Development Programmes Being Rolled Out in North Trelawny

Attorney General, Hon. Patrick Atkinson, Q.C., says increased focus will be placed on agriculture, education, and sport in the constituency of North Trelawny.

Mr. Atkinson, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for that constituency, said the money will be taken from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support these areas.

He was making his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 18.

“We will assist farmers in Northern Trelawny to produce those items, which can assist in reducing our import bill. We will adopt programmes which will contribute to the already burgeoning growth of Jamaica’s agricultural sector,” he said.

Mr. Atkinson added that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in this regard.

Meanwhile, he said basic schools and tertiary students will continue to receive special attention and assistance, adding that there will be an additional dimension to North Trelawny’s CDF programme.

He informed that earlier this year, he negotiated with the HEART Trust for 150 young persons to receive training towards achieving Level 2 Certificates in construction. This, he said, is to enable them to benefit from the expected construction boom in Trelawny and other parts of the island.

Mr. Atkinson said in addition to that programme and as a result of other discussions, the HEART Trust is designing an entrepreneurial programme for a number of business entrepreneurs in Trelawny. This is to prepare them for the expected increased inflow of visitors to the town of Falmouth, which should result from the planned expansion in tourism offerings there.
Also, he said assistance will be sought from the relevant agencies to maintain and refurbish community centres.

“I will take whatever steps I can to change the paradigm of spending our CDF or whatever funding or spending which we have influence over from the traditional political ways to a path which leads to growth,” he said.

The Member of Parliament said every district, constituency, and parish must contribute to economic growth, adding that every MP must focus on how their constituency will contribute.

“While this administration has taken corrective measures to halt the negative slide of the economy which we inherited, we, as a country, must work for growth and development,” he said.