(Mr. Phil Rodriques, CARILED Local Economic Development Officer)
On Thursday, August 21st, the Manchester Parish Council, the Manchester Parish Development Committee, along with the Caribbean Local Economic
Development Project (CARILED) and other project partners, hosted a ground-breaking ceremony at the Cecil Charlton Park in Manchester, Jamaica. The ceremony
officially launched The Cecil Charlton Park Redevelopment Project, a local economic development initiative towards micro and small business support, as well as the construction of 10 new kiosks.
The Redevelopment Project aims at stimulating economic growth and development by transforming the Cecil Charlton Park into an inclusive, comfortable, entertaining, and
accessible space that encourages diverse users. Youth, men, women, and the elderly will be able to access a variety of goods and services provided by businesses within the Park.
This project is expected to be a catalyst that will promote the development of Manchester’s first business improvement district in downtown Mandeville. It is anticipated that 30 jobs
will be created during and after construction, and the new business area will facilitate economic growth through linkages established between micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
From left to right: Councillor Jones Oliphant, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, Sally-Anne Corrodus (MPDC Chairman), Mayor Brenda Ramsay, Mrs. Kelly Thompson (Canadian High Commission First Secretary , Department of Affairs, Trade and Development) and Mikael Phillips (Member of Parliament)
CARILED is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada and aims to promote economic
development, community empowerment, and developmental local governance.
About CARILED
CARILED was launched in May 2012 and is being implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), in partnership with the Caribbean Association of Local Government
Authorities (CALGA), the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers (CFLGM) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). The program, focused on local economic
development, currently works in seven Caribbean countries to develop models of LED that can be shared throughout the region. It aims to partner with local government authorities to
support MSMEs.
View more pictures of the event here