Western Jamaica Abuzz With Labour Day Activities

Activities for Labour Day 2014 got off to an early start Friday, May 23, across western Jamaica, as weather forecasts for early afternoon rains had volunteers turning out in large numbers, to play their part.

As the nation focuses on climate change activities and police stations for this year’s Labour Day, which is being observed under the theme ‘Take a stand….Beautify our land’, more than 170 projects have been registered among the three western parishes.

St. James leads the way with some 100 projects, followed by Hanover with 45; Trelawny with 25; and St. Ann with three.

In St. James, the parish project is the infirmary, where more than 300 persons have turned out to assist in making the facility more secure, with the construction of some 300 feet of perimeter wall.

The Spring Mount Police Station in the southern section of the parish is also benefitting, with several residents joining hands with the police personnel there to refurbish the facility.

Member of Parliament for South St. James, and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier, who was participating in the Labour Day works at the infirmary, expressed satisfaction with the level of support for the project.

“The St. James Infirmary is indeed a very appropriate project. (It) represents an area where the most vulnerable in our nation rest, and are treated, and hence the project today is a very timely one in fulfilling the mandate of the theme, to take a stand and beautify our land,” he stated.

Co-Chairman of the St. James Labour Day Planning Committee, and Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Glendon Harris, told JIS News that he is satisfied with the level of support the residents have given to the day’s activities, noting that volunteerism is “alive and well” among Jamaicans.

“The support for Labour Day projects in St. James this year is just overwhelming.  …we have volunteers from all over…lending support,” he stated while participating in the activities at the infirmary.

The Mayor expressed appreciation to all persons and entities which joined forces to implement projects across the parish.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Transport Authority, along with numerous volunteers representing several groups, carried out works to improve conditions at the transportation centre, located on Barnett Street, in Montego Bay.

Over in Hanover, it was a large group of volunteers who arrived at the parish project, at the Ramble police station, to complete the work, which some volunteers had started earlier in the week.

The group, led by several political representatives, included persons from the private and public sectors, and representatives from several groups and organisations across the parish.

All hands were on deck for the activities, which included: painting, repairing of windows, tiling of floors, and repairs to furniture, among other tasks.

The police personnel, who also enthusiastically participated in the day’s activities, expressed appreciation for the community effort.

Trelawny was also abuzz with Labour Day activities, as persons gathered at the main project in Ulster Spring to assist with refurbishing a building, which will house the Ulster Spring branch library.

Additionally, the Clarks Town police station benefitted from general cleaning and repair works, in keeping with the national focus.

Meanwhile, the barracks at the St. Ann’s Bay police station there was also a flurry of activity, as volunteers embarked on general repairs, painting, and improving sanitary facilities there.

The parish’s other major project, the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre, received a facelift, with the Transport Authority leading the charge, assisted by representatives from various taxi associations, vendors, and shop operators from the facility.