Contributed
Sister Kate Ashman (second right), of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Black River Hospital, points out a feature of the hospital's new ambulance, funded by the National Health Fund (NHF), to Raymond Brooks (left) vice-chairman of the NHF. Also looking on are Deputy Matron Maria Stampp (second left) and Alwyn Miller, chief executive officer of the hospital.St. Elizabeth
A new ambulance was officially handed over to the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth on Tuesday.
Alwin Miller, parish manager at the Black River Hospital, said that since the latter part of 2005, the Black River Hospital has been in a celebratory mood, encouraged by the improvements to facilities and provision of resources essential to proper care delivery.
Mr. Milller said he appreciated the handing over of the ambulance by the National Health Fund, as having a reliable unit to comfortably transport patients to referral facilities when necessary would make a difference.
"It is extremely important to us to have such a resource available on- hand, but even more for the patient whose life or quality of life after recovery depends on it," he said.
Analee Bernard
Lucea, Hanover
Construction is being completed by workmen at the Lucea Basic School in Hanover.
The works are being carried out under the $3.5 billion North Western Schools Programme which is being implemented on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, by the Urban Development Corporation with West Indies Home Contractors as contractors. The project, on completion, will see an increase in the school stock in the parishes of Hanover, Westmoreland, St. James and Trelawny to 17, in a mix of basic, primary and high. A total of 11 schools has already been completed and handed over to the Education Ministry.
These include, the replacement Frome Technical, in Westmoreland; Irwin High and Primary, Success Primary, Spot Valley High and Green Pond basic, primary and high schools in St. James, and in Trelawny, Holland High and Hague basic and primary schools.
Contributed
Ocho Rios, St. Ann
The St. Ann 4-H Club has embarked on a number of projects this year, which are geared toward providing training for its clubbites as well as to boost membership within the parish.
"Among the programmes that have been introduced by the 4-H is the junior leaders league, where the leaders of the various clubs are being trained to become peer educators," said St. Ann parish development officer, Eugennie Walters.
She told JIS News that training was being undertaken in areas such as conflict resolution, team building, youth employability, and emergency management
JIS
Lionel Town, Clarendon
Larry Richards, the former policeman charged with the murder of 24-year-old Keisha Harvey of Longville Park, Clarendon, was denied bail when he appeared in court yesterday.
The matter has been
rescheduled for March 23, in the Lionel Town Resident Magistrate's Court.
Yesterday the clerk of court told the judge that the attorney representing Mr. Richards had requested another court date. Mr. Richards was taken into custody on the murder charge last month after Keisha's body was discovered some 200 metres behind a house where she lived.
Meanwhile, The Gleaner/Power 106 news understands that a woman is now in police custody being questioned in relation to the murder.
Stephanie Elliot
Mandeville, Manchester
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Land and Environment, Donovan Stanberry, says the failure to improve socioeconomic conditions may result in a further degradation of the environment.
Mr. Stanberry, who was speaking during an environmental workshop dubbed 'Inna Di Law' at Astra Country Inn, Mandeville, Manchester, said it was difficult to enforce current environmental laws because of inadequate human resources.
According to him, although more law enforcement officers are required, citizens must make a greater effort to protect the environment.
The Permanent Secretary also said activities such as squatting and deforestation are often the acts of those living in less than favourable economic conditions.
-- Byron McDaniel
Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland
More than 400 cane cutters employed to the Frome Sugar Factory in Westmoreland returned to work yesterday after a one-day lockdown.
The resumption follows the reinstatement of two supervisors who had been suspended.
The workers had also withdrawn their services to press their demands for outstanding incentive payments. But following a meeting Thursday, between the University and Allied Workers Union, and the management of Frome, it was agreed that the suspension of the supervisors would be rescinded and the incentive payments made immediately.
The parties also agreed that the workers who went on strike would not be penalised because of the action they took.
Cedric Johnson
Black River, St. Elizabeth
The drought currently gripping south St. Elizabeth has been addressed somewhat, with assistance from Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart).
Speaking to The Gleaner on Tuesday, Lance Neita, Alpart's public relations officer, said that during the drought the company has been trucking water to communities, schools and public agencies in the area.
"Alpart pumps some 400,000 gallons of water to a number of communities close to the plant, as well as trucks the precious commodity to schools, clinics and to some districts which are outside of the piped distribution system,' Mr. Neita said.
Mr. Neita also noted that parish leaders such as Lenworth Blake, Member of Parliament for South-East St. Elizabeth, and Franklyn Witter, Mayor of Black River, have been working closely with Alpart to have water trucked to the needy residents.
Rayon Dyer
