Haven Children’s Home for the mentally challenged, in Copse; and in Westmoreland, the refurbishing of the Ricketts Street Early Childhood Institute, Savanna-la-Mar.
Leading the cadre of volunteers at all four Parish/National projects were the Secretary/Managers and Mayors from the respective Parish Councils.
Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Charles Sinclair, Jnr., in an interview with JIS News at Hartfield Basic School, Salt Spring, stated that the school was chosen for refurbishing with a view to having it fully recognised by the Ministry of Education, when the work is completed. He said that the project is receiving a great deal of support from several private and public organizations.
“What I want to see at the end of today’s work day, is that we would have put this school on the path to being registered under the Early Childhood registration process that is going to be taking place,” he stated.
“We want to ensure that a safe environment and healthy environment is provided for our kids, where they can learn well, and that the teachers will feel comfortable; that is our aim, a dollar figure is not important right now,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile in Hanover, administrator at the West Haven Children’s Home, Merdella Grant, was overjoyed with the planned activities for the day.
“It’s overwhelming, to see so many folks from within Hanover and other areas come and give of their time and their service to the West Haven Children’s Home,” she said.
The West Haven Children’s Home is home for approximately 80 children, both boys and girls ranging from ages 6 years to 21 years, who are all mentally and physically challenged.