MONTEGO BAY, St James - The more than 300 employees at the Caribbean Producers Jamaica Ltd (CPJ) are now enjoying greater health and wellness options, thanks to the addition of a dining and recreation area, as well as fitness centre valued at US$300,000 at the company's Montego Bay facilities.

The facility was officially handed over to employees last Friday at a brief ribbon- cutting and dedication ceremony attended by senior managers and workers at the 19- year- old company.

CPJ's chairman Mark Hart said the facility is intended to provide a place where employees can relax and rejuvenate themselves, as well as "to inspire them to be the best that they can be to the company."

"We now have a staff canteen, a gym and later on we will be developing a football field," Hart told the Observer West following the brief ceremony.

Pointing to the cost of developing the facility, Hart argued that although it is a significant outlay of capital, "we believe that its worth every single penny, because it will help to boost the morale of the employees."

" This is really a proud moment for us. It is something that we wanted to do for a very long time," he emphasised.

And CPJ's CEO Tom Tyler concurred that the facility will boost morale and will redound to increase production.

" A happy employee is a hard working employee," said Tyler. "We want people when they come to work to be smiling and hungry to do their work, so we feel that this type of thing (the facility) will inspire the workers."

The fitness centre, which has an experienced physical trainer, is outfitted with state- of -the art equipment.