A FIVE-YEAR development plan to resurrect Boys' Town and surrounding communities in lower St. Andrew, was launched yesterday at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel by the Boys' Town board of management.

The project, which Boys' Town chairman Winston Davidson, estimated will cost J$368 million, was pitched to executives from corporate organisations including Facey Commodity, GraceKennedy Limited, Jamaica Broilers, National Commercial Bank and Sherwin Williams.

"We have many deep-seated social and economic problems threatening the area, which needs a new vision and empowerment," Mr. Davidson said.

Based on the management team's projections, the rehabilitation work will include the maintenance of wells and playing fields, construction of basic and primary schools and the establishment of training skills and young achievers programmes.

Obstacles

Mr. Davidson said the realisation of such projects would go a long way in tapping into South St. Andrew's 'vast human potential'. It would also help eliminate obstacles facing the area's youths - namely illiteracy, gang violence, teenage pregnancy and drug abuse.

He pointed out that the spread of malaria and HIV had added to the community's woes.

Despite several attempts by its old boys' association to restore Boys' Town to its heyday, the school founded in 1944 by Father Hugh Sherlock continues to flounder largely owing to urban decay.

The institution and community have produced several noted figures such as cricketers Collie Smith and Leonard Levy, footballers Carl Brown and Herbert 'Dago' Gordon and singe Ellis.