ALBERT TOWN, Trelawny

The multi-purpose community centre which used to be one of this rural community’s worst eyesores has been refurbished at a cost of $9 million and will be oficially opened by Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Sunday.

The freshly painted centre which sits on the western tip of the small Albert Town Square, owes its new state-of-the-art status to funds from member of parliament Marissa Dalrymple Philibert’s Community Development Fund (CDF), the CHASE fund, Tank Weld metals and individual donations.

It boasts among other things, a fully equipped computer room; an area for theatrical performances; bathrooms; a kitchen and a section for industrial training.

“It’s really a multi-purpose centre with modern facilities that will offer a wide variety of programmes,” Dalrymple Philibert, the MP for the area told the Observer West yesterday.

In the run up to last year’s general election, Dalrymple Philibert – who won the seat on the Jamaica Labour Party’s ticket in the subsequent national polls – had promised to refurbish the centre if she were elected.

“I now feel a sense of achievement because when I was campaigning there were a number of issues that I campaigned on. One of them was that I thought that the people of South Trelawny had so much talent but the opportunity for them to do a lot just did not exist. Now many of them will be able to get training in a number of areas,” said Dalrymple Philibert, who is also a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

She said courses that will be offered at the facility will include computer training, cooking courses, housekeeping courses, metal and woodwork training and agricultural courses.

The HEART TRUST/ NTA, the MP said, will run some of the courses which will be of no cost to the students.

“Once they come from South Trelawny and they need the training so that they can better themselves, then that part of the education will be free,” she emphasised.

But apart from the courses that will be offered at the centre, Dalrymple Philibert said the facility will be rented for the use of some social activities at a minimal cost.

“If people want it to use it for a banquet, or to do a play then they will have to pay a small fee,” she said.