Transformative Development Empowering Chambers Pen

In a significant demonstration of commitment to rural development, the Government has been initiating a series of transformative projects and programmes in Chambers Pen, Hanover.

These engagements are being executed by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development under the Administration’s Rural Development Programme.

As the Programme’s pioneer community, Chambers Pen has witnessed and experienced waves of changes that have positively and substantially impacted the residents’ lives.

The journey towards revitalising Chambers Pen began with a comprehensive survey conducted by the Social Development Commission (SDC), aimed at identifying the community’s primary needs.

The findings highlighted issues relating to water, roads and electricity, and infrastructure challenges impacting Chambers Pen Primary School, among other matters.

Several interventions were initiated by the Ministry to address the critical needs including the repair of the main road leading to the community.

“The last time I came here, I made a commitment that working with your Member of Parliament and Minister Warmington, we’re going to fix that road, the work has started,” Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie said, adding work should be completed in short order to provide residents with a more accessible and safer route home.

The critical need for water was also addressed, resulting in more than 1,500 households being connected to National Water Commission (NWC) service lines.

This led to the precious resource flowing from the householders’ taps for the first time.

The Ministry also distributed more than 200 black water tanks, thus ensuring a sustainable supply.

“Many [persons with] houses wanted light… but they could not afford to wire [the units]. We came in and we wired over 270 houses in the community, under the Rural Electrification Project,” he said.

This initiative not only enhanced the householders’ living conditions but also contributed to the community’s overall safety.

Much-needed attention was extended to the Chambers Pen Primary School, where collaboration between the Local Government Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Youth yielded a substantial investment of more than $20 million.

“The Principal and teachers were very passionate about the school’s well-being. So, I spoke to Education Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, [and] we… did an estimate for the school,” Mr. McKenzie explained.

“Between the Ministry of Education and Youth and the Ministry of Local Government, over $20 million was spent… and I know Chambers Pen is proud of the school that you have today,” he added.

In the meantime, the Government has undertaken the construction and handover of indigent houses in Chambers Pen, Hanover.

On January 19, two beneficiaries were presented with new homes as part of the Indigent housing Programme’s implementation in the community.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the Ministry has also invested in the community’s social development.

An annual summer programme for young people spearheaded by the SDC, which offered positive activities and opportunities for personal growth, was a resounding success.

The distribution of laptops and tablets further underscores the commitment to empowering the youth with the tools for a brighter future.

“Currently, there is one more project that we need to complete based on the list of commitments that we made, and that is the community centre and the basic school. Once we do that and have the roads leading to the community completely resurfaced, we would have fulfilled a promise to bring to a rural community, Chambers Pen, the kind of rural development that is required,” Minister McKenzie underscored.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has commended the collaborative efforts of Minister McKenzie, the Member of Parliament, and various agencies involved in the assessment and execution of projects in Chambers Pen.

“You would have told us about a school that was falling apart, the need for rural electrification, the road, the water, and we would have picked up that there are some residents whose living conditions, shelter conditions, are below the standard that we expect as Jamaicans. So, we as the Government, sought to provide in all of these areas,” Mr. Holness indicated.