.GIF)
Patterson PORTMORE, St. Catherine:
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson has called on residents of Portmore to provide quality local representatives who can advance community democracy and respect citizens rights.
Prime Minister Patterson said this can only be done when there is a dynamic partnership between reform of local authority and organised communities.
Speaking at a thanksgiving and dedication function of the Passage Fort Community Centre new fencing and grounds provided by Lift Up Jamaica last Wednesday the Prime Minister said also important to the agenda is citizenry with individual collective responsibility of which is most important.
He said the Portmore community showed what is possible in community leadership and governance and commended the work and performance of the Passage Fort Citizens Association.
President of the Association Mr. Trevor Gayle said the construction of the perimeter wall which cost just over $2.5 million will assist the organisation in the security of the facilities which housed a basic school.
He commended the 35 skilled and unskilled workers who completed the facility in record time with the support of the Jamaica Defence Force, the Urban Development Corporation and the wider community.
Dr. Vivian Lawrence CEO of the UDC in his address noted that to date some 1,379 projects have been submitted to the Lift Up Jamaica programme of which 609 have been dealt with providing jobs for over 20,000 persons islandwide.
For the parish of St. Catherine he said 60 projects have been submitted with 13 new ones to be started soon. Also speaking at the function were Member of Parliament Dr. Paul Robertson and Councillor for the area Claudine Brown.
