The Rotary Club of Kingston East and Port Royal announced two groundbreaking community projects at its 25th Installation Banquet, held recently at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

The club introduced its J$10 million Port Royal Beach Park Renovation Project and a significant vocational training initiative for St Thomas communities, marking a new chapter of impactful service under the leadership of newly installed President Joseph Halstead.

Halstead took the helm of the club from Immediate Past President Melissa Anderson.

The event was attended by notable Rotarians and distinguished guests, including District 7020 Assistant Governors Steven Hudson, Peta-Gay Pryce, and Yemima Garcia. Charter Members and Past Presidents Winsome Gordon, Marcia J Cole, and Marcia Bowen were also present, underscoring the club’s enduring legacy.

The Port Royal Beach Park Renovation Project aims to transform the park into a vibrant, safe, and welcoming community space for residents and visitors. Through individual gifts, corporate pledges, and fundraising efforts, the project seeks to enhance recreational facilities, landscaping, and environmental conservation efforts, ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.

Additionally, the St Thomas Skills Ready Project, which received a Rotary Foundation Global Grant, focuses on providing vocational training to boost employment in tourism and hospitality within select St Thomas communities. In partnership with the Rotary Club of Taipei Northeast in Taiwan, this initiative aims to secure job placements for residents and offer specialised training and certification for 50 selected participants.

Dr Marlene Street Forrest, Managing Director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), delivered the keynote address highlighting the transformative potential of partnerships between the JSE and Rotary Clubs via the Jamaica Social Stock Exchange (JSSE).

She emphasised, “By investing in and funding projects listed on the JSSE that align with Rotary’s community service goals, Rotarians can directly support impactful initiatives and track their progress.”

Dr Street Forrest urged the Rotary community to address urgent societal issues like food security, remarking, “The vital and urgent need for food security comes immediately to mind,” and called for a collective focus on this critical challenge.

Hosted by the club’s prospective member and social development practitioner Tishauna Mullings, the banquet featured performances by the Nexus Performing Arts Group, saxophonist Verlando Small, and the St Catherine High School Drummers, adding vibrant cultural expressions to the evening.

Generous sponsorships contributed to the event’s success, with support from Sandals Resorts International, Buzo, VIP Attractions, NuPak, and diamond sponsor BookZone Limited.

The Rotary Club of Kingston East and Port Royal is aiming for another year of impactful service, continuing its mission to foster community development and support local initiatives.