Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Heart/NTA trainees Winsome Fogah (left) and Tanisha Miller wait attentively for the start of the panel discussion at yesterday's career day and groundbreaking activities at the Spring Village Development Foundation and Skills Training Institute in St Catherine. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

In the true sense of community spirit, hundreds of Jamaicans who were born in the St Catherine community of Spring Village, near Old Harbour, have returned to their place of birth for at least one week as the district hosts its first homecoming exercise.

More than 300 individuals who have established themselves in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada have returned in a bid to give back to the community, assisting to mobilise the residents in becoming more self-reliant.

As part of the programmes planned by the group, the community yesterday hosted a career day and groundbreaking ceremony for a community health and dental centre to be built on the property next to the Spring Village Development Foundation and Skills Training Institute.

Source of health care

Michelle Desqouttes, training coordinator at the institute, said the community welcome the centre as the closest source of health care for residents is currently located in Old Harbour.

"I am happy that the residents will now be able to access healthcare right here in Spring Village, especially the elderly," she said.

Desqouttes said life has been difficult for many of the elderly residents, who often have to travel to Old Harbour for their blood pressure and diabetic tests.

Norace Harris-Bolt, treasurer for the UK/US community chapters, said she projects an August 2009 opening for the facility.

Members of the Spring Village Diaspora have also committed to refurbishing the community library and the Spring Village All-Age School, donating more than 5,000 books to the library and repainting the school before the start of the new school year.

The overseas group has organised a slew of events for the week, including a community clean-up, sports day and a grand street parade.

Randy Finnikin, member of the foundation, said this year's homecoming exercise was the start of an annual tradition.

"We expect that next year will be even better and see more returning residents," he said.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com