NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | MONDAY, MAY 30, 2022 14 Keisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer TRELAWNY’S PROFILE is increasing as a business and residential location, and strategic growth and consultative work will be required in order to guide orderly development and investment in the western parish. In keeping with their mission to drive growth and improve the quality of lives of the people, especially those residing in the sugardependent parish, the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce and Industry intends to actively and continuously promote a successful and inclusive business environment. James Tweedie, president of the chamber, said their goal is typically to promote the businesses existing within the community, to help strengthen them and ensure that businesses have the support and network they need to succeed. On the growth agenda for the parish, Tweedie said the chamber is actively promoting equity and inclusiveness in all areas of business, while unifying the voice of business interests across all sectors. “We arepromoting the initial and continuing training, certification and economic health of all levels of business activity; from sole proprietorship, professionals, small businesses, mid-sized businesses, to large businesses, through active partnerships with government and non-government agencies,”he said. However, while being the primary advocate for the general welfare of business stakeholders in the parish, Tweedie said there are a number of areas of concern for the business community in Trelawny. Chief among them are the road conditions and traffic safety in the parish. “Many of the primary and secondary roadways need reconstructing and paving. These repairs should include asphalting, and drainage improvement. Intermittent patching has been done over successive governments but there has been no major repair done on some of these roads. Many of these roads have now passed the point of patching and full resurfacing is needed,”Tweedie said. Tweedie said there also needs to be an introduction of traffic signals at key places along the north coast highway. Another area of concern, Tweedie said, is the irregular collection of solid waste in the parish. With the pile-up of garbage in several communities, he said the National SolidWaste Management Authority should maintain a regular civic engagement process, by giving regular advisories, and put into action the often talked-about and long-overdue local solid waste transfer station. “The short-term strategies have not been fruitful and have not significantly reduced the trash pile-up in various sections of the parish. There should be plans in place to ensure that the garbage trucks are on board, and institute a proper garbage collection timetable as part of this thrust,”Tweedie said. With the Trelawny police enjoying a 26 per cent reduction in murders in the parish last year, Tweedie is pleased with the downward trajectory in murders and other major crimes in the parish. He is relieved that Trelawny is not as badly affected by the high crime rate plaguing the other parishes in the Area One Police Division. Many of these altercations are stemmed from domestic disputes. However, in an effort to further reduce the murder rate in the parish, Tweedie said there needs to be a stronger partnership with stakeholders. With the Ministry of National Security steadily increasing the network of cameras that are a part of the country’s national closed-circuit television surveillance programme, dubbed ‘Jamaica Eye’, Tweedie is suggesting that the town of Falmouth be incorporated into this plan. “The feeds provide useful footage in relation to criminal activity and other emergencies and are monitored by a team of security professionals. The participation of and partnership with private citizens who share footage from their cameras free of cost is integral to the success of the programme,” Tweedie said. In addition, more young people must be actively engaged, and improved social programmes streamlined tomeet their needs. “For the future of the parish, special emphasis needs to be placed on comprehensive social and educational programmes, starting with early childhood education. There needs to be a formal, continuing partnership between charitable groups, elements of the private sector and the Government,” he said. He suggested that the Government, working through local municipalities, community clubs and similar organisations, should try to engage with youngsters and help them back to the point where they are able to see a future and realign their goals. keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (third left) listens keenly as Lydia Nelson, architect, Design Collaborative (left), explains the architectural model of the artisan village currently under construction at Hampden Wharf, Trelawny, at the seventh staging of Christmas in July held last July 22 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston. Looking on are (from left): Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith; Carolyn McDonald-Riley, director, Tourism Linkages Network; Richard Pandohie, chairman of the Manufacturing Technical Working Group, Tourism Linkages Council; and Valerie Veira, chief executive officer, Jamaica Business Development Corporation. FILE jamaica at JAMAICA T 60: TR L WNY Trelawny’s business and economic profile increasing
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