ST JAMES, Jamaica – New Mayor of Black River, Councillor Richard Solomon, has outlined his vision for the parish of St Elizabeth, which focuses on economic growth, environmental sustainability, and community well-being.

Following his swearing-in on March 7, Solomon said key among his priorities is working closely with local businesses, entrepreneurs, farmers and investors to attract new industries and investments to the parish.

He particularly highlighted the potential of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to create job opportunities, especially for the youth, to bring more growth to the town of Black River.

“We intend to improve efficiency to promote a business-friendly environment so that we can generate sustainable employment, increase our tax base and allow more revenue to be raised and hence improve the overall quality of life for all citizens,” Solomon said.

He noted that as an educator, he will also prioritise education and training for the youth, collaborating with schools, parents, and community organisations to empower young people for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Meanwhile, Mayor Solomon stressed the importance of enforcing the Town and Country Planning Act to prevent ad-hoc projects.

He said that under his administration, the corporation intends to develop comprehensive plans for all major townships, so everyone will be fully aware of the vision for each town and, therefore, align themselves to “achieve the overarching goals and objectives”.

Additionally, there are plans to introduce garbage sorting and improve the timely collection of garbage. He said this includes a monthly massive collection drive to reduce everyday workload and dependency on garbage collectors.

“We intend to ramp up the installation of CCTV cameras in public spaces such as the market and transportation centres and link them to the JamaicaEye for us to have real-time 24/7 viewing access. and this will make the environment safer for [everyone],” Solomon noted.

The mayor said his vision is to make St Elizabeth the place of choice to work, raise a family, and do business, emphasising the importance of community engagement and collaboration in achieving these goals.

-JIS