Jamaica will soon be the recipients of 21 dialysis machines to boost the delivery of health care.

The machines, valued at US$315,000, have been donated by the Division of Nephrology and the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University of Nashville, Tennessee.

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley, accepted the gift on behalf of the Government at a ceremony last Friday.

Ambassador Shirley expressed the Government’s gratitude for the machines, pointing out they would help to address critical health -care needs.

He commended the university for its very generous offer which, he said, would be appreciated by Jamaicans, especially those who were in need of this vital service.

– Contributed

Portland candidates to meet with police

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

The four candidates representing the two major political parties in Portland are again scheduled to meet with the Police High Command to reaffirm the importance of the Political Code of Conduct.

This will be the third meeting attempted and the plan is to have one every other Wednesday leading up to the general election. People’s National Party candidate for Western Portland, Abe Dabdoub, has been a no-show for the last two meetings.

Mr. Dabdoub had said earlier he would not sit at any forum with his opponent Daryl Vaz, of the Jamaica Labour Party, who allegedly insulted him verbally.

However, a meeting with the Ombudsman has since sorted the situation out.

But Mr. Vaz has since denied the allegation. Subsequently, both parties met with the Political Ombudsman who managed to quell the stand-off.

– Gareth Davis

Carcasses pose health risk

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

The local health authorities and the Portland Parish Council are worried that continuous dumping of animal carcasses in rivers and streams could pose serious health-related problems to residents.

In recent times, several dead animals – including dogs, pigs, cows and poultry – have been found in rivers and along the coastline of Port Antonio, Snow hill, St. Margaret’s Bay and Buff Bay. The situation has since worsened after two dead pitbull dogs were discovered by ancillary workers in a garbage receptacle near the Titchfield High School after the stench from the bin became unbearable.

The Ministry of Health, in the meantime, is cautioning residents to desist from the practice as a number of fishermen operate along the coastal area. The health team also warns of bacteria from the carcasses, which can be harmful to humans.

– G.D.

Fire truck can’t hold its water

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

The lone Rosenberg fire unit, which was commissioned last year to the Port Antonio Fire Station, is continuing to leak profusely.

Firefighters, who requested anonymity, have said the leaking is frustrating their efforts when called upon to deal with events.

According to firefighters, the unit is unable to hold water in its storage tank which sometimes causes panic, especially in areas where there are no hydrants.

The firefighters pointed out that a report has been made to its headquarters in Kingston regarding the leaking tank, but no response has been received. As a result, the fire truck now has to be parked outside the station building with a hose attached to it in an attempt to stop the loss of water.

The firefighters, who are unhappy with the situation, have also reported that the unit is not able to travel far without running out of water.

– G.D.

Parish council to take over Hanover growth

LUCEA, HANOVER:

Mayor of Lucea, Vasca Brown, says the Hanover Parish Council will have to take the lead in the preparation and completion of a development plan for the parish to ensure orderly growth.

He was responding to statements made by Deputy Mayor of Lucea Audley Gilpin, who had said it was the Minister of Local Government and Environment’s responsibility to fund the parish-development plan.

The mayor said the council would be taking a collaborative approach, and would be consulting with the major stakeholders within the parish, including government agencies and civil society, to get the plan under way.

According to him, the parish-development plan is supposed to take into consideration the resources in the parish, how the people would want to see the parish develop, and formulate the plan into a development order so that all development within the parish conformed to the order.

– Claudia Gardner

Old Harbour gets $2m resource centre

OLD HARBOUR, ST. CATHERINE:

The residents of Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, are now the proud recipients of a brand-new resource centre, valued at $2 million, courtesy of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).

The multifunctional centre will serve the day-to-day needs of the Old Harbour Bay Primary School and the community with its more than 10,000 residents.

Residents will be able to use the facility to check email, carry out word-processing functions and, in general, learn computer-related skills.

In January 2008, the centre, in association with the Heart Trust/NTA, will offer certified computer courses to the residents which will enable them to acquire technical skills not otherwise available to them.