MAY PEN, Clarendon — The Railroad Community Council is boasting of achieving “sweet rewards” from thier hard labour, after reaping honey from their bee-keeping project.

The project, which is located in the York Town community in Clarendon, was started with a grant valued at J$500,000, from bauxite/alumina company Jamalco to boost social enterprise in the community and increase economic prospects for residents.

A news release said community council members were responsible for tending to the bees and reaping the honey in the scheme. Interested community residents were also encouraged to learn the fundamentals of bee-keeping.

Chairman of the Railroad Community Council, David Brown said the council will soon be on a good economic foundation thanks to the injection of capital from Jamalco. Brown explained that although most of the honey is sold for financial gain, the council will also be donating boxes of bees to residents who want to start their own bee-keeping project.

Regular inspection and on-site training are carried out by representatives from Eltham Garden Supplies, in order to ensure that council members are equipped with skills and knowledge to successfully rear bees.

The Railroad Community Council bee-keeping project is one of two such initiatives sponsored by Jamalco which aimed at encouraging income-generating activities through local community councils.