Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre to be Refurbished on Labour Day

Refurbishing work, valued more than $500,000, will begin at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, Hope Road, in Kingston on Labour Day, May 23.

Some 200 volunteers, including representatives from the Jamaica National Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Liguanea, Kiwanis Club of North St. Andrew, the National Youth Service, along with Board members and staff of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), will participate in the project.

The facility, which houses an entertainment centre and the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, is a popular venue for the staging of arts development programmes and national cultural celebrations organised by the JCDC and private companies.

Director, Marketing and Public Relations, JCDC, Stephen Davidson, told JIS News that the project is being spearheaded by the newly formed Ranny Williams Re-development Committee, a sub-committee of the JCDC Board of Commissioners.

He said the idea to embark on the project is in keeping with the theme for Labour Day: ‘Take a Stand…Beautify Our Land’.

Mr. Davidson noted that work will include the planting of trees and flowers, masonry, painting the Louise Bennett Centre and kerb wall as well as other minor repairs to the centre.

“This is just the beginning of a long term plan that the Board has to uplift the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre,” he added.

He said that persons wishing to participate in the project must first register with the JCDC’s Marketing Department prior to Labour Day.

“We welcome all volunteers and we will begin work at 6:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day and hopefully ending at about 4:00 p.m.,” he said.

Mr. Davidson commended the many sponsors and volunteers who have assisted financially and donated plants and paint to ensure the success of the project. He said that once the Centre is fully upgraded and maintained, it will become self-sufficient.

“We want it to be a space where authentic entertainment and food is the focus, so when you think of authentic Jamaican entertainment and food, you think of the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre,” he said.

Mr. Davidson informed that the centre will be the main venue for the upcoming Emancipation and Independence activities and the Independence Village from August 1-5.