Golding takes swing at education system

KINGSTON:

Prime Minister Bruce Golding has criticised Jamaica's education sector for its failure to produce sufficient numbers of high-quality students.

Golding likened many schools to conveyor belts mass-producing graduates, many of whom were undereducated or underskilled.

He said the expectations that children enrolled in schools were naturally guaranteed a sound education was a distant memory of a bygone era.

"Times have changed," he said. "Our schools are not providing that guarantee that they did in those days.

"Some do well, but many don't. Too many are below mediocrity," said Golding.

The prime minister, a St George's College old boy, was speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lawrence A. Burke Centre at the school's North Street campus in Kingston on January 28.

To be completed in six months

The new three-storey building to be completed in another six months will house 12 rooms - four third-form classrooms on the ground floor, a language lab, mathematics room, social studies room and English room on the second floor.

It will accommodate a computer lab, two science labs and an art room on the third floor and will also have its own washroom facilities and faculty offices.

Education Minister Andrew Holness, who also participated in the ceremony, congratulated the school's administration on the initiative to improve the infrastructure of the 159-year-old institution.

He said there was an undeniable link between the quality of the infrastructure of a school and its success in producing quality leadership that will shape the society.

However, he implored the staff at St George's to guard against social forces that were geared towards eroding positive values.

"Don't let those negative forces in the society creep into the school, don't let them overtake your school," he said.

The new building is named after Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence A. Burke, who is a St George's College past student and former principal of the all-boy high school.

St George's old boys and friends worldwide will provide funding for the new building.

- Athaliah Reynolds

Teen hangs self

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

Michael Stamp, 19, was to be transferred to a correctional centre to start his 12-month sentence for housebreaking and larceny, but hours after sentencing he was found hanging in his cell at the Bridgeport police lock-up in St Catherine at about 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday.

Personnel from the Scene of Crime Unit were called in to investigate the incident. The Gleaner was informed that Stamp begged the court on Wednesday not to send him to prison, but the resident magistrate informed him that his record showed that he had been convicted of a similar offence before and, therefore, had to be incarcerated.

The 19-year-old was reportedly released from prison recently.

- Rasbert Turner

Royals to visit refurbished ward at Sp Town Hospital

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

The King and Queen of Spain will visit Jamaica this month to witness the official opening of the newly refurbished Ward One at the Spanish Town Hospital, which was made possible with funding from the Government of Spain at a cost of €325,000.

The pending visit was disclosed Thursday during a courtesy call by Jesús Silva, Spain's ambassador to Jamaica, on Rudyard Spencer, minister of health and environment.

In the meeting, Spencer expressed gratitude for the interest the Government of Spain has shown in the local health sector through its renovation of Ward One.

Committed to the relationship

Spencer also said that the Government of Jamaica was committed to maintaining the relationship with Spain. Further development is being considered for the Spanish Town Hospital by both governments.

The newly refurbished ward will be officially opened on February 18. This building will house the Physiotherapy Department and the new Medical Ward.

In late 2007, the Agency for Inter-national Development Cooperation approved a grant of €325,000 for the refurbishing of one ward at the Spanish Town Hospital.

Two questioned in connection with fire killing

MORANT BAY, St Thomas:

The St Thomas police have interviewed two persons in relation to the murder of Angella Lynch and her three grandchildren who were burnt alive at their Land Top home in the eastern parish.

Superintendent Jonathan Morrison, who is in charge of the St Thomas police, told The Gleaner that no clear motive has yet been established for the brutal attack.

"There are several different reasons why she (Lynch) could have been attacked," he said.

Morrison said the relevant forensic evidence has been gathered from the scene, which would help the police with their investigations.

However, the cop is appealing to persons who may have vital information, which could assist with the case to come forward and provide statements to the police.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Children's Advocate has condemned the attack.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to the wider community during this time of grief," a statement from the agency said.

The agency also expressed its condolences to Aretha Smith, the mother of the three deceased children.

The office is calling on adults to take responsibility and protect their children from falling victim to acts of crime, which arose from conflicts between adults.

"Too many children have lost their lives because of alleged conflict between adults ... no child should have to pay because adults fail to resolve their differences amicably," the release said.