Treasure Beach Community Development Committee (CDC) a coalition between NGO's -Breds, Treasure Beach Womens Group and Citizens Alert Group took first place at the 5th annual National Best Community Competition awards held in Kingston earlier today. On hand to collect the award included Jeanne Genus, Fern Luke, Denise Weatherburn, George Deleon, Bowl, Natalie Bradford and Jason Henzell.

A huge thanks goes to all members and supporters of these NGO's and the all stake holders of Treasure Beach community who made this possible. We are truly proud as this confirms that we are on the right track with making Treasure Beach a model for sustainable development in the Caribbean. We also want to extend thanks to Natalie Bradford and Geoffrey Mendez of the Social Development Committee, Dramaine Jones of the St. Elizabeth Parish Development Committee and Phil Rodriques of the Canadian Urban Institute. We want to thank Jacqueline Dacosta, Diana Mcintyre Pike and the major sponsors being Digicel Foundation, Jamaica National and the SDC. We know that this tremendous achievement will build confidence with both current and potential partners of these organizations. Great going Treasure Beach - let's keep going in this direction and build from strength to strength!

Well, what we've known for a long time is finally official! Congratulations to all involved in participating in this competition. It took a good deal of work, homework, and team work to achieve this well deserved goal!

Seems great and all but exactly what does this mean to the people of Treasure Beach?

Thanks to all who worked so diligently--and in concert--to help Treasure Beach win the 5th annual National Best Community Competition award.

We all know what a very special community we have. It's wonderful that it's now official. We have good reason to be extremely proud.

To Curious, the following information may answer your question. The TBCDC will decide on how the award money should/will be spent in efforts to benefit the community.

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:
Jo Anderson-Figueroa
Marketing and Communication Assistant
Digicel Foundation
876 470 7479

Vicki Cann
PROComm
876 413-4229


NATIONAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT BEST COMMUNITIES AWARDS CEREMONY

Kingston, Jamaica – Thursday, August 23 2012: The top three winners of the National Best Communities Competition and Programme (NBCCP) were announced today at the Stella Maris Church Pastoral Centre in Kingston. Copping first prize was Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. This community will receive $2 million from the Digicel Foundation. In second place was Mount Peto, Hanover and coming third was Runaway Bay, St. Ann. These two communities will get $500,000 from the Jamaica National Building Society and $250,000 from the Tourism Enhancement Fund, respectively.

In addition to the top national prize, Digicel Foundation awards $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 to each of the 13 first, second and third place winners, respectively, at the parish level of the Competition. The three national winners were chosen from the following first place parish winners: Irish Town, Kingston and St. Andrew; Port Morant, St. Thomas; Balcarres, Portland; Jeffrey Town, St. Mary; Runaway Bay, St. Ann; Albert Town, Trelawny; Flanker, St. James; Mount Peto, Hanover; Petersville, Westmoreland; Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth; Grove Place, Manchester; Curatoe Hill/Canaan Heights, Clarendon, and Bushy Park, St. Catherine.

The NBCCP was launched in 2006 to encourage the development of sustainable communities through their involvement in a variety of activities that promote local governance, self-help and self-reliance. Of the 783 communities in Jamaica, 248, comprising 1456 districts, took part in the 2011-2012 competition.

Cash awards are also given to selected communities in each parish, based on their work in the following areas: culture and heritage; youth development; community spirit and self-reliance; most beautiful; most improved agricultural practices; best kept facilities; best kept educational institution and best visitor’s experience.

Of these, the Best Cultural and Heritage Programme prize winner was Grove Place, Manchester. Best Youth Development Programme and Best Community Spirit and Self Reliance titles were presented to Mount Peto, Hanover; Grove Place, Manchester; Bushy Park, St. Catherine and Flanker, St. James. Most Beautiful Community, Most Improved Agricultural Practices, Best Kept Community Facilities and Best Visitor Experience prizes were awarded to Mount Peto. Best Kept Educational Institution prizes went to Mount Peto and Grove Place, Manchester.

“The work achieved at the community level is an inspiration, and shows that as a nation we have the potential to become self-reliant,” remarked Samantha Chantrelle, Executive Director of the Digicel Foundation. She added, “In recognition of the tireless work of community members and in celebration of our 50th anniversary of Independence, the Foundation has invested an additional $5million this year to support a Capacity Building Programme for 50 communities across the island.”

For the past four years, the Digicel Foundation has served as one of NBCCP’s major partners committing $10 million annually to the Competition. This year the Foundation has invested a total of $15 million, bringing the total invested to date to $55 million. This year’s contribution supports the National Best Community Foundation (NBCF), the Capacity Building Programme, and prizes for winners at several levels in the Competition.

“This competition and programme would not have been possible without our major partner, the Digicel Foundation, and other partners like the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Social Development Commission and so many others including the Jamaica Observer,” noted Jacqueline daCosta, Chairperson of the NBCF.



-END-

About Digicel Foundation
The Digicel Foundation is the largest local private sector foundation in Jamaica. Since its inception in 2004 the foundation has invested over J$1.2 billion in communities in which Digicel operates island wide. The Digicel Foundation has been proactive in the areas of Education, Special Needs, and Community Empowerment.
The Digicel Foundation has:

• Invested over J$100 million in their Enrichment Initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education to improve literacy at the primary school level island wide.
• Invested over J$38 million in resource rooms, including science and IT labs, in high schools island-wide.
• Committed to building three Special Needs schools, the first of which, the STEP Centre, broke ground in March 2012.
• Invested over J$60 million in Community Empowerment initiatives over the past four years, including $10 million annually and $15 million this year to support the National Best Communities Competition and Program.
• For more information visit our website at www.digiceljamaicafoundation.org

To the three NGO's Congratulation on a job well done.You have worked very hard with great enthusiasm and commitment.

curious, if you live in Treasure Beach just be proud...............I live there and I am more than proud of my community.

That is enough for the people just to know that their district/community was choosen as a safe,clean,friendly place with ambitious citizens who take pride to educate their children no matter how much it cost.

If they have to sell their cattle to achieve that, they would and have done it.

With the help of others we have accomplished so much in Treasure Beach for income and activities for our youths.

Thanks to all.
Lets keep up the good work.

The cash award is important and I would like to know how it will be utilized. Equally important is the recognition Treasure Beach might receive from this sort of award. It would be good if possible tourists knew about it and I hope the winning will be publicized.

F A N T A S T I C

Congratulations and thank you to all the people who make an effort to keep Treasure Beach clean,safe with a view to develop in a meaningful and healthy way.Thanks those who work to build, grow and preserve the culture and quality that is at the foundation without selfish motive.Community support and loyalty is critical to keep away the evils and dangers from overtaking the community. Thanks to all concern and I hope the next generation will keep things going. There is no reason not to be proud of your self.Mighty blessings to you !!!

We are proud to be a part of the Treasure Beach community; our home. Congratualtions!!! Let's continue to be an example for Jamaica.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

TB is a very special place, you should be very proud of the wonderful community you have created!

Thank you for the feedback Rebecca. I am new to this site and am trying to learn about cultural/community events such as this. Local governance, self-help, and self-reliance are noble goals for any community. Congratulations to all.

Congrats Treasure Beach!!!

this is brilliant news! congratulations

Excellent! Well deserved. TB is a great place to visit! I'm glad so many think it a great place to live.

Just a QUICK WORD...

KEEP IN MIND > WHEN YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR LAND,IN
DUE SEASON(S), YOUR LAND WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU...
(Right,or Wrong;- False,or Truth;

(Just a Nugget, 2 KEEP U THINKINGBlessing ON-

THE JAMAICAN PEOPLE,NOW and FOR-EVER. It IS WAITING FOR YOU TO RECEIVE: (Chow-Mein 4 NOW!!)

To Hopeful and others, the cash awards are divided among the 3 groups. I can speak for the Alert Group. Last year when we came second and got $600,000.00 our $200,000.00 was spent on the reopening of the Well Lane. The other Groups will speak for themselves. We are very transparent in all our activities. So stay on this forum (Webmaster observed) and you all will be informed how the money is utilized.

I'm like Hopeful on this one. Bowl, you say $200k out of $600k was spent on opening the Well Lane. What was the other $400k spent on? Importantly, who does the auditing and accounting of your money?

The Treasure Beach Women's Group decided to spend our portion of funds awarded in 2010 on the six brightly painted Community Message Boards you will find along the road from Great Bay to Billy's Bay. The 2011 award money is being spent on expanding the Women's Group house. Breds was responsible for the Welcome to Treasure Beach sign painted on the boat up near the police station and applied their 2011 funds to the new well and solar water pump at the Sports Park. We all look forward to making more improvements to Treasure Beach with this year's awards.

Read my post again student. I said the other groups will speak for themselves, and I must point out to you that we are registered groups and audited officially by the relevant goverment agency.

Wonderful!! True that!!

On a positive note, well done Treasure Beach, you deserve it

I hope they use some of this funding to prevent another child losing their life swimming in the sea here, by putting lifeguards inside of them empty lifeguard seats, especially when the weather sea is rough and even more so when it is the school holidays.

Congratulations Treasure Beach! From everyone from the Jamaica Environment Trust

True bad sad article in the Gleaner the other day Miss McCaulay. I have always said one of the worst things for the ecology was switching from returnable bottles to plastic, except for the broken glass...

I am thinking more along the lines of internal auditing Bowl. Keep up the good work.

BTW, your website is a great educational tool. I hope more Jamaican communities will use this method of reaching various audiences. BLESSINGS!

Congrats to Treasure Beach! Loads of warm, friendly people and GREAT ambiance make me look forward to the CALABASH International Literary Festival every year! BLESSINGS!

Congrats treasure beach luv mi yard bad, may god continue to bless and keep our little peice of gem safe in the palm of his hands. Luv unno loads.