Water supply, computer centre and sport complex opened through collaboration of several agencies
Several west Portland communities are now proud beneficiaries of three multi-million dollars projects that were officially opened on Tuesday, May 27 by Sir Patrick Allen, Governor General. Residents from Fruit Vale and adjoining communities made their way to the official opening ceremonies of the Fruitful Vale computer centre, the Fruitful Vale water supply and the Fruitful Vale multi-purpose complex. Member of Parliament for West Portland, Daryl Vaz and representatives of various agencies were on hand for the developments. The agencies included the CHASE fund; Jamaica Social Investment Fund; the Sports Development Foundation; the Sports Development Commission; the Universal Service Fund and the Fruitful Vale Benevolent Society. The first facility to be official opened by the Governor General was the Fruitful Vale computer centre that has eighteen computers, two printers, a Local Area Network, through internet provider Dekal wireless that is mandated to provide internet services, printing, photocopying, a learning opportunity and other benefits for residents. Approximately nine communities in west Portland will be able to use the facility. The communities are Swift River, Shrewsbury, Commodore, Fruitful Vale, Industry, Grant Gate, Dumphries, Durham and Coopers Hill. Internet service provider Dekal wireless has also joined in the effort to provide access to the internet by erecting a tower to transmit internet signals to several communities. Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen grew up in the Fruitful Vale community and was elated to see the centre. He recalled teaching a grade three class in 1970 in the very same building in which the computer centre now is. The Member of Parliament for west Portland Daryl Vaz and the Fruitful Vale Benevolent Society along with the Universal Service fund all collaborated to complete the project at about seven million dollars ($7,000,000).
The second official opening was the commencement of the Fruitful Vale water supply. Approximately 20,000 residents in the communities of Fruitful vale, Industry to Content, Dumfries to Coopers Hill and Skatta Spring to Twickenham are proud beneficiaries of the water supply system. This, as they finally now have water flowing into their homes, removing the need to go to the river or nearby spring after the water supply went bad for 18 years. The Dunbar Spring is the source of water to all the communities and the water is supplied to homes by gravity. The approximate cost of the project is sixty million dollars $60,000,000. Funding was provided through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and support sought through the MP Daryl Vaz and the Fruitful Vale Benevolent Society. The Fruitful Vale multi-purpose complex was next to be officially opened. Approximately sixteen communities will be benefiting from the complex. The complex is equipped for sporting activities such as football, netball, cricket, athletics and basketball. The old community cultural centre which was in a deplorable condition was renovated by the CHASE fund at a cost of approximately ten million dollars ($10,000,000). The Jamaica Social Investment Fund funded for the building and completion of the field, the seating/ stand and the fencing of the complex which costs approximately seven million dollars ($7-M). In all, it cost about twenty five million dollars ($25-M) to establish the complex. The Member of Parliament for west Portland Daryl Vaz and the Fruitful Vale Benevolent Society also collaborated in the effort to fund and establish the complex.
Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE fund expressed pleasure that his agency was involved. “It is our belief that if we are to effectively meet the development challenges in Jamaica today, we must pool our resources and work in coordinated ways that raise the quality of the end product and essentially gives us better value for money…This complex was conceptualised as one which would serve, as a hub for training, recreation, cultural and sporting activities.” Scarlette Gillings, managing director of JSIF also spoke about the collaboration among the agencies. Daryl Vaz MP spoke about the benefits that the residents of the communities will garner from the facilities. Sir Patrick in giving the main address spoke about his youthful days growing up in Fruitful Vale and the journey he had to take to school and to the library. This in contrast to how technology and the improvement of facilities have taken place over the years. He said in speaking about the three projects, “This is a very good example of what can be achieved when we work together for the good of the people.”
