The Tower Street Correctional Centre, downtown Kingston. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

Inmates who involve themselves in the public work programme will be given a stipend of $150 per day for their labour, and this will be on a sustained basis.

Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, along with the Minister of State, Arthur Williams, launched the programme at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Thursday.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Minister of State in the Security Ministry, Arthur Williams, said the idea of inmates working is one that is embraced by all.

Mr. Williams explained that low-risk inmates will be deployed under the watchful eyes of the correctional services to clean several cemeteries in Spanish Town and Kingston and also to deal with the cleaning of several public thoroughfares.

Williams, who started the programme two weeks ago, also said the expectation is that the programme will aid the rehabilitation process.

His views were endorsed by the Mayor of Spanish Town, Andrew Wheatley, Major Richard Reese and also the Minister of National Security.

Several other persons, who turned out at the Spanish Town Prison Oval, also praised the move as innovative.

- Rasbert Turner

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Student proposals to be implemented

WESTMORELAND:

The Westmoreland Parish Council will be making $220,000 available for the implementation of 11 projects throughout the parish. These were proposed by students, who took over last week's sitting of the parish council.

The students, who served as junior councillors, made well-researched and spirited presentations on a project to improve their division and detailed how the money will be spent.

While the students will implement the project, the parish council will oversee the work and make the necessary resources available.

Deputy Mayor of Westmoreland, Bertel Moore, commended the junior councillors, noting that the projects showed a lot of planning and research.

Racquel Muir from Manning's School won the Ralph Anglin Trophy for her paper, highlighting the deplorable condition of the Guy Ottey Park, which was established in memory of the first mayor of Savanna-la-Mar.

- JIS

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Frome ready for diversification

Aston Smith (left), vice-president of operations for the Sugar Company of Jamaica, and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Christopher Tufton inspect cane at the Frome Sugar Factory on Thursday. - photo by Dalton Laing

ST. ELIZABETH:

The Agriculture Ministry is expecting much improvement for the upcoming sugar cane season, while it anticipates the divestment of the industry, which it is banking on to be the driver behind making the crop successful.

Dr. Christopher Tufton, who is having his first responsibility as head of the agricultural sector of the country, told sugar workers at the Frome Sugar Factory on Thursday that the success of the sugar industry depends on diversification to improve the efficiency level of the industry.

Vice-president of operations for the Sugar Company of Jamaica, Aston Smith, who guided the Agriculture Minister on a tour of the cane fields, is satisfied with the production level at Frome, pointing out that they have exceeded the target set for last year, despite adverse climatic conditions. He also said that the factory is poised to produce in excess of 50,000 tons of sugar for the upcoming crop.

He also said that the quality of production at Frome is on a high as last year they fetched a price of $38,877 per ton for sugar and $6,115 for molasses, the highest the country has ever received.

- Dalton Laing

Theatre movement organises cultural day

CLARENDON:

The Longville Park Theatre Movement, in collaboration with the Longville Park Citizens' Association, staged a cultural launch on Sunday in the plaza just outside of the community's housing scheme.

The launch, showcasing the rich culture of the expanding community, had youths performing the Longville Park Anthem, the theme song, dialect verses, folk songs and stories about Longville Park, indigenous music and dance forms. Dub poets were also given a platform to 'buss out'. Pumpkin dishes and drinks were on sale. The unfolding of the theatre movement's flag rounded out the day's events.

Rosemarie Langoth, director/founder of the theatre movement established in January 2006, was emcee for part of the evening's programme. She said that it was necessary to utilise culture to stimulate civic pride and bring awareness to the residents of Longville Park.

The National Housing Trust, a major sponsor of the launch, through its representative Ms. Judith Thompson (May Pen's branch manager) and a guest at the function echoed similar sentiments.

- Angella Chin

Peace concert for MoBay

MONTEGO BAY, ST. JAMES:

The roaming peace concert and information fair, dubbed 'PeaceMobile', will make a stop in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St. James, on Sunday for a day of performances and information focused on community safety, peace, reconciliation and mutual respect.

PeaceMobile is a moveable stage show on wheels that mobilises talented citizens to perform messages of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation on the same stage as popular artistes.

In so doing, citizens become messengers of peace and community safety in collaboration with the Government. The mobile comes with a roaming information fair that provides citizens with empowering information about life and building stronger and safer communities.

The PeaceMobile is brought to Sam Sharpe Square by the Citizen Security and Justice Programme, in partnership with the Peace Management Initiative of St. James.

PeaceMobile begins at 11:00 a.m.

- Contributed ---------

FFP hosts marching band

Independence City division Councillor, Keith Blake (left), holds a weed whacker he gave to two men for a start-up business for the Christmas holidays. Looking on are Howard Coke (third left), former JLP caretaker for Waterford and other community members. This is one of two weed whackers purchased at a value of $42,000 each. The workmen put forward $10,000 and Councillor Blake put up the rest. - Anthony Minott/ Freelance Photographer

SPANISH TOWN, ST. CATHERINE:

Food For the Poor recently donated $2.7 million worth of musical instruments to 29 marching bands in St. Catherine and St. James.

Among the 364 instruments were trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, trombones, flutes and drums.

In expressing their appreciation for the donation, six inner-city bands in St. Catherine, will be showcasing their musical talents and skills by performing a grand march past in the car park at Food For the Poor, Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

Additionally, the annual Evening of Excellence Forum will also take place. The forum is specifically designed for high school students who have done exceptionally well in their exams and continue to benefit from Food For the Poor.

Both events are organised as part of the organisation's youth month activities to remind the youth of the inner city that they can live violent-free lives.

- Contributed

Credit union enjoys 35th birthday

ST. ELIZABETH:

The St. Elizabeth Co-operative Credit Union celebrated its 35th year of operation by honouring some 40 individuals and four institutions, which played a significant role in the development of the co-operative.

The honorees comprised a carefully selected group of pioneer volunteers, members, and employees, as well as four key supporting organisations. The awards were presented at the co-operative's 35th anniversary banquet held last Saturday evening at the Luana Country Club, Luana, St. Elizabeth.

Volunteers honoured include Elaine Dennis, Berris Subaran, John Spence, Norma Neil and Renford Douglas.

Some members of the credit union were also recognised, including Maisie Johnson, Frank Bowes, Selvin James, Eric Maxwell, Mark Facey, George Morris and Sadie Spencer.

Alumina Partners of Jamaica, J. Wray & Nephew-Appleton Estate, St. Elizabeth Parish Council and the St. Elizabeth Technical High School were the organisations which received awards.

The employees who were honoured for their sterling contribution to the credit union include Carla Foster, Simone Clarke-Smith, Dothlyn Barnes, Everley Smith and Fitzgerald Rowe.

Rayon Dyer

Double murder in Clarendon

PALMER'S CROSS, CLARENDON:

After heavy gunshots barked in the Palmer's Cross Community in Clarendon on Thursday morning, just after 8 o'clock, the bullet-riddled bodies of Marvin Gavin, 20, and Dwayne McDonald, 19, were found lying in pools of blood in the community.

According to police reports, shortly after 8 o'clock Thursday morning, residents heard explosions in the community and alerted the police.

When the police arrived on the scene the bodies, with what appeared to be gunshot wounds, were lying in pools of blood on a dirt road.

The scene was processed by the Area 3 Scene of Crime Unit and the bodies were removed to the May Pen Hospital.

The police have not established a motive for the killings.

Residents of the community are now saying they are frustrated with the levels of crime in the area.

According to CCN liaison officer for the Parish, Constable Beverly Howell, there has been an increase in murders in the parish. To date, 103 murders have been recorded in Clarendon since the start of the year.

- Dwight Nelson