2,300 Young Persons to be Employed by Municipal Corporations

Come August 14, some 2,300 young persons will be employed by the Municipal Corporations to identify shut-ins; and to undertake the auditing of street lights.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says each division in the Corporations across the island will be allocated 10 summer workers for two weeks.

“The purpose is to help identify, in the various communities, persons who we need to have on record, so that during hurricanes and other disasters, emergency personnel can move to their rescue,” the Minister said.

He was speaking at the official opening of Ackee Village in Portmore, St. Catherine, on July 19. The vending site, comprising some 20 shops and other facilities, has been constructed off the Dyke Road.

Mr. McKenzie said the employment programme will also allow his Ministry to capture important data on street lights.

“It is a bold step, and I don’t want to get any complaints about it. If it is not administered in the right and proper way, we might not consider it next year. It is a start, let us make use of it,” the Minister urged.

Mr. McKenzie told the gathering that further expansion of Ackee Village will be supported, and urged vendors who are yet to sign contracts for the new location to do so now, as they will no longer be allowed to sell on the nearby streets.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Portmore, Leon Thomas, urged buyers in Portmore to utilise the area, as security measures have been put in place for their safety. He called on the vendors to keep the facility in good condition, and provide the best customer service.

Other speakers at the function included Member of Parliament for East Central St. Catherine, Alando Terrelonge; Councillor for the Gregory Park Division, Joy Brown, and representatives from Wisynco and Penta Paints.

The village will serve as an outlet for farmers, vendors and shoppers to operate in a safe environment. It was developed through a partnership involving the Portmore Municipal Corporation, the Ministry, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities International, through the Caribbean Local Economic Development Programme (CARILED).