Golding gives money to MoBay community

Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

Prime Minister Bruce Golding yesterday handed over a cheque valued at more than $3 million to members of the Flankers Community Committee in Montego Bay, St James.

The money, which represents a grant being made by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) under the Inner City Basic Services Project, is earmarked to fund projects in the once-volatile community.

The projects include the removal of zinc fences, road repairs and other social-related programmes.

Friday's donation was the third of its kind made to the community by the JSIF. It brings to over $10 million money given to the community for projects by the poverty alleviation entity in recent times.

Managing Director of the JSIF, Scarlette Gillings, told The Gleaner that the Flankers Community Committee could receive a fourth cheque in the amount of $3.3 million if it meets performance targets.

"We are quite pleased with the work that has been done so far, and the prime minister is equally pleased," Gillings said.

Prime Minister Golding also expressed satisfaction about the projects being implemented.

"We are already seeing evidence that wherever we improve infrastructure, and as we get closer to giving people their titles, we see where they are investing in their own homes, and that's what we want to see," Golding said.

Brighter days

Baldwin Dulston, chairman of the Flankers Community Committee, said the community has been able to experience brighter days because of redevelopment efforts spearheaded by organisations such as the JSIF.

"Years ago, when you walked through Red Ground (a section of Flankers), most of what you would have seen were board houses and shacks. Now, people are building. The standard of living has been elevated and people are happier with their surroundings," Dulston said.

Prime Minister Golding, Water and Housing Minister, Dr Horace Chang, and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett are conducting a series of tours and meetings in several communities in St James over this weekend.

The tour is set to climax with a meeting in Chang's North West St James constituency with the staging of his constituency conference at St James High School tomorrow.

Chang is the member of parliament for North West St James in which Flankers falls.