Central Village Gets Multi-Purpose Centre

Residents of Central Village and its environs, in St. Catherine, now have a new multi-purpose centre, which was constructed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) at a cost of $121.9 million.

The facility, which is situated on land owned by the Jamaica Red Cross, comprises a multi-purpose court, main hall, commercial/workshop spaces, office, dormitory, kitchen, and male/female restrooms, among other features. The complex will be managed by the Red Cross.

Work was completed in May under JSIF’s World Bank-funded Inner City Basic Services Project (ICBSP), which provided $115.8 million of the financing. The remaining $6.1 million was provided by the residents.

World Bank Representative in Jamaica, Giorgio Valentini, whose tenure ends within the next few weeks, was taken on brief tour of the centre, on Thursday, June 26, to view the completed works, ahead of his departure.

Also on the tour were: Managing Director of JSIF, Scarlette Gillings; Red Cross Vice President, Dr. Dennis Edwards; and Central Village Benevolent Society (CVBS) President, Dwight Pecco.

In his remarks, Mr. Valentini commended the efforts and inputs of all stakeholders, particularly the residents, in completing the project.

“For me, it has been a great pleasure to participate in this project. When I came here (initially), Central Village looked very different…and it is very interesting to see how much effort has gone into its transformation, through the centre’s construction,” Mr. Valentini said.

For her part, Mrs. Gillings expressed “joy and delight” at the centre’s completion, adding that she was also pleased that Mr. Valentini was able to see the centre’s completion under the ICBSP, which she said “has been his passion.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Edwards said the Red Cross is “absolutely delighted” to have played an integral role in the centre’s development and, by extension, Central Village.

“We have partnered with JSIF in many other instances, and we are looking forward to the continued development of this facility and the community. Whatever it is that we in the Jamaica Red Cross can do, or continue to do, we will endeavour to do for the growth and development of the community,” he said.

Mr. Pecco also welcomed the centre’s development, describing it as a “dream come true” for the residents.

“The centre will be fully utilized. We are going to have some educational programmes and it will also be used as a resource centre,” he said.