THE Portmore community of Garveymeade is trying to raise $5 million it says it needs to build its own civic centre.

Land for the project was provided years ago by the Urban Development Corporation. Now a newly revitalised Garveymeade Citizens Association, representing about 2,500 residents, has launched a fund to do the job with help from private sources.

A new executive to head the citizens body was elected on Sunday, November 28. The team says community safety and youth development through sports are high on its agenda for next year.

New president Judith Dunkley says one of Garveymeade’s most urgent tasks is to get idle young people off the streets and into viable, productive activities. The matter of unoccupied houses is also a big concern.

Dunkley told the media that while violence and vagrancy were not serious problems for the community at this time, the association was taking preventative steps so that their security would be ensured.

To this end, Garveymeade is already in dialogue with the police as well as professional security companies to ensure that lives and property are safeguarded.

These issues will be put on the table on December 4 at the first meeting of the association’s new executive, which includes Ruth Estrine, vice-president; Donald Barnett, second vice-president; Angela Spencer, treasurer; Jennifer Hart, secretary; Bevan Brown, assistant secretary/treasurer; Cecile Brown, senior citizens’ representative; De’agre Eccles, youth representative; and Junior Dillon, public relations officer.