Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

This gully is a source of major problems for residents of Rose Town. For years, they say, it has been in this state of disrepair. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

RUSTY ZINC fences, dilapidated homes and eroded roads dominate the Rose Town community. Some youths pass the day hanging out on the corner, listening to dancehall music or playing card games.

It is a scene all too familiar to Michael Black, who has lived in Rose Town all his life. It is an image he is determined to change.

Mr. Black, 45, is president of the Rose Town Benevolent Society, an organisation that was formed in September 2005 to help bring about a new day in the community, which is in one of Kingston's toughest areas.

It is the latest initiative to transform the run-down neighbourhood which has suffered from years of violence and, according to Mr. Black, political neglect.

Dem don't care

"The PNP (People's National Party) not in no hurry to fix up the place, 'cause is a safe seat an' the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) see it as a losing seat so dem don't care," Mr. Black told The Gleaner recently. "So, anyway it go wi lose."

Rose Town is located in the constituency of South St. Andrew where the Member of Parliament is Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies. The constituency has strong ties to the governing PNP, but Rose Town has traditionally voted JLP.

In the 1970s, Rose Town was regarded as part of neighbouring Whitfield Town, which made it a section of the South East St. Andrew seat, another PNP stronghold.

Because of its JLP links, Rose Town residents say they were easy prey for gunmen from border communities like Rema and Trench Town. It has been a long time since the guns barked, but there are still issues that prevent growth in Rose Town, such as unemployment and illiteracy.

Community programmes

With the assistance of HEART/ NTA and the Kingston Restoration Committee (KRC), Mr. Black has launched a series of programmes aimed at making people in his community employable and literate.

On August 18, 28 persons graduated from a two-week course conducted by lecturers from HEART. Each received a certificate for participating in a variety of programmes, from data entry to customer service.

There are also classes for students preparing for GSAT exams, and remedial sessions for adults who missed out on an early education.

'Pet', who was born in Rose Town, wishes such programmes were around when she was younger. Now in her late 30s, she is unemployed, has five children and is a grandmother.

"Work hard fi get, yuh haffi have links," she said. "Mi neva waan si mi children grow up here but mi neva have nuh betta solution so mi haffi stay inna it."

There have been attempts to solve Rose Town's problems in recent years.

Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the former British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, have visited the area. Also, the Construction Assistance, Skills Transfer and Learning The Environment (CASTLE), a British initiative, has committed one million GBP to the restoration of Rose Town. It built the community centre where the HEART/NTA courses and GSAT classes are held.

The KRC is chief overseer of the restoration project. They are currently working with a team of architects and planners to construct new houses in Rose Town and improve its landscape.

For Michael Black, who worked for years as a machinist at Desnoes and Geddes, it is important that he makes a difference in the lives of Rose Town's youth.

"This is not backa days when everybody a fight one another and neva have no opportunities," he said. "It is our job now to create opportunities for a better Rose Town."