Montego Bay

The Montego Bay Centre started on January 2, 1987, at 2 Peter Pan Avenue, Brandon Hill Montego Bay, St. James, with a staff complement of ten (10) members. At its inception, under Nurse McGregor’s management, approximately seventeen (17) adolescent mothers were enrolled at the Centre.

The Lucea Outreach started in the 1990s at the Lucea Anglican Church Hall, Hanover. The counselor/centre manager operated once weekly (on Fridays).

The Montego Bay Women’s Centre Day Nursery was renovated by two entities J. Wray & Nephew and Kiwanis Club in July 1992.

As the years progressed, the Day Nursery income/revenues decreased as working parents opted for institutions that cater to older toddlers. The brilliant idea of the implementation of a Preschool came from Mrs. Rosemarie Edwards, which was endorsed by Centre Manager and Senior Management Team, hence; the Montego Bay Centre was the very first Centre to have a Preschool formally called Chubby Cheeks in (now Young Achievers Pre School)

Unique Feature

• Hush Baby Mother Film: A focus on Teenage Pregnancy was aired at the Montego Bay Centre. A sixteen-year-old adolescent mother (Rosey) was selected to be the main character in the documentary. The adolescent mother’s baby was delivered by former Counsellor, Mrs. Velma Monteith (now Centre Manager at St. Ann’s Bay Centre) at Dr. Channer Watson’s Medical Facility. This documentary was shown all over Canada, Jamaica and other areas.
• First Centre to implement uniform for adolescent mothers by former Centre Manager (Mrs. Lucrline Mitchell)
• First Centre to carryout Centre Field Trips (allowing adolescent mothers to visit other Centres and Parishes). This was spearheaded by Counsellor, Maria Robinson
• The only Centre to maintain a male Counsellor over the years (Pastor Whitley, Pastor Dennis Webb and Pastor Carlton Smith)
• The first Centre to have Christmas parties/luncheon/dinner for adolescent mothers, their parents/guardians and friends of the centre.
• The first Centre to get support from Nutri bun in Falmouth. Former Centre Manager, Mrs. Mitchell/Counsellor would journey to Falmouth via Centre’s bus weekly and collect bulla/bun and milk for adolescent mothers.
• St. Ann’s Bay Centre Manager, Mrs. Velma Monteith was a Counsellor at the Montego Bay Centre during the period of 1991-1994.
• Actg. Centre Manager, Ms. Judyann Scott is an offspring of the Montego Bay Women’s Centre.