ST JAMES, Jamaica —The St James Municipal Corporation has selected the Rose Heights Community Centre as the parish’s 2026 Labour Day Project.

Labour Day falls on May 23 each year, but since that date is on a Saturday this year, the holiday is being observed on Monday, May 25.

In making the announcement, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the project was selected after weeks of deliberations and several visits to other community centres across the parish.

He said the centre was selected based on several reasons, chief among them, the number of residents which the facility serves from communities such as Rose Heights, Rosemount and adjoining areas.

Vernon stated that with the focus this year being on improving public spaces, especially community centres that are used as emergency shelters, the Rose Heights facility fits that bill.

The government has announced plans to discontinue using schools as emergency shelters in an effort to reduce disruptions to the education sector.

“The St James Municipal Corporation is pleased to announce that the Rose Heights Community Centre will be the focus of the parish’s Labour Day this year. This centre was devastated by Hurricane Melissa last October, and the intention is to ensure that it is rehabilitated with hurricane resistant capabilities,” Vernon said. “The centre will be registered as one of the parish’s approved Emergency Shelters and as a result, we will ensure that when the work is completed, the building is hurricane resistant and that it meets the criteria to become an approved emergency shelter.”

Vernon is also encouraging citizens to come out and support the project or the project of their choice.

As of Monday, May 18, some 286 Labour Day projects have been registered with the St James Municipal Corporation. These include rehabilitation of community buildings, cleaning and beautification, repainting of pedestrian crossings among others.

Meanwhile, all is in place for the annual floral tribute to National Hero Samuel Sharpe to take place in Sam Sharpe Square on Saturday, May 23, starting at 8 am.

The event recognises the day on which Sam Sharpe was hanged in the square in 1832.