The Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal, in association with the Social Development Commission, yesterday launched a job bank in Spanish Town in what they said was an effort to address the harsh social conditions in the old capital that has been plagued by intermittent episodes of violence.

“We have realised that a community wracked with crime and violence cannot be a prosperous community,” said Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal chairman, Bishop Rohan Edwards. “We want to make sure that we implement a sustainable programme that will ensure that things will remain peaceful and calm.”

Bishop Edwards spearheaded the creation of the ‘Job Registration Centre’ which has four sub-stations operating from four churches in Spanish Town – Light House Assembly, Phillipo Baptist Church, Fairview Open Bible Church and Hampton Green Gospel Hall.

All job applicants will be registered and their level of education and/or training documented.

Applicants may also receive training and certification in several areas through a partnership with the HEART Trust/NTA and the Social Development Commission.

The centre received glowing praise from members of parliament Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange (JLP – St Catherine Central) and Sharon Haye-Webster (PNP – St Catherine South-Central). Grange expressed her satisfaction at being able to partner with the Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal in launching the centre.

“I want to commend the Ministers’ Fraternal for launching this job registration programme,” said Grange. “I want to thank the Ministers’ Fraternal for working closely with myself and Sharon as the political representatives to ensure that we restore peace and calm to the communities of Spanish Town. As political representatives we feel at times that we’re isolated or we’re treated as the cause of the problem rather than the solution. and so when we can be partners in an exercise it is very encouraging and it is very inspiring.”

Haye-Webster also lauded the efforts of the Ministers’ Fraternal.

“The church cannot be about worship and praise on the day on which you choose to celebrate the word of the Lord,” she said. “Church is not on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, depending on which religious group you belong to. The church must be every day. The church must seek to do the kind of outreach that allows the complete development of the individual. I look forward to every opportunity that the skill training centres and the job placement centre will provide in Spanish Town.”

Although endorsing the job placement agency, a somewhat disgruntled mayor of Spanish Town, Dr Andrew Wheatley, charged that the town was being ignored by central government.

“While we are here in Spanish Town working towards the development [of our community], I believe that central government also must play its part,” the mayor said. “While we are here trying to develop our town, develop our parish, and contribute to the development of our nation, I believe that central government is going around Spanish Town. If you look at the beautification project, it stops right at the Jose Marti roundabout. What about Spanish Town itself?” he asked, referring to the clean-up programme being carried out under the City of Kingston Beautification Project launched last year.

“I really believe that it is this mentality that forces people in Spanish Town to believe that they are not worth anything,” Wheatley added.

He ended his address by urging central government to take a page from the book of the Spanish Town Ministers’ Fraternal in facilitating measures to improve Spanish Town.

“As a young man, they’re not giving me anything to work with,” Wheatley fumed. “I’m frustrated. I’m sick of this!”