Scores of Volunteers Turn Out To Develop Climate Change Park

Scores of volunteers representing various community groups and business entities responded on May 23, in giving of their time to develop the Climate Change Park in Portmore, the national project for Labour Day 2014.

The beautification and upgrading work also included the planting of over 120 trees.

Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, who was part of the team that planted trees at the Park, said she was pleased with the response of persons who volunteered for the project, noting that citizens in the area and the entire island will benefit in the long term.

“We are heartened by all the volunteers who have come out. We know that everybody can do their own Labour Day project, but this is something that, over time, will be a massive thing for the environment,” the Minister said.

Principal Director for Culture, in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dahlia Harris, reported that the project received good support from the youth population and that the University of the West Indies (UWI), Guild of Students, “was the first set of people,” to engage with the Park.

“If our young people can come out and be a part of it, it means this country is heading in the right direction,” the Director said.

She informed that 14 police stations were selected for refurbishing work, but community residents and other organizations have added other stations to the list, and that the number of registered projects has exceeded 500.

“Community groups are going out and doing their part at homes for the aged and children’s homes. We have a lot of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) going to the schools,” she noted, adding that the overall response to Labour Days is “awesome.”

She also lauded the contributions from the business community, such as the Victoria Mutual Group, Advantage General, and others for donating trees and giving other support to projects across the island.

Meanwhile, Acting Mayor of Portmore, Councillor Leon Thomas, said the residents of the communities have once again shown their high level of community spirit by participating in projects across the Municipality.

He said the Climate Change Park will be a treasured monument in the promotion of protection for the environment, and it will also be a tourist attraction.

Others planting trees at the Park were: Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill; Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, and his State Minister, Colin Fagan; State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Arnaldo Brown;  Member of Parliament for South St. Catherine, Mr. Fitz Jackson; South African High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Mathu Joyini and Ambassador  of the Federal Republic of Germany to Jamaica, His Excellency Josef Beck.