Residents of Nine Miles, Bull Bay, in east St Andrew, now have access to a computer lab and resource centre at the Windsor Lodge Community Centre.

The centre, which has been out of use for several decades, was rehabilitated at a cost of approximately $11 million through funding from the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

In a recent interview with JIS News, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and Member of Parliament for the area, Damion Crawford, said the rehabilitation project, which was recently completed, is geared towards further improving the education of persons in and around the area.

"It's an after-school centre, including a library with all the books that are on the book list, and a community centre with a computer lab for homework purposes and research purposes. The centre itself can facilitate 180 persons at any given time," he said.

Crawford added that it is estimated that over 400 residents would use the centre on a weekly basis.

"From 1973, the building was there lying in ruins without a roof, etcetera, and we ... pretty much had to redo the building," he said.

Employment

He said that the project resulted in hundreds of skilled and unskilled persons receiving employment, adding that they were thankful for the opportunity they received.

"Because we were rotating week by week, we'd assume about 250 persons would have received employment whether in skilled areas or as labourers. Persons that were employed were very excited to be earning, however, the community has been quite elated for the provision of the centre and they are looking forward to using it," Crawford said.

"I am excited to provide the project. It should improve the education output, and we are encouraging all the residents to take care of the centre and to make use of it," he added.

JEEP is one of the Government's strategies geared at countering unemployment among some Jamaicans, particularly those in lower socio-economic groups. It also provides employment for persons with special needs as well as those with low skill levels.