Little Brittany Morrison, four, is in full flight as she enjoys a round of skipping during the Kiwanis Club of New Kingston's 'Kiddies Christmas Treat' which was held on December 8 at Devon House in St. Andrew. More than 1,400 children from Kiwanis-sponsored schools, children's homes and special facilities, including the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre, were feted by the New Kingston club as part of their social outreach activities. - Contributed

NYS trains St. Mary volunteers

PORT MARIA, ST. MARY:

Forty-six National Youth Service (NYS) volunteers in St. Mary are currently participating in a one-month training programme in primary education to enable them to assist with the delivery of education at that level.

The training is being conducted at the St. Mary Parish Church in Port Maria. It will end this Friday.

The volunteers were also being trained in a number of personal development courses, including leadership, gender sensitisation and self-esteem.

The primary education component of the programme, involves training in special education, literacy studies and classroom management.

Participants will be assigned to various schools in the parish on completion of the course.

Resource personnel have been chosen from the schools and various communities in St. Mary.

- JIS

Parish council to refurbish park

MORANT BAY, ST. THOMAS:

Some $2 million is being spent by the St. Thomas Parish Council to refurbish and beautify the Rudolph Elder Recreational Park in Morant Bay.

Secretary/manager of the parish council, Clinton Gordon, said approximately $550,000 would be used to replace toilet facilities, which have been in a state of disrepair over the years.

He said the remaining funds would be used to install electrical fittings, upgrade the park's entrance, and for general clean-up and landscaping, including the planting of trees. In addition, excess sand along the section of property near to the seashore will be cleared, while the shoreline will be reinforced.

Mr. Gordon said storm surges during the passage of hurricanes Dean and Ivan, had resulted in the dumping of sand in the park, while erosion had occurred along the shoreline.

The park will be the venue for the parish council's annual tree-lighting ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on December 17.

- JIS

Ministry to enforce planning laws

MONTEGO BAY, ST. JAMES:

The Ministry of Health and Environment and its relevant agencies will be vigorously enforcing planning and environ-mental laws and regulations in the interest of present and future generations.

This was emphasised by director of human resource management and industrial relations at the Western Regional Health Authority, Arthur Warren, at the Rose Hall Developers' Conference, held recently at the Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort in Montego Bay.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health and Environ-ment, Rudyard Spencer, he stressed that environmental impact assessments for large scale projects must be completed in the proper manner with all the relevant information that is required by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

He informed that NEPA was in the process of implementing an approved application processing system that was more customer-focused and service-oriented.

Mr. Warren noted that the current development order for the parish of St. James was 25 years old and that a new development order for the parish would commence next year.

- JIS

Jamalco to host Christmas treat

HALSE HALL, CLARENDON:

Bauxite giant, Jamalco, has announced its intention to donate gifts and fund Christmas parties valued at just under $3 million for over 4,000 children and their teachers in the company's operating areas in Clarendon and south Manchester between De-cember 11 and 19.

The highlight of this project will be a special Christmas treat for children with disabilities being hosted by the company this Friday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Jamalco Sports Club, Halse Hall, Clarendon.

Santa Claus and volunteers from Jamalco will distribute toys to the children and serve them refresh-ments. There will also be entertain-ment and games.

- Contributed

FFP helps free inmates for Christmas

KINGSTON:

Twenty-three inmates from four adult correctional facilities and a police lockup in Jamaica were last week released from prison and have reunited with their families and friends. This followed the payment of their fines at a total cost of $836, 447.03 by Food For the Poor (FFP).

The inmates committed minor, non-violent offences against the State and were between the ages 22 and 45 years.

13 prisoners were released from St. Catherine, five from Tamarind Farm, while another three inmates were released from Richmond Park adult correctional centres. Both Fort Augusta Adult Correctional Centre and Kingston Central Police Station released one inmate each.

In Easter of this year, FFP released 24 inmates under the Prison Ministry Programme which brings the total number of releases to 47 for 2007.

FFP's prison releases are conducted at Easter and Christmas each year and ex-inmates are provided with further assistance to provide for themselves and their families.

- Contributed

PNP selects its mayors

WESTMORELAND:

The People's National Party has selected its slate of mayors and deputy mayors for the three parish councils they control following the December 5 local government elections.

Former deputy chairman of the Westmoreland Parish Council, councillor Bertel Moore of the Negril division is the new mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, while his deputy will be the councillor for the Frome division, Paul Wilson.

In Hanover, Lloyd Hill of the Sandy Bay division is the new mayor for Lucea and his deputy is councillor for the Green Island division Frederick Miller.

In Manchester, councillor for the Bellefield division, Brenda Ramsay, is Mandeville's new mayor, while Erwing Facey of the Spur Tree division is his deputy.

The announcement of the three mayors and their deputies was made ahead of their swearing-in tomorrow.

- Neville Paul

Wheatley is mayor again

SPANISH TOWN, ST. CATHERINE:

It is 'as you were' at the St. Catherine Parish Council as far as the posts of mayor and deputy mayor are concerned.

Dr. Andrew Wheatley was returned to chair the St. Catherine Parish Council following a caucus held at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) headquarters on Monday afternoon.

Wheatley, who represents the JLP in the Naggo Head division in the Portmore Municipal Council, will be assisted by councillor Owen Palmer of the Homestead division, who has been Wheatley's deputy for the last three years.

Prior to Wheatley being given the job for a second time, other names were being mentioned, with councillor Devon Wint of the Point Hill division, councillor William Cytall of the Troja division and former mayor, Dr. Raymoth Notice, of the Bog Walk division all in the running.

The Gleaner spoke to those persons mentioned, and the consensus is that the party's decision will be supported.

- Rasbert Turner

Still no word on St Bess mayor

ST. ELIZABETH:

There is still no word on who will lead the St. Elizabeth Parish Council as a number of councillors are interested in the position of mayor.

Included among the interested persons in the Jamaica Labour Party-led council are councillor for the Southfield division and former Mayor Shirley Myers, councillor for the Santa Cruz division Stallyn Brown, councillor for the Newmarket division Ernest Hendricks, and councillor for the Pedro Plains division, Jeremy Palmer.

Speculation is rife that the role will be given to Palmer.

- Neville Paul