St. George’s, June 21, 2011 (GIS) – Government has reaffirmed its commitment to constructing a Resource Centre and Playing Field in Snell Hall, St. Patrick.

The government’s position was restated on Sunday, June 19, by Minister of Works and Physical Development Joseph Gilbert, who is also MP for St. Patrick West.

He was speaking at a meeting attended by hundreds of residents who showed up to express their support for the Playing Field and Resource Centre Project.

MP Gilbert thanked the gathering for their unwavering support for the project, and pledged that “government would not be dissuaded in its efforts to bring the project to fruition.’’

His remarks were punctuated several times with loud applause from the enthusiastic crowd. It comprised a wide cross section of the community, including members of the Snell Sports and Cultural Club.

According to the organizers of Sunday’s mass meeting, it was held in response to several detractors of the proposed project, including senior officials of the opposition NNP.

“They want to see the project derailed,’’ one organizer said.

Government has already identified a portion of a privately owned estate in Snell Hall, and has moved to secure a certain acreage for the project.

However, on a recent edition of the Sunday talkshow hosted by broadcaster, George Grant, the owner of the estate took strong offense to government’s move to acquire part of the land for the project.

She received tacit support from one or two top executive members of the opposition who called in to the radio programme.

But Sunday’s meeting suggested heavy community backing for the project. Many people took to the podium to voice the community’s full support for it.