Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Left: Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie with Scarlette Gillings, managing director of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), at the organisation's 10th anniversary celebration and awards banquet. Looking on is guest speaker Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields. The banquet was held at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston, on Monday, November 27.   Right: Dancers from the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts perform 'A Tribute to JSIF'. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

A decade ago, an organisation was created with the goal of developing communities islandwide and providing poverty alleviation. That organisation was the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and on Monday, the anniversary was celebrated with an awards banquet at the Hilton Kingston. Originally established as a four-year project, many marvelled at the fund's longevity.

Managing Director, Scarlette Gillings, lauded the fine work of the staff and congratulated the community leaders whose projects had been completed. She said that it was through teamwork and a concentrated effort that kept JSIF going. She confidently stated that there had been much improvement in the lives of those they had served.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Best Kept Project Awards for schools, roads, health centres and community centres. The awards were for those community efforts that had been completed and maintained the best.

In the roads category, Grange Hill to the Packi River Road in Portland took top prize while in the health centre category, it was the Lincoln Health Centre in Mandeville that came out first. The Patrick Gardens Community Centre won in its category, while the Savanna-la-Mar Infant School won the schools' section and the P.J. Patterson Best Kept Project Award.

Individuals who have given between five and nine years of service were rewarded. Special awards went to board members and other dignitaries, including Mrs. Gillings, who received a standing ovation when she collected her award.

During dinner, guests were entertained by Richie Stephens who, with JSIF's help, constructed a basic school in his hometown of Savanna-la-Mar. He was especially welcomed by the ladies whom he serenaded with Take Me Away and Strength Of Your Love. He also did inspira-tional songs, getting audience mem-bers to wave their hands to the music.