The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS of Montell Heights yesterday received free textbooks, shoes, food and more as a part of the Urban Renewal Commission’s “Hot Spot” Initiative.

During a short service at the Montell Height’s Park, Urban Renewal Co-chairs Algernon Allen and Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, with other Urban Renewal officials, handed out more than 500 bags of food and 400 books to residents.

The residents also received free clothing and shoes, as well as cooked food and refreshments from the commission.

The giveaway came a week after a shooting in the area left one man dead and another in hospital.

“A lot of these areas are held hostage by a very small band of criminal minded youth,” Mr Allen said. “It will take them to rise up in these areas, rising to take control of their homes, streets and of their neighbours, to that extent where public authorities can assist them as they rise to take control and to bring peace to their areas.

“Urban Renewal is that necessary element of communication between them and the authorities, between them and those who seek to bring ill will to those in the area. We are the agent of social transformation and those are the policies that we pursue.”

Last Thursday, 20-year-old Akeem Oliver died after he was shot in Montell Heights. At the time, residents told The Tribune that the incident had marked the third day of shooting in the area.

After the shooting, residents said the community was in fear with one person describing the ordeal as “terrifying.”

Mrs Pratt said that Urban Renewal’s “Hot Spot” initiative could not have been timed any better in light of the recent problems plaguing the community. “Montell Heights was always one of those areas that had much challenges and they have a lot of persons from the lower income area,” Mrs Pratt said. “What I’m hoping is that we can inspire them to help themselves in many things. When we come together we are united and we are stronger. Sometimes people tend to wallow in their pity instead of looking at what they can do if they join with their neighbours. This is one of the things that we are trying to get them to recognise. They can do a lot of things collectively as a group.”

Mrs Pratt could not say which inner city community would be the next to benefit from the “Hot Spot” initiative, but said that Bain Town and Big Pond are on the list.