TWENTY FOUR residents of Trench Town recently received certificates of participation in an entrepreneurial course organised by the Joy Town Community Development Foundation, in association with the Jamaica Business Development Centre. At the presentation ceremony, held at the Hugh Sherlock Centre, Rema, special awards were handed out to outstanding students Leroy Francis, for communications; Gladstone Blair, for best class participation - both of whom won third prize; as well as Winifred Noble for best overall attitude - who won second prize. The President's Prize for being most punctual participant went to Marva Morrison.
Most of the participants are sole traders in areas ranging from grocery store operations, garment vending, production and distribution of doilies, household chemical retailer to vending cosmetology products.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rev. Dr. C.B. Peter Morgan, founding pastor and apostolic overseer of the Covenant Community Church praised the participants for their participation in the programme, citing the positive change he had seen in their deportment and decorum at the end of the course compared to the start of the programme.
He said Trench Town had blazed the trail for the world to follow, with outstanding musicians, football players and intellectuals. Therefore, Dr. Morgan said, "it is true to say the fabric of our country is affected by what happens in Trench Town. In fact, in recent times it was disadvantageous to give a Trench Town address, but the attitude of the outside world is changing towards people of the area. This, because of the positive stories being told about the restoration of the place and the behavioural changes among the people."
But he advised the residents that the long-term change to the physical and social fibre of Trench Town would have to be led by them. "Nobody can liberate you. Nobody can set you free. Yes, outsiders can bring you joy by upgrading your facilities and bringing you resources, but if you don't want freedom from the negatives, it cannot happen," the Rev. Dr. Morgan continued.
The function was chaired by the President of Joy Town Community Development Foundation (JTCDF), Major Richard Cooke. Among those handing out certificates and prizes were, Lloyd Robinson, member of the board of JTCDF; Janetta Campbell, Secretary to the Board of the Foundation and Chairman of the Foundation, Leon Headley, who is Vice President of Procurement and Trade for the Jamaica Broilers Group, a major sponsor of the JTCDF human development programmes in Trench Town.
