Retired lecturer, Jennifer Ferguson, accepts a plaque from board chairman of Portmore Community College, Reverend Karl Henlin.

Portmore Community College (PCC) has been a beacon of the education landscape in the sunshine city for the past 20 years.

The institution took time out to reflect, acknowledge and award persons who have assisted in their own way to build the school, during an event at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, recently. Those employees served the institution for between 10 and 20 years.

The college said farewell to five staff members who were retiring. Three of the retirees, Violet Ebanks, Jennifer Ferguson and Carol Fletcher, were present to receive their awards. The remaining two, Francella Allen and Olive Charlton, were unavoidably absent.

The new board chairman, Reverend Karl Henlin, welcomed the audience to the historic function and assisted in the distribution of awards. Henlin hinted that within the next five years the shape of the Portmore campus will be transformed and life will be much nicer for the employees.

Desi Jones and Friends offered a musical presentation along with recording artiste Winsome Benjamin.

The college opened its doors on January 5, 1992 with 38 students, principal Shirley Whylie, three teachers, two administrative staff members, and a single ancillary worker.

The official opening was done on February 6, 1992 by former prime minister, the late Michael Manley. The first chairman of the board was Member of Parliament for South St Catherine, Fitz Jackson. Many changes have been made throughout the years, and in October 2001 the college opened its doors for its first satellite campus in Old Harbour.

Burchell Whiteman, the then minister of education youth and culture, officially opened the campus on April 17, 2002. PCC continues to grow in its services and programmes as well as the modalities of programme delivery.