St. Michael West focused on youth development
Efforts are being made to help young people living in St. Michael West develop community-type businesses.
That is according to the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. Michael West and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, attorney-at-law, Michael Carrington. He spoke to this during the DLP’s live Internet broadcast Candidate Speaks on Monday night as he said that those efforts are being spearheaded by the tourism industry, and he further revealed the intention is to also give them an avenue through which to promote their businesses.
His comments came as he reflected on the success of Barbadian-born international superstar Rihanna who grew up in Westbury New Road, which was renamed Rihanna Drive in her honour. Carrington noting that there are a number of talented young people living in that constituency, said there is great potential for them to capitalise on the burgeoning cultural industries sector.
“There are plans of having Rihanna Drive closed off every Independence Day for some kind of event where we showcase the skills and talent of the area. Of course you know Scrawl Up came out of Westbury New Road and by the way, the young people, we meet every now and then on Sunday morning around 10 o’clock for something called Men’s Fellowship… So things are happening and we expect that we would be allowed to continue on the path of development we have started in St. Michael West,” he stated.
It was further pointed out that he wants to give entrepreneurs in the constituency the opportunity to make a living. Referring to the Eagle Hall Public Market, the two-time MP has put forward an idea of that facility being repurposed to provide space for young people to sell their goods and services.
“I’m not talking about displacing those who are already there, but to provide further facilities for young entrepreneurs. By the way, Eagle Hall to my mind has a lot of potential, it would be great if we could develop that public market for young people to ply their trade,” he stated.
Meanwhile, he said one deficit he wants to see addressed in the constituency, is that of sporting facilities. Carrington said that he was not able to address that challenge, but made it clear it was not for lack of trying.
“I would have identified the area called Sea Breeze; this is on the Spring Garden Highway, as a facility that we can develop. We have plans, we actually had plans drawn and so on, but we’ve not been able to get the funds. Going forward that is something we want to develop and I give my commitment that it will be done,” he stated.
(JRT)