Dr. Henry Lowe, executive chairman of the Environmental Health Foundation (EHF), congratulates Pastor Joseph Smith, personal ministries director of West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists, following the presentation to the church of the Wellness Award for Excellence in the category of education, lifestyleand development. The award was made in recognition of the church's contribution to the promotion of wellness and positive lifestyle. The presentation was made last Thursday by the EHF at its third annual Wellness and Awards Ceremony at Eden Gardens, St. Andrew, under the theme 'Wellness Works Wonders'. - Contributed

George Henry, Gleaner Writer

SPALDINGS, Clarendon:

Mayor of May Pen, Councillor Milton Brown has disclosed that changes have had to be made to the market project being undertaken at Spaldings in north west Clarendon.

Mayor Brown told The Gleaner that the changes were made because the work got started before the various departments at the Clarendon Parish Council gave the green light for construction to begin.

"We had to re-do several aspects of the design to satisfy the requirements, and we are now satisfied that construction can continue to completion of the first phase of work," the mayor said.

He noted that changes to the design of the market have resulted in more space being created to allow for additional shops to be constructed on the ground floor of the facility. However, according to Mayor Brown, more funds are needed to effectively carry out the work.

The mayor stated that the Clarendon Parish Council has committed $5 million towards the project and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has pledged to make a significant contribution towards it.

The money put up by the council, and that which is to be contributed by JSIF, will, according to Mayor Brown, complete phase one of the two-phase project.

Huge sum

Though not being able to give a specific figure as to how much the project will end up costing, Mayor Brown said it will be a huge sum.

The mayor said the project is being closely supervised by the Clarendon Parish Council and that it intends to employ someone to be based there permanently to ensure that all standards are met and that taxpayers get value for their money.

But even before the project is completed, Mayor Brown made it clear that the facility will have to be used in an orderly way. He stated that there is a tendency for vendors and others not to follow order, but that nothing that contravenes the Vending Act will be tolerated.

He expects that within three months vendors and shoppers will have full use of the market. However, Mayor Brown pointed out that recent heavy rains have slowed down work somewhat. But when the rains cease, work should progress smoothly to the completion of phase one of the project.