FOOD FOR the Poor, Ellerslie, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, one of Jamaica's major charities, is to build 500 houses on the Riverton City landfill, Kingston, as part of a broader plan to build 2,000 houses, this year on lots of land donated by the government.

The houses are to be completed within the next six to 12 months. National Religious Broadcasters Association (NRBA), a network of radio, television, cable companies and Internet service providers based in the United States, has already launched fund-raising campaigns to raise US$4 million to fund the project, NRBA president, Brandst Gustavson, said.

IN DECLARING Llandilo Phase 4 officially opened, the Hon. Dr. Karl Blythe, Minister of Water and Housing on April 15 congratulated JMB Developments Limited developers and Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Mortgagers, on their collaboration in delivering affordable housing solutions to the parish of Westmoreland. The Minister noted that he was pleased to see that the interest rate on mortgages offered were attractive and congratulated JNBS for the bold move in offering a low rate of 14 per cent for the first three (3) years to purchasers of the Llandilo Phase 4 units. Dr. Blythe challenged all financial institutions to also take the interest rate below 15 per cent.

The Minister went on to disclose that there are plans for the Ministry to modernize existing pre-fabricated factories now under the Ministry's control, by utilizing post and blocks construction. According to Minister Blythe, this shift from post and panel construction will be more in keeping with the demand for the type of housing structures desired by the majority of Jamaicans. Dr. Blythe who is also the MP for Central Westmoreland was addressing the large gathering of persons from the area, who were in attendance at the official opening of Llandilo Phase 4 in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

PALACE AMUSEMENT has reported that the film Romeo Must Die, is being pirated and rented, as well as shown on the community channels operated by some local cable companies.

Commenting on this latest development, Melanie Graham, Palace's marketing manager, said the company's box office was being severely affected by pirated videos of some major releases.

THERE IS a growing trend away from dairy products like sweetened condensed milk to non-dairy, soya-based products, says Food and Nutrition Consultant Dr. Heather Little-White.

This is reflected in the marketplace where last year, milk processor Nestle JMP Jamaica Limited recorded a seven per cent downturn in sales of condensed milk and a six per cent decrease in sales of fresh milk. This has forced the company to suggest lowering the amount of milk bought from local dairy farmers by 3.4 million litres, prompting the recent protest by the Jamaica Dairy Farmers Federation.