Seven Community-Based Organisations Receive Grants

A total of seven community-based organisations have been awarded the Social Development Commission (SDC) Governance Capacity Grant Fund (GCGF), valued at $700,000, for the year 2013.

The awardees are: the Whitehouse Development Area, Highgate Development Area, Papine Development Area, and Port Antonio Development Area Committees; Red Hills Communities Association; Wag Water Valley Development Committee; and the Claremont Development Area Committee.

Representatives from the organisations were presented with cheques valued at $100,000 each, during the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development awards ceremony, held at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in New Kingston, on November 28.

The Governance Capacity Grant Fund was established as a means through which community-based organisations can access funds to improve their sustainability and viability to make more effective and meaningful contribution to parish and national development.

The Fund is aimed at improving partnerships at the local level among the local authority, central government, and the citizenry.

The ceremony was held in recognition of Local Government and Community Month 2013, which is being celebrated in November, under the theme: ‘A prosperous economy starts with my community’.

Other awards included the Minister’s Award, which was presented to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in recognition of its continued contribution to the local government process.

Additionally, six local authorities were presented with the Local Government Awards 2013, which is aimed at recognising those local authorities that have performed creditably in respective areas of local government reform.

The recipients are: the St. Catherine Parish Council, Most Improved in Property Tax Collections; Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, Most Improved in Enhancing Own Source Revenue Collection; St. Mary Parish Council, Best Performance in Improving the Welfare of the Poor; St. Ann Parish Council, Best Performance in the Provision of Indigent Housing; Manchester Parish Council, Engaging Citizens Participation in the Affairs of the Local Authority; and the Westmoreland Parish Council, which was awarded the Most Outstanding performance in Implementing Core Local Government Reform Initiatives and the Best Performance in the Development Approval Process.

Also, the SDC/Petrojam National Community Sports awards were presented to the National top finishers in the categories of netball and cricket.

The top four teams for cricket are: first place, Junction/Bull Savannah; second place, Richmond Park; third place, Peterville; and fourth place, Jacks River. The National Cricket team walked away with $1 million in cash, while second place received $500,000; third place, $250,000; and fourth place, $125,000.

The National netball team was Mandeville United; second place, Titchfield Phoenix; third place, Westchester Netball Team; and fourth place, Catherine Mount Netball Team. The prizes included first place, $200,000; second place, $100,000; third place, $50,000; and fourth place, $25,000.

Several community-based cricket and netball teams were also recognised at the parish level during the awards ceremony.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, said the economic and social advancement of all communities is critical to national development.

“As we celebrate Local Government Month, we take stock of the efforts being made by the Ministry and its agencies in enabling local economic development and facilitating community empowerment and self-reliance by harnessing the local resources,” he explained.

Community Development Planning and Programmes Director, Avril Ranger, said the objectives of Local Government and Community Month include: creating linkages toward the formation of local networks required to develop local economies; and engaging the energies of unattached youth into meaningful, entrepreneurial activities.