Portmore assist residents of St Catherine in time of need

Portmore United captain Rosario Harriott believes more Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) clubs should try to do more to assist the lesser fortunate in their immediate and surrounding communities.

Yesterday, the RSPL champions, Portmore United, and their executives presented care packages to the mayor of Portmore, Leon Thomas, the elderly and members of the disabled community, before journeying to Spanish Town where they met with President of the St Catherine Football Association, Elaine Walker-Brown, and made presentations at the Spanish Town hospital.

And although captain Harriott, was pleased with the gesture from his club, he calls on other clubs to try to help ease the burden on those who are having it difficult at this time.

"This (outreach) is a very good thing the club is doing, especially for the Chambers brothers, who lost their home recently," he said, referring to a monetary contribution the St Catherine club made to the goalkeeper brothers Tafari and Akeem Chambers of Harbour View and Waterhouse FC, respectively, after their house was destroyed by fire.

A little encouragement

"Everything is now on a low and things are very difficult, so they (recipients) were all grateful for the contribution the club put together for them. That will give them a little encouragement," he said.

However, he added, "If we (Portmore) can stretch a helping hand, others (clubs) can do the same, because you never know when it is your (hard) time. So some clubs can maybe come together and see how strong they can be. But I know if everybody come together, everything will work well. But any way someone can give back they should, and so I am please with everything the club is doing," he said.

Portmore are based in Braeton, Portmore. However, since they returned to the RSPL three seasons ago, they have played majority of their home games at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, and Harriott said it was important that they recognised both communities for their support with this gesture.

"This is a gesture of giving back to the Spanish Town and Portmore communities. Just giving back to the hospital and to others in need, handing over a few (care) packages from Jamaica Producers to the staff of the hospital for their hard work. This is to let them know that we still care, and people are still looking out for them as they are out there working," he said.

Team manager Clive Marshall said in this time of serious financial constraints, the club was doing what it could to assist the needy. "In this situation, we will be showing another side (of the club) by doing what we can to assist the less fortunate," he said.