THE St James Parish Council will be spending half a million dollars on Christmas activities in the parish this year.

Sixty per cent of the money has already been spent on designing and constructing an electronic tree that has been placed in the usually unkempt fountain that rests in Sam Sharpe Square.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Hugh Solomon, said the remainder of the funds would be donated by the local private sector, which has so far contributed $30,000 to the effort.

Solomon said he was hopeful that the needed funds would be forthcoming, as companies had already promised more than 1,500 gift packages for the annual children’s treat.

The parish council also had a fun day for about 2,500 children from inner-city communities on December 20. This function was held on the grounds of the Dragon Gym on Howard Cooke Boulevard.

The Parish Council also worked with the Montego Bay Ministers’ Fraternal to host a week of carolling between December 19 and 23, on the grounds of the St. James Parish Library.

Mayor Solomon also said poles along Barnett Street, St. James Street, Gloucester Avenue and Howard Cooke Boulevard would be decorated.