Malahoo Forte comes good for her constituents
WESTERN BUREAU:
TWELVE NEEDY persons from the NorthWest St James constituency of Marlene Malahoo Forte, who is also the attorney general of Jamaica, are now in a position to better their lives, thanks to major aid she provided them.
At a ceremony at her constituency office in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, nine persons received cheques representing special housing assistance, while three received support for their microbusinesses. The recipients came from the Granville, Mt Salem and Spring Garden divisions.
“Today’s assistance was provided to persons who have microbusinesses and who have met the criteria demonstrating that they have established, or are in the process of establishing, a business,” she said. “The housing benefits went to nine most deserving persons.”
Malahoo Forte, who won the constituency in the last general election, said the aid that went to the 12 persons fell under an economic enablement programme funded by the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
SKILLS TRAINING
“As a condition, these persons have to commit to making the business viable and we are going to do some follow-up to help them with a little bit of skills training on how to run a business, keep records, and how to be a part of the formal economy,” she explained.
With regard to the special housing fund, which came from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and was supplemented with grants from the CDF, Malahoo Forte said the beneficiaries were selected on a specialneed basis.
Roland Williams of Granville, who was one of the beneficiaries, was left without a home shortly before Christmas last year when fire destroyed the house he shared with his wife and six grandchildren.
“My house burnt down two days before
Christmas, but luckily, my daughter did have a little house, so a deh we live in yah now,” Williams said. “We want to get back on our feet and that is why we getting this help from the MP. It feels good, for we can now work to get a place to live.”
Shereka Morle, also of Granville, was full of praise for Malahoo Forte, stating that the assistance she got will help her hairdressing business to really take off.
“I came to represent and I come to do my best to ensure that the people can have a better chance at a better life,” said Malahoo Forte.