A TOTAL of 260 registered projects have been planned for tomorrow's celebration of National Labour Day, according to Hopeton Murray, director for special and commemo-rative events in the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture.

Although there willbe fewer registered projects than last year's 348, Mr. Murray said plans for Labour Day 2007 have been among the best in terms of donations and sponsorships.

"I am confident because I see a lot of persons coming forward to offer assistance," he said.

Labour Day 2007 will be observed under the theme 'Honouring our Ancestors, Strengthening Communities'.

Bath Botanical

The theme was selected in keeping with the observance of the bicentennial of the abolition of the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans.

The national project is Bath Botanical Gardens in St. Thomas, said to be the first place a breadfruit tree was planted.

More than 1,000 people are expected to be in Bath tomorrow assisting with the project, Mr. Murray said.

The Sulphur River that runs parallel to the garden will also be cleaned.

A budget of $10 million has been earmarked for various projects across the island.

The St. Thomas Parish Council has already started clean-up work at the Paul Bogle Square in Morant Bay, in preparation for the National Labour Day Concert, scheduled to take place there tomorrow evening.

Spirit of volunteerism

Workmen employed by the council began clearing burnt debris from the Morant Bay Courthouse, which was destroyed by fire on February 20.

"The spirit of volunteerism is at the highest as a lot of persons are calling (the Labour Day Secretariat) to offer assistance," said Mr. Murray.

"It is good that Jamaicans are going out there to see how best they can honour their ancestors," he added.

Labour Day has been celebrated as a day of beautifying the country since the 1970s when Prime Minister Michael Manley deemed the occasion as a time of concentrating on enhancing the dignity of labour by improving the environment, inspiring the spirit of community development, and encouraging the principle of working together and sharing.

Several communities within every parish will be concentrating on a National Labour Day project. To get more information about a project near you or to get a project registered the following may be contacted.

Your local Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Social Development Commission or parish council

The Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5. Tel: 920-4926, Fax: 920-4944, email: mts@cwjamaica.com