RESIDENTS OF Prospect in St. Thomas have placed their hands on the axle of their own destiny with the creation of their own community-based organisation which will oversee community development.
The organisation, a benevolent society, is expected to give residents equity in the affairs of the community and allow them to use their own human resources to effect change. The organisation's first project is an ambitious venture involving the construction of a sanitation project valued at $11 million and approved by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).
According to JIS News, 21 families in the community will benefit from the sanitation project and the benevolent society is the compulsory legal entity through which funds could be channeled and managed on behalf of the committee.
"The benevolent society would be totally responsible for managing the project as the funds will be disbursed to their bank account. They will be responsible for appointing the relevant contractors, pay all bills, and develop reports to the funding agency and the community on a monthly basis," said Luther Cummings, the Social Development Commission (SDC) field services manager for St. Thomas.
Formerly squatters on land owned by businessman Y.P. Seaton, the residents were bulldozed some years ago and later took up residence in some unfinished houses in the area. Mr. Seaton later offered a portion of the land for the people to relocate and eventually a partnership was developed between himself, the National Housing Trust and Food for the Poor.
Infrastructure was put in and 28 houses were built to accommodate them. One condition of their occupancy was for the building of proper sanitation facilities.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
"They could not afford to put in toilet facilities. So funding was sought from JSIF, which was approved, to develop the sanitation solution for the 21 families," the SDC officer reported.
He added that he anticipated significant changes to take place in the development of the community.
"There is potential in the people who live there. In fact they have named the community Crystal City, formed a citizens' association and with the intervention of the SDC, which provided training in capacity building, have developed to a point where they are doing a bit of community development on their own," Mr. Cummings explained.
