Shelter Managers Honoured By St. James Municipal Corporation
By: , July 3, 2023
Photo: Nickieta Sterling
Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Leeroy Williams (second right), makes a presentation to Shelter Manager, Mocho Community Centre, Richard Bennett (second left), during a Shelter Management Conference held at the Municipal Corporation on June 6. Also sharing the moment are (from left) Councillor for the Maroon Town Division, Everes Coke and Councillor for Montego Bay South Eastern division and Chairman of the Corporation’s Disaster Management Committee, Arthur Lynch.The Full Story
Seven Shelter Managers across St. James were recognised by the St. James Municipal Corporation for dedicating more than two decades of their lives in service to the country.
They were presented with long-service awards at a Shelter Management Conference, held at the Municipal Corporation’s office in Montego Bay on June 6.
The awardees have been serving in the capacity since Hurricane Gilbert (1988) or since Hurricane Ivan (2004).
They are Richard Barrett, Mocho Community Centre; Hector Barrett, Sunderland Primary School; Erica Pottinger, Irwin Primary School; Sonia Virgo, Flamstead Gardens Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church; Donetta Mcghee, Maldon High; and Eulin Kelly and Zena Lewis Collins, Vaughnsfield SDA church.
In his address, Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Leeroy Williams, acknowledged the dedication and hard work of the Managers.
“The St. James Municipal Corporation is fortunate to have persons of such high calibre volunteering as shelter managers and remains indebted to all of you for the work you have been doing and will continue to do in protecting the lives of the people of St. James,” he said.
The Mayor also stressed that the role of a Shelter Manager goes beyond protecting lives after a hurricane by ensuring persons are armed with the knowledge before the disaster.
“You our Shelter Managers are the drivers at our 63 approved emergency shelters in the parish of St. James. We do recognise the importance of Shelter Managers, as you have all proven to be a major part of the Corporation’s effort to educate members of the public, bring order to shelter use and offer great support and comfort to those who use our shelters,” he highlighted.
The awards ceremony was followed by a refresher sensitisation session led by the St. James Health department as the country continues to put plans in place for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.