Hanover Visionaries turns to bamboo for crime reduction
Public relations officer for the community based-Hanover Visionaries, Moncrieffe Leslie, says his organisation is hoping to reduce crime in the parish by providing work for idle hands through the production of items made from bamboo.
“Hanover is suffering from a serious crime level and therefore we are taking it from a different level to see how we can get some of the people from the local community engaged, to reduce some of the idle hands,” said Leslie, a former mayor of Lucea.
Based in eastern Hanover, the group was formed in an effort to promote economic development throughout communities in the parish.
Hanover Visionaries is made up of Community Development Committee (CDC) members, who will be operating and managing the Woodsville Bamboo Production and Skills Training Centre.
The group plans to manufacture products such as bamboo charcoal and tar, as well as vinegar made from mangoes.
According to the group, permission has already been granted by the Ministry of Education to use the buildings at the former Hillsbrook Primary School, which was closed more than a year ago, as factory space and a community centre.
Last Thursday, representatives from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) told a stakeholders’ meeting at the Merlene Ottey High School, located in the neighbouring Pondside community, that the corporation is willing to assist Hanover Visionaries with a business plan and the marketing of the products.
JBDC business development officer for Trelawny and St James, Simone Harrison, described the project as “an interesting one that has the potential to be successful”.
“JBDC will be assisting the group with the business plan, proposal and preparation, if needed. And also, as I had shown them [at the stakeholders’ meeting] that the organisation also has a marketing arm [Things Jamaican] that would be also interested in products that they are planning to bring on board,” Harrison explained.
The stakeholders meeting was held following a tour of the area by various agencies, including the police led by Sergeant Edmond Cowan, a community, safety and security officer.
The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) tourism specialist, Beverly Stewart, has also expressed confidence in the project.
However, during a visit to the parish last week, it was disclosed that JSIF was unable to fund the project at this time.
JSIF said the community group’s application was made at a time when the JSIF Rural Economic Development Initiative funding programme was coming to an end.
However, Stewart said the group’s request have been placed on hold until funds are identified.
Leslie, however, is undaunted, and optimistic that preparation work for the project will get off the ground this week.
“We are going to start in a very small way by producing bamboo charcoal and some other agricultural products and you will see those on the market very soon,” he said confidently.
President of Hanover Visionaries Dewayne Thomas told the Jamaica Observer West that the group has also approached the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) for assistance.
Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern Dave Brown, who said he has heard about the project, told the Observer West that he is willing to examine how best he can get assistance for the group, once he receives something formal in writing.
The Woodsville community in Hanover is located near the Westmoreland border, roughly two miles from the popular Mayfield Falls in Westmoreland.
Leslie said his group was working closely with the operators of Mayfield Falls to bring in an eco-tourism aspect to the project.
“In the end I can assure you that this section of Hanover Eastern will start to benefit greatly, both economically, educationally and skills-wise,” said an upbeat Leslie.