A little girl (left) sings during the Memorial Service of Winnifred Eloise Parara at the Portmore Evangelistic Centre on Sunday, November 18, 2007. - Photo by Anthony Minott

Missing businessman's body found

PALMERS CROSS, CLARENDON:

The partially decomposed body of 41-year-old Clarendon businessman, Paul Douglas, of Rosewell Road, Palmers Cross, was found on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Breadnut Bottom in the same community.

Douglas, who operated a meat shop in Palmers Cross, went missing on January 12 and was last seen in York Town, Clarendon, where he visited a friend.

It is reported that while at his friend's house Douglas received a phone call, left and had not been seen since. The Toyota Corolla station wagon Douglas was driving at the time of his disappearance is still missing.

A post-mortem conducted on Douglas' decomposed body revealed that he died from a single gunshot to the head.

The May Pen police are investigating.

- Dwight Nelson

Winnifred Parara scholarships awarded

PORTMORE, ST. CATHERINE:

Two students from the Sunshine City are recipients of scholarships from the recently sanctioned Winnifred Eloise Parara Educational Fund.

The recipients, Jonelle Lewis, 14, a third-form student at St Hugh's High and Shakera Graham, 16, from Bridgeport High, received their cheques on Sunday, November 18, at the Portmore Evangelistic Centre in Newland.

The Rev. Elisha Thomas, head clergyman of the host church, and Joshua Beech did the presentations.

The $35,000 presentations took place during a memorial service for the late Momma Parara, a prominent evangelist, and the money is intended to cover lunch money, bus fares and other amenities for the year.

Parara was notorious for giving spiritual and financial help to the Portmore Evangelistic Centre.

- Anthony Minott

NWC holds public forum

ST. MARY:

The National Water Commission's (NWC) case for seeking a 44 per cent tariff increase was presented to residents of St Mary during a public forum sponsored by the Office of Utilities Regulation at the Port Maria Civic Centre on January 17.

The main presenter was the NWC's Corporate Public Relations Manager Charles Buchanan.

In arguing the case for the increase, Buchanan said the absence of a tariff that enables full cost recovery has effectively prevented the NWC from having the money or the borrowing power to implement the measures necessary to provide proper service.

On the status of the NWC's operation in St Mary, Buchanan said several projects were undertaken and successfully completed in the parish as a result of a previous increase.

He pointed out that a number of other projects had been approved for implementation in the parish and were awaiting funding, adding that financing would be possible if the request for a tariff increase was granted.

- JIS

Port Antonio High School hit by fires

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

In what administration believes is the work of arsonists, two incidents of fire have left scars on students and teachers at Port Antonio High School, in Portland.

The first fire took place on Tuesday. It was brought under control by the quick response of the school's caretaker, Renford Wood, who alerted the Port Antonio fire department.

The second incident took place on Thursday, with the fire team again responding to the call, but not before security measures, which were imposed the day before, were brought into play.

Principal Steve Gordon explained that the rear section of the office of the assistant bursar's office was set afire. Gordon is now concerned about a squatter settlement located directly behind the school, and that persons from that settlement were caught stealing water from the school.

Damage was estimated at $88,000 by the fire team. More than 150 student files were destroyed in the fire, along with financial records and books in the assistant bursar's office.

- Gareth Davis Sr.