Prime Minister Bruce Golding says Government's support agencies must rethink and modify their approach to providing critical social services to inner-city communities.

Golding, who was a guest speaker at the official opening of the newly refurbished Fletcher's Land Community Centre in western Kingston on Sunday, said there was a negative perception of inner-city communities, which extends to government agencies.

This negative perception, he said, was not helping the desired advancement of the residents.

"There is a mindset, the kind of perception that uptown has of communities like Fletcher's Land. But is not uptown alone, it is something that is institutionalised, even within the government structure itself," the prime minister argued.

He called on agencies that provide social services, particularly water, to urgently address the needs of inner-city communities, in the same manner in which they serve other areas.

same urgency as others

"You must be seized with that same sense of urgency, whether it is Fletcher's Land or it is Cherry Gardens. It requires a whole new mindset," Golding said.

He noted further that residents of inner city communities must also change their own mindset with a view to creating more harmonious relationships with government support agencies in order to enjoy better social services.