The St Ann police department headed by senior superintendent (SSP) Gary Francis is making moves in the communities of St Ann to reduce crime and unemployment.
One such initiative to help in this campaign will be the staging of a job fair for unemployed youths at the Ocho Rios police station on Sunday, April 2.
The job fair grew from the idea of coordinator, constable Winston Burke of the St Ann Community and Safety Branch (CSSB).
CSSB is headed by Inspector Cordell Jackson and together with his team, they can be seen throughout the parish engaging in community walks and meetings in order to reduce crime and violence. They have been steadily making progress in this regard.
In an interview with The Times, Cons Burke explained that the idea of a job fair spawned from “doing community walks and seeing youths on the street corner and also in their homes complaining that they need work.”
He has walked through communities, such as Riverhead and Clapham in Moneague and James Avenue, Great Pond, Milford and Exchange areas in Ocho Rios by himself listening to the plight of the youths. He has also done walk through in other communities throughout St Ann, along with other members of the CSSB.
Cons Burke said that he has “been getting numerous attention and support from the police and the business community.”
In addition, DJ Amber from Irie FM is playing a very important role in supporting the idea of the job fair.
With all the support he has gotten, Cons Burke’s dream of the police hosting a job fair is becoming a reality on April 2 at the Ocho Rios police station.
The job fair is catered towards persons 18 years and over and will commence at 10 a.m.
Several sponsors from companies mainly in and around the Ocho Rios and St Ann’s Bay area will be providing interviews for job vacancies.
Among these enterprises providing sponsorship to the job fair, along with vacancies are: Guardsman, Water Hub, Margaritaville, John Crows restaurant, Bamboo Blu, Paramount Business Service Ltd, Mystic Mountain, Drax Hall Auto Brokers, Groove Blocks Manufacturer, Ambulance Lifeline Medical Response, Hue’s Pharmacy, Golden Loaf, Computer Gadgets Games, Gem Palace, Kwik Bargains, Ocho Rios Embassy, Rooms on the Beach, Ocho Rios Commercial Centre limited, Sandals Ocho Rios, Tracks and Records, In Need Night Care, Couples Tower Isles, Couples Sans Sauci and others.
Accountants with bachelor degrees, truck drivers, chefs, landscapers and practical nurses are also encouraged to attend the job fair.
Persons are also asked dress formally and are urged to walk with their resumes on the day.
The schools providing part scholarships include: Triple M Nursing Institute, St. Ann’s Bay Institution of Cosmetology and Aesthetician, Ocho Rios College and College of Hospitality.
Const Burke explained that the main aim of the job fair is to “reduce unemployment and crime with one move.”
