Portlanders brave inclement weather to labour on projects

PORT ANTONIO — Portlanders braved the inclement weather to work on projects in their communities as the parish celebrated Labour Day on Monday.

Among the projects undertaken on the day were: refurbishing of schools, painting of police stations, beautification of communities, building of bus sheds and patching roadways.

The parish project was the painting and beautification of the Port Antonio hospital with special emphasis on the children and maternity wards in keeping with the national theme: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.

The project brought together a coalition of various interest groups, who worked feverishly to complete the project on the day.

Among the organisations involved were the Portland Parish Council, Friends of the Port Antonio Hospital, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jamaica Red Cross, Portland Chamber of Commerce, National Youth Service, Police Youth Clubs, and a number of church groups.

Speaking to JIS News, Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Floyd Patterson, expressed gratitude to all the participants for their support.

He also commended the communities working on other projects for their cooperation with the Labour Day effort in Portland, and stated that every effort will be made to ensure that any work left unfinished at the end of the day, would be completed as early as possible thereafter.

Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd, noted that the level of cooperation on the parish and other projects was an indication that the spirit of volunteerism and community development was alive in Portland.

Chairman of the Friends of the Port Antonio Hospital Association, Locksley Johnson, said he was happy to be associated with the parish project.

He said that the work will go a far way in enhancing the aesthetics of the hospital and bring cheer to patients.

By ASTON G. BAILEY, JIS Reporter