MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

The male ward at the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth has been remodelled at a cost of $1.5 million, with the contribution of the Friends of the Black River Hospital.

At an opening ceremony on Thursday, May 21, Eleanor Evans, president of the group, said they were able to accomplish the project through cooperation from members and donors.

The ward received extensive refurbishing with new fixtures installed and furniture added.

Guest speaker and retired manager of the Manchester Health Department, Yvonne Pitter, said the Friends of the Black River Hospital had demonstrated that voluntarism was alive in Jamaica.

- JIS

Bauxite company focuses on health for Labour Day

LIONEL TOWN, CLARENDON:

Jerome Maxwell, Jamalco's managing director, disclosed that the company spent $360,000 on two Labour Day projects within the company's operating areas in Clarendon at the Lionel Town Hospital and in Manchester at the Harmons Health Centre.

Maxwell was one of 50 volunteers who participated in the Labour Day effort to improve the male ward by painting the corridor linking the administrative offices with the wards and in giving a general facelift to sections of the Lionel Town Hospital on Monday.

A pre-Labour Day effort started two weeks ago, where new lumber and zinc replaced damaged sections of the roof along the corridor.

The Leo Club of Clarendon, cadets from the Vere Technical High School who are members of the newly formed Second Engineer Squadron based at the school, and Jamalco Community Council members from the refinery and port areas also teamed their efforts to improve the facility.

The Harmons Health project was postponed due to inclement weather.

However, the Mines Team at Jamalco will be making plans for a post-Labour Day event.

- AC

Ginger project gets warm reception

ALSTON, CLARENDON:

Over 500 people turned out to work on the National Labour Day Project at Butlers Run at Top Alston in Northwest Clarendon on Monday, contributing to the Ginger Project.

The area was abuzz with activity, despite overnight showers that saturated the area around the two greenhouses where the ginger was being planted by way of tissue culture as well as the traditional method.

Pleased with the turnout, Member of Parliament Michael Stern said the ginger resuscitating project had given him hope.

Stern said the work would not stop at Top Alston, as he hoped for a sustainable means of income for ginger farmers inside and outside the area.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding praised the effort of the hundreds who turned out. He said the project was important, not only to Clarendon but to Jamaica.

- George Henry

JSIF helps reduce crime

BUCKNOR, CLARENDON:

Last year, Bucknor residents saw at least 12 of their young men brutally killed. To date, the figure this year is nil. Although there is no empirical evidence that the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has influenced this miracle, they have done much in the last two and a half years to improve the infrastructure and social well-being of the community.

The JSIF has rehabilitated the community's playing field to the tune of $8 million.

They have also taken on the rehabilitation of Bucknor's water supply network and upgrading of their roadways, which would cost $40 million and $13 million, respectively.

JSIF has also committed to improving the educational facilities for children there. Trained teachers are engaged in providing evening classes to GSAT students from Mondays to Thursdays in the community. The children are also given snacks.The programme has cost the fund $6 million thus far.

Damion Young, community liaison officer, told The Gleaner that, for troubled communities like Bucknor, the state agency hoped to "break the back of poverty and, by extension, illiteracy."

- Angella Chin