On Tuesday, September 1, 2015, FHC again set ablaze many persons' desire for achieving academic excellence at its 2015 Awards Ceremony held at the Knutsford Court Hotel where the Credit Union issued scholarships valued over $2 million dollars.

FHC offers several opportunities to secondary and tertiary students through the Y.O.U.T.H Savings Programme as well as the annual FHC GSAT and Tertiary Scholarships. FHC awarded 11 GSAT and 6 Tertiary Scholarships at the ceremony who have maintained a minimum B average.

FHC issued an Entrepreneurial Award to Giovanni Maddix, owner of UBoards, as a Business Gant that produces paper-based whiteboards which is portable, lighter and more flexible than the standard whiteboard.

Brian Lumley, Award Winning Chef and special guest speaker at the awards ceremony shared with the audience where his desire to become an entrepreneur originated.  Chef Lumley, chided the scholarship recipients "you have nothing to lose, only to gain but you have to work hard".

{lightgallery type=local path=images/galleries/foundationawards2015 previewWidth=120}Foundation Awards{/lightgallery}

Organisations and individuals across St Thomas turned out in full force to participate in the National Labour Day project at the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay.

The main project included the installation of a playground in the park, with swings, a jungle gym and a slide and fencing around the area.

Janice Lindsay, principal director for culture and creative industry at the Ministry of Youth and Culture, explained that the ministry was keen on ensuring that the project reflect the year's theme - 'Labour of Love: Nurturing our Children'. She also indicated that the corporate response to the project was a major factor in ensuring its success.

"The First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union team has been here since morning and they have been working on the playground, and helping around the park. They provided some funding and labour, and assisted in any way they could," she said. 

Other Work

Other work at the park included the installation of concrete benches and tables, donated by the South African High Commission and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority; whitewashing of the trees, and cement washing of perimeter walls, as well as repairs to the existing fence and gate at the entrance to the park. Fruit trees and shrubberies, donated by the South African High Commission and the National Solid Waste Management Authority, were also planted around the area. Volunteers from communities across the parish, as well as from the Jamaica Public Service VOLTS volunteer organisation, were coordinated by the Jamaica Defence Force to assist with the painting of the gazebos and fountain, and repairs to basic infrastructure, such as toilet facilities, as well as the general clean-up of the beach and other areas of the park.

The Rudolph Elder Park is managed by the St Thomas Parish Council, which along with Member of Parliament Dr Fenton Ferguson, has promised to transform the park into the 'Emancipation in the East'.

Ferguson told The Gleaner that plans are in development to raise funds for the transformation of the park, which will eventually include a running track, a garden, and entertainment centre.

In the meantime, he said $5 million has been allocated to the parish council to continue the work started on Labour Day to improve the park and surrounding areas.

Published: Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | Jolyn Bryan | Jamaica Gleaner

DESPITE a decrease in participation, there were a number of activities across the island yesterday as Jamaicans joined hands to carry out Labour Day projects to enhance and rehabilitate recreational sites and play areas for children.

National focus was placed on the Rudolph Elder Park in Morant Bay, St Thomas. This is not the first time the site, rich in history, received major attention, as some eight years ago the park was given a $2-million facelift, inclusive of the installation of sanitary facilities and LED lights.

Dr Janice Lindsay, principal director of culture and creative industries in the Policy Division of the Ministry of Youth and Culture -- which spearheaded Labour Day activities -- said with only $150,000 allocated to each parish project, corporate Jamaica played a significant role in the activities carried out at the park.

"We needed them (corporate Jamaica) on board... or we could not have done half of what we have. We are very happy with how corporate Jamaica, and other areas, have really responded," she told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Dr Lindsay said another remarkable development was the response of ordinary Jamaicans. "I've never seen this kind of response. People reached out to us," she noted, pointing out that 400 volunteers were expected, but up to late afternon at least 600 had registered, inclusive of community groups, led by the Social Development Commission. She noted that army and police personnel were also among the volunteers.

"We are pleased that we got through so much of the scope of works," she said, adding that, although it was not anticipated that there would be any unfinished works, uniformed groups such as the National Youth Service, guided by the parish council, would complete any work that was left unfinished. "But for the most part, we will be finished. One of the important things is that the site is managed by the parish council, so there has to be accountability," she stated.

The works included the installation of play equipment for children such as monkey bars, swings, and slides; as well as 12 concrete benches; and face basins; and fencing. Trees were whitewashed, the gazebo painted, and fruit and ornamental trees planted.

"The project has come together really well," Dr Lindsay said. She noted the importance of the children's play equipment, which was sponsored by the National Housing Trust and First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union.

The other parish projects included bushing, and cleaning at Cedar Park, Portland; levelling of the playfield at the Palmer's Park Playfield and Community Centre, in St Mary; beautification and enhancement works at the Widow's Mite Children's Home, in Murray Mount St Ann; and painting of the Hague Community Centre and repairing of the retaining wall at Uriah Rowe Park, in Trelawny. Additionally, installation of equipment was slated for a kiddies park in Cornwall Court, St James, as well as beautification works for the Jerusalem Heights Community Centre in Westmoreland, and the Willoughby Basic School in Cascade, Hanover.

Work was also carried out at Grove Mount Early Childhood Institution in Grey Hound, Manchester; Manning's Boys' Home in Southfield, St Elizabeth; the Raymonds Community Centre in Hayes, Clarendon; the community-based rehabilitation programme, 3D Projects Limited in Spanish Town, St Catherine; and a park in the Waterford community of Portmore municipality.

Back in the Corporate Area, in addition to the parish capital project at the Jamaica Christian Boys' Home, eight health facilities were given facelifts.

The Government this year allocated $4 million for Labour Day activities, which were carried out under the theme, 'Labour of Love: Nurturing our Children'.

{lightgallery type=local path=images/galleries/labourday2015 previewWidth=120}Tertiary Scholarship Awards{/lightgallery}

-- Alphea Saunders

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 - Jamaica Observer