PORT MARIA, St Mary:

An inmate who was serving time at the Richmond Adult Correctional Facility will have to sit out another prison term when he makes his appearance in the Port Maria, Resident Magistrate's (RM) Court next Thursday for escaping custody.

The accused, Marcil Brown, 38, of Burke Hill, St Catherine, was arrested and charged with the second offence of escaping custody while working on a farm in Richmond, St Mary, on February 21 of this year. Brown was serving one year and eight months after he was sentenced on November 6, 2007, in the Spanish Town Court on charges of malicious destruction of property.

According to allegations read in court on February 21, Brown, along with other inmates, was detailed to do bushing on a farm. While the work was being carried out, Brown was noticed wandering from the group. A report was made to the supervisor on the farm who reportedly called out to him. He reportedly ran off and made his escape in nearby bushes. A search was launched and Brown was found hiding in a nearby gully.

guilty

The court was told that when the accused man was cautioned by the police he said, "Mi cyaan tell nuh lie, mi guilty."

When Brown was brought before the court on Thursday, Magistrate Andrea Collins, who was in a buoyant mood after hearing the allegations outlined, said Brown's actions were very stupid and the accused should feel sorry he did it.

The accused's response suggested he was indeed sorry and he pleaded not to be treated too harshly by the court.

Accused: very, very sorry, your honour.

RM Collins: any last words before your sentence?

Accused: I am asking for some lenience, your honour.

Brown was ordered to return to court on March 27 for sentencing.

- Nedburn Thaffe

OCHO RIOS, ST ANN:

Manager of the St Ann branch of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Pedro Worghs, has reported that the Jamaica Bauxite Institute/RADA Faith's Pen apiculture project is well on target.

The project, which was implemented at a cost of over $450,000, is geared towards encouraging young people to become involved in bee-keeping.

According to Worghs, five of 10 farmers projected have already been trained and given two boxes of bees along with equipment.

He added that the remaining five farmers would also receive equipment and bees after their training was completed.

Worghs also said RADA officers were carrying out assessments and monitoring the farmers to ensure they grasped the concept of proper bee-keeping.

The RADA manager also encouraged farmers who have an interest in bee-keeping to contact the organisation's offices in their area or get in touch with the Bee Farmers' Association in their parish.

- JIS

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

Residents of Boundbrook Avenue, In Portland, on Tuesday protested against a dust nuisance, which has been affecting them for more than three weeks after work on the roadway by the Portland Parish Council.

The residents used stones, tyres, old fridges, tree trunks and other debris to block the more than 500 metres of roadway in that community.

The road had fallen into a state of disrepair for the better part of five years, and is undergoing repair.

The residents are also alleging that taxi operators have also compounded their plight by driving fast on the road and blowing dust all over the area. The residents, while admitting that the road was worse as it was filled with potholes, have said the parish council should do something about the new problems they face.

In the meantime, the councillor for the area, Dexter Rholand, has pledged to address the issues. He explained that the parish council had every intention of completing the work, but added that a shortage of cash resulted in delays.

- Gareth Davis Sr

MAY PEN, CLARENDON:

Four Paths Primary and Junior High School had their first Boys' Day at the school grounds in the Clarendon community of the same name on Monday under the theme 'Today's Boys, Tomorrow's Men'.

The event sought to impress on the boys the importance of a sound education and building self-esteem, as well as providing interaction with positive male role models.

Beryl Allen, the school's principal, chose to have a Boys' Day because 'they are more at risk'.

The boys were specially treated to a full day of activities, which started with devotion conducted by Constable Dean Cover followed by a March to the Clarendon Gardens area some distance from the school.

Green Park Primary and Junior High School band from Sandy Bay provided entertainment.

Presentations were also made to some of the boys who had improved academically and in deportment.

Finally, Boys' Day had male role models from various sectors of the society giving the students motivational talks.

- Angella Chin

MONTEGO BAY, ST JAMES:

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, has commended founders of the MoBay Hope Medical Centre for establishing the facility, which has over the past 10 years provided quality private health care to thousands of patients from western Jamaica.

Speaking at the centre's 10th anniversary dinner and awards function at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay last Saturday, the minister said that the event represented a significant milestone in the life of the city of Montego Bay and of the facility.

Alluding to Jamaica's hope for better health care and a better life for the people, the minister emphasised that all must share a collective vision of moving the country forward.

He cautioned that in the upcoming budget presentation the country should expect challenges.

MoBay Hope is a non-profit medical diagnostic and treatment centre established in December 1997 with the goal of providing high quality, affordable emer-gency medical services to citizens and visitors to Jamaica's western areas.

- JIS

BLACK RIVER, ST ELIZABETH:

The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA) has taken its series of community meetings to St Elizabeth, to sensitise residents about proper chemical use.

At a meeting held last Wednesday in Pedro Plains square, senior inspector of the PCA's western office, Lee Taylor, said it was important that farmers and the general public receive continuous information on pesticide use in order to protect their health.

He advised farmers not to use more than the quantity stipulated for particular crops and not to over spray produce.

The Pesticides Control Authority monitors and gives approval for the importation of chemicals into the island. It prohibits any pesticides that can have negative effects on the environment, plants, animals or humans.

The last public meetings were held on March 18 in Elim Square and in Springfield, St Elizabeth.

- JIS

MONTEGO BAY, ST JAMES:

Construction work on the dualisation of the Bogue main road in Montego Bay should begin early in the next financial year, reported Stephen Shaw, manager of communications and customer service at the National Works Agency (NWA).

Shaw said concerns about gas, water pipelines and utility poles, which were hindering the progress of the work along that roadway, were no longer an issue.

The communications and customer service manager went on to say the scope of the work would include the dualisation of the roadway from the Fairfield crossing along the Bogue main road to the Reading intersection with Long Hill.

The work to be undertaken, Shaw explained, was not just to remedy the problems being experienced along the Bogue main road, but also to improve the entire corridor from Fairfield to Reading.

- JIS

FALMOUTH, TRELAWNY:

The first ever Trelawny kite festival and family fun day will be staged today on the grounds of YOW's entertainment complex in Rio Bueno.