By Francine Black, Staff ReporterRESIDENTS OF the Fletcher's Land community in West Kingston, feasted on 'great' music from their newest band, Cohesion, which was the recipient of new instruments presented yesterday, during a handing over ceremony at the local community centre.
The instruments were donated to the community by the Ministry of National Security under its Citizens Security and Justice Programme, but financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The ceremony was attended by Member of Parliament, Edward Seaga, Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, IDB representative Keith Evans, and residents of Fletcher's Land and nearby communities.
Daniel Edmond, chairperson of the Fletcher's Land Management Committee said the band was still young but already it had been making a positive impact on the lives of residents.
"At each practice session each night, the place is full and already we are getting some of the people off the corners and doing more positive things," he said.
Mr. Edmond said the band created an opportunity for persons to discover hidden talents in their community.
The band was formed in 2001 under the Ministry's Justice Programme which is being funded at a cost of US$20 million. Of this amount, US$16 million is in the form of a loan from the IDB. The programme has a community action component to target 16 communities in the Corporate Area and St. Catherine. The idea is to give individuals and communities options for personal development, and in so doing discourage them from turning to crime.
Mr. Seaga said when he was asked to come up with an affordable community project, he immediately thought of a pop band. He then set out to convince the IDB that it was a development project worthy of being funded under the programme.
