Junior Council Beautifying St. Catherine Infirmary

The St. Catherine Junior Council is undertaking a year-long project to beautify and improve conditions at the parish’s infirmary, and activities got underway on Saturday (March 21) with the painting of the 10 bathrooms at the facility.
The 20 young people, who are fifth and sixth form students of schools in St. Catherine, were fulfilling a promise made to Prime Minister, Bruce Golding and State Minister with responsibility for Local Government, Robert Montague, at their installation ceremony last November, to carry out voluntary work at the infirmary.
“Today is the beginning of that where we’ll be painting all the bathrooms,” said Youth Mayor, Shamar Harrison.
He told JIS News that “we plan on going through the year and we’ll be trying to get assistance from various companies and organisations in terms of donations and in any way that they can.”
He urged those organisations and persons able to help to “call the Parish Council and indicate your willingness to help with the Youth Council’s project and we can take it from there.”
In the meantime, Shamar is encouraging more young people to volunteer their time and effort in service to the elderly. “Once you can help out, help, because sometimes we think the little we do is insignificant but sometimes, that’s the thing that really matters,” he stated.
He noted that “most of the youth in Jamaica are good, they have good intention, have great potential, and it’s just for them to realize it.”
Deputy Youth Mayor, Verlando Small, said that the project was a good one and the Junior Council was glad “to do something positive for the nation’s elders.”
A total of 149 elderly residents of St. Catherine reside at the infirmary.