Residents pleased with Carib Cement’s $3m injection at Harbour View sports complex
Published:Sunday | July 24, 2022 | 12:05 AMSonae Rose/Gleaner Intern
Grateful political representatives and residents of Harbour View heaped praises on Carib Cement on Thursday after the company injected $3 million into the renovation of the basketball court at Rocky Park Sports Complex in their St Andrew community.
The now-completed works included the construction and strengthening of perimeter walls, repair of the basketball court with cement paving, upgrade of the court size to international standards, replacement of the basketball hoops, and clearing of debris.
St Andrew East Rural Member of Parliament Juliet Holness thanked Caribbean Cement Company Limited, for being a long-standing supporter of the community.
“We had blocks here forever, concrete rubble for a long time, so it really warms my heart to know that we have excellent corporate citizens like you,” she said. “We are grateful for every little that you give us, and $3 million invested in community development, in addition to the millions that you continue to invest, we greatly appreciate it.”
Sports Council representative Paul Martin said the complex has been home to many outstanding student athletes and expressed confidence that with the upgrade, the court will continue to assist in the development of the young residents in and around the community.
He suggested that the court could now even host national events.
Young residents of the Harbour View community told The Gleaner that they appreciated the new basketball court and were eager to begin playing at the complex.
Carib Cement Managing Director Yago Castro Izaguirre was equally delighted, noting that building up and maintaining communities is the hallmark of its business with the products they manufacture and sell.
“It is projects like these, which support the transformation of communities and lives and that fit within our social impact programme, that gives us the most pleasure,” he said.
Izaguirre added that the court will undoubtedly allow young people to enjoy the sporting pastime and urged users to take great care of the facility.
Harbour View Division Councillor Oliver Clue also thanked the company, noting that more work will be done on the complex.
“Some time ago, we had serious conflict in this area. Individuals from St Benedict’s could not come to this section of the division, and it is the facility that we have here that has ensured that we say no to the violence and the killing through our sports programme,” he said.
Clue said that work is to be done on the gates and lighting.
He added that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation has also committed to improving the sanitary convenience and changing room facilities.