A Second Chance

Being one of the weekly winners of $100,000 from Digicel, Montego Bay-based businessman Henry McCurdy has donated some of the winnings to 11-year-old Randayne Plummer, who is to undergo eye surgery, to offset educational expenses.

McCurdy gesture is in response to a Gleaner article published on July 9, 2009, about an incident in which Plummer lost one of his eyes during a recent schoolyard brawl on May 28, 2009.

“It was heartrending to know the circumstances that caused this young boy to loose one of his eyes, and to know that he has not been able to go to school since the incident, was enough to let me want to help,” McCurdy revealed during an official presentation.
Another boy allegedly used a broken mop stick to stab Randayne, a student of Chetwood Memorial Primary School in Montego Bay, St. James, following an altercation over marbles.
McCurdy donated a $40,000 cheque to cover the cost of an eye surgery for Randayne. He has also pledged to cover the cost of three months worth of prescriptions; purchase the boy’s textbooks for the upcoming school term; and pay educational expenses (transportation and lunch) up to the point when the young lad completes his Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

“I am so grateful to know that there are still persons out there who still cares,” were they must telling words from mother Karrian Graham, who says she has been having a difficult task getting the Ministry of Education to meet their financial responsibility since the incident. Graham contends that the school’s administration and the Ministry have not treated the matter with the urgency it deserves, and she is yet to receive redress for the expenses she has had to cushioned.

“My son is being awakened sometimes at even 3 a.m. since the incident because of the pain in his eye. I can’t bear to see my son in so much pain and feel so helpless,” the disheartened mother explained. “My son performs well and is always punctual but he has not been able to go to school since May.”

Money being returned from Lotto Scam

The partnership between the United States government through the JOLT (Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing) taskforce has resulted in repatriated funds to victims, says Charge d’ Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica, Isiah Parnell.


“My understanding is that there has been several thousands of dollars that have been recovered through this programme, and that have been sent back to Americans in the U.S. or Jamaicans living in the U.S. who have been victims of these (lottery) scams,” Parnell revealed during a press briefing with journalists in Montego Bay, St. James.

The taskforce comprises the United States’ Immigration Custom Enforcement (ICE) division, the United States Embassy in Jamaica and several national authorities including the Jamaica Constabulary Force; the Customs and Passport and Immigration departments; the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court; the Financial Investigation Division of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. The team will focus on stamping out the deadly multibillion-dollar lottery scam industry, which has its genesis in Montego Bay.

Parnell acknowledged that public sensitization on illicit activities such as the lottery scam, is a shared responsibility between law enforcement officials and the American customers.

"These scams not only affect American citizens but Jamaicans as well who are living the United States, and we have certainly dedicated some of our embassy resources to train local law enforcement agencies on how to deal with this type of issue,” he added.

Nevertheless, he admitted that the lotto scam is not unique to Jamaica. The scam involves the use of illicitly obtained personal information on potential victims, particularly US retirees, to con them into sending them money on the pretext that they have won a lottery and need to send a processing fee to claim their winnings.
Meanwhile, the turbulent economic climate in the US has not affected operations at its embassy in Kingston, noted the Charge d’ Affaires.

“We are fighting to get additional staffing in the consular section in some of our agencies, so we don’t expect that what’s going on in the U.S. economy will affect the kinds of services that we’ve always been able to provide,” he said.

The intention by Jamaicans to travel to the US resulted in 105,000 non-immigrant visa applications being processed at the embassy in Kingston, last year.

Helping children through Charlotte

Caring for underprivileged children at the Home of Charlotte’s Children Foundation is the fundamental goal of the home according to the founder Beulah Buzzi who recently celebrated the foundation’s 10th anniversary.


The initial financial hurdle to start the non-profit Home of Charlotte’s Children Foundation did not deter the enthusiastic philanthropist who wanted to make her mother’s dream of caring for needy and abandoned children a reality.

According to Mrs. Buzzi “this came about in 1998 out of a need to provide residential accommodation for orphaned, abandoned and needy children, custodial care, medical and financial assistance; and carry out programmes for the development of these children’s education to a self sufficient standard”.

She further revealed that her mother Charlotte Plowright, had devoted her life to helping the homeless, the sick and persons who were dying and after her death, Buzzi explained she wanted that fulfill her mother’s dream of caring for orphaned and abandoned children. While the foundation welcomes the milestone of their 10th year of service to the children she revealed that the impact of crime and violence from the surrounding communities continues to be a challenge for the Home of Charlotte’s Children Foundation.

“At times we can hear the gunshot sounds from other neighbouring communities and that can be a frightening experience, but we continue to be committed to providing the most loving environment for the children we oversea” a soft-spoken Buzzi noted.

The home has a capacity to house 24 children ages 9-16 and is done in partnership with the Child Development Agency (CDA) and funded through the friends of Home of Charlotte’s Children Foundation.

Some of the success stories that the home has accomplished throughout their operation over the years involves a young girl who plays the violin and obtained ‘distinction’ in the Royal School of Music examinations in June 2007, along with two girls who have talent in literary and figurative art and a young boy who is at the top of his class with great promise to be an accomplished athlete

Jobs, Jobs in Horticulture!

With the global downturn in the economy, there is one sector the remains unexplored in the Jamaica that can translate into jobs which is the horticulture industry according to Senator Norman Grant.


“The time is right to carry out a survey on this industry and begin to see horticulture as a sub sector of the agriculture sector that can contribute tremendously to the micro economy and open the door to jobs and wealth creation for our people” Sen. Grant revealed at the 46th annual Flower Show at Montego River Garden.

Grant, who is also the president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), argued that due to the nature of this industry and its link to tourism the government needs to engage in a Memorandum of Understanding between stakeholders in both sectors. He revealed the Caribbean countries including Jamaica has spent millions of dollars in the past to feed its demand for horticulture but has to import it from countries like the United States of America, which indicates the need to produce and supply our neighbouring countries.

Operating under the theme “Jamaica: Wi Bountiful” the St. James Horticulture Society hosted a two day flower show that gave hobbyist and professional florist an opportunity to showcase their skills in decorating and arranging of flowers. In addition the show facilitated an environment for networking with hotels, banks, schools and other interest groups while competing against each other in specific flower skills area.

Irwin High School, who was the only school in Montego Bay to participate at the event, generated widespread interest from horticulture fans. The school’s booth featured organic vegetable crops, mini hydroponics demonstration and a mini greenhouse.

According to Aeon Stewart, of the school’s agriculture department, “we are trying to showcase how simple organic farming is, how you can use discarded materials to grow seedlings and how you grow plants without soil through hydroponics”.

He further emphasized the importance of youths to get involved in agriculture at this time given the current economic environment where jobs are hard to find.

From a cook to an aspiring PhD graduate

The odds are stacked against a cook in the hospitality industry who has no Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects, no formal training and no chances of getting a promotion. Wrong, and June Clarke is living proof.


This ambitious, mid-40s extraordinaire offered a peaceful smile as she engaged this reporter on her journey from being a cook with no CXCs and formal training to now a student at the Oklahoma State University in the United States of America pursing her PhD.

“My mother has 10 of us and my father died when we were young so it was financially difficult for my mother to take care of us. But my mother has always encouraged me to go back to school when I started working to further my education, ” Clarke reasoned.

“I began working as a chef at a hotel in Trelawny but it was always my dream to go back to school. One day, after five years of working at the hotel, I became so frustrated with myself for not pursing my original plan to go to school, and it was at that moment where I said enough is enough” the Westmoreland native explained.

However, her road to pursing academic excellence at a tertiary institution was met with disappointment as some prominent colleges and universities in Montego Bay at the time refused to grant Clarke entry into their institutions because she did not have the requisite subjects.

She remembered vividly that after hours of visiting various institutions and no success in being enrolled, her hope of achieving her goals seemed dimmed with gloom until her sister recommended the Western Hospitality Institute (WHI). At the time, this institution did not require persons to CXC subjects to enroll in any of their programmes.

This was over 15 years ago. Now June Clarke has successfully completed her Associate Degree, Bachelor, Master of Business Administration (MBA) at WHI in collaboration Hocking College (U.S.A) and is currently on her way to complete her PhD in hotel management.

“I was ostracized by traditional institutions but that did not deter me from achieving my goals, I wanted to do this for my mother who supported my decision all the way but most importantly for myself. It is not a matter of if it can be done, it can be done once you persevere” an optimistic Clarke concluded.

No harm in Casinos for Jamaica!

At least one academia member has added his voice to the controversial issue of casino gambling in Jamaica, arguing that the proposed introduction cannot do any more harm to the society, than what now exists.

“I don’t think that we Jamaicans could have any more corruption of our morals, we’re already corrupted,” charged deputy principal at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Josef Pereira.

“I have no reservations whatsoever in proposing that we promote casino gambling as quickly as possible. It seems to me that when you look at other places that have done this, it has been a boost for the economy, without corrupting the morals of the society”.

Pereira made the comments during the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry quarterly luncheon, which was hosted at Wexford Hotel. The issue of casino gambling has fuelled heated discussions between the Church and the government regarding the latter’s move to introduce legalize the activity in Jamaica.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced in his April 2008 budget presentation that his administration would be formalizing casino gambling. This, however, is under the condition that the investor's development is US$1 billion and over.  The Casino Bill, which was tabled in July, intends to establish a commission to regulate casino gaming in Jamaica and it is among the list of priority items to be debated in Parliament.

Fine dining never tasted so GOOD!

The epitome of fine dining was concretized when the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort hosted the Jamaica Committee Pineapple Ball as the four-course meal took the taste buds on an unforgettable journey that was far from disappointing.

The traditional Caesar Salad with shredded cheddar cheese prepared the palate excellently for the meals that followed. Eased in the candlelit backdrop and of a beautifully decorated Ritz Carlton Ballroom, the roasted carrot and mango soup appetizer caressed each contour of the taste buds as it featured a vanilla bean and mint tzaki, which maintained a sweet but smooth texture. A freshly baked bread roll with sweet butter offered an interesting addition to this soup.

Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort is famous for their creative preparation of entrées and the chicken breast filled with callaloo topped with shrimp was no different. This poultry was stuffed with seasoned callaloo, topped with a shrimp crown with mashed yam and green beans. To give it a sweet but tangy treat, a sorrel and ginger glaze was drizzled on top.

A dessert station was organized to give guests the choice of a pineapple streusel, orange and passion mousse, flourless almond chocolate cake or the deliciously flavoured pineapple cheesecake.

This evening of fine dining, social networking and charity was ticketed at US$150 pre-sold or US$200 at the door or approximately JM$13,500 and $18,000 respectively. However, it was all for the development of education in Jamaica with the aim of raising JM$4 million.

The Jamaica Committee, organizers of Pineapple Ball 2009, is a US-based not-for-profit corporation. The annual fund-raising gala is in its ninth year and features fine cuisine and liquors, featured local entertainment acts and a juried silent auction (of art, craft, jewelry, resort vacations among other prizes). Several local and international entities supported the premier gala event that is considered a ‘must go’ event in Jamaica.

No dried Ink, Andre Porter

Driven by ambition and the need to showcase Jamaica to the world on the diversity and creativity of its people, Andre Porter is an author on a mission to become Jamaica’s most celebrated novelist by doing it one pen and paper at a time.

While the 6’1” tall 31 year-old has been in the publishing industry for less ten years, the talented Porter has managed to pen three novels, one of which has won him international several awards and has solidify his presence with the industry as a successful and respected author.

However, the task of becoming a noted writer came as a challenge for Porter who initially wanted to become a lawyer during his studies at high school. “Throughout my high school years in Jamaica I wanted to become a lawyer. However, it was after I finished a high school and I migrated to the United States that I begun to divert from my original plans” he explained.

Life in the “land of opportunities” forced the young Jamaican to do odd jobs in order to ensure money was in his pockets. But his life came to a turning point after he resigned from his job following a disagreement with his employer, it was then one of his friends encouraged him to put his knowledge to paper and write a book.

The then skeptic and unemployed Porter “ignored the idea in the first instance, but I begun thinking about the idea of writing a book as my friend suggested and then I wanted to challenge myself and explore my creativity, thus came my first novel "Rise and Fall of a Jamaican Don”.

This book, he revealed captures the life a group of teenagers from Jamaica who through the use of violence, matured into platinum status businessmen in the U.S and started what became known as the first Jamaican mafia.With the provocative and captivating analyst of the lives of these teenagers in this book, the young writer who hails from Kingston received the IRAWMA (International Reggae And World Music Award). He is the first author in IRAWMA’s 25 year history to receive this award.

Among his noted collection of books is the heart-rending novel of “Tears from my pen”. The other is “Mirror & the Reflection”. This enterprising author enjoys cooking, meeting interesting people and learning about their cultures when he is not busy writing his next book dubbed “Chasing the American Dream” and a children’s book “Best of the Next”. Porter is currently negotiating an independent movie contract in making his “Tears from my pen” into a movie.

Pollutants killing the marine park

Pollutants from the North and South Gully in Montego Bay are playing a major role in the depleted fish population within the Montego Bay Marine Park according to operations manager Javed Miller.

“As it stands the North and South Gully empties into the marine park and we are working with the St. James Parish Council and the National Solid Waste Management Authority to get engineers design a system where the debris is trapped before it enters into the marine park” Miller argued.

In addition to pollutants from the city’s two main gullies, the land-based debris such as soil and the continuous practice of over fishing by fisher folks have also influenced the low levels of fishes within the marine park area.

However, in an effort to combat this growing problem he explained that a fish sanctuary stretching from the Aqua Sol Beach Park to Tropical Beach located along the Ironshore shoreline. This project is in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department. The fish sanctuary will give the fishes an opportunity to mature and breed after which, they will leave the sanctuary, “this will ensure that the fishes that the fishermen catch are mature and are suitable and not juvenile fish that are sometimes caught with the mature ones” Miller concluded.

While he was unable to provide an estimate for the number of fishes within the marine park area, he is confident that the programme will bear fruit and restore that which has been eroded.At least one entity has pledged their assistance to this initiative of preserving and replenishing the stock of fishes with the park.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has committed $8.3 million to assist the efforts of the Montego Bay Marine Park in restoring the fish population. Some $4 million has already been disbursed for the first phase which is aimed at educating the public about the importance of preserving the environment and providing alternative means of income for fishermen who fish in the marine park.

Ackee Patty

Ackee Patty, just one of the tasty treats that was at the Raw Food Festival in Montego Bay.

The Gift of Giving

The harsh economic climate and the limited resources has not stopped one community church in Montego Bay from giving school supplies to over 200 children in time for the school for this academic year.

The Visionaires Apolostic Church in Rose Heights, Montego Bay hosted their second annual back-to-school treat where children aged 3-16 had an opportunity to stock up on last minute school supplies.

Founder and pastor of the church Robert Coates revealed that while individuals are experiencing financial challenges persons have made the effort to give back to our youths.

“With the commitment of our brethrens here and assistance we received from other individuals we were able to pool together our resources to make this possible. Our youths are very important to us and we are aware that many parents are finding increasingly difficult to provide school supplies for their children at this time”, he remarked.

Although the church is only two years old pastor Coates explained that the Visionaires Apolostic Church was founded on the basic principles of giving back to the community something he assured, will continue.

He added that despite the recent flair up in crime and violence within the Rose Heights community, all is not lost and persons should not concede to the notion that nothing good can come from the area.

“Can anything come from Rose Heights? Yes, yes. I will not subscribe to the perception that nothing good cannot come from this community, and what we are doing here today is testament that when we work together we can do it” a passionate Coates charged.

In addition to the church’s annual back-to-school treat, they have organized a team of volunteers known as the Care Team and have embarked on a feeding programme where persons who are fed each Sunday

Raw dining

Absolutely delicious! This Almond Cheese with tomatoes was gloriously delicious at the Raw Food Festival in Montego Bay

Charity starts with you

Contributing to the development of education is among the top priority for the new telecommunications company Salary.com that is based at the Montego Bay Freezone.

During their official opening ceremony the company’s general manager for Jamaica Debra Fraser revealed that they have chosen the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) as their charitable project.

“We told our employees from the beginning that we wanted to play an active role in community development, we wanted to be able to give back to the community” the soft spoken general manager explained.

She further revealed that it was the employees were the ones who were charged with the responsibility to find a charity that Salary.com Jamaica can contribute to. Five charities were presented however; JFLL was ultimately chosen by the head of the company, based on researched data provided by the employees.

“We are going to be having staff signing up for voluntary teaching which is something that JFLL has requested and we will be making charitable donations” from time to time according to Fraser.

With a current staff complement of 40 individuals and the intent to increase that number, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce Lloyd B Smith is delighted with new business addition to the tourism capital.

“We understand that tourism is our main economic income-generator, but we want Montego Bay to diversify its business offerings and not only depend on tourism and we wish to see more meaningful enterprises similar to Salary.com that will offer employment to our skilled Jamaican”, Smith noted in an address

Salary.com (http://www.salary.com) is a leading provider of on-demand data, software and services to human resource professionals and businesses in the United States of America. The company is responsible for building on-demand software around domain knowledge in areas such as compensation, talent management, competencies and payroll, which simplifies the connection between people, pay and performance.

Wine and Dine your Taste Buds

The smooth velvety bottle of 2006 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine, offered a luscious fusion of dark, high sugared fruits that had wine lovers under obedience at the first taste.

Despite the youth of this bottle of wine, it did not fail in its efforts to seduce the taste buds at the Caymus Wine and Dine, which was complimented by the beautiful backdrop of the Ritz Carlton’s White Witch Restaurant in Montego Bay.

Classed as the ‘king’ of red wines according to master sommelier Devon Larking, the Cabernet Sauvignon was paired with the grilled fillet, cabernet and figs reduction with sweet corn pudding which successfully redefined the approach to red wines with its soft, full-bodied and fruity appeal.

Braised oxtail and marinated octopus with olive oil was served with Caymus Conundrum 2007 wine that offered a perfect appetizer to start the evening of excellent pairing of food and wines.

The celebration of fine wines paired with equally delicious meals could not exclude the diverse Caymus Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir wine which paired excellently with the seared halibut with roasted cauliflower puree, spinach, raisin, caper and pine nut. This particular Pinot Noir kissed the taste buds with its juicy pomegranate and grape taste that was ushered down the stomach in elegant style.

The meal, tartar of yellow tail and avocado grapefruit reduction could not be paired with a better wine than the 2004 Caymus Mer Soleil Chardonnay which helped to maintain a good acidic balance while complimenting the rich taste of the avocado and yellow tail seafood.

A taste to Mer Soleil Late Harvest is the epitome of a dessert wine. With its rich apricot and honey flavours, this dense, velvety wine lingers helplessly on the taste buds long after you have finished your glass of wine. While some persons were a bit apprehensive about the pairing of this wine with the equally sweet wine mango soup with mint and honey Madeleine, it was clear that this diverse combination of extra ripe fruits in a wine could be served with any dessert.

The four-course dinner offered refreshing appreciation of the Caymus family of wines that massaged the appetites of foodies and wine lovers.

Raw Food at its Best

The unrealized delight of raw food was ignited through a scrumptious Raw Food Festival held in Montego Bay which was hosted by the master raw food chef Earl Chong.

The thought of eating our National Fruit, ackee, in its raw state may not have whetted the taste buds of many food lovers before this festival. However, upon first taste of that soft, thick mass of ackee blended together with onion, ginger, garlic, scotch bonnet pepper and liquid amino, this famous Ackee Dip was an instant hit among patrons.

Hosted at Island Juices in Rose Hall, Montego Bay the celebration of how raw fruits, nuts and vegetables can be consume saw scores of curious individuals experimenting with the delicious treat of pure uncooked meals.

One such individual was security officer Kenroy Facey who is not a vegetarian but admitted that he would indeed consider a diet of raw food similar to what was on display.

“This will be my first time eating food such as ackee in its raw state, and to be honest I like it. It is not as bad as I first thought it would be, it has exceeded my expectations so I would definitely try this raw food preparation at home and to what I understand it is even better than cooked foods” an enthused Facey revealed as he snacked on a vegetable wrap.

Among other delectable and well-flavoured treats were the Power Salad made of plantains, avocadoes, tomatoes, calalloo, cucumbers and carrots. In addition the piquant Almond Cheese and Cashew Cheese dips offered an interesting spin on how cheese can be prepared while offered high contents of nutrients.

Eating foods such as vegetables, nut, beans and fruits in their uncooked state is rather simple according to raw food expert Earl Chong.

“The body is mostly made up of cells and most of us support the body and not the cells. Cooked foods are dead cells and it cannot support living cells in our bodies and the way to healthy eating is to eat food that will regenerate the cells in our bodies” he affirmed.

Chong has successfully recovered from cancer and other incurable diseases through his transformation from a diet of cooked food to raw food. He has successfully maintained that diet for 16 years where he eats only natural, unrefined, plant-based foods (no meat or animal products. In addition to his diet he consumes BarleyMax (an all natural supplement) as well as vegetable juices and pure water.

A Good Bill of Health

With the high cost of private medical services scores of residents in western Jamaica took advantage of the free health fair at the Montego Bay Civic Centre that was organized by the Western Medical Association (WMA).

Operating under the theme “The Medical Check up, The Road Map to Good Health” president of WMA, Dr. Garfield Badal the health fair was done in collaboration with the St. James Public Health Department in a bid to heighten the public’s awareness of various diseases and how to practice preventative measures and treatment to illnesses.

“The president of the Medical Association of Jamaica thought that impact of the doctors in the communities is some what negative and this was one way of re-ensuring the positiveness that medicine once embraced,” Dr. Badal revealed.

He further revealed that it is important for the general public to embrace the practice of an annual doctor’s visit especially for children and senior citizen and how to make the most of such visits. Yearly medical visits, Dr. Badal argued “can be beneficial to patients in a number of ways as improving general medical knowledge and being aware of simple dietary measures can go a far way in early detection of symptoms and complications of common illnesses”. He added that a healthy workforce will improve productivity and create better livelihoods for all.

One participant in the health fair, Maaeish Holness welcomed the initiative noting that it will prove to be beneficial to the persons who came for the medical services.

“It is not often that you see something like this in Montego Bay where you have the opportunity to get a variety of free medical service under one roof. I endorse this effort by organizers as many of us don’t have the time to go to the doctor or clinic to get a medical check up and to have this here today is really something that myself and others appreciate,” a proactive Holness explained.

Patrons were able to receive HIV testing, counseling, blood pressure and blood sugar testing, diabetic foot care, eye testing, medical check up and advice at no cost.

Ghetto Gem: Marlon Vickerman

The success of a man depends on his willingness to achieve the goals he has set for himself, this according to 24 year-old entrepreneur Marlon Vickerman who is determined to maximize on his potential.

Vickerman is the second of three boys and was raised in a single-parent home in the volatile community of Flankers, Montego Bay. Flankers gain notoriety for its violent gang related crimes and infighting with opposing sections of the community.

“It was never an option for us to get involved criminality” he remarked “while we did not have a lot of money, we had a good value structure within our household which made no room for us to be involve in anything illegal”. He prides his mother and grandmother who of a Christian background as the source of great support while he was growing up.

He remembered his mother’s pride when he was successful in his Common Entrance Examinations (now replaced with Grade Six Achievement Test) and earned at place Anchovy High School.

According to Vickerman “it would’ve been terrible disappointment to me if I had not pass those exams and placed in a high school as the thought of going to an All-Age School as a result of failure was not an apart of the plan”.

This drive to succeed continued in his high school years where he garnered eight Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects and served a member of the prefect body for two consecutive years.

But his need to satisfy his passion towards higher education did stop at the high school level, Vickerman enrolled in the sixth form at Cornwall College where added four A’ levels to his resume of achievements and moved on to earn his Bachelors in Media and Communication at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He is currently employed at The Gleaner

The business savvy young man launched his own T-shirt clothing line called Ajani in 2008 which he hopes will enjoy a presence within the local fashion market.

“These days I live by one philosophy: it is better to try it and fail than to not try at all and wonder, what if I had tried” a confident Vickerman revealed in his interview. He noted that he was inspired by how FedEx was started and the success it has maintained throughout the years which he now uses as a motivational tool to push is clothing line concept to the next level.

When asked as to whether others living within the inner city community can do what he has done and continues to do, the young man issue a firm “yes it is possible. We don’t have to be victims of our surroundings or circumstances, but we can raise above what seeks to keep us down and be successful”.

A Full Blast of Entertainment

International dancehall artiste Mavado was forced to salvage the dancehall stage show dubbed the 5th Anniversary Full Blast in Montego Bay following very late start by the organizers that had the crowd growing increasingly impatient.

While there was no specific time stated as to when the well-hyped event would begin, patrons were not prepared for the 4 a.m. Sunday morning start time as several dancehall fans flocked the venue from as early as 11:30 p.m. One man vented his disgust at the situation saying “from mi a go a stage show mi neva see anything like this whey nuh artiste nuh perform and afta 4 inna di morning”.

The self-proclaimed ‘Gully God’ did not get to perform until approximately 5:55 a.m. and his timing was impeccable as he fed his hungry audience with his chart-topping hits. From Real McCoy, Money Changer to his recent hit High Under among several others. His lyrics stung sharp and he was quick to move on to his other hits which continued to build the momentum in the jam-packed Caribbean Showplace Club.

The hardcore dancehall act took the opportunity to break during his performance to talk to his fans and at one point he made share that Montego Bay was aware that “a MoBay believe inna mi when nobody else did know bout mi”. Subsequent to those remarks, he sung his bone chilling Again song that he the crowd eating out of his hands

However, just when patrons thought that Mavado could do no wrong during his nearly 40- minute performance, he offered an unpleasant diss song aimed at his lyrical adversaries within the Portmore Empire (or Gaza they are popularly labeled). Patrons booed the dancehall artiste momentarily but he quickly recovered when he did his international hit So Special before quickly exiting the staging.

Among the other dancehall act that performed credibly was Black Ryno, who ignited the audience instantly when emcees Apatchie Chief and Sarge announce his trademark phrase “Seet Deh”. Ryno gave his fans a Real Stinger as he performed crowd favourite such as Money Affi a Mek, People Biz coupled with his other hits.

Female dancehall artiste Spice, who received widespread popularity when she partnered with Vybz Kartel on the controversial Ramping Shop song, was scheduled to perform, however that performance never happened, as she did not make an appearance.

Artiste Singing Melody performed early before the main acts and was well received by the residents in the second city.

Merging entertainment with charity

Despite the economic crunch affecting companies’ ability to make charitable donations to those in need, managing director of Full Blast Entertainment Maxi Kerr (Mark X) remains loyal to his commitment to philanthropy.

With the successful staging of the 5th Full Blast Anniversary that was recently held at the Caribbean Showplace Club in Montego Bay, the entertainment promoter donated over $11,000 worth of groceries and toiletries to the St. James Infirmary.

According to Kerr “I think it is important for us as promoters or business persons to give back to our communities, especially for a facility like the St. James Infirmary, the government alone cannot adequately meet all the needs of the residents here so we all have to share what little we have with others”. He further urged other persons whether they are involved in entertainment or operate a business to extend generosity to those in need.

Since the inception of Full Blast Entertainment five years to date, the company have remained committed to charity as the Trelawny Infirmary and the Kinioss Primary School in Trelawny other non-government organizations have benefited from donations by the entertainment company.

Nora Chambers, matron at the St. James Infirmary expressed gratitude for the items that were handed over, noting that it will assist the facility to meet the needs of its residents.

She stated, “this donation is extremely important because although we receive a monthly supply of goods from the government, sometimes we run short on supplies so this will help to prevent that shortfall”.

Assistant matron at the St. James Infirmary Jacqueline Wilson also expressed similar sentiments.

“We have 80 residents at the facility and the toiletries and food that were donated will indeed go a far way. It’s not often you find persons who are willing to give back to the poor and we appreciate the generosity” the elated assistant matron said.

Blind Hope

The simple pleasure of watching your child get ready for school or watching the news on the television is something that 50 year-old unemployed Rodcliffe Williams has had to forfeit because of blindness.

Williams has been without sight since 2007, an unfortunate disability he wished no one would have to encounter. He revealed that one morning he woke up and felt an irritation in his eye, however when he looked in the mirror, he saw a small boil in one of his eyes.

According to Williams “I was not able to see a specialist until months after and when I eventually saw an eye specialist, I was told that something resembling catarah had formed over my eyes and there was a possibility that I would not be able to see after surgery”

He currently lives with his 16 year-old son who attends Knockalva High School in Hanover.

“Think about not being able to get a job because you can’t see, seeing your child off to school, those are just some of the simple pleasures of life that we at times take for granted until we are not able to enjoy them anymore” a saddened Williams lamented.

With no source of income and a child who needs to go to school, Williams has to depend on the kindness of a neigbour who assist with him and his son from time to time. But due to the current economic environment where expense are high and funds are few, his good Samaritan neigbour is unable to supply resources to the family on a consistently.

However, Williams is more concern about getting a stove and with getting some assistance for his son who is in need of school supplies. “My son wants to work so he can help me because of my condition, but I want him to first get an education before thinking of going to work. He likes plumbing and hopes to go to HEART Trust to further his skills, but with no money I is really hard,” a concerned father explained.

Anyone who is able to offer some assistance to Rodcliffe Williams and his son can call 886-9995 or 793-4461.

Mentors for at-risk girls

In an effort improve the social development of the girls at the Granville Child Care Facility in Trelawny the National Centre for Youth Development launched a Big Sisters Mentorship Programme.

According to the youth empowerment officer for Trelawny, Rhonda Walker “there are a lot of things the facility needs help with in terms of mentoring and I think that a mentorship programme could assist the administrative staff in giving the girls something that they need such as a hug, a listening hear of someone to show some interest in them”.

The Big Sister Mentorship Programme will see mentors giving empowerment session and activities to the 17 girls participating in the project and will include visits to the facility and the use of the arts to help the institutionalized girls become productive individual in the society.

When asked about the goal of this mentorship programme the youth empowerment officer noted that “this is a pilot project that will run for a year and we are hoping to see marked improvement in the behaviour of some of these girls”.

Currently, there are 19 mentors who are involved in this programme Walker explained but Half Moon has expressed willingness to partner with the National Centre for Youth Development, which will increase the amount of mentors available to the rest of the girls at the Granville Child Care Facility.

It was through a visit at the girls’ facility on Christmas, where Half Moon noticed a need to offer something more than a once a year treat or visit according to Half Moon’s leisure sales manager Linda Lawrence.

“On our visit we could see that there was a need for some sort of mentorship and thus we contacted Rhonda about becoming involved in this programme. So our role now is to get more mentors from the Half Moon family to be apart of this effort” Lawrence noted.

The Granville Child Care Facility has the capacity to house 60 girls and creates a family atmosphere where girls who are in need of care and protection can be nurtured physically and emotionally while learning general life skills.

Youths overcrowd Freeport lock-up

The overpopulation of the juvenile cells at Montego Freeport Police Station in St. James has been blamed on parents who are reluctant to post bail for their children who are charged with criminal offences.

“A number of juveniles are on serious charges at the Freeport lock-up and I am not surprised that their cells being overcrowded, as about forty to fifty percent of the juveniles that have been remanded, are not released because sometimes parents do not want to take on that responsibility to bail them,” commented western regional director for the Child Development Agency (CDA), Sydney Grant.

Mr. Grant revealed that if no bail has been posted for the youngsters, then they are transferred to another remand centre until their matter is mentioned in court again.
More juveniles in western Jamaica are being incarcerated their age group range from 10-17 years of age in jail at the Freeport lock-up.

Gun-related offences and robberies are the most predominant charges against these juveniles, followed by petty theft and gang violence.

While CDA is responsible for the protection of children, Mr. Grant said that once a child is over 12 years old and has committed a criminal offence, the agency is not responsible to provide intervention, and that child would be referred to the Probationary Department of the Ministry of Justice.

“In the event that a child is under 12 and he or she has committed an offense, then the CDA would complete a social inquiry report; take the child to court; make recommendations and do continuous assessments,” he disclosed.

So playful

Ring a ring a rosy...This brings back such fond memories

Culture of silence in governance

A culture of silence within the Caribbean’s government system continues to be one of the roadblocks in moving towards a customer based approach in the public service sector and enhancing local governance.

This, according to lecturer on Local Government at Guyana University and member of the Technical Work Group in the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers (CFLGM), Vincent Alexander during the Regional Local Government Consultation & Conference (RLGCC) in Montego Bay.

During his presentation on ‘Customer Oriented Approach to Public Service Delivery Mr. Alexander argued that “we don’t have a culture of providing information to people. There seems to be a feeling that information belongs to the establishment and people are ‘nosy’ when they ask for information. In fact, good governance requires that information should be easily accessed”.

He noted that in order to secure success in local governance within the region while involving the public in the process, “we need to be more open in our dealings and make more information available to the public so that they can understand the basis on which decisions are being made”.

However, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, Robert Montague confirmed that Jamaica, unlike some other countries in the region, has been open in providing information to the public.

“We have the Access to Information Act, where by law the public has the right of access to official government information. Even if civil servants want to withhold information, they will still have to make it known within a prescribed period” Min. Montague revealed. He added that while is at an advanced stage of local government reform than other Caribbean countries, there still a need to improve on what exists.

Local authorities to goes global

Parish Councils across Jamaica are expected to make their debut on the World Wide Web in an effort to improve efficiency and governance within the local authorities.

Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, Robert Montague revealed that the initiative, dubbed ‘Digital Town Hall Project’, “will bring the Council to the people”. This as he spoke at a four-day Regional Local Government Consultation & Conference at Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay.

The purpose he adds is that “persons will be able to apply for permits online; file complains and access the Council’s information. In addition, person will be able get general information about a parish at their own comfort”.

This, he believes will enhance the local government reform process.

A prototype of this system was recently launched at the St. Mary Parish Council and five other local authorities are expected to benefit from this project before the end of the financial year according to Min. Montague.

There are 14 municipalities across the island. Min. Montague added that apart of the project is sponsored by Microsoft.

He was however reluctant to provide a timeframe as to how soon the other municipalities would benefit from this initiative and the total amount the project would cost the government.

Mayor of Montego Bay Charles Sinclair explained that such a programme will be an added benefit to his municipality.

“This could help to increase compliance as person would have greater accessibility in conducting their business without having to join long lines at the Council” Mayor Sinclair disclosed.

Showing affection...Publicly

Who said Jamaicans we not interested in showing their love for each other publicly! This was an actual competitions among couples on who was able to push the limit on showing their affection for each other.

Cornwall Courts

Beyond what you see or ear, concrete jungle exist and to be honest the community of Cornwall Courts in Montego Bay is no different

Overseas Program

Despite the global economic crisis, Jamaicans are still lining up to have a shot at working on the US/Canada/UK overseas programs....Money affi mek..

This is how Jamaicans celebrate the success of our athletes.....whoppeeee!!!!! Go Jamaica

Patients have to pay millions

Despite the abolition of hospital user fees in Jamaica, 454 patients suffering from End Stage Kidney Disease (ESRD) will have to pay a combined $317.8 million per year for dialysis care.

Head of the Renal Unit at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), Dr. Curtis Yeates, explained that the average cost for dialysis per patient is $700,000 annually. However, the treatment can cost as much as $1.1m per annum.

He however noted during the official opening of the Haemodialysis Unit by the Scotia Foundation at CRH that with approximately 900 new persons are diagnosed each year with ESRD.

“There aren’t enough haemodialysis units in the island. It is clear that we are not meeting, and unlikely to meet, the demand for treatment of kidney failure”.

In order to mitigate the possibility of suffering from ESRD, Dr. Yeates recommended prevention as the best solution to this costly illness, which is mostly caused by hypertension and diabetes.

CRH, which boasts the largest Haemodialysis Unit in the English-speaking Caribbean with 16 dialysis units, will serve up to 124 patients each week, with the help of over $24m in donation by the inception of the Scotia Foundation in 1998.

Children, Sex, HIV

The widespread child pornography being showcase via cell phones across Jamaica has fueled concerns that more adolescents are practicing high-risk sexual behaviour that makes them vulnerable to HIV and STIs.

A recent study by the National HIV/STI Programme showed that of 3000 in-school youth (10 to 15 years old) 12% of surveyed adolescents were sexually active and of these, 56% had two or more partners (including 18% of respondents who had 6 or more partners) and 48% of male youth reported no condom use at last sex. Although most adolescents agreed to their first sexual encounter, 9% of boys and 24% of girls reported that they were forced to have sex on their first sexual encounter.

Of the country’s 2.7 million some 290,000 of the population are adolescents. Risky behaviours such as multiple sex partners, early initiation of sex, and non-use of condoms have fuelled the HIV prevalence rate of 1.3 percent among this group.

But youths, who participated in a recent Panos Caribbean workshop for journalist in Ocho Rios, complained that boring lessons and adults’ experience about sex influence their negative reaction towards the impact of the disease.

Panos youth journalist, Javaune Simpson noted that “training popular young people to teach their peers, using artistes and other popular role models to and music to entertain and teach will to help spread the message about HIV more effectively”.


Nevertheless, Programme Manager for Policy in the Ministry of Health’s National HIV/STI Programme, Faith Hamer noted that in an effort to caution teens on their behaviour and reach ‘Universal Access’ by 2010, “we have begun to improve the self efficacy of adolescents to practice safer sexual behaviours that is; delaying sex, consistent condom use, appropriate risk assessment and increase awareness about HIV/AIDS/STI”.

St. James leading the way

St. James confirmed its position as the leading parish in disaster management with the launch of Jamaica’s first Disaster Information Database System (DIDS) by the St. James Parish Council on Thursday.

“St. James is certainly leading the way. I think St. James is one of the Council’s that have linked in quiet nicely with our strategic programming direction” according to the director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Ronald Jackson.

In an effort to increase awareness among the local authority on disaster preparedness and management, Jackson is seeking to encourage other local authorities across the island to replicate this system for efficiency in case of a natural disaster.

Meanwhile, the ODPEM director general was keen to reveal that the greatest challenges that the country faces during a natural disaster is culture.

“We have a very good model, our problem is culture and resources. The difference between Cuba, Ireland and us is that they follow through. Disaster management has a link with the environment, economics, social and political. Our various elements are unaligned and we need to work to get them aligned ” Jackson noted.

The Disaster Information Database System (DIDS) was created to improve the management of shelters and resources during a disaster in the parish.

This system provides a list of emergency shelters, contact lists, hazard information and standard forms and can be accessed through St. James Parish Council website which is www.stjamespc.org/content/home.

The blind side of parents

The trend of child suicides in recent times have raised a red flag for at least one child and family therapist, Dr. Beverly Scott, following the death of 11-year-old Natalia Morgan by suicide at McQuarrie District in Hanover.

“When a child sees suicide as the only way out something is seriously wrong with their support system whether at home or at school,” explained Dr. Scott explained.

She added that physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuses are some of the reasons behind a child wanting to commit suicide, and there are warning signs that a child may be suicidal.

“We have what are called suicide gestures were a child may say things like ‘I feel like nobody cares about me’ or ‘I want to go to a place where no-one can find me’ that parents can use an indication that something is wrong,” the child and family therapist said.

Natalia’s relatives reportedly found her body about 9:45 a.m. hanging by a piece of cloth from a breadfruit tree at her home. Her body was removed and taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

An emotional Noel Morgan revealed that her daughter exhibited no warnings.

“If I saw any form of signs that she would do this I would have tried to help,” he said.

Mr. Morgan recalled trying to administer CPR to Natalia in a desperate attempt to save her life. He noted that in spite of the poor relationship young Natalia had with her mother, he tried to provide parental strength for her.

Dr. Scott says there is a rare condition known as “untreated deep-seated emotional crisis” where someone may not show the usual suicidal signs and as such, the therapist issued an appeal to parents to extend more love and support for their children.

“The entire school community is saddened by the news of her death, teachers and students were crying so our two guidance counselors had to intervene to provide counseling and emotional support. A team from the crisis management department out of the Ministry of Education also came to offer counseling,” said Brendalee Ellis, principal of the Bethel Primary and Junior High School in Hanover where Natalia was a student.

“Natalia and I were very close because her father was a single parent (and) the school pays special attention to those situations. She was an avid reader who did well academically and she had a good attendance record but she was a quite student who never got into trouble for misbehaving.”

Cut costs, outsource IT services

Businesses in Jamaica are slow paced in outsourcing their information technology services according to former chief information officer at Grace Kennedy Limited, Edward Alexander.

“Outsourcing IT is something that is going to take a while in Jamaica but it is beginning to happen more and more,” he revealed during the fifth annual Hospitality Financial and Technology Professional (HFTP) seminar.

Alexander, who is now the CEO of tTech Limited, added that while companies are moving towards the trend of contracting IT specialists to offset operational expenditure, “they businesses are not outsourcing all the functions only certain functions that does not require someone fulltime”.

Meanwhile, the IT specialist cautioned local enterprises to be valiant in protecting their internet networks as IT culprits find new innovative ways in accessing their systems and spread viruses.

He recommended that businesses get educated about the threats of Internet security and allow IT professionals to conduct regular assessments of their computer networks.

Operating under the theme ‘Managing New Challenges’, president of the HFTP Jamaica Chapter Joe Hylton explained the relevance of the seminar was to foster an atmosphere of networking while educating its members on issues related to technology and business management.

HFTP is the international professional association serving over 4,800 members working in the hospitality industry. Since 1952, HFTP has been providing members with networking opportunities, industry-leading certification programs and events, and essential resources for professional growth.

The HFTP Jamaica Chapter is the only surviving chapter outside the United States of America and Canada and as such the only international chapter.

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Pioneers for HIV cure

Two persons have taken the bold move to revolutionize the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Jamaica through volunteering to participate in the country’s vaccine program which seeks to fine a cure for this deadly disease.

With more than 25,000 persons infected with HIV in Jamaica, 29 year-old fashion designer, Paulette Rowe and 37 year-old art student Christopher William are proud participants in the local HIV Vaccine Research and who hopes to be apart of scientific history one-day.

Although both participants are not infected with the virus, Paulette Rowe explained that her friends and co-workers still have a difficult time accepting her decision to be apart of the experiment.

“Sometimes they call me ‘lab rat’ or ‘guinea pig’ but being the person I am and the knowledge I have about this disease, I know that I cannot contract HIV from participating in the program. Therefore, I try to educate them by what I am doing so they can also be apart of it” she revealed.

In responding to the question about her motivation for entering this research, Rowe noted that “with so much AIDS cases in Jamaica and a lot of persons are not aware and if I can help to curb the epidemic in this small way, I am going to do it. This is my contribution because I don’t have the money to buy the medications for those who are infected”.

Her colleague, Christopher William, expressed similar sentiments for his reasons in participating in the research. “I would like to see my son grow up in a HIV-free world and I am making a start to that process. I knew persons who died from this deadly disease so I’d like to help to find a cure”.

Both participants have been apart of the program for the past 12 months.

The HIV Vaccine Research in Jamaica is a carefully controlled research win which an experimental vaccine is given to a healthy, HIV negative person who is between the ages of 18-60. This participant will spend 12 months or more in follow-up study where researchers observe how their body responses to the trial.

Health fear for Gay Men in Jamaica

Fear has captured the gay community in Jamaica about disclosing their HIV&AIDS status due to what they say is the widespread prejudice by citizens who oppose their sexual practices.

An advocate for the men who have sex with men (MSM) community, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the messages to MSM groups about prevention are at times not gender specific.

"If they are giving a demonstration on proper condom usage, person will use a penis and vagina, but we can't relate and there you will find a communication barrier," the lobbyist noted.

“If a MSM should go to the doctor and tell him of his HIV status and how he contracted the disease, that patient may very well have his information advertised to the public and this poses a challenge for us to disclose our information, even to medical practitioners."

The concerns were expressed during the Panos Media Workshop dubbed 'HIV Universal Access 2010'

According to the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS in Jamaica in 'Achieving Universal Access', the group of men who have sex with men (MSM) surpasses 20,000 with over 25 percent of their population infected with HIV.

"Jamaicans believe strongly that it is morally wrong and repugnant for men to have sex with men. Although men who are known to be 'gay' are usually allowed to go about their business, many Jamaicans have little tolerance for MSM who appear to flaunt or promote their sexual orientation," the report further revealed.

"It is with this stigma and discrimination that increases their vulnerability to HIV and reduce access to prevention, treatment and care."

In an effort to combat these problems, public education officer of the Jamaica AIDS Support For Life (JASL) Ocho Rios Chapter, Colette Gooden, revealed that confidential sessions are offered for MSM groups.

"A day is allotted for counseling and dealing with issues affecting them, and this is done in a confidential setting where they are the only groups for that particular day," she said.

JA needs to export computer software

Jamaica needs to tap into the multibillion-dollar industry of computer software exportation, which has the ability to generate foreign exchange for the country according to Evan Duggan, executive director of Mona Institute of Business at the University of the West Indies.

“The participation in the software exporting market requires mostly brainpower an asset we have in abundance” Professor Duggan explained during the closing dinner of the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) BIZTEC conference.

He further stated that with the vulnerability of the tourism and remittance sector due to the world fiscal instability, the government should move to encourage this growing industry, which has reaped tremendous success for developed countries.

The private sector, Professor Duggan argued, “must also extend its social responsibility to include attention to investing in local software development even at the expense of foregoing the convenient commercial- of -the -shelf software”.

Meanwhile, the U.W.I professor issued a challenge to educators to play their role in preparing individuals to contribute to this industry of computer software export.

“Educational institutions must contribute to the development of the requisite human and intellectual capacity which allowed Brazil and Costa Rica to break into the industry” Professor Duggan highlighted.

The three-day conference forms apart of the over 30 year-old organization which first hosted their annual conference in 1976. The event seeks to provide a vehicle for industry specialists and policy makers to exchange views and gain new insights into the application of information, communications technology to enhance governance at corporate and national levels.

Real estate the new target for scams

With the police's crackdown on the illicit lottery scam in Montego Bay, scam artists have reportedly developed new way to fleece money from unsuspecting persons of monies through bogus real estate transactions.

While the police confirm that they are aware that the practice worldwide, Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, head of the Major Investigation Taskforce, says there is no evidence of it locally.

"I am not aware of that type of scam taking place in Jamaica; we have not received any reports in this regard. But if we do, we will investigate the matter," he said. "It (real estate scam) is a worldwide problem and is dependent on where the crime is committed, in order for prosecution to take effect."

It is understood that local scam artists use illegally obtained personal information on clients, mainly Americans, who are asked to send 'processing fees' to begin transactions. In instances, photographs of houses and properties said to be available on the market, are also sent to prospective clients.

Meanwhile, one prominent realtor who did not wished to be named, believes that such a scam can have serious effects on the real estate market.

"Clients overseas may become skeptical about our intentions in real estate transactions, and upset our legitimate businesses," the realtor explained.

He however, recommended that prospective buyers verify that the broker, agent or company is licensed to do real estate transactions, and consult with an attorney-at-law before handing over payment for properties purchased.

The crackdown on lottery scam players intensified in December 2006, and has since taken on an international overture with local investigators travelling overseas to interview and collect statements from victims.

The practice is reportedly facilitated through the unauthorized disclosure of information on Americans, who are conned out of large sums of money under the guise that they are paying for a legitimate service, specifically through local Information Communication Technology (ICT) workers.

The police have disclosed that lotto scam players, mostly males between ages 18-40, make between US$4,000 and $10,000 on average weekly. Schoolchildren are reportedly recruited in the scam to collect monies from remittance outlets.

Rats invade Montego Bay

An increase rat infestation in sections of Montego Bay, has forced the public health authority to implement a rodent control programme following several complains by concerned citizens.

The areas in the second city that have seen a high population of these rodents includes: Fisherman’s Complex along the Howard Cooke Boulevard, Market Circle, the National Water Commission, The People’s Arcade, Transport Centre, Railway Gardens, Mt. Salem Health Centre, Mt. Alvernia and along Market Street within the vicinity of Victoria Mutual.

But public relations officer for the Western Regional Health Authority, Clinton Pickering revealed that rat bait stations were set up in these areas as apart of their campaign to curtail these rodents.
“Following on the successful programme implemented in Granville and surrounding communities earlier this year, the focus is now on targeted communities in the urban centre. It’s apart of our continuing efforts to rid certain sections of Montego Bay of rat infestation” Mr. Pickering noted.

He further explained that while the public health authority is there to enforce the laws regarding public health, “citizens need to also take responsibility. I you see that a food establishment operating in a poor sanitary environment, then report it to the public heath authority”.
Meanwhile, chief public health inspector, Hubert Cooke charged that there will be a zero-tolerance to restaurants in the city that contribute to the increased presence of these rodents and disregard for proper public health practices.

Mr. Cooke argued, “our public health inspectors will be on the road inspecting food handling establishments such as supermarkets, restaurants, food shops to check on certification, storage and solid waste management to ensure they are operating within the ambit of the Public Health Law”.

He added that where breaches are found, sanctions dictated by the law would be imposed. “This could mean that establishments are ordered closed with immediate effect, notices served, followed by prosecution or the seizure of condemned foods” public health inspector chief warned.

Trelawny needs Literacy Centers

Literacy centers are needed in Trelawny to develop trainable individuals for upcoming job opportunities in the parish, according to the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce president, Dennis Seivwright.

“The human development is the greatest investment we can ever make and that is the area we have fallen short on,” Seivwright revealed. “We need to net everyone whether or not they can read and write, and train them and maybe HEART Trust/NTA is not the one to do that.”

Trelawny is poised to become a fledging tourism and business hub with the impending multi-billion dollar Harmony Cove luxury resort. Travistock Group in partnership with the Jamaican government will develop several hotels, three world-class golf courses, a gaming lounge and other luxury amenities. The parish is also slated to receive a major cruise shipping port.

However, the Chamber president fears that manpower to fill jobs on the completion of Harmony Cove development and the port will have to be sourced outside the parish due to lack of qualified personnel.

“I think the state agencies need to step up to the responsibility. Because if they (developers) are coming to Falmouth and need for example 100 persons for training but they can only find ten that are trainable, they are going to go outside the parish to find the others.”

With a population of over 73,100, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reports that the parish of Trelawny has an overall literacy rate of 76 percent.

Seivwright confessed that currently no private or public literacy centres exist in Trelawny. In an effort to generate awareness on this issue, he said the Chamber has embarked on a public education drive to inform investors on the investment opportunities of launching literacy centers in the parish.

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Food Crisis Looms

Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Audia Barrett, is urging local entrepreneurs to get involved in the production local food items in order to help guarantee Jamaica’s food security.

“It’s not an easy road but what we are saying is that SRC can do the training and offer the technologies to help the country get off the ground in terms of food security,” Dr. Barrett revealed during a SRC public presentation on ‘Employment Creation Opportunities.

According to Dr. Barrett, the indigenous food formulations such as breadfruit flour, yellow yam flour, pineapple jam and banana jerk sauce, among others, present investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and can be purchased from SRC for their own financial gain.

She said in an effort to combat the high rate of unemployment in the country these investors can “utilize the country’s natural resources and technologies and make a living on your own”.

Persons willing to invest in commercialization of these unique products can get the assistance of SRC from starting their business to actual site construction, maintenance and international food safety standard adherence, Dr. Barrett added.

The SRC is responsible for the fostering and coordination of scientific research and the promotion of its application. In addition, their projects support the growth and development of the agro-industrial sector in Jamaica through research, adaptation of available technologies, creation of new and appropriate technologies and the provision of training and technical assistance.

Some food formulations available at the SRC that have great potential to generate revenue includes: banana barbeque sauce, banana flour, yam flour, cassava flour, pumpkin flour, plantain flour, breadfruit flour, dasheen flour, carrot powder, ackee and salt fish spread among several other food formulations.

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Economy plummets, children suffer

Child and Family therapist, Dr. Beverly Scott, believes that with the rising cost of goods and services in Jamaica, the needs of children are threatened as parents seek to maintain their households.

“Basic needs, especially for children, will not be met because parents will have to meet compelling needs. Light and water bills will have to be paid, despite the increases and food must be bought for the family,” Dr. Scott of the Family and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay, said.

She noted that while the government has made provisions for the nation’s physical health through removing user fees at health facilities; the child and family therapist cautioned that “we must also consider the psychological impacts of these rising cost will have on the family structure.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Scott suggests that parents should talk to their children about what is happening in the country so that they can understand why their parents cannot buy everything they need.

Several middle-income earners in western Jamaica, they all expressed similar sentiments about cutting-back on grocery expenses to facilitate the hike in utilities, motor vehicle license fees and fuel.

“Everywhere you turn is pure expenses. Right now if you eat breakfast, you can forget about eating lunch because people just can’t afford it,” said Grace Walker, a young professional of Cornwall Courts in St. James.

“I have to contend with all these increases and while I earn a decent salary, I am still finding it difficult to cope.”

She added that existing deplorable conditions of the roads leading to the community is also set to take a toll on her motor vehicle upkeep expenses in light of these increases.

Cornwall Courts represents the largest housing scheme in St. James with more than 3,500 housing solutions.

Another resident - government worker, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that has to be doing some serious “belt tightening” to survive.

“Right now to conserve on water bills, I have to use one cup a water to brush my teeth and anywhere it done a so it go. Bills affi pay and me can’t afford to eat healthy anymore because even that is too expensive,” he shared.

Lorraine Windett of Farm Heights in Montego Bay charged: “While prices are increasing, our salaries are not. Sooner or later our salary won’t be able to meet our basic needs. I use to spend $2500 to 3500 per week on grocery, as a single household, but now my grocery spending will have to go down by far in order to pay my bills.”

Jamaica not immune to human trafficking

The lucrative trade of human trafficking continues to haunt the shores of Jamaica and Dominican Republic, which are considered the most vulnerable Caribbean countries to be affected by the illicit activity.

“Majority of the traffic victims are women. They are lured by virtue of wanting a better life through jobs overseas,” argued independent consultant on National and Community Development, Joyce Hewett at a workshop.


She revealed that while Jamaica has made an effort to curb the problem through legislations, like its counterpart, both are still exposed to the illegal trade because of the levels of poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities.

Children, Mrs. Hewett added, also form part of human trafficking.

“Too often people at the lower end of the socio-economic strata will feel that they can’t provide enough for their children. And they are willing to send them off to a relative or sometimes a stranger to allow them to have a better way of life.”

This practice, she believes, can put the child in danger if the person is involved in the business of human trafficking.

The workshop is aimed at improving the detection, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in Jamaica and was organized by the Justice Training Institute (JTI) out of the Ministry of Justice. Participants include clerks of court, deputy clerks, police personnel and representatives from the Victim Support Unit.

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Resilience earns Flankers top prize

A resilient Flankers Community Development Centre has marched through turbulent circumstances to be one of seven community organizations short listed for the coveted Michael Manley Awards for Community Self-Reliance and has won.

Responding to what it meant to be nominated for such an award, centre director of the Flanker Community Development Centre, Marilyn Nash explained: “It is really a milestone for us because I think we work very hard at what we do in the community. Even if we don’t win, but to be short listed for this award means that we are doing something right.”

The non-government organization (NGO) was established in Flankers, Montego Bay seven years ago with the help of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to carry out a social conflict and legal reform project.

But mediation on its own, according to Mrs. Nash, could not solve the problems of crime, poor parenting, teenage pregnancy, lack of education and employment and low self-esteem. As such, the Flanker Community Development Centre was conceptualized, which has played an integral role in the community’s development, peace management and violence prevention initiatives.

In keeping with their motto ‘To enhance the social, educational, and economical standards of the residents, while building and maintaining community pride’, Mrs. Nash stated that the residents have been instrumental in the centre’s success.

“The centre is just not what goes on in the building but what we do in the community. It is owned by the community members who take an active part in every aspect of the centre’s operation.”

She added that the private sector and other government agencies such as the Ministries of National Security and Health have also played a significant role in the centre’s ability to execute its duties.

However, the NGO continues to experience challenges in raising funds according to the centre director.

“We are always dependent on funding from wherever we can get it in order to continue our programmes. Despite this challenge, this committed volunteer envisions the Flankers Community Development Centre as a model for other community centres in Jamaica,” Mrs. Nash noted.

Pastor of the Flankers Open Bible and Cornwall Division Superintendent for the Open Bible Churches of Jamaica, Reverend Glendon Powell, commended the efforts of social intervention by the centre. But he suggested that the church must be involved in the process.

“I cannot over emphasize the importance of merging spiritual and social intervention to have a greater impact on the community. Some of the social programmes should be channeled through the church,” stressed Rev. Powell.

The Flankers Community Development Centre, which also operates as a Peace and Justice centre, is an epitome for mediation centres across the island, as residents are able to access the services whether by court or community appointed mediation sessions.

Currently, over 140 residents from the community have been trained as mediators.

“Me give thanks the day when a centre come here because when Flankers got violent last year, Mrs. Nash help fi maintain the peace inna di community. The children can come here and get schoolwork done, use the computers and library here, so the community is really grateful to have this place (community centre),” resident Lorna Foster.

Activities at the Flankers Community Development Centre include a parenting programme where 13 parenting coaches work with 10 parents each to offer training on proper parenting over a six to eight-month period; homework club that facilitates students who attend shift schools and are involved in various educational activities before or after school; a senior citizens club, continuing studies training program, Sandals START skills training and a youth sports programme.