Port Antonio, PORTLAND
In celebrating its 110th anniversary, the local branch of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) held a prayer breakfast in Portland to commemorate the occasion earlier this week.
The anniversary celebration was fully endorsed with representatives from various government agencies, including the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica 4-H Club, the island's postal service, in attendance. However, Senator Norman Grant, president of the JAS, was unavoidably absent, as the inclement weather compounded by several roadblocks forced him to make a last-minute cancellation.
Gareth Davis
May Pen, CLARENDON
A man said to be on the Clarendon police most wanted list was shot and killed on Wednesday during an alleged shoot-out with the police.
The identity of the man has not been ascertained, but information on the incident so far indicates that the man and the police were involved in a shoot-out on White Lane, Hayes, Clarendon, about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. According to police sources, the man was wanted for a number of crimes, including at least six murders committed across the parish.
Stephanie Elliott
Mandeville, MANCHESTER
A move by the Mandeville traffic police to relocate taxi operators who ply the Spaldings to Mandeville route led to a demonstration by the operators on Monday.
The cabbies, who the police claim were operating contrary to their licence by transporting Christiana passengers, then
withdrew their service to protest the police action. The move comes a few weeks after the Christiana taxi men were relocated to the Nashville Transport Centre about one kilometre away from the town centre.
The Christiana commuters, who find it inconvenient to travel to Nashville, are in sympathy with the Spaldings operators who are now required to ply alongside their Christiana counterparts.
Byron McDaniel
Black River, ST. ELIZABETH
The launching of the STI/HIV/ AIDS awareness competition among firefighters in the St. Elizabeth division got off on Wednesday, with the first leg of the competition between Black River and Junction.
The competition started with prayer being offered by fire fighter S. Edwards. Senior Deputy Superintendent Dave McLauglin, who is in charge of the Black River Fire Station, told the contestants that the competition would help to enhance the HIV awareness for members of staff in the St. Elizabeth division.
Scores for the first day gave Junction the narrow edge over Black River with 19-18.
The next leg of the competition will see the Santa Cruz
firefighters facing Black River next Wednesday. The top
teams will go to the finals on November 30.
Annalee Bernard
Brown's Town, ST. ANN
Following a two-year absence, the Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival was successfully staged at the Minard Estate in Brown's Town, St. Ann, on Thursday, November 10.
Held under the theme: 'Exploiting the Potential of Our Local Livestock', the highlights of this year's festival were the auction sale of cattle, culinary display using beef, and the very exciting 'calf scramble' involving students from several schools.
Hundreds of persons, mainly children from nearly 100 schools across the island, were in attendance to view some of Jamaica's prime beef and diary cattle on display in addition to native and exotic goats.
Devon Evans
Morant Bay, ST. THOMAS
Senior Resident Magistrate for St. Thomas, Norma Bertram-Linton, has offered high praises for the sterling contribution, hard work and tireless service given to the community by the Mildred Wilson-led probation office in Morant Bay.
The Morant Bay office was recently named as the most outstanding probation office in the island.
In open court on Friday, November 11, the senior judge, in a public show of appreciation for the work of the men and women involved, congratulated the head of the Morant Bay Probation Office, saying the team had done tremendously well and deserved the national recognition it had received.
Arthur Green
Kingston, KINGSTON
On Thursday, November 17, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) signed a five-year contract
valued at US$210 million with
the Maersk shipping line, for the
provision of trans-shipment
services at the Kingston Container Terminal. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who participated in the signing ceremony at a function held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, said the contract was indicative of the tremendous development of the Port of Kingston.
JIS News z
