CDB spends $86m on projects in Glendevon, St. James

KINGSTON — Glendevon in Montego Bay, St. James is expected to benefit from two development projects within the next four months, costing over $86 million.

The projects will be funded by the Caribbean Development Bank's (CDB) Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), and will include construction of the Glendevon Centre of Excellence and rehabilitation of the Glendevon Primary and Junior High school.

“Today, we mark the signing of contracts for the construction of the Glendevon Centre of Excellence and the rehabilitation of the Glendevon Primary and Junior High School, and I look forward to signing those contracts,” Member of Parliament (MP) for Northwest St. James and Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang said.

Dr. Changed said his Ministry will be working closely with stakeholders in the projects, to have them completed time and within budget. He was speaking at the Sponsorship Agreement signing ceremony for the construction of the Centre of Excellence and the rehabilitation of the Primary and Junior High School, at his Ministry, Montego Bay on Friday July 15, 2011.

He said that the project would physically upgrade the school, and make it, “the kind of school that we can be proud of, and want to have within our inner-city communities, offering our children the best education”.

Dr. Chang added that the Centre of Excellence will benefit youths in Glendevon and neighbouring communities, such as Canterbury and Norwood, giving them the opportunity to access skills training in various vocational areas.

Managing Director of JSIF, Scarlette Gillings, said that the organization was pleased to be assisting Glendevon, through the projects.

She explained that improvements at the school would include construction of a standard sized multi-purpose court and a mini football field, expansion of the kitchen, repainting of the buildings, repairing the driveway, replacing damaged windows and doors and installation of needed equipment.

In the case of the Centre of Excellence, the sponsor group is the Montego Bay Benevolent Society and the Ministry of National Security (Community Security Initiative), with the direct beneficiaries being 919 residents, who will be trained at the centre, she said.

She appealed to residents to take care of the facilities when the work is completed, so that they can serve future generations.

Acting Principal of the school, Cynthia Frazer-James, told JIS News that she was happy that it will be getting the much needed assistance.

“I am really happy for this, because there has been a decrease in attendance, but with this project coming on stream, it means that it is going to help us to promote the school a little more and it will also build a closer link between the community and the school,” she said.

By ALDEEN CAMPBELL, JIS Reporter