Frankfield centre symbol of activism – Phillips

Wednesday’s opening of the Frankfield Conference and Resource Centre in Clarendon has restored faith in the power of community activism, says Opposition Leader Peter Phillips.

Community engagement and participation, Phillips said, were important factors in the growth and development of communities, the nation, and the People’s National Party (PNP).

“It is this same tradition and commitment to a politics of participation that created EPOC (Economic Programme Oversight Committee) as an innovative part of the Economic Reform Programme in the last PNP administration. It is the same philosophy that instituted student representation on school boards and established and energised the Community Development Committees, among others,” Phillips said.

Meanwhile, Richard Azan, Clarendon North West member of parliament, who spearheaded the project, said, “The building now belongs to the community and will not be controlled by any political group. It was created with the effort of the people and it is for the people to facilitate the development of the entire community in a non-biased way.”

Azan also revealed that the oversight of the centre will be handled by the Frankfield Lay Magistrates Association.

He dismissed calls for the building to be named in his honour, saying that would distract from the mission.

The centre was constructed over a three-year period at a cost of $30.5m under the Community Development Fund programme.