This will be the last post about Jacques Road, I promise! But I must mention the lovely ceremony we had yesterday to thank the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Robert Ready and his wife Joanne Ready. We held the ceremony at the beautiful homework centre, where repairs and refurbishments were done on Sept. 29, when the Canadian Navy (who were docked in Kingston on the HMCS Preserver for the weekend) descended on Jacques Road. The homework centre received new paint, windows, shutters, a garden and other repairs. In addition, a container was turned into a computer centre that will accommodate 20 computers.
In addition to the High Commissioner, other attendees were YOU’s Mrs. Lewis Scott, Cuso International’s Tarik Perkins, members of the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (Insp. Alton Spencer is particularly in tune with the community), CIDA, the Community Security and Justice Program and members of the Jacques Road Parenting Group. The Rev. Francina Pryce presented a plaque to the High Commissioner, who in turn with wife Mrs. Ready presented a book called “Canada in a Thousand Pictures” to Francina. Mrs. Lewis Scott also thanked the Canadian Navy, specifically the ship’s Commander Gregory Adamthwaite. As we listened to people share their thoughts, a small group of men kindly halted their work making cement blocks, one of the community’s income generating businesses.
All this to say, the ceremony was well attended and people were on time, except for members of the local police force. The ceremony started promptly at 10:00am, with everyone confirming prior that they would attend. However, local police pulled up around 10:30. They were quite disappointed that we had already finished and someone said, “I thought you started at 10:00am,” to which I replied, “Yes, it is 10:30 though,” and we all burst out laughing. Soon come.
This ceremony came on the heels of a tragic event in which a young man was shot by police in Mountain View and a police officer was injured (he will be ok). This incident has shaken the community, but off the record, people said that this individual was “terrorizing” the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected.
Please check out the pictures from yesterday’s event <a href="here“>here.
Jamaican Journal 
It would be great if the Jamaican Constabulary Force can take a page out of the Jacques Rd project and at sometime in the near future start interacting with the community on a positive note. Great job guys. I wish the community all the best and may endless numbers of scholars enter those doors. Godspeed !