Constituency office to be used as resource centre
Published:Monday | May 19, 2025 | 12:06 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
The People’s National Party (PNP) is hopeful that the newly opened St James Southern constituency office in Anchovy will greatly serve its function as a development hub for the area’s youths.
Nekeisha Burchell, the party’s prospective candidate for the constituency, made the announcement during the opening of the office at Anchovy Square last Wednesday evening. She stated that, while the space will operate as the PNP’s St James Southern office, constituents will also have access to a variety of developmental activities.
According to Burchell, the office is equipped with computers and other forms of technology for easy access to the internet. The office is estimated to be about 1,000 square feet, with a main hall that can seat up to 65 people, several smaller rooms, and an area set up to assist a small company incubator. She said students are welcome to utilise the space as a homework centre, while adults may also access literacy materials.
“This is not just an office, it is a community resource centre and training hub created to support the people of South St James across every stage of life. We have acquired the space at a considerable figure because we understand the importance of this kind of facility to the development of the constituency, particularly our young people, our seniors, and all those striving for a better future,” said Burchell.
“We’ve envisioned a space where everyone can grow together, from students preparing for exams, to adults improving literacy, to entrepreneurs launching businesses. It will function as a homework and SBA support centre, a digital literacy and job search hub, and a space for community events and skill-building sessions. And yes, it will also be a training centre,” she added.
Burchell further explained that plans are already in place to facilitate these learning sessions with qualified institutions. She told The Gleaner that fellow PNP member Dr Andre Haughton will also host Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) study sessions with students in the constituency.
“We are already in conversation with a certifying institution of higher learning and development about offering short courses and training programmes at the resource centre. These partnerships will help bring formal learning opportunities directly into the heart of the community. Our current CXC Prep Series, hosted virtually with Dr Andre Haughton, is one example of how we’re already creating access to education. We intend to expand that model to include literacy classes, résumé workshops, technology training for seniors, form-filling assistance, and more,” she said.
At the same time, Burchell believes that there are additional opportunities to utilise the space for health sessions with the most vulnerable in the constituency. She said that the opposition party also intends to partner with health officials and other agencies to bring different services to residents of the rural constituency.
“You see if you don’t know how to manage your health, your hypertension, your diabetes, your heart issues, we’re going to have doctors and nurses come up here to educate you about how to live long and healthy lives. You see if you don’t know how to fill out your passport form, and you don’t know how to fill out your birth certificate form because it did lost from the pink paper time, if you don’t know how to open a bank account, listen to me, PNP ting a nuh pyah pyah thing, we’re about the development of the people,” Burchell said on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, local start-up owners will also benefit from office space provided for six months.
“Whatever your business is, and you can’t afford to rent one space, we will create a space for you here. You stay there for six months, and when you build up yourself and strong enough to go up in your place and save up your money, you move out and make somebody else come in. Let me tell you something. When we say power to the people, a nuh water deh a we mouth. Mi nuh come here fi lay lay. Mi come here fi transform,” Burchell declared.