The New Forrest Pumping Station in south-east St Elizabeth, which was out of service due to severe damages to the well, has been re-commissioned to provide water for domestic purposes to residents in the areas it served in the past.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner on Tuesday, councillor for the Junction division, Citany Holness, said residents of New Forrest, Junction, Bull Savannah, Cheapside, Comma Pen and Lititz can breath a sigh of relief with the return of the precious commodity.
Holness also issued an appeal to the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) to establish an irrigation scheme in the Junction area, which would serve the extended communities and aid the farmers with water for agricultural purposes. He said the practice of using domestic water for farming cannot continue for much longer.
When contacted for a comment national chairman of the NIC, Oliver Nembhard, said efforts were currently under way to establish irrigation systems in Duff House, Comma Pen and Bull Savannah. He said it would take some time to have it done in Junction because of the area's height.
The NIC chairman also cautioned residents to extend more patience as the commission continued to work through the various challenges. He said that things were being done to give the farmers more opportunities to increase their production levels.
- Rayon Dyer
Clarendon benefit from outreach clinic
More than 100 persons have benefited from a community outreach clinic, which was held recently at the St. James Anglican Church in Clarendon.
The clinic, made possible through the collaborative effort of the Clarendon Health Department and the Environment and Safety department, was conducted not only to provide medical support to needy persons in the parish, but also to sensitise them to the proactive role they need to play in maintaining good health.
Included in the service were blood pressure checks, haemo-globin tests, blood sugar checks, eye screening and cholesterol checks.
Personnel from the health Department said that an outreach programme of this nature was necessary, as people sometimes find it tedious or inconvenient to travel to established health facilities to receive medical attention.
Persons being treated for hypertension and diabetes who attended the clinic, were warned of the dangers associated with not taking their medication on time as prescribed by their physicians.
In addition to the various medical tests done on that day, several children were immunised. Medical represen-tatives also made presentations on various health-related issues.
- JIS
Teen allegedly commits suicide
Fean Wright, a 19-year-old man from Comfort district, is alleged to have committed suicide after his body was found hanging in a closet at his home about 9 a.m. yesterday.
The body was discovered by his mother, who was surprised by the grisly find, after she went to retrieve an item.
Persons in the community, told The Gleaner that Wright had seemed depressed for the last two days.
However, the residents still say they were surprised at the allegation that he took his life.
- AL
