THE abrupt closure of the HEART/NTA Vocational Training Centre in Above Rocks, St Catherine, has left residents in the community and surrounding areas are distressed at the possibility that the institution — which has served as a lifeline for many unskilled youth since 1976 — may never reopen.

The training centre, one of just over two dozen operated by HEART across the island’s 14 parishes, has been closed since last September for what has been cited as ‘environmental constraints’ that appeared to have been worsened by that year’s severe drought.

A search of HEART Trust’s website yesterday returned the message: “No programme offering found for Above Rocks Vocational Training Centre”.

Natalie Fearon, HEART Trust/NTA’s director of marketing and communications, told the

Jamaica Observer last week that training at the institution was discontinued following consultations, and its staff and trainees transferred to other locations.

“At the time, there was no potable water available on the campus, and this was exacerbated by the then prolonged drought. Despite efforts by the agency to truck water to the institution, the severe drought conditions had reduced our capacity to have water delivered to the location. Following consultation with stakeholders and an internal review, a decision was taken to discontinue training. Staff and enrolled trainees were transferred to other suitable training locations, so as not to disrupt the training schedule,” Fearon told the Observer.She said the agency is currently addressing some of the immediate issues, including challenges with provisions of potable water and is conducting an assessment of the institution.But the reason for the closure of the institution seemed to have been lost on the residents. They want it reopened now.

“At the time, there was no potable water available on the campus, and this was exacerbated by the then prolonged drought. Despite efforts by the agency to truck water to the institution, the severe drought conditions had reduced our capacity to have water delivered to the location. Following consultation with stakeholders and an internal review, a decision was taken to discontinue training. Staff and enrolled trainees were transferred to other suitable training locations, so as not to disrupt the training schedule,” Fearon told the Observer.

She said the agency is currently addressing some of the immediate issues, including challenges with provisions of potable water and is conducting an assessment of the institution.

But the reason for the closure of the institution seemed to have been lost on the residents. They want it reopened now.

“I feel very bad because there are a lot of youth in the area without a skill, and without the Heart School it is like there is no hope for the youth. The school is here and it is now locked down. A lot of the youth leaving school are walking up and down on the road without a skill. The youth need something to do. Why yuh lock it down? What is going to be the alternative?” asked Seymour Sebourne during an interview with the Observer.

Another resident, Vilma Smith, agreed.

“There are young people in Golden River who want to come out here and it (training centre) is closed. I see a young man from Parks Road come and askthe security when it is going to reopen,” She explained, noting that the closure is also affecting people financially.

“Dem sen’ him to Stony Hill Heart Academy in St Andrew, which is far from here. Weh dem fi find bus fare? When the school was opened it was the vendors’ livelihood. Why is the centre closed?” Smith argued.

She also said that since the closure, the incidence of praedial larceny has increased.

“Everybody a cut down wi likkle banana, a bare foolishness,” she disclosed as she demanded that they reopen the centre.

“When dem seh dem waan tek di youth off di street, where are they going to put them? My tax money is paying the security to sit and look at the closed building,” Smith added.

Dorland Hall, a past student who studied General Construction in levels I and II in 2006 and 2007, shared the same sentiments.

“There are a lot of youth leaving school with and without subjects who need a skill. We really want to know what is happening; why the centre is closed and nothing is happening,” Hall said.

Constable Paul Banburry, who is assigned to the Above Rocks Police Station, shared the residents’ concern and said that he was awaiting a representative to address the monthly Citizens Association meeting.

However, Fearon said that the agency was not in a position to provide a definitive resumption date and that the Stony Hill Campus of the HEART Eastern TVET Institute and the HEART-funded Commodore Skills Training Centre and West Prospect Project have accepted applicants from Above Rocks and its environs and have been providing skills training.