Social Services Fair Attracts Residents Of St. James
By: , April 6, 2022
Photo: SERENA GRANT
Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (from left), Constables Rowayne McDonald and David Kettle, of the Ports Division, speak to patrons at the Ministry of National Security’s inaugural ‘Together We Serve You’ Social Services Fair, which was held at the St. James High School, recently.The Full Story
Residents of St. James gathered on the grounds of St. James High School in Montego Bay, recently, to attend the Ministry of National Security’s inaugural ‘Together We Serve You’ Social Services Fair.
Staged in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth, the fair was aimed at assisting the residents to access social services from organisations such as the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, HEART/NSTA Trust, Peace Management Initiative (PMI), and the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC).
National Security Minister, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, in his address, said that criminal violence is the island’s biggest and most significant social problem, as “it impacts everyone”.
He noted that the Government is taking a holistic approach to crime-fighting, to ensure that there is quality support and equity for citizens in volatile and at-risk communities.
The Minister explained that the aim of hosting the fair was to convey to citizens, especially those in volatile communities, that they are “Jamaican citizens of equal stature and we are going to offer them equity as we build a society in which public order, public safety and justice are available to all our citizens”.
“It is on that pilar alone [that] we can build a prosperous and strong society,” Dr. Chang said.
He noted that the Ministry, as well as all the agencies involved in the fair, are working closely to ensure that the event reaches the “critical members” of communities across the island.
The Minister said that an objective of the Government’s citizen security plan is to ensure that “individuals in communities, where they are at risk of getting caught in gangs, of getting caught up in criminal activities and their whole self-respect and identity diminished by virtue of the environment… we are changing that environment.”
For her part, Regional Director in the Ministry of Education and Youth (Region 4), Dr. Michelle Pinnock, argued that the initiative was about “impacting lives”.
She told parents in attendance that the Ministry [of Education and Youth] and its agencies “stand with you as together we ensure that all our students are able to maximise their potential”.
“Parents, understand that it’s the village that is going to help you to raise your child and we stand ready to support you. Together we will help you chart the way to a better and brighter tomorrow,” Dr. Pinnock said.
To the collaborating agencies in the event, she outlined that they have a role and responsibility to impact students in a positive way, “for together we will promote better living for all our Jamaican children”.
In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Pinnock said the Education Ministry’s role in the initiative was to mobilise parents and work along with the Ministry of National Security to ensure that the various agencies were present at the fair.
One parent who attended the fair, Rhodd Hylton, told JIS News that the fair was a very good gesture and welcomed the services that were made available.
Mr. Hylton, who also serves as President of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at the St. James High School, said he encourages his daughter, who attends the school, to refrain from using violence to deal with conflicts.