Senior Lecturer at Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, Joan Howard, has musician Paul Hurlock rock 'n' rollin' at Day-O Plantation Restaurant. Ms Howard chaired the appreciation function in honour of retired lecturer, Veda Barrett. - Contributed WE GOT an insight into the power of skills attained through the HEART Trust/NTA last Tuesday when all the training institutions in the western parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover and St. James came together in celebration of the organisations 20th anniversary.
With the aid of an integrated exposition at the Montego Bay Civic Centre, the trainees showed off their talents in the hospitality sector, information technology, home economics, and related areas. The day's programme commenced with an opening ceremony in the Civic Centre's Amphitheatre, chaired by managing director of the Caribbean Institute of Technology, Samuel Bowen. Vicar General, Monsignor Herbert Panton offered prayers.
Executive director of HEART Trust/NTA, Robert Gregory and regional manager, Merton Jones, were justly proud of the achievements of their organisation. The group from the Montego Bay Information Technology Training Centre would not get the Grammy award but the message in their songs, Can't Give Up Now and Thanks were quite appropriate for the occasion.
It was a bit strange to have the Custos of a neighbouring parish giving the keynote address but given that this was a regional integrated effort, Custos of Westmoreland, Owen 'Hurry Hurry' Sinclair was quite at home in St. James and his motivational address was well received. Also taking part in the were Colin Hitchman and Jacqueline Lawson. The Hatfield Group ended the evening programme with a cultural performance.
The entertainment fare for the remainder of the day included karaoke performance by the Howard Cooke Primary School, Abijah and Macki Conscious. The audience comprised mainly students but among the adults were: Dr. Angella Samuels, Ann Townsend, Valerie O'Bryan, Leroy Peart and Glaister Dehaney.
Guinness Summit
While the eyes of most Jamaicans will be focused tomorrow on who gets nominated for the October 16 General Election, more than 150 delegates from across the Diageo group world-wide will be converging on Montego Bay for the first Guinness Global Brand Summit at the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall. Our good friend, Maxine Whittingham, who kept us up to date for a long time on the good things at Air Jamaica has now joined another great friend, Grace Silvera at Red Stripe, and she tells us that the Summit runs from September 30 to October 4.
There's no doubt that Red Stripe has a soft spot for Montego Bay and its tourist industry. It was only a few months ago that the company, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas Convention was at the Half Moon Club. In fact, Red Stripe president, John Irving, says Red Stripe always seeks to promote Jamaica as the ideal conference and vacation destination within the Diageo group. Guinness global brand director, Jon Potter, will join a list of marketing and brand executives from across the Diageo network at this its first summit to discuss strategic marketing and tactics to enhance growth and sustained brand development.
PCA opens
The office was opened in January but it was only last Monday that the Pesticides Control Authority had the official opening of its western branch at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay. From all indications though, the staff has been very active in training pest control operators and carrying out inspectors to ensure the safety through the proper use of pesticides. Four of five persons who have been trained and certified received their certificates; they are Dave James, Arthur Gilchrist, Ian Barrett and Terrence Coke. PCA registrar, Hyacinth Chin Sue, headed the short list of dignitaries at the function, held on the lawns of the RADA building at Catherine Hall. It was also the event at which Arthur Nelson made his final appearance as Member of Parliament for west central St. James.
Among the guests were: Ann Lewis, Edward 'Tony' Malcolm, Henry Lindo, Lee Roy Taylor, John Evans, Leroy Benjamin and Horace Underhill.
Computer graduates
Congratulations to the 47 employees of the St. James and Trelawny Parish Councils who have completed successfully a three-month computer course. With the stated intention of government to merge the administrative services of both parish councils, and the computerisation of the local authorities for greater efficiency, funding was provided under the Parish Infrastructure Development Programme (PIDP) for the training.
