Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation has made a $1 million challenge fund allocation for each parish across the island. This was announced by the foundation's Western Region Director, Virginia Turner, while addressing the third JNBS Foundation Rural Development Partnership and Advocacy Forum held on Thursday, at the Morant Bay Parish Church Hall in St. Thomas.

Speaking to community leaders drawn from over 80 communities across the parish, Ms. Turner used the forum to invite submissions for the funds and reminded them that the available money is in fact grant funds geared towards community challenge projects which must generate employment and has sustainable projections.

Arthur Green

As a means of getting students to understand the importance of the tourist industry, Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa launched a 'Tourism Action Club' at the New Hope Primary and High School in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, last week.

Among the stated aims of Sandals Whitehouse Tourism Club is to expose students to the tourist industry at an early age, getting students more attuned to the things that are uniquely Jamaica, as well as to expose students to what a career in the industry entails.

Speaking at the launch, Keith Wedderburn, assistant public relations manager of the hotel, said that, among the goals for the school's tourism programme, is to create awareness among students of the importance of tourism, and it being Jamaica's number one foreign exchange earner.

Rayon Dyer

There has been no piped water in the small farming community of Lluidas Vale in north-west, St. Catherine, for the past week, according to residents.

They told The Gleaner on Thursday that they have been experiencing great difficulty as a result of the situation and are therefore calling on the authorities to speedily address the problem. Schools, the clinic and other public entities in the area have also been adversely affected.

Reports reaching The Gleaner suggest that the latest predicament, the second in two months, has been caused by a burnt-out generator at the pumping station.

Elgin Taylor

Under the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation's schools' motivation programme, the students and teachers of the Fullerswood All-Age in the parish were encouraged and motivated by businessman and motivational speaker, Raphael Myers, last Monday.

The visits to this school and others form part of the foundation's 14th anniversary homecoming week 2006 celebrations, which ran from November 26-December 1, under the theme 'Building Future Leaders'.

"I did not make it academically but with self-motivation, hard work, a persistent mind and the will to learn - thank God I am what I am today," said Mr. Myers, managing director of R.L. Myers & Son Limited.

Rayon Dyer

Former Member of Parliament for North Trelawny and businessman, Keith Russell, is facing a dilemma. He wants his land near Duncans Bay in Trelawny, but denies making plans to forcefully remove the occupants.

"I don't plan to use anything I don't have to use, it is the responsibility of the police to ensure that the bailiff do what they have to do," he said. "There would be nothing sudden about this, they have gotten enough time."

The court had issued eviction notices for the occupants between 1994 and 1995, however, this action has been met with strong resistance from the dwellers.

Western Bureau

Former Mayor of Mandeville, Cecil C. Charlton, has been honoured by the Jamaica Library Service and the Manchester Parish Library network for 48 years of service to the organisation.

The ceremony was held recently at the Mandeville Hotel in Manchester, with scores of persons in attendance.

In his tribute to Mr. Charlton, Custos of Manchester, Dr. Gilbert Allen, said, "The footprints made by this icon of a man in this community are bold indeed and indelible."

Dr. Allen said Mr. Charlton, or 'Maas C' as he is affectionately called, had a goal at almost every aspect of community life and had made a success of most. "He's a man who can be considered a true role model of courage and tenacity," he said.