MONTEGO BAY, St James – The St James Labour Day Committee has selected Montego Bay’s historic Dome monument, which has been in a continuous state of disrepair, as the parish’s Labour Day project.

The monument, and the surrounding areas at the intersection of Dome Street and Creek Street will be improved.

Committee chair Mayor Noel Donaldson said that improvement works on the Dome were a “most fitting project for the parish to undertake”, given its significance in the history of the resort city.

Improvement works on the monument and surrounding areas will include the washing of the monument; repainting of the rails and windows and landscaping work at the site. The Dome Landmark, declared a National Heritage Monument by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, was erected in 1837 after the creek was discovered by two young girls who were crab hunting. It later became a major source of water in the area until 1894, when piped water was introduced.

But even after the introduction of piped water, householders in the area up to the 1960’s got water from this source whenever there was a disruption in the public water supply system.

Meanwhile, the Labour Day Secretariat said it has so far registered 40 Labour Day projects for the parish.

The parish Labour Day thanksgiving church service, the committee added, will be held at Unity Praise Centre at Dome Street in Montego Bay on Sunday, May 20.