TRELAWNY:

Work is under way on the US$17 million Martha Brae/ Runaway Bay Water Supply Expansion and Rehabilitation Project which will serve sections of Trelawny and St. Ann.

The project, which is being implemented by the National Water Commission (NWC) under its transformation and modernisation plan, will include the construction of a 500,000-gallon tank above Rio Bueno and some 23 kilometres of transmission and distribution lines extending from Braco to Runaway Bay.

Sogea-Satom, the contractor for the north western project, has been contracted for the Martha Brae/Runaway Bay project.

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, pointed out that the project would provide an improved and more reliable water supply for NWC customers and support several developments that are being planned for the area.

The minister, while saying much more needed to be done, commended the NWC for its work to improve access to potable water and urged citizens to support their drive to serve Jamaica better.

- JIS

PORTLAND:

The Ministry of Agri-culture is setting up a laboratory in Portland to produce parasitoid wasps which are the main wea-pons being employed in the fight against the pink hibiscus mealy bug.

The Fair Prospect office of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, which was damaged by Hurricane Dean in August, is being repaired at a cost of $882,000 to accommodate the lab.

Marina Young Senior, plant health food safety specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture, told JIS News that the laboratory is expected to be completed in December, with wasp production to commence by the beginning of next year.

She noted that the establishment of the laboratory will ensure that the country is able to produce the wasps when the agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to supply the country with the parasitoid expires at the end of December.

- JIS

KINGSTON:

James Heg, chargé d'affaires at the United States Embassy in Kingston, presented the 2007 Ambassador's HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme grant valued US$26,000 (J$1.8 million) to the Children First agency on Tuesday.

The award will be used to fund an anti-stigma and anti-discrimination project among inmates and staff at four of the island's correctional institutions through training sessions, edutainment fairs, as well as sensitisation sessions with visitors to the institutions.

Children First Agency executive director, Claudette Richardson-Pious, said the nine-month project will be implemented in two phases with the initial phase focusing on sensitisation sessions with the inmates and officers.

The second phase will focus on sensitisation with visitors and relatives as well as the implementation of action plans by the trained inmates, with the support of officers and the Children First team. She further noted that voluntary confidential counselling and HIV testing will also be provided for inmates and visitors under the project.

- Contributed

YALLAHS, ST. THOMAS:

A technical team from the National Works Agency (NWA) on Monday visited Yallahs, St. Thomas, to investigate the cause of flooding on sections of the roadway in that parish.

Over the past six weeks, water has been flowing from underground springs through the yards on the northern side of the roadway, causing roads and homes to be flooded. In some sections of the road in Pondside water covered the sidewalk forcing residents to walk through water.

Communications manager at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, said he was aware of the difficulties being experienced in the community. However, he pointed out that there was "very little" that the NWA could do at this time except to ensure that all the drains in the area were kept clean.

Mr. Shaw said that he was hoping that the cessation of rainfall would allow the water on the road to recede.

He said that the problem was not new to the community and many of the householders on the southern side of the carriageway have built up their entrances to prevent water from entering their yards.

- JIS

KINGSTON:

Over 30 artistes/celebrities have so far confirmed their support for and involvement the Mediathon to raise funds to Restore the Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston.

The mediathon will take place on Sunday, December 9, from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Creative Production and Training Centre in the recently-refurbished Wycliffe Bennett studio, under the theme 'The Ward - Restoring the Glory'.

Early confirmations were received from Oliver Samuels, Paulette Bellamy and Pierre Lemaire. Joining them are Leonie Forbes, Faith D'Aguilar, Pauline Stone-Myrie, Mijan Webster, Douglas Proute, Movements Dance, NDTC, Keith Noel, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Ruth Ho Shing, Aston Cooke, Marie Isaacs, Dr. Bobby 'Elvis' DeMercado, John Williams and Ragashanti.

Paymaster has agreed to use their outlets as collection points for pledges. Victoria Mutual Building Society has come on board as a bronze sponsor and will provide an account for depositing pledges. Significant contributions have also been received from Red Stripe, RBTT Bank, Burger King, Bank of Nova Scotia, JMMB, Musson Jamaica Ltd. and the LTM.

- Contributed

KINGSTON:

Some 350 fishermen from across Jamaica are slated to benefit from a fishing and swimming course being conducted by the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI).

CMI executive director, Fritz Pinnock, said the programme is being carried out in collaboration with Food For the Poor (FFP).

Training involves the use of advanced technology including GPS (global positioning system), map reading, boat handling and engine maintenance, as well as the basic competencies needed to operate safely and effectively in that environment. As part of the course, the fishermen are invited to reside on the CMI campus for a week of classroom work.

According to Mr. Pinnock, FFP will provide each fisherman with a GPS at the end of the course, as well as a boat and engine.

The swimming aspect of the course will be carried out in a pool that the CMI will construct on its campus in honour of a student who drowned recently.

- JIS

LILLIPUT, ST. JAMES:

The government will be clamping down on illegal foreign workers and the inspection team within the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has been strengthened to deal with the matter.

Labour Minister, Pearnel Charles, who was speaking with journalists at the Iberostar Rose Hall Hotel in Lilliput, St. James, recently, following a meeting with tourism investors and contractors in western Jamaica, said that the Government is adamant that all foreign workers within the island must have the relevant work permits, as required under the law.

He said that there are still several persons on the island without the relevant permits, and once the clampdown starts they will be in trouble with the law.

Minister Charles also outlined Government's stance on working conditions on project sites.

He stated that the Govern-ment welcomes investments being made in the country and the resultant increase in job creation, but that laws must be respected.

- JIS

ST. MARY:

The St. Mary Banana Estate is now Fair Trade Certified, which signifies that the fruits are produced under environmentally- sustainable conditions and in-keeping with standards of international labour.

Minister of Agriculture Dr. Christopher Tufton made the disclosure in a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Fair Trade is an organised social movement which aims to improve the lives of poor banana farmers and workers by making sure that they get a fair price for the fruit on the international market.

The Fair Trade label not only offers premium price for banana, but provides an additional US$1 per box (of banana) for community development in banana producing areas.

Since 2004, all farmers exporting to Europe must be EUREPGAP certified and the European Union Banana Support Pro-gramme is providing support to the island's 58 EUREPGAP certified farmers, to allow them to obtain Fair Trade certification within the shortest possible time.