NEGRIL, Westmoreland:

Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to tour areas protected under the Negril Area Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) and the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS), with a view to securing first-hand information on some of the problems being experienced by the operators.

The tour will include visits to the Negril Royal Palm Reserve, a tranquil forest within the Negril Great Morass, and the Negril Marine Park, one of six parks declared a protected area because of its unique natural resources.

At a meeting with representatives of the NEPT and the NCRPS during his one-day visit to Montego Bay recently, Golding gave a commitment to meet with the parties and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to discuss the preservation and enhanced development of the various land and sea attractions managed by the two Negril entities.

Kenrick Davis, NEPT chairman, has called on the Government for support in identifying funding for the organisations through agencies such as the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

- JIS

The National People's Cooperative Bank is moving to facilitate increased involvement in the Ministry of Agriculture's Fruit Tree Crop Project.

Manager of the bank's Old Harbour branch, Juliet Taylor, says the institution has a special loan scheme, dedicated to funding the inputs of persons interested in getting into this area.

According to Taylor, the Bodles Agricultural Research Station will give a big grant to farmers who invest in that area of farming.

She described the initiative, which focuses on increasing quality and quantity of various fruit crops, as a good one, which could provide a quick turnaround time in investments.

Taylor also disclosed that the bank is moving to facilitate new business with individuals, particularly those interested in agriculture, who queried the institution's suite of products during the recently held Denbigh Agricultural Show.

- JIS

PORTMORE, St Catherine:

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says Government is looking at setting up a solar energy farm on the eastern side of the Hellshire Hills in Portmore, St Catherine.

Golding, who was responding to recommendations made by Montego Bay business persons during his one-day tour of St James, said the move was part of a drive to encourage greater use of solar energy for household purposes.

Golding also met with various other interest groups, including representatives of the Negril Environmental Protection Trust and councillors of the St James Parish Council.

He was accompanied by Minister of Water and Housing and MP for St James North Western, Dr Horace Chang.

- JIS

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

Dozens of security guards attached to Atlas Security Company in Portland, are still mourning the passing of Denver Lewis, a colleague who succumbed to injuries following a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday.

Lewis, who was rushed to the Port Antonio Hospital, died while receiving treatment. Four other security guards were also admitted, but their conditions were not considered life threatening.

Operations supervisor of Atlas security company in the parish, Oral Jones, pointed out that all employees were in a state of mourning.

He said that the accident, compounded by Lewis's passing, had dampened spirits.

On Wednesday, a Hiace minibus owned by Atlas was transporting nine security guards in the vicinity of Anchovy Gardens when it collided with a motor car, which attempted to turn into the nearby housing scheme.

The minibus rode a culvert and then tumbled into a ditch.

- Gareth Davis Sr

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

President of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) Robert Gregory is calling on Jamaicans to start trusting each other in business.

Gregory, who was addressing members of the Rotary Club of Mandeville on Thursday, said that the lack of trust exhibited towards each other has resulted in instances where business opportunities are not taken up on a local level, while we have "unprecedented foreign direct investment" .

The JTI president questioned the stance of what he termed, "so many reluctant and cynical local investors, who are not plugging into the possibilities for business linkages and spin-offs".

According to Gregory, last year, the JTI facilitated $23 billion in investments, resulting in over 7,000 jobs and nearly $3 billion in exports. He is, however, at a loss as to why there is limited participation by the local business community, particularly at a time he terms, "the best of times for inward investment in the country".