THE more than 2,000 residents in the area near Bellefield, north-east of Mandeville, now have access to a renovated community centre following work by the HEART/NSTA Trust.

The community centre, which was renovated at an estimated cost of $2.9 million by the organisation, was selected as the main rehabilitation project for the last financial year.

Dr Elaine Holloway, HEART/NSTA Trust director for Region 5 (Manchester and St Elizabeth), explained that Blue Mountain was chosen for a community project following consultations.

“For the financial year that ended in March…we decided to focus on the rehabilitation of community spaces. We visited with many people, including the Members of Parliament, and we finally settled on the Blue Mountain Community Centre. This endeavour was chosen, having looked at three locations in Manchester. Last year our focus was on St Elizabeth,” said Holloway on Monday during a handover ceremony of the renovated community centre.

Trainees, she said, assisted with the renovation.

“This project stands not just as a physical structure, but one that is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together with a common purpose. The renovation on this centre is not merely brick and mortar and electrical. It represents the unwavering commitment of our organisation to national development,” added Holloway.

Dr Taneisha Ingleton, managing director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, said trainees gained well-needed experience renovating the centre.

“The restoration of the facility was done by trainees from a wide range of skill areas supervised by instructors,” said Ingleton as she pointed to the need for community centres.

“We are seeing the transformation of a physical space, which will in turn lead to the transformation of the minds of the individuals who will occupy this space and the HEART/NSTA Trust is pleased that we would have been able to facilitate these kinds of transformations.

“The Blue Mountain Community Centre will be a vital hub, a place where neighbours will gather for ideas. Ideas will flourish and bonds will be strengthened. Our nation certainly is in need of these spaces,” added Ingleton.

She boasted that the organisation has executed numerous initiatives and projects.

“This project was one of six selected for the 2023/2024 financial year. The renovation of this community centre will strengthen our resolve to serve the community through our vocational training centre as well as the adult services centre offering a wide span of programmes ranging from construction, manufacturing, tourism, and service industries as well as programmes geared towards persons desirous of improving literacy and numeracy capabilities,” she said.

In the meantime, Holloway encouraged residents to dedicate themselves to building “a stronger and vibrant community” by utilising the centre.

“The renovation of this community centre symbolises a renewed sense of hope, empowerment, and opportunity for all who call this community home. We are trusting that this will be a space where dreams will be nurtured, skills will be honed, and connections will be formed,” she said.

Manchester Central Member of Parliament Rhoda Crawford pointed out that before the intervention of the HEART/NSTA Trust the community centre was in dire need of repairs.

“The people from the community can tell you the terrible state that this place was in, so to see this transformation and to know that it is the trainees who got this done, it is really commendable,” added Crawford.

She said education remains a priority, with constituents benefiting from well-needed allocations.

“Access to education and training is one of the main focus areas for me as Member of Parliament. In my very short time as MP, already thousands of students have benefited from skills training opportunities. We have invited HEART/NSTA Trust into several communities,” she said.

“I chose this community because people here are hard-working and when we see that you are putting out the effort, as your leaders, we have to help you. We have given you this. I know you will make us proud,” added Crawford.