Building a lasting peace brick by brick
Joy Town CDF embarks on mission to transform Trench Town
Published:Sunday | May 30, 2021 | 12:13 AMJonielle Daley - Staff Reporter
The mission to re-establish peace and further develop Trench Town and the surrounding communities in the Corporate Area is expected to receive a boost with the construction of the Joy Town Family Resource and Wellness Centre.
The Joy Town Community Development Foundation broke ground last Thursday to erect the multimillion-dollar community rehabilitation project, which will encompass a gym, a health clinic and commercial spaces – including an Airbnb complex alongside the Ambassador Theatre, which will act as a cultural centre in the facility.
“When there is peace in Trench Town, it is a major tourist centre and people want to come and stay here, want to come and explore the place,” said Major Richard Cooke, president of the community foundation.
The build-out is expected to cost more than $160 million, excluding the cost for the gym, which is scheduled to be the first phase of the project.
Original plans were derailed over a decade ago because of the Tivoli incursion, but the faith-based organisation, which was founded in 2001, has never stopped doing social work in the community. The facility hopes to generate income for sustainability while meeting the needs of Joy Town and surrounding communities.
“We have already approached people like Tastee to see if they will put a shop in there. The community has asked for things like ATMs and Western Union to be a part of the commercial block,” Cooke explained.
He shared that the clinic will cater to the healthcare needs of children, provide sex education to adolescents, and also serve geriatrics. Hosting a DrugServ Pharmacy is also part of the vision.
Cooke underscored the importance of multisectoral involvement and a bipartisan approach in a bid for public-private sector donations.
“Communities like this need safe spaces and green spaces, where residents can have a good, positive experience,” he said.
Grassroots training
The foundation hopes to work in conjunction with the Trench Town Police Centre, the Trench Town Culture Yard, and the Trench Town Polytechnic College.
“We have been in communication from years ago with the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts … . We would actually do the grassroots training, where they would start here and we would develop them to the point where they go into Edna Manley,” he said.
So far, all partners have been open to contributing to the social intervention taking place. The architects, contractors and engineers have provided their services at a discounted cost.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) have actively participated in the clearing of the land and are currently working to construct a wall and the preparations for three centres of excellence: Resource, Health and Wellness centres.
“They are always excited to assist in any social intervention, any project, and it gives them a chance to do something outside of the usual day-to-day deployments,” said 2nd Lt Oneka Stamp, community liaison team officer from the JDF.
She explained that they are deployed daily for social intervention and community development work. The community liaison and media team is currently working on the Peace Gardening Initiative in the Denham Town Zone in partnership with the JCF, Jamaica Social Investment Fund, RISE Life, and Fight for Peace.
Five soldiers and 10 members of the Jamaica National Service Corps were present during The Sunday Gleaner’s visit last week, along with two officers of the JCF.
Corporal Damion Davis of the JCF said they are looking forward to hosting sessions on crime-preventative measures, among other topics.
“We have more help from the community on this particular project and you we can actually feel it,” he said.
It was the first time Constable Josia Gordon was being involved in such community intervention. He said he is looking forward to building rapport with the JDF soldiers and the community members.
Newton Reid, a resident who has been benefiting from the work of the faith-based organisation, hailed Major Cooke for his instrumental work in the community since 1989.
“We love the community and we wah stop the gang war inna the community,” he said, noting that the programmes and facilities will engage and transform the youth.
As a diabetic, he is also looking forward to being able to go to the clinic close to home.