Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

232 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 holistic approach to community engagement. Their volunteer program for staff, spanning over two decades, focuses on feeding the elderly, and continued initiatives aimed at empowering at- risk youth, violence prevention, and fostering multi-generational programs, reflect a strong commitment to enhancing community well-being. Development Opportunities As Clarendon welcomes a changing economy, it is taking advantage of its central location on the island, and close proximity to Kingston. “It’s really exciting times for the people of Clarendon, and the possibilities and the potential of the parish is great,” Blake conveys. “Based on the new development of the highway, we find persons moving into our parish to live. We have numerous new housing developments, and we have developers also submitting plans for other developments within the parish. We expect the population of the parish to grow.” Noteworthy among these developments is the discussion with the National Housing Trust for a new town, promising substantial economic growth. The Vernamfield development, repurposed from a U.S. army base, is undergoing talks to transform into an “aerotropolis,” which will attract increased housing and economic development opportunities to the community. Significant capital investments are also being directed towards enhancing healthcare facilities. The Minister of Health has spearheaded rehabilitation and upgrades to hospitals and health centers. “Healthcare is being expanded, so that we can take care of the needs of the people,” remarks Mayor Maragh, elaborating