MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Staying true to the theme ‘Take a Stand: Beautify our Land’, many volunteers in Manchester, St Elizabeth and Clarendon were engaged with various projects on Labour Day.

They provided facelifts to schools, police stations and infirmaries, patched badly potholed roads, cleaned drains, repainted pedestrian crossings and replaced road signs, among other activities.

Some organisers made plans to carry their work beyond the momentum of Labour Day to ensure that unfinished projects were completed.

For many years, May 23, Labour Day in Jamaica, primarily commemorated the labour riots of 1938 which are generally recognised as the trigger for the modern trade union movement. However, in 1972, then newly elected prime minister Michael Manley added a new dimension, urging Jamaicans to put “work into labour day”. Manley’s initiative came as part of a drive to build volunteerism and the self-help ethic in communities.

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Dianna Patterson of the Transport Authority Southern Region points to the bus shelter at the Nashville bus park in Mandeville, where roof refurbishing was among the activities her organisation and members of the Manchester Taxi Association carried out.

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Road work in ‘Dump Street’ in Georges Valley, central Manchester

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Principal of Richmond Primary School Rose Campbell (left) and other kitchen staff on Labour Day ensured that the work team was fed.

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Bushing on Woodlawn Road

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(From left) Lloyd Bent, Albert Swaby, Janet McLaughlin and other Guardian Life team members were the early birds out to work on the parish project at the Mandeville Police Station.

(PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT )

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Juici Patties volunteers provided personal care for Clarendon Infirmary residents on Labour Day.

(PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Juici Patties Jukie Chin (stooping) joined his staff in their Labour Day project at the Clarendon Infirmary. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

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Detective Corporal, Sonia Blackwood of May Pen Police Station joins in the renovation and repainting work that took place at the station on Labour Day.

(PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

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Detective Sergeant, Marcia Murray in Labour Day Clean up at May Pen Police Station.

(PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

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Members of the Kiwanis of Santa Cruz paint the pedestrian crossing on Main St close to St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz (PHOTO: AINSLEY CLARKE)

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The Kiwanis Club of Santa Cruz filled in potholes on Retirement Road in the town. (PHOTO: AINSLEY CLARKE)