Montego Bay Mayor Wants Community Participation

MONTEGO BAY – Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris, is urging the citizens of St. James, to participate in various activities that are being held in celebration of Community Month, for their own empowerment.

The Mayor said the events are geared towards informing the citizens of issues relating to community development and how they (the citizens), can benefit from different government agencies. He also encouraged participation in several activities organised by the Ministry of Education in observance of Parenting Month, also being celebrated in November.

The community is invited to a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 17, at the New Erwin Moravian Church, in Tucker, St. James; the Junior Mayor Ceremony on November 21, at the Civic Centre in Sam Sharpe Square; and the Mayor's Forum on November 29, also at the Civic Centre, where they will be asked to share their ideas on developing the parish.

"We will be having all the agencies present to answer questions that are of interest to the residents of St. James," the Mayor told JIS News, in an interview while participating at a recent workday at the Maldon Baptist Basic School.

Meanwhile, Parish Manager of the Social Development Commission (SDC), Randy Dale, said the activities across the parish are meant to empower communities to take charge of their space.  All the agencies that are funding projects in the parish with the aim of  lifting the communities towards sustainable development, will be participating.

"We are looking at an overall development approach whereby all the service providers can culminate at one location, and residents within the communities will know of the related services offered by the relevant Government agencies. You (the communities) have to lead from the front and voluntarism must be embraced as the leading initiative on which communities are moving forward," he said.

"We are (also) looking at parenting programmes within St. James, projects in schools and improvement of community centres and other areas, to embrace Community Month, and community taking charge of their own development," Mr. Dale said.