Grass-roots businesses the pride of Old Harbour

The Old Harbour Development Area Committee (OHDAC) in St Catherine turned the spotlight on neighbourhood resources and networks at the 8th staging of its annual expo at the Portmore Community College's Old Harbour campus recently.

It was a strategic move, according to Randy Finnikin, chairman of OHDAC, to bring into focus options that have the potential to help citizens to ride the recession.

"We wanted to focus on bringing 'the little man' into those relationships and opportunities that would give him hope," he told The Gleaner.

He pointed out that, unlike former years, Expo 2010 connected with more people.

"It's not too many government agencies or private companies. These are community-based entities, grass-root entities that can network with state agencies, and some private enterprises within the Old Harbour area because, again, we are working on supporting locally owned enterprises," noted Finnikin.

He continued: "If we can support locally owned enterprises, they can offer more jobs to our people, with more people working, then the economies in the communities are going to (thrive), so that's what we're thinking of," said Finnikin.

Many exhibitors

The Old Harbour-based Mighty Gully Youth Project, established in 1981, and 24-year-old Damion Johnson, owner of Natural Authentic Crafts, located in Gutters, St Catherine, were among several exhibitors whose products underscored the expo's theme, 'Empowering Citizens to Utilise Available Resources'.

"I make necklaces, bracelets, bags, hair clips and earrings out of bamboo and coconut shells," Johnson told The Gleaner.

"I was inspired by a friend who was doing it when I was doing carpenter work in Gutters, eventually I started making the items, then I moved to St Ann where I worked at the Marcus Garvey Training Centre, then to Montego Bay, but returned to Gutters about a year ago."

On the other hand, Portmore Community College and the Ministry of Education, which partnered with OHDAC to host the event, headed the entities that showcased educational products and opportunities.

Sharon Hunt, community relations education officer in the ministry, told The Gleaner that the ministry embraced events which provided avenues for collaboration with community-based organisa-tions to reach out to parents and students.

"Our booth has the literacy section that has different books, different ways in which you can talk to your children and different ways in which you can present the work to them.

"Our mathematics section has a lot of games, a lot of things that students can do at home that can help them to develop and also teachers can come and get some ideas from it," explained Hunt. "We also have the guidance and counselling and the early childhood sections."

The Rural Agricultural Develop-ment Authority and a number of local producers displayed an array of agricultural products.

In the mix, too, were financial institutions, the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency, churches and service providers.

The Guy's Hill High School band, Old Harbour Primary, Eltham Early Childhood Educational Centre and Eltham High were among the schools which delighted the audience with energetic performances.

Motivational message

However, one of highlights of the expo was a thought-provoking message by notable pastor and social entrepreneur, Dr Henley Morgan.

"Somebody said, as a man thinketh, so is he, so never you say to yourself, 'I never have a university degree, I never have a car, I never own a home.' When you do that you put a death sentence on yourself."

He said, contrary to what many Jamaicans believe, they do not need a gold mine to make their lives a success.

"You have got between your two ears something that is greater than a gold mine, because you have got a goal mind. ... To become somebody in this life, you ought to adopt a goal to change your circumstances," asserted Morgan, whose presentation was punctuated with thunderous applause.

Kayon Green, a patron in her mid-20s, was among several persons thrilled by the showcase.

"I like the booth with the craft items and the flowers. I also found the ministry's booth informative. ... I learnt a lot and I am satisfied with what I saw."