Residents and volunteers labour at Crescent Basic School

KINGSTON — Mayor of St. Catherine, Andrew Wheatley, headed the list of eager volunteers, who turned out in their numbers to support the Labour Day parish project, which is the refurbishing of the Crescent Basic School in Spanish Town. 

The scope of work include the overhaul of kitchen cupboards; repainting classroom ceiling; putting in new toilets; construction of a concrete urinal for the boys’ bathroom; painting of the principal’s office; and rewiring of a faulty electrical circuit.

Members of the St. Catherine Parish Council, the Jamaica Combined Cadet Corps, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and employees of Flow Jamaica Ltd. are also participating in the project.

Mayor Wheatley told JIS News that the selection of the school as the official parish project, is in line with the general theme for Labour Day: ‘It Takes a Village to Raise a Child’, “and this speaks to the importance of our children and them being the future”.

He noted that the institution also plays an integral part in the development of the Spanish Town community.  “The school not only serves the community by providing education for the young ones but also acts at times as a community centre, so it contributes to the development of the community in more ways than one,” he stated.

He said the work being done on Labour Day “has really lifted the spirits of the community and I’m sure that the teachers and the students and even the parents are very pleased with this effort."

Mr. Wheatley informed that the overall cost of the project is approximately $300,000, which includes donation of $50,000 from Flow. He expressed his gratitude to the telecommunications firm for its contribution of both cash and kind.

Principal of the school, Donna Boothe, said she is “extremely grateful” for the work being carried out at the institution.

Mrs. Boothe, who has been a staff member of the institution for the past 30 years, and principal since 2005, noted that the refurnishing work is quite necessary.

She said some sections of the school, which houses over 150 students, are in a “very bad state”, including the bathrooms and the ceiling of the classroom.

“So I am just very grateful to the St. Catherine Parish Council, the cadets and to Flow and everyone else, for all that is being done here today,” she stated.

In the meantime, Chairman, Joint Civic Function Committee, St. Catherine, Robert Allen, told JIS News that the Parish Council is conducting extensive work throughout the parish, all in line with the theme for this year.

He said work is being done on several early childhood institutions and basic schools as well the Spanish Town Infirmary.

Community members are also involved in the repainting of pedestrian crossings and the extension of a median in High Fields, off Brunswick Avenue in Spanish Town.

By ATHALIAH REYNOLDS, JIS Reporter