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Bartlett bats for education

Published:Friday | August 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Montego Bay businessmen Dr Lee Bailey (left) and Alan Daswani are focused on their conversation during the annual East Central St James education fund-raising event, the brainchild of Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament Edmund Bartlett, at The Palmyra in Montego Bay last Friday.
Water and Housing Minister Dr Horace Chang (right), who is also the member of parliament for North West St James, hears a word from B.D. Daswani.
Retired politician and businessman Tony Hart (centre) with Paula Kerr-Jarrett and Dr Horace Chang.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding (third left) is greeted by Phillip Hofer (second left), general manager of Iberostar Resort. With them are (from left) Markus Deutsch, chief executive officer at the Palmyra; Edmund Bartlett, tourism minister and member of parliament for East Central St James; and Lester Scott, general manager of The Palmyra Resort. - photos by Noel Thompson
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Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Several persons journeyed across the island on Friday, July 30 for the annual staging of the East Central St James education fund-raising dinner, held at The Palmyra Resort in Montego Bay.

This year's fund-raiser was held under the theme 'An Evening of Elegance on the Beach', and an estimated 200 guests filled the elegant hallways and balconies of the prestigious resort. Among the guests were Prime Minister Bruce Golding, other politicians, business executives and members of the legal and medical fraternities.

The East Central St James Education Fund is the brainchild of Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who is also the member of parliament for the East Central St James constituency. The fund was established 11 years ago and is geared at supporting several activities across the constituency. Beneficiaries include students and teachers.

scholarships for all levels

Money raised is used to offset school fees, purchase books and uniform materials, sports programmes and a school-feeding programme in the constituency.

Funds from this year's event are earmarked for 10 scholarships for students at tertiary institutions and to support more than 1,500 others at the basic, primary and all-age level.

Addressing the audience, Bartlett said he was optimistic that the target of $3 million would be met, based on ticket sales and the turnout.

Golding also hailed Bartlett as a stalwart and admitted publicly that he was one of the hardest-working ministers in his Cabinet.

Golding also said his administration was determined to change the way political parties were funded. He said legislation would be introduced in Parliament in September to make it more transparent for political parties to receive funding and give account of their sources of contributions, adding that fund-raising events would be considered an appropriate way to raise money.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com