Citizens, Private Sector Revitalise Community Spaces In Montego Bay

Residents of St. James were out in full force on Labour Day, May 23, to participate in a range of community development projects. 

The day, which has strong private-sector support, fostered a renewed sense of civic pride as citizens came together to revitalise key community spaces. 

As part of the activities, the Whitehouse Early Childhood Centre in Montego Bay received a much-need facelift through the efforts of Sandals Foundation in collaboration with Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and volunteers from the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), MBJ Airports Limited and Gwava Group. 

Volunteers repainted both the interior and exterior of the school, installed and painted new doors, cleared away old furniture, and established a new garden to enhance the learning environment for children from Whitehouse, Flanker, and Providence, who attend the institution. 

General Manager of Sandals Montego Bay, Christopher Elliott, said the initiative reflects Sandals’ long-standing commitment to community development. 

“It’s something that we’ve always done over the years. Sandals, as an organisation, has been around for 44 years, so we’ve always played a huge part in whichever community that we operate in,” he said. 

Mr. Elliott noted that more than 40 volunteers participated in the day’s activities and stressed the importance of sustained volunteerism to national development. 

“We’ve all come together to partner and to do something good for the community because this is what we need more of in Jamaica and not just on Labour Day. If for the year [we have] partnerships between the public and the private sectors, then that will drive powerful change in our country,” he underscored.  

Director of Customer Solutions at JPS, Leroy Reid, who was among those lending support through the company’s Volunteers on Location To Serve (VOLTS) initiative,  said he was pleased to participate in the workday. 

“So, for us as volunteers on location to serve, we wanted to come today to give of our energy, to demonstrate to the kids and to the community that we care about our children, we care about early-childhood education,” he said. 

Speaking with JIS News, Principal of the Whitehouse Early Childhood Centre, Ann Blake-Reid, expressed gratitude for the support, noting that it will boost teaching and learning at the institution. 

“The project will definitely enhance our teaching area to make it more conducive for learning. We will be able to meet our guidelines for the Early Childhood Commission,” Mrs. Blake-Reid shared.  

Meanwhile, in Montego Hills, residents banded together to repaint the Montego Hills Police Station, further reinforcing the spirit of unity and pride.  

Volunteers also took steps to improve road safety in Green Pond by repainting the pedestrian crossing at Farm Primary School. 

Labour Day was observed under the theme ‘Protect the Environment: Our Land, Our Duty, Our Future’ and the slogan ‘Jamaica Nice, Protect Wi Paradise’.