Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports

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The municipality of Portmore will receive $100,000 for Labour Day 2008 activities.

This was announced by Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange at a meeting with Mayors on Friday, May 9.

The Minister, who was consulting with the Mayors on plans for Labour Day, said she recognized the Mayors' need for funds to carry out their parish projects and as such each parish, along with Portmore, would receive $100,000.

"We cannot excite the country and get full participation in the Labour Day activities without the Parish Councils leading the charge.this year they will receive $100,000 as last year," she said.

However, this is the first time that funds are being allocated to the municipality of Portmore, as in previous years the funds were distributed to
St. Catherine to be shared with Portmore.

Mayor of Portmore, Councillor Keith Hinds in his response, said he was happy to see that the Government is taking the municipality of Portmore seriously. "I'm very elated that the government of Jamaica is now taking seriously, the municipality of Portmore, because before, what we would have gotten is probably half of that amount," he said.

He announced that the Labour Day Project for Portmore was Gregory Park Primary school and the funds would be used to establish a school garden.

"We will be using the $100,000 in regards to the national thrust to 'eat what we grow and grow what we eat' in putting forward a school garden at the Gregory Park Primary," he said.

He urged all Portmore residents to give their support for the project and encouraged them to abide by the Labour Day theme and at the same time, operate as each other's keeper as the matter of food security is one that affects everyone.

"We would like to say to all the citizens of Portmore that certainly, it is very important that we not only 'eat what we grow and grow what we eat', but to share with our neighbours, because not every person can plant several things at a time based on the land space that is available," the Mayor said.

"If you can plant cucumbers and your neighbour can plant tomatoes, then you can share with each other," he added.

For those residents who are of the belief that it is all work and no play, the Mayor informed that "we are looking to see how we can put on a street dance for the night."

The government, in a bid to prepare Jamaica for the possible effects of the worldwide food crisis has decided to place focus on 'Food Security' for this year's Labour Day.

Labour Day (May 23), will therefore be held under the theme: 'Eat what we Grow, Grow what we eat.' On Labour Day, the Government will be embarking on a national food planting programme within schools and communities with emphasis placed on the development of gardens - school, backyard and container gardens for areas where there is limited space - and the planting of fruit trees.

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