CHAMBERS PEN, Hanover — Noting that it will cost the Government more than $208 million to improve conditions in Chambers Pen over the next two years under the Government’s Rural Development Programme (RDP), Cabinet member Desmond McKenzie has encouraged residents to take care of the investment.

Claiming that the community has been neglected for years, McKenzie who is the minister of local government and rural development, said this is the first time this level of resources is being pumped into the rural community.

“Ladies and gentlemen, all of this investment will mean nothing if the community doesn’t embrace and take care of this investment. This is your tax dollar working for you. This is why Prime Minister Andrew Holness is the prime minister because that is what we are supposed to do — not to come here to tell you that we love you and that we are thinking about you because you’re poor. All of us are poor but if you think big you will become rich because ambition is what makes you a person. I urge you to take care of the investment,” implored McKenzie last Thursday.

He was addressing one in a series of ceremonies and a tour held in the community where he also handed over a number of completed projects and announced others.

Chambers Pen is the pilot for the RDP, which is spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in five parishes. The second project is currently being carried out in Cheswick, St Thomas.

The RDP was introduced in 2021 and the Chambers Pen leg of the programme was officially launched in June last year.

“And if the truth be told, not much has been done for rural development. I remember when the late, Most Honourable Edward Seaga was alive. In the 60s there was a programme that was developed, the ‘100 Rural Villages Across Jamaica’, where emphasis was placed on those areas to develop those communities. It has fallen by the way but this Administration recognises that there is a need for us to focus our attention on rural development,” stated McKenzie.

He said the Chambers Pen community had been neglected for years and the primary school is among the facilities that are in a state of disrepair.

According to McKenzie, he was left disheartened after visiting the school during the earlier stage of the project.

However, through a partnership between the local government and education ministries, the principal’s cottage and the cafeteria were renovated at a cost of $30 million. At a later date computer tablets are to be distributed to students, and the school ground is also slated for repairs.

To date, more than 300 houses in the community have been wired by rural electrification so that they can get power from the JPS grid.

Farmers in the area were also provided with fertiliser and machetes while the Social Development Commission, through its local economic development support programme, provided a grant of $50,000 each to some 30 people to start or strengthen their existing enterprises.

During the event last Thursday, McKenzie commissioned into operation a $49-million potable water supply system developed by Rural Water Supply Limited and connected to the National Water Commission’s (NWC) system. All households in the area are to be provided with 400-gallon black water tanks to provide a backup supply. Some 300 tanks have already been distributed.

Managing director of Rural Water Supply Limited, Audley Thompson said the system was implemented on time and within budget.

In addition, $27 million has been spent on providing five fully furnished concrete houses to needy Chambers Pen residents.

To date, one of the five houses has been distributed to a blind senior citizen.

“The community centre will be the next major target because, not only do we want to resuscitate the community centres but we want the community to have activities. We are going to be creating a play area where you put swings so that the children then can play and enjoy themselves in the evening. Good things are happening in Chambers Pen,” the minister said.

While other roads in the community will be getting some attention in the future, a contract was signed on Thursday to rehabilitate the major road in the area at a cost of $89 million.

Member of Parliament for Hanover Western Tamika Davis encouraged residents to be patient as, while much work has been done, there is still more to do.

“You have just heard about all the work that has been done to ensure that Chambers Pen has running water. We spoke about electricity, the Internet, and we could go on and on. Chambers Pen is looking good so today I want to tell you thank you for your continued patience because the works are not yet complete but you now know that it will be completed,” said Davis.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, president of the Chambers Pen Community Development Committee Glacia Cunningham expressed gratitude for the project and all who played a part in its implementation.