Sturge Town, St Ann, has been awarded first place in the National Better Environments for Social Transformation (BEST) Competition and Programme for 2008.

The community won over $2 million in cash and prices. Who the winners in the various categories, especially those at the national level, were, was kept secret until Wednesday's announcement at the Stella Maris Church Hall in St Andrew.

Sturge Town took home four of the eight sectional prizes, coming tops in the areas of youth development, cultural heritage, most improved agricultural practices, and copping the best community spirit and self-reliance.

Community effort

Reverend Dr Frank Lawrence, community facilitator, said that the elderly, farmers, schools, churches, and young people had an input in the initiatives taken by the community through their repre-sentatives on the committee. He hinted at the hope of having further cooperation from citizens as they unite to make Sturge Town and, ultimately, the entire parish of St Ann, beautiful and the best place on earth.

Reverend Lawrence was also quick to point out that members of the Sturge Town community development committee recognised that upkeep and expansion of any initiative in the community would not be possible without the value-added involvement of each member.

Continuity

Winnie Mills, a former resident now living in New York, spoke to the funding and maintenance of the projects. She said "the upkeep of the projects in the community will be maintained by citizens and other individuals with vested interest in the community."

She referred to previous donations made by those citizens living abroad as the primary source of funding to get the various projects started. Mills is hoping that this funding will continue.

The National BEST Competition and Programme is an annual event that creates partnerships among various private and public sector groupings. It seeks to strengthen and improve local communities on a sustainable basis. The competition also aims to instil a sense of pride, better values, attitudes and self-worth. It unites citizens in a common cause, leading to local governance, needed community actions, and social and economic development.