Joan Small (left), representing the Jeffrey Town Farmers Association in St. Mary, receives the 2006 Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance from Glynne Manley, widow of Michael Manley, at the Little Theatre yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
The Jeffrey Town Farmers Association from St. Mary yesterday won the coveted Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance.
The group won the award for its initiative
in implementing strategies to uplift the small
community.
The award was presented to the winners at a
ceremony held at the Little Theatre in St. Andrew.
Chief Judge, Dr. Peta-Anne Baker, said one of the things that helped to distinguish the Jeffrey Town Farmers Association from the other 12 entrants was the group's dedication to finding sustainable ways to better the community.
The St. Mary-based farmers association has been quite busy. The group conceptualised and organised the first breadfruit festival, held last year in the Jeffrey Town community. The festival was extremely successful and will be held again this year.
Multi-media
Center
The farmers association also constructed a building that will be used as a multi-media centre, as well as a base for a soon-to-be launched community radio station.
Along with the trophy, the Jeffrey Town Farmers Association received a cash prize of $200,000.
The Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance is one of the community initiatives put on by the Michael Manley Foundation to honour the memory of the former Prime Minister.
