MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Almost two years after the Guava Walk Road was rehabilitated at a cost of $5 million in the northwest Manchester farming community of Somerset, it has been renamed Desmond McKenzie Close, in honour of the country’s Minister of Local Government.

Read: PHOTO: Road for Manchester’s Guava Walk

An overjoyed McKenzie on Friday unveiled the street sign bearing his name following a tour of a water shop being constructed in Somerset, a few miles north west of Mandeville.

“I am really moved by this gesture of appreciation by the councillor (Faith Sampson) and the residents of the community; it is not often you get this kind of recognition. I am in the job to offer service, because as ministers, we are servants of the people and it is our responsibility to work, but when the people acknowledge your work not just by going to a polling station and vote, but in a tangible way that you feel comfortable and honoured,” he said.

“I am someone who believes that when you name something in honour of somebody you must maintain it and since [it] is Desmond McKenzie Close, [it] will be closely maintained,” added the local government minister.

Last year a homeless shelter was named in honour of McKenzie.

READ: New state-of-the-art homeless shelter to be named after Desmond McKenzie

“I remember when they opened the Desmond McKenzie Centre on Kings Street for the homeless that touched me, but this one (roadway) in a small rural community, Somerset, I really appreciate it,” said McKenzie.

The renaming of the roadway was organised by Councillor Faith Sampson (Jamaica Labour Party, Johns Hall Division). Sampson crossed the floor in the Manchester Municipal Corporation in mid-2020 from the People’s National Party (PNP) to the JLP.

Read: A cross of ‘Faith’

Sampson said McKenzie was deserving of the road being renamed in honour of him following a commitment she made to do so in June 2021.

“When Minister came and opened this road, Guava Walk Road, we made a commitment [and] we asked him for a water shop and we said to him ‘Minister when you come to open the water shop, we are going to rename this road, Desmond McKenzie’ we said Boulevard then. The water shop is not yet completed,” she said.

“He (McKenzie) is one of a kind. First thing is him love poor people. The less fortunate brothers and sisters talk about this man that him go all out for the less fortunate,” she added.

McKenzie announced that the water shop being built in Somerset will be the largest in Jamaica.

“I know that this area don’t have water easily, we are putting in a water shop up the top of the road, it is going to be the largest water shop that we have built in the country, you going to get more than 30,000 gallons of water in that facility for your community,” he told residents.

“It is not the answer (solution), but it is a step in the right direction,” added McKenzie.