Anumber of fishermen who operatefrom the South Coast, are question-ing what effect the granting of new

offshore oil exploration licences will have onthe already depleted fishing stock inJamaican waters.

The Jamaican government on March 1offered 19 offshore and four onshore blocks forlicensing for oil and gas exploration in London.

According to Minister of State in theMinistry of Energy and Mining, Hon. LaurenceBroderick, who spoke at the launch which washeld at the Geological Society, low energy costis key to Jamaica's industrial development. Sowhile the programme to develop and expandrenewable energy sources would continue atfull speed, the use of oil to generate energy willbe continue for the foreseeable future.

"Presently, our dependence on oil leaves usat a highly disadvantageous position, in com-parison with our competitors. The high cost (ofelectricity) to domestic customers and industrymeans that we are just not competitive," hesaid.

New Data Indicate Positive SignsJamaican officials are hopeful that with new

seismic data showing very positive prospects,the country could, in the long term, become oneof the region's top oil producers.

But local fishermen whose day-to-day exis-tence depends on what the catch at sea, are notso upbeat.

Over the last several years, stocks of fish offJamaica's coastline have showed constantdecline due to over-fishing and the use ofdestructive fishing methods. Many fishermennow fear that their livelihood will be put at fur-ther risk once exploration for oil begins.

Although government is yet to specify whatareas of the country's territorial waters will beexplored, according to research, waters offJamaica's South Coast in the region of theparish of St. Elizabeth shows the greatest prom-ise.

With previous efforts to find oil off the coastof Jamaica requiring the use of explosivecharges that damaged the ocean bed, frightenedoff fish stocks and disturbed breeding patterns,the fear of local fishermen is understandable.

In 2007, a licence was approved by Cabinetto a Hong Kong-based firm to conduct explo-ration activities in Jamaica's waters for oil andnatural gas deposits.

Also, two exploration licences spread over atotal of eight blocks were previously awardedin 2005 by the then Government to theFinder/Gippsland joint venture out of Australia,and Rainville Energy Ltd. out of Canada.

This was not the first time that Jamaica hasset out to find oil. Eleven wells were drilledbetween 1955 and 1982. Ten of these showedyields of oil and natural gas, but none in com-mercial quantities.

The country however derived earnings fromthe exploration activities through training andacreage fees, which the exploration companieshave to pay to the PCJ as a condition of theirlicence. So far, Jamaica has earned approxi-mately $22 million.

Under the terms of the 2005 explorationlicences, an agreement to provide compensa-tion for fisherfolk affected by the activities wassigned at the between representatives ofFinder/Gippsland, Rainville, Proteam and theJamaica Fisherman's Co-operative Union wasentered into.

South Coast At Greatest RiskHowever with the island's most fertile breed-

ing ground for fish existing off the south coastwhere a major part of the exploration activitieswere centred, the terms of the agreementproved unsatisfactory to many players in thefishing industry, despite the existence of anauthority comprising a claims investigator, aclaims verification committee and a claimsappeal tribunal to adjudicate any claims thatmay arise for compensation for damage arising

from activities associated with the search foroil.

With the launch of this new round of explo-ration licences, no word has come of any simi-lar arbitration body being established.

Jamaica's tourism product has proven to beone of the most resilient sectors of the economyparticularly during the global recession that isonly just showing signs of easing. Drilling foroil would have significant negative effect onthe island's reputation as a 'green' destination.

Many are questioning why the governmentwould risk the destruction of our naturalresources rather than attempting to attract newinvestment in wind, solar and other clean ener-gy. This would allow the country to also earnfrom the sale of carbon credits on the interna-tional market, which is currently a multi-billionfacility.

Burning of fossil fuels is a major source ofindustrial greenhouse gas emissions, especiallyfor power, cement, steel, textile, fertilizer andmany other industries which rely on fossil fuels(coal, electricity derived from coal, natural gasand oil).

The concept of carbon credits came intoexistence as a result of increasing awareness ofthe need for controlling emissions.

Carbon credits can be created from projectsthat either sequester carbon dioxide or other

greenhouse gases or save greenhouse gasesfrom being emitted using new technologies

Alternative Energy A Better OptionSo is oil exploration worth the potential envi-

ronmental damage in the context of rapid devel-opments in alternate energy?

According to consultant to the PetroleumCorporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Dr. RaymondWright, while the data for oil and gas explo-ration in Jamaica was positive, any benefitswould come in the long term.

"We are talking about anything that couldhappen in 2015 and beyond. It's not next year,so we are really planning for the long termfuture," he said.

Minister Broderick however noted that thereis an on-going programme to develop addition-al sources of renewable energy.

"We have a couple of wind farms and we areseeking to establish more. With solar, we havenot moved as fast because of the cost, but thereare a number of companies that have expressedan interest and the pilot projects in hospitals aregoing well," he pointed out.

It therefore stands to reason that more effortshould be put into these projects rather thanputting the country's environment at risk (seerelated stories on page 15).

March 15- 28, 2010 • southcoastnews@yahoo.com• A community newspaper serving the parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland

$50How you can preventidentity theft

Fishermen dread oil exploration plans

Page 7

Fishing boats at rest in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth

2008 Press Assn. of JamaicaDouble Awardee

MoneyGram International Inc., hasrecognised Jamaica NationalBuilding Society (JNBS) as one of

its outstanding Agents for 2008/2009.

The announcement was made by DanielO'Malley, Executive Vice-President ofMoneyGram and Steve Higgins, CaribbeanRegional Manager, MoneyGram, during the

presentation of a plaque at the Society's ChiefOffice in Half-Way-Tree in Kingston recently.

The building society, through its subsidiaryJN Money Services Limited (JNMS), has beenan Agent of MoneyGram since 1991 and is thelongest serving Agent in Jamaica.MoneyGram services are provided through theJNMS network in 32 JNBS locations across theisland, as well as in the UK, USA, Canada andCayman.

Valued Partnership“We value our partnership with the Jamaica

National Building Society and JN MoneyServices Limited and look forward to strength-ening this relationship,” said Mr. O'Malley.“The support of our Agents is important to usand we are pleased that the Jamaica Nationalcontinues to play a very important role in facil-itating our customers,” he added.

Mr. O'Malley commended the organizationfor its compliance with international moneytransfer regulations and for helping to maintainthe image of the MoneyGram brand in theJamaican market.

Earl Jarrett, General Manager, JNBS,

expressed gratitude of the Society for therecognition.

“This award is very meaningful and signif-icant to us, and speaks volume to our commit-ment to the more than 120,000 MoneyGramcustomers we serve annually,” Mr. Jarrett said.“We are pleased about this recognition, and arecommitted to continuing to provide fast, effi-cient and accurate transfers on behalf ofMoneyGram, while maintaining excellent cus-tomer service.”

Mr. Jarrett also pointed out that theMoneyGram service complements theSociety's JN International Money Transferservice.

“Customers sending or receiving moneytransfers from Australia to Jamaica , for exam-ple, benefit from using MoneyGram as the JNInternational Money Transfer service is notavailable in that country,” he explained.

He noted that the partnership withMoneyGram was mutually beneficial, and saidthat, “We will endeavour to maintain it tostrengthen ties between Jamaica and theworld.”

Approximately 100 residents of Broadleaf, and sur-rounding communities in Manchester, benefitedfrom a health fair hosted by Jamalco at the

Broadleaf Primary School, recently.The fair, organised by Community Relations Officer, Mr.

Errol Davy, in collaboration with Jamalco's MedicalDepartment, saw residents being offered health checks, visionscreening and counselling.

The health professionals who participated in the fair report-ed that diabetes, hypertension and increased cholesterol levelswere major health issues discovered, with 57 of the personsscreened being hypertensive, 28 were diabetic while 24 hadelevated cholesterol levels.

The team referred 13 persons to hospital, while nine werereferred to private doctors. The eyes of 93 persons werechecked, resulting in 41 being referred to the Lions SightClinic for further intervention.

The residents expressed their gratitude to Jamalco. The fairwas one of several planned by the company to assist residentsof its host communities.

2 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Broadleaf residents benefit from Jamalco health fair

Earl Jarrett, (second right), General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), accepts the MoneyGram awardon behalf of JNBS for being an outstanding Agent for 2008/2009 from Daniel O'Malley, Executive Vice-President,MoneyGram, witnessed by Steve Higgins (left), Caribbean Regional Manager, MoneyGram and Leesa Kow, GeneralManager, JN Money Services Ltd.

SOUTH COASTNEWS

Unit 2- 10 Ward Ave.Mandeville, Manchester

Tel: 305-0435 (Claro)381-3564 (Digicel) 531-4785 (LIME)

southcoastnews@yahoo.com

Editor Clive Williams

WritersHoward HendriksShereido Carter

PhotographersClive Williams

Phillip LemonteCarl Levy

Jessica Williams

Special thanks to the JamaicaInformation Service

JNBS cops MoneyGram's Outstanding Agent award

3MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

The Minister of Youth, Sportsand Culture, theHonourable Olivia Grange,

MP, has officially launched thefirst National Youth Survey.

At the end of the survey, theGovernment of Jamaica will have aclearer picture of the economic,social, physical, spiritual, educationand political situation of Jamaica'syouth.

The results of the survey will alsoinform the revision of the NationalYouth Policy being led by theMinistry of Youth, Sports andCulture through the National Centrefor Youth Development (NCYD).

Minister Grange said the NationalYouth Survey will provide a uniqueinsight into the mind of Jamaica'syouth.

“As a Government, we are com-mitted to understanding and assess-ing the situation that our youth areexperiencing across the varioussocial groups. We recognise that ouryoung people are not homogeneousbut very diverse. This survey thatwill be undertaken over the next ninemonths will provide us with primarydata leading to a complete set of datafor youth development pro-grammes.”

The survey is part of the NationalYouth Development project underwhich the Ministry of Youth, Sportsand Culture will be establishingYouth Information Centres acrossthe island and expanding youth main-streaming programmes.

IDB FundingThe first phase of the National

Youth Development project is beingfinanced through a loan of US$11Mfrom the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank (IDB).

Minister Grange said the IDB was“a committed partner” in youthdevelopment. The survey will beconducted by the Statistical Institute

of Jamaica, the country's primarydata collection and data analysisagency. Minister Grange said the sur-vey would target a wide cross-sectionof Jamaican young people.

“I want to speak directly to all myyoung people here. To all the yute 'nyute. I want you to listen to me keen-ly. This is your project. It's for you;it's all about you. And I want you towork with us. The information thatwe will gather, will allow us to betterplan, not so much for you, but to planwith you for your holistic develop-ment.

The data will be collected at theparish level and therefore we encour-age you to commit some time to par-ticipate in this process. We are talk-ing to all youth. Youth on the corner.Youth in school. Youth in children'shomes. Youth in sports. Youth in cul-ture. Youth everywhere.”

In his greetings at the launchingand contracts signing ceremony forthe National Youth Survey, theParliamentary Secretary in theMinistry of Youth, Sports andCulture, Senator Warren Newby saidthe survey was an indication of theGovernment's commitment to con-sulting and developing social part-nerships aimed at finding solutions tothe challenges.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service,Hon. Audley Shaw, has stated that onlyproperty tax will be raised in the 2010/2011

financial year.Mr. Shaw made this disclosure as he opened the debate

on the second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure inthe House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 17.

In his presentation, Minister Shaw stated that "no stone(will be) unturned" as the government tries to improve thecompliance rate of paying taxes.

"We have a culture in Jamaica of tax evasion and taxavoidance and too few of us are the captive people inPAYE that have no say in that 25 per cent that is taken offat the top and that you have to pay.”

"But I have to send the signal. We want to spread thetax burden; we need fairness and equity and we need morepeople, everyone who is earning an income, to begin tovoluntarily to comply in paying your taxes."

According to Mr. Shaw, the problem of tax evasion andavoidance is not just a monetary issue "as it comes downto the fundamental issue of public order and respect forthe laws of the land."

"So, we have to set these new standards in the countryand I want to send the signal that in the new fiscal year itis going to be compliance that we are working on, notadditional tax types or additional tax burden, but compli-ance in terms of spreading the burden across the system”.

Minister Grange launches National Youth Survey

Violence Prevention Allianceempowering young people

Anew U.S. Consular Agencywill open on Tuesday,March 23, 2010 at Whitter

Village Suite #EU1 in Rosehall,Montego Bay to provide consularservices to U.S. citizens through-out the western region of Jamaica.

This includes the parishes ofHanover, St. Ann, St. James,Trelawny, and Westmoreland. A rib-bon-cutting ceremony will be held atthe new location on Monday March29.

The new facility will enable moreeffective and comfortable services toU.S. citizens requiring consular serv-ices. Normal agency operations

include services dealing with U.S.citizenship, passport matters, notarialservices, and any other non-emer-gency needs. The agency's regularbusiness hours are from 9:00 a.m. to12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday(closed on Jamaican and U.S. holi-days). You may call (876) 952 - 0160or make contact via e-mail at,USConsAgency.MoBay@cwjamaica.com.

U.S. citizens in need of assistanceoutside of U.S Consular Agencyoperating hours may contact the U.S.Embassy in Kingston at (876)702-6000 or go online to the websitehttp://kingston.usembassy.gov/

U. S. Consular Agency inMontego Bay relocates

“No increasein taxes” .... Minister Shaw

The Violence PreventionAlliance (VPA) is continu-ing to empower youths from

inner-city communities throughthe use of technology to help themimprove their skills and interper-sonal relationships.

This time it is through the use ofthe Autoskills computer software, theacquisition of which was fundedthrough partnership with the JamaicaNational Building Society (JNBS)Foundation. The JNBS Foundationpurchased the software licence for$1.4 million last year for use in sev-eral community centres.

The computer software providesusers with an individualized, highlyeffective and scalable literacy inter-vention solution. It is designed tohelp struggling students of all ages,skills and abilities, to master the fun-damental skills of reading. TheAutoskills products use a research-based approach that is proven to gen-erate significant and sustainablegains for at-risk students of all ages.

It is currently being used in sever-al learning centres established by theVPA in collaboration with theMinistry of Health, in a number ofinner-city communities including TelAviv, Jones Town and Rose Town. Itis also being used in the JNBSFoundation's network of all-inclusiveresource centres, which provide astimulating learning environment foryoungsters, in four communities -August Town, Maverly, TreasureBeach and Ocho Rios.

Special Projects Manager JNBSFoundation, Mrs. Claire Harrisingh,said that as a result of the use ofAutoskills, many young persons havemade significant improvement intheir literacy and numeracy skills andincreased their self-confidence.

"In Maverley and Treasure Beach,the stigma of illiteracy or difficultywith reading has been removed byproviding this (software), whichsimultaneously improves computer

literacy," Mrs. Harrisingh stated.Chairman of the VPA, Dr. Elizabeth

Ward, in the meantime, stated that theproject is about using technology tobring harmony to the communities.She noted that violence places pres-sure on the country's infrastructure.

"Violence continues to be the lead-ing cause of death among males,costing the health sector more than$2 billion annually to treat injuriesresulting from violence," she pointedout.

Dr. Ward noted that the young peo-ple have already reaped a "host ofbenefits" from the programme, par-ticularly males, many of whom wereonly functionally literate.

"Many young people have been

empowered by the knowledge theygain, and it impacts positively ontheir attitudes. Many of them havealso been able to find jobs as aresult," she said.

In addition to the literacy andcomputer skills the youngsters gain,the programme provides linkages toentrepreneurial and job placementopportunities, as well as skills train-ing through the HEARTTrust/National Training Agency.

Launched in 2004, the VPA is anetwork of government, non-govern-mental and community-based organi-sations, private, international andinter-governmental agencies workingtogether to create a violence-freeJamaica.

Top Mountain Limited, a community-based income generating enterpriselocated in St. Catherine, has given

residents hope, by using resources that oncego to waste as a means of economic empow-erment.

Established three years ago from a 2001grant of over $300,000 from the Social andEconomic Support Programme (SESP), and a2007 US$88,000 donation from the JapaneseGovernment, it produces fruit juices from man-goes that once rot on the ground during mid-year.

"The Member of Parliament at the time(2001), Alethia Barker, gave the community$380,000 (out of her SESP allocation) and Mrs.Nelly Richards, a social worker in the area, wasgiven the task of identifying what we could dowith the money," states salesman at TopMountain Limited, Aston Thomas.

"In her proposal, she indicated that the com-munity produces mangoes, naseberry, pineap-ple and other fruits, and that we could build aprocessing plant and process the fruits. RADAcame in and helped with sourcing the addition-al funds that were needed. They provided thetraining and, with a piece of land made avail-able by Dr. Rosalee Hamilton, whose fatherwas a community person, we got started," Mr.Thomas explains.

Three years later, the project has a staff ofseven, supplies outlets in three other parishesand several towns in St. Catherine, assistedwith the recent refurbishing of a communitymeeting place, donated funds to the patching ofroads in the community, and gave a grant of$50,000 to students in the community whopassed their Grade Six Achievement Test(GSAT).

"We are united in the community. We haveour hitches, but when it comes to workingtogether, or uniting together to achieve for thecommunity, we don't fallback, we just do ourthing," Mr. Thomas says.

At the inking of the agreement for the fund-ing of the project, at the Japanese embassy inKingston, in February 2007, then Ambassador

to Jamaica, His Excellency Mashiro Obata, saidthat the lot of the Top Mountain citizen shouldimprove with the project.

"The vision of this community self-helpeffort is not unfamiliar to the Jamaican land-scape, and is not the first one to be funded bythe Government of Japan. The simplicity of theproject is its strength, and it pronounces that acommunity should see opportunities in its natu-ral resources," he remarked.

Office Assistant at the facility, Tracy-AnnWhittle, who received on the job training at thefactory, shared that she was very curious aboutmaking juices, originally, and now is able tomake all kinds.

"We have survived here because of teamspirit, honesty and communicating with eachother," she notes.

Joseph Nelson, who supplies juices toschools and other establishments in rural St.Catherine, said before Top Juice, he had to trav-el miles to town centres to get the products.

"I have continued to do business here,because I have developed a relationship withthe staff, and I have had good comments on thejuice from consumers, and my supply is reli-able," he states.

Rural AgriculturalD e v e l o p m e n tAuthority (RADA)Manager for theSocial Services andHome EconomicsUnit, Lorna Gooden,states that it was in2000, while one ofthe project managers,Kiddo Smith, wasassisting the commu-nity with a multi-mil-lion dollar road proj-ect funded by theJamaica SocialInvestment Fund(JSIF), that her

agency saw the untapped opportunities in thearea.

"They had a strong community organisation,and that made the effort much easier. We senttwo persons to be trained at the ScientificResearch Council (SRC) in making jams andjellies and juices. We offered training in postharvesting and we currently do follow up train-ing to ensure that whatever new technology isavailable, can be passed on to them," she says.

"This story is about what can happen. Thereare resources in every community, not justmaterial resources, but the people themselves.It is amazing to know the talent and goodwillthat exist in communities. It is just for us to pullthe strengths that they have and give support, sothat they can utilise their full potential," sheadds.

Manager of the project, ZephaniahKellyman, notes that after the citizen's associa-tion, under the leadership of past PresidentRobert Brown, was able to get a long stretch ofthe community's road rehabilitated by JSIF, itopened eyes to greater things that could beachieved through community activism.

"Mr. Brown has started this project, and weare going to continue it and pass it on to gener-ations. We want to get the farmers to produceand supply us," she says.

"This factory has given hope, we want morepeople to be empowered from what goes onhere. So, even though we might not be able toemploy many people, we want them to supplyus with their produce, or buy from us and makea living from that," he shares.

Garfield Angus

Following last month's devastatingearthquake in Haiti, increasedattention is now being focused on

the local construction industry to ensurethat practices and materials being used areup to international standards.

With this in mind, Spectrum Systems Ltd.,a leading local supplier of roofing materials,recently hosted a one-day seminar for build-ing contractors to familarise them with theIKO fiberglass roofing system.

IKO Industries Inc. a Canadian company

with over 50 years experience in the roofingindustry, manufactures fiberglass shinglesthat combine extreme strength and durabilitywith light weight and ease of installation.These shingles are suitable for any climateand are adaptable to a wide range of architec-tural styles. They are easy to maintain andwith proper installation, provides securityagainst hurricane-force winds.

The main presenter at the seminar wasAngela Escobar, General Manager of theexport division of IKO Industries Inc.

4 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Spectrum Systems Ltd. hosts roofing seminar

Community empowerment: Top Mountain shows the way

Peter Davis, Roofing Contractor (left) makes a point to Andrew Stanigar, Managing Director of SpectrumSystems Ltd. at a one-day seminar hosted by the company recently to familiarize contractors with the IKOroofing system. Spectrum Systems Ltd. is a major supplier of roofing materials to the Jamaican construc-tion industry.

Workers preparing Top Juice, manufactured by Top Mountain Limited. Left to right are: Charmaine Richards,Norma Dehaney and Twana Lee-Brown.

Staff at Top Mountain Limited, a community incomegenerating project, in rural St. Catherine, pose withone of their longstanding customers, Joseph Nelson(third left, back row).

Angela Escobar, General Manager ofthe export division of IKO IndustriesInc. of Canada, was the main presenterat the seminar.

Mr. Francis Hill, Managing Director of roofing contractorsMoonwind Ltd., one of a number of contractors from acrossthe island who attended the seminar.

The uptown branch of Fontana Pharmacy, which hasbeen a fixture in the town of Mandeville for decades,was closed without fanfare on March 1.

Located across from the Mandeville market, it was one of twobranches of the well-known business that served the town.Reports are that the branch was closed in the face of the downturn

in the economic climate of the parish of Manchester, coupled withan increase in the cost of rent for the premises.

Some members of staff were absorbed within the remainingbranch but several lost their jobs due to the closure.

All customers are now being serviced from the main branch ofthe pharmacy, located in the Manchester Shopping Centre.

Five rural high schools acrossJamaica have been providedwith new school manage-

ment computer software to helpimprove student performance.

“It is well established in educationliterature that monitoring and feed-back is the single most effective strat-egy for improving student perform-ance,” says Dawn Sewell- Lawson,Assistant Programme Manager for

the Centres of Excellence project“and the introduction of this softwareis the project's intervention in boost-ing the capacity of the school and itsleadership to carry out monitoringand feedback.”

The software, called the CompleteSMS, produces a range of data,which teachers and school adminis-trators can use to track trends in stu-dent performance, determine their

progress, and to develop necessarycorrective strategies, Mrs. Sewell-Lawson said. It was introduced infive of the six upgraded high schoolsparticipating in the Mutual BuildingSocieties Foundation's (MBSF)Centres of Excellence project lastyear. The MBSF is a joint initiativeof the Jamaica National BuildingSociety and the Victoria MutualBuilding Society.

“The students' academic perform-ance can be analysed over time andany change can be quickly identi-fied,” she explained. Similarly teach-ers' success rate can be tracked usingthe average performance of the classas an indicator. Another very innova-tive feature of the system, which willbe implemented at a later date, is thatit can allow students, using theiridentification numbers, to monitortheir own performance. This willhelp students to take personal respon-sibility for their education, Mrs.Sewell- Lawson commented.

The system allows teachers to cre-ate a class profile by selecting indica-tors such as average performance,

gender, behavioural incidence, learn-ing styles and average attendance.Mrs. Sewell-Lawson pointed out thatthe software can also generate identi-fication cards, report cards, schoolvouchers, receipts and transcripts.

Complete SMS can store photo-graphs and individual profiles of stu-dents, detailing their academic per-formance, as well as catalogue theinvolvement of the child's parents inschool activities.

Many students in upgraded highschools continue to perform poorly incore subjects and teachers struggle tomaintain discipline. According to thePlanning Institute Jamaica'sEconomic and Policy Analysis,Research and Statistics Unit,although there was marked improve-ment in the performance of somenew and upgraded high schools, theaverage performance in subjectsentered in the 2009 CaribbeanSecondary Education Certificate(CSEC) examinations remained sig-nificantly lower than that of tradi-tional high schools. Only an average59% of subject entries received pass-ing grades in new and upgradedschools compared with 81% in tradi-tional high schools. As much as 30%of students from the new and upgrad-

ed schools failed to attain passinggrades in half of their subject entries.

Dr. Cynthia Anderson, Principal ofthe McGrath High School inLinstead, St. Catherine attests that

proper use of the software has begunto improve administration efficiency.She pointed out that since receivingthe software teachers have beenengaged in ongoing training. Withthe support being provided under theCentres Excellence project, data canbe accessed easily and used moreeffectively.

“It's much easier for the teachersnow, as they no longer have to walkaround with 200 reports,” Dr.Anderson said. She added that theteachers were also producing timelyand more accurate reports.

“Class averages have also beenimproving since the increased use ofthe software, as many of educatorshave been able to use the data tomatch their teaching strategies withthe learning styles and abilities of thestudents,” Dr. Anderson said. “Theyare also able to provide students withmore useful feedback on their per-formance in particular areas to helpthem understand what they can do toimprove their grades,” she adds.

Llewelyn Bailey, ProgrammeManager of MBSF, says the trainingto increase the use of the softwarewill strengthen efforts to develop anevidence-based approach to teachingand learning in schools.

“Our schools need to be able tohave more reliable data so that educa-tors can accurately develop interven-tion programmes to address studentneeds,” he concluded.

5MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Computer software transforming upgraded Jamaican high schools

Fontana Px closes uptown branch

Sheldon Clayton, Visual Arts teacher at the Mile Gully High School in Manchester, enters data using the Complete SMS.

Mrs. W. Chin-quee using the Complete SMS to create a class profile in order to assessher student’s overall performance

Reading specialist at the Mile Gully High School, Manchester, Loytoya Henry, shows offa student report card produced using the Complete SMS.

Above: The chained doors that greetedstaff and customers on March 1.

Left: Workmen removing fixtures from theclosed pharmacy.

Local manufacturers will get a chance to market theirgoods and services, and network with internationalbuyers at EXPO Jamaica 2010, which will be held

from June 17 to 20 at the National Arena in Kingston.The biennial event, hailed as the Caribbean's premiere trade

show, is being staged under the theme: 'Brand Jamaica to theWorld!' and will feature more than 2,000 Jamaican products andover 200 booths.

It is being co-hosted by the Jamaica Manufacturers'Association (JMA), Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) andthe Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI).

At the media launch held on March 16 at the JMA's officedowntown Kingston, Minister of Industry, Investment andCommerce, Hon. Karl Samuda, commended the organisers ofthe trade show, noting that it provides the opportunity to show-case the best of Jamaica's manufacturing sector to the word.

Pledging the Ministry's full support for the event, he said thatin carving out a niche for Jamaican products in the internationalmarketplace, there needs to be one cohesive and recognisableJamaican brand.

In the meantime, he pointed to the need for the manufactur-ing sector to be modernised with a focus on increased scientificresearch.

He stated that the Ministry will be strengthening efforts in thisarea, with expanded responsibilities for the Scientific ResearchCouncil to drive innovation.

He noted however that even with innovation, there needs tobe visionary entrepreneurs willing to take on a good idea andstart from scratch.

President of the JMA, Omar Azan, in his remarks, noted that theupcoming expo is a "celebration of the best of Jamaica, andcomes at a time when the world has been reeling from the eco-nomic recession and manufacturers and exporters have not goneunscathed".

He disclosed that the sector, which comprises only 29.7 percent of the economy, has been performing far below its targetsand that its growth potential has been largely untapped. Mr. Azan

bemoaned the fact that Jamaica spends approximately $5.7 bil-lion per week on imports and said that Jamaica must start seek-ing economic independence through production.

"The picture is clear that opportunities in manufacturingabound, if we have the right approach and commitment in get-ting production moving at a faster pace. The future of manufac-turing is bright because the sector is resilient as it competes onthe local and international stage against a tough external andinternal environment," he stated.

EXPO Jamaica 2010 will feature a diverse range of productsranging from art and craft to fashion, information technology,packaging and labeling.

There will be a special opening and buyers' reception on June17, starting at 5:00 p.m., with the event being open to the publicon June 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and June 19 and 20 from11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

United Kingdom (UK)-based sugar processing andmarketing company Tate and Lyle has expressed"very strong" interest in once again investing in

Jamaica's sugar industry, Minister of Finance and the PublicService, Hon. Audley Shaw has said.

He made the revelation while speaking at the Jamaica Tradeand Invest (JTI) UK-Jamaica Investment Forum at the MandarinOriental Hotel in London recently.

Mr. Shaw, who was in London attending a series of invest-ment and finance events, said he had an initial meeting with rep-resentatives of Tate and Lyle and will be holding follow-upmeetings soon to advance discussions.

Minister Shaw said that the interest from Tate and Lyle comesagainst the background of a European revival of interest in canesugar. He said any partnership struck with the company, whichhas been involved in the processing and marketing of sugar forover 200 years, would be an exciting one.

"They are looking at some kind of partnership with local enti-ties. They have been the final processors and marketers of muchof the sugar that comes from Jamaica. I think it would be veryinteresting as they would bring to the investment their own tech-nology and their marketing expertise, which would work wellwith local investors in Jamaica," he stated.

He said any proposal by Tate and Lyle would be consideredwithin the overall competitive arena when the final decision is tobe made.

"We have interest from and we have been doing business withEridania in Italy and strong private sector entities in Jamaica. Wewelcome the interest from Tate and Lyle as they have had a longhistory with Jamaica's sugar industry and when we get to theappropriate stage they will be considered among all others," theMinister stated.

Tate and Lyle operated a number of sugar estates in Jamaicafor decades but withdrew from the local industry in the 1980's.

The company returned in the1990's to manage Government-owned sugar factories, beforepulling out of the country onceagain.

Declaring that "sugar in Jamaicais not dead," Minister Shaw saidthat the local sugar industry offersexciting prospects for the futureand it is encouraging to see themajor players in the industry show-ing renewed interest.

He said the two of the five gov-ernment-owned sugar estates thathave already been divested havebeen showing strong improve-ments and transformation undernew private sector ownership. Heexpressed confidence that with theinterest being shown by Tate andLyle and others, the sugar industrywould return to profitability andonce again becoming a major

source of jobs and a leading foreign exchange earner for theJamaican economy.

Long Pond in Trelawny and Duckenfield in St. Thomas arenow in private hands and the Government is eagerly seeking toink deals for the divestment of Frome in Westmoreland;Monymusk in Clarendon, and Bernard Lodge in St. Catherine.

6 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Jamaica's best for Expo 2010

Tate & Lyle gets a taste forJamaican sugar again

Minister Samuda (right), consults with President of the JamaicaManufacturers' Association, Omar Azan, during the media launchof Expo Jamaica 2010 at the JMA's downtown Kingston office onMarch 16.

Duckenfield in St. Thomas

Marketing and Energy Services Manager at the Jamaica Public ServiceCompany, Jacky Simmonds (left), presents a sponsorship cheque tocover the cost of electricity for Expo Jamaica 2010, to Treasurer of theJamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA), Jodie Summerbell.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Karl Samuda,addresses the media launch of Expo Jamaica 2010

Senior citizenfirsts U.S.Embassy's onlineapplication formThe first visa applicant to successfully use the U.S.

Embassy's new paperless application form wasan eighty-four-year-old grandmother whose

granddaughter assisted her with the process. Having never applied for a visa before, the grandmoth-

er qualified for a visa and walked away with a swiftapproval on Thursday, March 18, and a good feeling aboutthe new online form DS-160 for visa applications.

The new online form is now available on the embassy'swebsite at www.kingston.usembassy.gov. While theembassy will continue to accept paper application formsfor the next few days, as of Wednesday, March 24, 2010, allapplicants will be required to have completed the onlineDS-160 application form prior to their interview.tions on the complete visa application process.

7MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

Your Computer

Most casual PC users are unaware of how dan-gerous the Internet can be. Without the properknowledge and protection, you could be just afew simple keystrokes and clicks away fromhaving your identity stolen. Here are some tipsfor preventing online identity theft.

* Use anti-spyware and anti-virus software.* Be wary of online shopping sites. Only

shop at sites that you trust and are secure.See http://www.ftv.gov/onlineshopping/ formore information.

* Don't get baited by phishers.* Encrypt your wireless internet connection.* Erase your hard drive if you ever sell,

donate, or otherwise give away your computer.

Your Trash

One man's trash is another man's treasure.Nothing could be closer to the truth when itcomes to discarding personal documents. If ithas your ID, bank account, credit card, or anyother identifying number on it, remember toshred it before you trash it. Crosscut shreddersare the best, lower tier models tend to leave theinformation in such a way that it can be re-cre-ated. Once you have your shredder, here is a listof items you should always shred when itcomes time to discard them.

* Bank statements* Credit card statements* ATM receipts* Canceled or voided checks* Expired passports, visas, and credit cards* Tax forms* Bills* Pay stubs

Safeguarding Your Personal Information

Keeping your personal information from fallinginto the wrong hands will help you frombecoming another identity theft victim.

Immediately report lost or stolen cards. As soon as you discover that one of your creditcards or debit cards is missing, contact the issu-ing bank immediately, even if you think youmay find it in a day or two. It's always better tobe safe than sorry. Most banks will immediate-ly cancel your missing card and reimburse youfor any fraudulent charges. In most cases, you'llreceive a new card in the mail within a week.

Don't keep your TRN card in your wallet.Sadly, this is a very common mistake. It may beconvenient to keep your TRN or social securitycard in your wallet. That is, until your wallet islost or stolen, in which case the thief now haseverything he needs to steal your identity -name and address from your driver's license,credit cards and debit cards, and TRN number.Keep your card in a safe place in your resi-dence.

Beware phone solicitations.It is easy for any con artist to pretend he is alegitimate business over the phone. So alwaysthink twice before providing your credit cardover the phone. If you do provide your creditcard number over the phone, be certain that youwere the one initiating the call. Better yet, optout of these telemarketing calls entirely.

Check your bill and bank statements often.If you have online access to your accounts,check them regularly. Be on the lookout for anyfraudulent charges. If you notice somethingsuspicious, contact your bank immediately.

Use your ATM card wisely.If an ATM must be used, it should be accessedonly during the business day at large protectedfacilities, preferably inside commercial estab-lishments, rather than at glass-enclosed, highlyvisible street ATMs.

Guard your checkbook.Since your checks come with your name,address, and bank account number right onthem, you should guard these with care. Don'tleave your checkbook in an unsecured place oryour car. If stolen, the thief could write a fraud-ulent check or even break into your bankaccount. If you ever notice that any of yourchecks are missing, contact the bank immedi-ately.

Select strong passwords.Avoid using words or numbers that other peo-ple can easily guess. Using your birth date orlast four digits of your social security numberare too obvious to use as passwords or PINs.

Secure personal information in your own home.Just because you're in your home doesn't meanyou're safe. If you have roommates or employoutside help, such as a housekeeper, avoid leav-ing your mail lying about and secure your pri-vacy when making any personal phone calls.

Know who else has your information.Inquire about personal security procedures atyour work, doctor's office, university, or anyother institution that keeps a record of your per-sonal information. Find out who has access toyour personal information, and verify that it isbeing handled securely.

Remember: Personal information of yoursshould be kept private. While some personalinformation is inevitably going to be made pub-lic, there are some items with high sensitivitythat should never be made public. See the tablebelow for details.

Item SensitivityFull Name LowAddress LowPhone Number LowDate of Birth MediumBirthplace MediumMother's Maiden Name MediumSocial Security Number HighBank Account Number HighCredit Card Number HighPIN or Password High

Protecting yourself against identity theftinvolves nothing more than protecting this per-sonal information, particularly the high sensi-tivity items. Anyone with knowledge of justone of your high sensitivity items can do a lotof damage.

Skimming

Skimming is a hi-tech method by which thievescapture your personal or account informationfrom your credit card, ATM card, driver'slicense, or even passport. An electronic deviceused to capture this information is called a“skimmer,” and can be purchased online forunder US$50.00. Your card is swiped throughthe skimmer and the information contained inthe magnetic strip on the card is then read intoand stored on the device and can be down-loaded to a computer.

Skimming is predominantly a tactic used to per-petuate credit card fraud--but is also a tacticthat is gaining in popularity amongst identitythieves. Skimming is a problem, not just in the

U.S, but globally (Jamaica as well). Incidentsof credit card skimming have risen 45 percentglobally and there have been several reportedincidents in Kingston. One victim recentlyreported that his credit card had been used topurchase goods from Thailand, Kuala Lumpur,Hong Kong, and Malacca totaling $7000, whilehe was traveling in Europe.

How They Do It: Skimmers are quite a cre-ative bunch--and since the skimming devicesare so small and easy to hide, it is not difficultfor them to skim your card without you notic-ing. The following are some examples of howyour cards can be skimmed:

Skimming at restaurants. How many times have you given the serveryour credit card to pay the bill and neverthought twice about it when they walked awayto complete your transaction? You may be sur-prised to know that most skimming incidentsoccur at a restaurant where a server is carryinga skimming device in their apron or somewhereclose by. Your card is scanned twice, once forthe transaction that you expected and another inthe skimming device to capture your credit cardinformation for further use. An example of suchan incident occurred in Charlotte, NorthCarolina in which two wait staff from a chainrestaurant were accused of skimming more than650 credit card numbers from unsuspectingpatrons and selling them for US$25 each.

ATM machines.Typically, a "card trapping" device is insertedinto the ATM card slot. This trap scans the cardand stores its associated information or justtraps the card and doesn't return it to the owner.There is no cash dispensed in either case andthe crooks retrieve the cards and information ata later time. ATM skimming has been a prob-lem worldwide; with estimates, that 1 in every28 ATM machines had been equipped withskimmers from thieves.

Skimming by store clerks.A very common form of skimming involvesstore clerks skimming your credit card whenyou make a purchase. The clerk scans your cardtwice, once for your expected transaction andanother in a skimmer for later retrieval. Therehave also been reports of clerks skimming dri-ver's licenses when customers are writingchecks and supply the license for verification.

Devices implanted in card payment terminals. Skimming is becoming more sophisticatedwhere thieves are rigging card payment termi-nals with electronic equipment to capture thecard information. The recorded card numbersare stored in an additional implanted chip andthieves return at a later time for retrieval.

Once a skimmer captures the information onyour credit card, ATM card, driver's license, orpassport it can be used in a variety of ways.

Thieves will sell your information.Many times the criminals skimming your infor-mation into the devices are not the same crimi-nals that will use that information to commitidentity theft or other crimes of fraud. The"skimmers" will sell your information to othercriminals--typically for about US$25-US$75each.

Credit Card Fraud.The information that is obtained can be used toorder products and services online sometimesfor several weeks until the unsuspecting victimis made aware, giving the thieves plenty of timeto run up some bills.

To make counterfeit cards. Once the information from your credit card,driver's license or passport is captured, it can beused to make duplicates. Duplicates are veryvaluable as they can be used to further perpetu-ate credit card fraud or identity theft.

Next Steps

Now that you have an understanding of whatskimming is and how it can be used to commitcredit card fraud or identity theft, your next stepshould be to understand how to prevent it. Younow know that skimming is an effective tacticfor criminals to perpetrate identity theft andother crimes of fraud. You also likely realizethat it can take 30 - 60 days before you wouldeven know that you were a victim, leaving thecriminal plenty of time to get away. Evenworse, statistics show that the longer it takes todiscover identity theft and account fraud, thegreater the financial impact to the victim.

Protecting Yourself Against Skimming:

Closely monitor anyone who handles your card. To protect against skimming, closely watchanyone that you give your card to for process-ing, such as a waiter, clerk, attendant, etc. If atall possible, do not let them out of your sight. Ifa clerk makes a hard copy, retrieve the carbons.

Keep low-limit credit cards. Keeping a low limit on your credit cardsrestricts the amount of money that thieves cansteal. Although not exactly a prevention tactic,it will help if you fall victim.

Sign all credit cards.Sign all credit cards immediately upon yourreceipt of them. You can also write "Check ID"so that the clerk, if they actually read the back,will ask for ID for verification during a transac-tion.

Cancel credit cards that you do not use.It is important to cancel all credit cards that youdo not use and to monitor the ones that you douse.

Be aware of your surroundings. The first step to preventskimming is understandingwhat is going on aroundyou. When at an ATM coverthe key pad when enteringyour pin. Prior to insertingyour ATM card, check theATM card reader to makesure that it looks appropri-ate and is not altered.

Take your receipts.Do not leave receipts atATM's, teller windows,gasoline pumps, or with aclerk.

Protect your PIN. Some people make it easyfor criminals by writing the

PIN to their Credit or ATM card on somethingthat they keep in their wallet, or even worse--writing the PIN on back of the card itself!Please don't do it. Commit the PIN to memoryas it is very obvious that a thief having the cardand the PIN is not going to work out well foryou.

Conclusion

Credit cards, ATM cards, driver's licenses andpassports are parts of our everyday life. Weneed them and in many ways, can't live withoutthem. However, all experts agree that skimmingis on the rise and is a favored tactic with crimi-nals committing identity theft and other crimesof fraud. It is difficult to prevent skimming, butwith some common sense you can lessen yourchances of falling victim.

Thanks to Emma Lewis, US Embassy

Preventing Identity TheftPart of the battle of preventing identity theft is recognizing how this personal information is stolen and from where.

8 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

National competition transforming communitiesBy: Elaine Hartman Reckord

President of the Glengoffe CommunityDevelopment Committee, RooseveltLawrence, examines a chest of draw-

ers crafted by residents. Glengoffe won theinaugural National Best CommunityCompetition and Programme (NBCCP) in2007.

The National Best Community Competitionand Programme (NBCCP), organised throughthe Cabinet Office, is transforming communi-ties, by providing them with cash incentivesand technical support to undertake projects andprogrammes and uniting residents around thedevelopment of the areas in which they live.

With a top prize of $2 million plus another$350,000 in sectional awards up for grabs,Chairperson of the NBCCP, Mrs. JacquelinedaCosta revealed that the communities havebeen putting the money to good use.

"Many of them have been using their moneyto set up homework centres and communitycomputer centres for adults and children. Allthe money they win, they have to spend oncommunity projects and they do an amazingvariety of things," she says.

She cites the Beeston Springs CDC inWestmoreland, which placed third in 2007, andused the prize money to develop a water systemutlising the community spring.

She notes that some communities haveobtained additional support to help with smallbusinesses or farming. They are also undertak-ing beautification and clean-up of schools,

parks, roads, and historical sites.Wood carvings produced by residents of

Glengoffe in St. Catherine. Glengoffe won theinaugural National Best CommunityCompetition and Programme (NBCCP) in2007.

Empowering CommunitiesStating that the competition has also served

to empower residents, Mrs. daCosta says that"people are realizing that they do not have to sitand wait for somebody to do something forthem and that if they do things for themselvesthey will get help".

"It pulls the people together. It helps withcrime because people now get to know eachother, especially some of the smaller places. Itbuilds a lot of community spirit and people aregetting together to do things that is to the bene-fit to the community," she notes further.

Glengoffe in St. Catherine, which topped180 communities to win the 2007 contest, usedthe $2 million plus $150,000 for winning threesectional categories, to undertake a number ofprojects, including the purchase of land for theestablishment of a human resource complex.

Land preparation work has begun for theproject, which will include recreational andtraining facilities, where persons could makeand sell craft items.

Jiggi-jappa hats produced by residents ofGlengoffe in St. Catherine from straw grown inthe area. The residents also make mats and bagsfrom the straw. Glengoffe won the inauguralNational Best Community Competition andProgramme (NBCCP) in 2007.

Additionally, the local post office and thepolice station got a facelift, with the buildingsrepainted and the surroundings beautified withtrees and decorated stones. Work was also car-ried out at the Glengoffe High School, whereabout 100 coconut plants and other fruit trees

were planted.President of the Glengoffe CommunityDevelopment Committee (CDC),

Mr. Roosevelt Lawrence, said that the com-munity has collaborated with the Department ofEducation at the University of the West Indiesand the Ministry of Education to undertake aproject to improve attendance at the CassavaRiver Primary School, which is doing well.

"We had to do a project to attract students tocome out. That project is to provide meals forthe students. We used chickens. Our contribu-tion was to build the chicken houses, assist ingetting the materials and the Department ofEducation at the university gave us $300,000. Itis going very well," he informs.

2010 Competition to Launch in AprilThe 2010 staging of the completion will get

underway next month, with more than 230communities to vie for honours.

Communities will be judged at the parish andnational levels over a three-month period, withprizes awarded for Best Kept CommunityFacilities, Youth Development, Most BeautifulCommunity, Most Improved AgriculturalPractices, Best Community Spirit and Self-reliance, Best Kept Educational Institution, andBest Cultural and Heritage Programmes.

Mrs. daCosta, who is the brainchild behindthe contest, says that one of the challenges isfinding judges and has appealed for persons"who have the country's interest at heart" tocome forward and volunteer.

Orientation sessions will be organised by theSocial Development Commission (SDC), themain partner of the NBCCP, for the volunteerjudges. Interested persons can contact anyoffice of the SDC in Jamaica or email them atbestcommunitiesjamaica@gmail.com.

The programme is also seeking additionalsponsorship for training, project planning, men-toring/counselling and other types of assistanceprovided to the communities.

The chairperson lauded the work of a num-ber of organisations, private and public sectorindividuals that have been supporting the com-petition over the years. She informs that lastyear, trophies and 126 prizes valued at just over$16 million, ranging from the first prize of $2million to $50,000 for parish prizes, wereawarded.

Among the top sponsors is DigicelFoundation, which provides annual cash prizesof $10 million as well as technical support.Other partners include the Jamaica SocialInvestment Fund, Tourism Enhancement Fund,Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education(CHASE) Fund, Jamaica National BuildingSociety, Development Bank of Jamaica, NewEra Homes, Red Stripe, Caymanas TrackLimited, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica(PCJ) and the Bank of Nova Scotia Foundation.

Additionally, a variety of other companies,government agencies and individuals havemade contributions to assist with the hosting ofawards ceremonies held to announce winners ofthe competition.

Mrs. daCosta is hoping that more communi-ties and organisations will get involved in theNBCCP which will help to improve the lives ofpeople by providing meaningful opportunitiesto meet their most pressing needs, including jobcreation.

The NBCCP seeks to encourage local gov-ernance, recognise community self-reliance andself-help activities and capabilities, while seek-ing to establish partnerships between communi-ties and those who have technical, professional,spiritual, educational and financial capabilities.

It is organised in conjunction with severalpublic and private sector organisations, non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), profes-sional, educational and religious institutions,civic society and community representatives.

Any of the 785 communities represented byCDCs in Jamaica, as identified by the SDC canparticipate. They are encouraged to approachfunding institutions, private sector businessesand public sector organisations to assist themwith grant funding or other forms of assistanceto help with various types of projects and pro-grammes in their communities.

Aunique programme to takeCaribbean food and drink on a culi-nary tour across the United

Kingdom (UK), was launched in London onMarch 9 at a special ceremony, held at theJamaican High Commission.

Chief Executive Officer of World Foods andfounder of the event,

Mr. Derek Morrison, toldJIS News that the initia-tive, which was started inthe summer of 2009, fea-tures cooking demonstra-tions and the sampling ofa range of Jamaican andCaribbean foods.

The event is hosted onthe compound of branch-es of four of the majorsupermarket chains in theUK as well as on selectedhigh streets acrossLondon, Birminghamand Manchester.

"Last year it was awonderful success.Eighty per cent of thepeople who sampled andvisited the trailer werenot of Caribbean her-itage, so we're helping to

introduce people to Caribbean goods and taste,"Mr. Morrison said.

He said last year's tour visited some 23 ven-ues and involved two of the major supermarketchains, Asda and Tesco. This year the tour willvisit more than 30 venues and include two othermajor supermarket chains, Sainsbury andMorrison's.

Mr. Morrison, whose parents are from St.Elizabeth, said he decided to initiate a pro-gramme to seriously market Jamaican andCaribbean foods and drinks following a 25-yearcareer in marketing. He said the goal was toprovide a top class service to raise the profileand prestige of Caribbean foods in the UK andEurope.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry,Investment and Commerce, Hon. MichaelStern, was the special guest at the launch. Mr.Stern was in London for the secondJamaica/United Kingdom Investment Forum,held on Thursday, March 11.

Mr. Stern expressed support for the pro-

gramme, noting that it was one way to intro-duce UK residents to Caribbean food andincrease awareness of the rich diversity that itoffers.

According to Mr. Stern, the tour was anexcellent marketing tool that will enhance thedrive to increase the market for Jamaican andCaribbean products in Europe.

This year the Caribbean Cuisine Tour willstart in Sydenham, in London, on May 28 andwill end on August 21 with a special Caribbeanfood and drink festival in Islington, London.

Mr. Morrison said this year the cuisine tourwill also raise funds to support the Haiti earth-quake appeal.

Men Who Cook, the annual gastronomical event sponsored by theMandeville Lions Club, returns on April 25 to the Alpart Farmson Spur Tree Hill.

As is usually the case, a number of celebrity men will display their culinaryskills, by creating a number of signature dishes all in the name of charity, withfunds generated from ticket sales going to a number of Lions Club projects inthe parish.

Several new faces like local artist Mark Cameron will join perennial favoritesincluding Baron Hall Farm's John O. Minott, Evrol 'Blackie' Christian of LittleOchie fame; Dr. Peter Wellington with his bar-b-que chicken and of courseNewton Coote's suckling pig in friendly rivalry.

Last year, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton wasvoted the best chef for his cassava-inspired offerings.

This year marks the eleventh year of the event, which runs from 12 noon to5:00 pm and will feature entertainment from Lloyd Lovindeer and the AlphaBoys Band. There will be lots of attractions for the kids so come on out andmake it a family affair.

9 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

Men Who Cookreturns April 25

Caribbean food and drink for culinary tour of UK

Hard Working Bees crowd a syrup bottle on a sno-cone cart near the Mandeville bus park

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon.Michael Stern (second left), shares a light moment with (from left): JamaicaTrade and Invest's European Regional Manager, Mr. Laurence Jones; TanikieMcClarthy of the Ministry and General Manager of J Wray & Nephew UK Ltd.Ms. Diane Edwards, at a reception held at the Jamaican High Commission, inLondon, to launch the 2010 Caribbean Cuisine Tour.

Paul Simpson of Guardian Asset Management dishes up portions of his stew pork to anxious patrions at last year’s 10thanniversary of Men Who Cook

Chief Executive Officer of World Foods, Mr. DerekMorris, talks about the 2010 Caribbean CuisineTour, which will visit several locations throughoutthe United Kingdom from May to August 2010.

Minister Stern speaks to St. Kitts and Nevis HighCommissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. JamesWilliams at the reception.

10 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

In this the era of fleeting attraction andcasual sex, we should all take inspirationfrom the story of Mizzy and Tunkey, whom

according to legend, gave Lover's Leap in St.Elizabeth its name.

Found at Yardley Chase, near Southfield, thisbeautiful location with its spectacular view,emerges where the Santa Cruz mountains come toan abrupt end on Jamaica's south coast, resulting a1,700ft vertical drop down to the gentle waves ofCutlass Bay.

The lookout provides a fantastic view out to theCaribbean Sea and on a clear day, sea and skymerges into one endless vista. How high up areyou? Well you can look down on flying birds, lowhanging clouds and on some days, even small air-craft whizzing by.

The story of Lovers Leap stems from two slavesin the 18th century who were lovers; Mizzy and

Tunkey. Legend has it that their master "Chardley"took a liking to the girl Mizzy and, in a bid to haveher for himself, arranged for her lover Tunkey tobe sold to another estate.

Realising that they would be separated, the pairfled to avoid this fate but were eventually trackedto the edge of this steep cliff. Rather than face theprospect of being caught and punished, the pairopted to pledge their undying love for each otherthem both jumped to their deaths.

But here is where the story gets a little crazy.An old woman claimed she saw them jump, butsaid they did not die. Instead they were caught bythe moon in a shining net and pulled up into thesky, were they were last seen holding hands as themoon descended into the sea.

Crazy or not, it sure is a beautiful tale of loveand devotion. Now if only I could convince mygirlfriend to start a new legend….

The 17th hosting of ReggaeSumfest, which is dubbed the"greatest reggae festival on

earth", will take place at the CatherineHall centre in Montego Bay, from July18-24, 2010.

Promoters of the annual event, baskingin the afterglow of success following lastyear's record-breaking staging where aline-up included acts like Beenie Man,Elephant Man, Spice, Busy Signal, MackaDiamond Kiprich, Ne-Yo, JazmineSullivan, Toni Braxton, Queen Ifrica,Etana, Tarrus Riley and Jah Cure, brought

out what is said to be the biggest crowds ofits long history.

The line-up for this year's festival hasnot yet been announced, but music fans arelooking forward to another week ofthrilling performances. Reggae Sumfest 2010 kicks off on Sunday,July 18 with a beach party then moves tothe main concert grounds on Thursday,July 22, for the popular Dancehall Night,followed by two International Nights.

What would you do for love?

Reggae Sumfestreturns July18-24

Equipment valued at some $50 mil-lion has been made available tofarmers, as part of measures to kick

start the mechanisation process within theagricultural sector.

The equipment,funded by the UnitedStates Agency forI n t e r n a t i o n a lD e v e l o p m e n t(USAID) and theEuropean Union(EU), was handedover on March 9 atthe Ministry ofAgriculture andFisheries, at Hope,in Kingston.

The items includelaptop computers,bush cutters, genera-tors, mist sprayersand water pumps.

Minister o4fAgriculture andFisheries, Hon. Dr.Christopher Tufton,

who spoke at the ceremony, said that thehanding over of the equipment is a journeytowards making agriculture more productive.

"It is an attempt to apply ourselves usingthe intellectual capacity, using the tools thatare necessary to understand how to growcrops better. Farmers will only truly benefitfrom agriculture if they embrace, support andpractise what is the best technical approach,"Dr. Tufton said.

Will Increase CompetitionThe Minister pointed out that the use of the

equipment in the agricultural sector wouldmake farmers more competitive.

"We are saying to you that this is thesmarter way to do it, and this is the technolo-gy that exists, and it is incumbent on us toembrace the philosophy that agriculture is abusiness and should be operated on the fun-damental principles of business," Dr. Tuftonemphasised.

The Minister said farmers may be familiarwith some of the equipment, but many ofthem have not had the opportunity to benefitfrom their utilisation.

"Our farmers have to embrace the technol-ogy if the technology is to work. The provi-sion is a means to an end. The end will comewhen we see the yields improving with theengagement and utilisation of the equip-ment," he added.

Dr. Tufton explained that the RuralAgricultural Development Authority(RADA), would put in place a leasing pro-gramme where the equipment would be madeavailable to farmers.

In his remarks, Director of the Office ofSustainable Development at the USAID, Mr.Ken Lyvers, said his organisation was pleasedto be partnering with the Ministry to encour-age and promote technological advancementwithin the agricultural sector.

Rain HervestingMeanwhile, the Food and AgricultureOrganisation (FAO) has provided fundingtotalling US$216,000 over the next 18months, for the development of a rain har-vesting project in St. Elizabeth.

"The objective of this project is to intro-duce technology for the capture, storage anduse of water and this technology is not onlygoing to be used in St. Elizabeth. Once it isdemonstrated, it will be available to the restof Jamaica," Representative in Jamaica,Belize and Bahamas for the FAO, Dr.Dunstan Campbell, pointed out.

Members of 4-H clubs in early child-hood institutions, primary and highschools in Manchester, showed off

their skills in various aspects of home econom-ics and agriculture, as the Manchester 4-HClubs recently staged another successful ParishAchievement Day.

Under the theme: 'Youth Involvement in LocalFood Production For Sustainability', the eventwhich was held at the Caribbean Christian Centrefor the Deaf in Knockpatrick, saw the young peo-ple competing in plant budding and grafting, pub-lic speaking, goat rearing, towel folding, table set-ting, cake baking and decorating, seed identifica-tion and agro-processing among other areas.

Medals and awards were presented to the topthree finishers in the various categories, with thecoveted Boy and Girl of the Year titles goingrespectively to Kevaugh Bonner, 2009 recipient ofthe Prime Minister Award for Excellence inAgriculture and the President of the Manchester4-H Clubs Junior Leaders' Association andNatasha Smith, Vice President of the Manchester4-H Clubs Junior Leaders' Association.

Youth Empowerment Officer at the NationalCentre for Youth Development, KeithoNembhard, who was the guest speaker, pointed tothe need for more young people to get into farm-ing to move the country forward.

He also encouraged the students to be consis-tently active in the 4-H Movement.

"I am asking you all not only to be involvedwhen Achievement Day comes around but be anactive participant in the progress of the 4-H so thatyou can benefit, so that the community in whichyou live can benefit, so that the club can benefitand in the end, your country will benefit from it,"he pleaded.

The Manchester Achievement Day was part ofan annual series organised by the Jamaica 4-HClubs to showcase and highlight the work ofmembers in the various parishes. The top partici-pants at the parish level go on to compete inregional and national competitions.

11MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton (left), pres-ents Extension Officer, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA),Miss Shernette Spencer with a laptop, one of several pieces of equipment whichwere handed over to the Ministry, in Kingston on March 9, by the United StatesAgency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union (EU).Looking on (from second left) are: Representative in Jamaica, Belize andBahamas for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Dr. DunstanCampbell and Director of the Office of Sustainable Development, USAID, Mr.Ken Lyvers.

Dr. Tufton (left), examines a soil testing kit, one ofseveral pieces of equipment which were handedover by the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) and the European Union(EU). Looking on is Senior Director forTechnology and Training at the Rural AgriculturalDevelopment Authority (RADA), Mr. PhillipChung.

Thirsty land. Water drums dot a pepper cultivation in Lititz, St. Elizabeth. The parish is currently suffering an extendedperiod of drought which is causing farmers to expend thousands of dollars weekly to purchase water for irrigation.

Farmers to access modern equipment

4-H Clubs inManchestershowcase their skills

Mr. Delroy Smith, a farmer from Dukenfield, St.Thomas, displays a mist blower, part of an assort-ment of equipment, which was donated by theUnited States Agency for International develop-ment (USAID) and the European Union (EU).

After months of preliminary planningand organization, a decision hasbeen taken by the executive of the St.

Elizabeth Branch Societies of the JamaicaAgriculture Society (JAS) to cancel thisyear's renewal of the parish agricultureshow.

This decision was taken in the face of thetremendous difficulty the organizing committeewas facing in attracting funding for the event.

This is the second consecutive year that theshow will not be held and leaves scores of farm-ers in the parish as well as members of the pub-lic, many from surrounding parishes, sorely dis-appointed.

According to Mr. Roy Morrison, President ofthe St. Elizabeth JAS, the show would have costclose to $2 million to put on, funds which wouldhave had to be secured in advance to ensure thatthe organization not take on any debt from theshow.

The current economic conditions howevermade it extremely difficult to attract sponsorswilling to buy into this important event to show-case the output of a parish long consideredJamaica's “Breadbasket”.

But did drought conditions presently plagu-ing the parish play a role in the cancellation ofthe show? Not so, according to Mr. Morrison.

Citing recent growth trends in the agriculturesector, he made it clear that there was adequateproduce being farmed in St. Elizabeth to makethe show a success.

The main problem he said, was the unavail-ability of funding to prepare the showgroundand cover other expenses that would be incurredin hosting the show.

Financial support from the JAS and theMinistry of Agriculture was also not forthcom-ing, again with the downturn in the local econo-my footing the blame. The Minister ofAgriculture and Fisheries, Dr. ChristopherTufton is also the Member of Parliament forSouth West St. Elizabeth.

With the closure of St. Elizabeth's bauxitemining industry, agriculture has become themain productive sector of the parish. This year'sagriculture show was expected to expose localfarmers to new farming techniques and technol-ogy, inform about increased marketing opportu-nities and a number of recent developments inthe financial sector targeted specifically to theirneeds.

Mr. Morrison said that efforts are now beingconcentrated on ensuring that St. Elizabeth con-tinues its winning ways at the annual DenbighAgriculture Show, slated for Independenceweek in August.

12MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

Highlights of the 2008St. Bess Agri. Show

& Food Fest

Dr. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Agriculture and Member of Parliament for South West St. Elizabeth (left),and former President of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant, admires a huge sweetpotato at the St. Elizabeth Agriculture Show and Food Fest, held at the Essex Valley Show Ground in Gutters,St. Elizabeth on Labour Day, 2008. Also pictured is Mr. Gib Samuels, an executive member of the St. ElizabethBranch Societies of the JAS.

Getting up close and personal with a bee hive.

The Pepper community was extremely productive.St. Elizabeth JAS President, Roy Morrison(right) indicates something of interest toAgriculture and Fisheries Minister, Dr.Christopher Tufton.

Nadine Tufton, wife of the AgricultureMinister, makes a purchase.

One of the young ladies vyingfor the St. Elizabeth FarmQueen title.

A farmer collects screwwork powder from a repre-sentive of RADA.

New Building was big on bammy.

Comma Pen took casava to the extreme. The agriculture show was a family event.

Several primary, all-age and secondary schools alsoparticipated in the agriculture show and food fest.

“I need one of those,” says this lady.

St. Elizabeth agri. show scrapped again

Agriculture sector grows for 6th consecutive quarterMinister with responsibili-

ty for Information, HonDaryl Vaz, has reported

that the October- December, 2009quarter saw the agricultural sec-tor recording its sixth consecutivequarter of growth.

Mr. Vaz noted the achievementwas particularly significant, as theisland was under persistent droughtconditions for several months.

The Minister, who was updatingjournalists on matters considered byCabinet during its March 8 meeting,

said that areas of outstanding per-formance were - condiments, whichgrew by 63%; vegetables, by 40.6%;cereals, by 32.4%; yams, by 26.7%;and potatoes, by 23.5%.

All parishes recorded expansionin production for the quarter, withthe leading parishes being -Portland, 160.9%; St Mary 92.1%and St Thomas 69%.

Overall the sector grew by 13%over the last quarter of 2009 whiledomestic crop production for theentire year increased by 22.4%.

14 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

The Auto Zone

Alumina Partners of Jamaica(ALPART) has put measures in placeto alleviate the dust nuisance from

the mud lake at its residual facility in Nain,St. Elizabeth.

These measures include the installation ofadditional sprinklers, setting up another dustmonitoring station and the grassing of areas,said Minister without Portfolio in the Office ofthe Prime Minister (OPM) with responsibility

for Information, Telecom-munications andSpecial Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz.

Mr. Vaz, who was addressing the March 17post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House,informed that the measures came ahead of anEnforcement Notice from the NationalEnvironment and Planning Agency (NEPA),which required that the company address thedust nuisance that has been affecting residentsin the surrounding communities.

He said that theEnforcement Notice, whichwas effective March 16, alsorequests that ALPART pro-vide weekly reports of itsmonitoring and sprinklingactivities at the mud lake forthe next few weeks.

"ALPART (had) also beeninstructed to install addition-al sprinklers and expand itsnetwork (of) dust monitoringstations at the facility," hesaid.

At a meeting held onTuesday March 16, NEPAcommended ALPART for itsco-operation in dealingswiftly to reduce the impactof the dust nuisance, whichhas affected the health of res-idents.

"The agency acceptsALPART's apology andactions in assisting membersof the communities affected

by the dust nuisance. The company has com-mitted to collaborate with the local health

department to co-ordinate the response to thecommunity health needs," he Dr. Vaz informed.

The Minister further pointed out that NEPAwill review the 1998 permit issued to ALPARTunder the Natural Resources Conservation Act,with the intention of including additional condi-tions for compliance, such as the closure plansfor the facility.

Minister Vaz said that he was very concernedwhen he saw the news report highlighting theeffect the dust nuisance was having on residentsin nearby communities.

He said that the Office of the Prime Minister,under which NEPA falls, issued immediateinstructions for this matter "to be taken veryseriously."Mr. Vaz out that the dust condition at the planthas to be continuously monitored, particularlyduring drought conditions. "There has to beadditional measures that are put in place to pre-vent a reoccurrence of this, especially as itaffects the young and the old in communities(who) have no alternative but to stay there," henoted.

"This is a matter that we are taking very seri-ously and we will be monitoring here from theOffice of the Prime Minister," the Ministerassured.

13MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS MARCH 15 - 28, 2010

Training sessions for goat farmerswere held at the Rural AgriculturalDevelopment Authority (RADA)

Conference Room in Mandeville,Manchester, and at the Sam MottaDemonstration Training Centre, inKnockpatrick, Manchester, on March 17.

The training was carried out under theStrengthening of Jamaica's Food SecurityProgramme, funded by the European Union,through its Food Facility Project, and conduct-ed by the Caribbean Agricultural Research andDevelopment Institute (CARDI), in partner-ship with the Ministry of Agriculture andFisheries, through RADA, and the JamaicaGoat Farmers Association.

The project is implemented in Jamaica bythe Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)and its main objective is to increase productionby assisting farmers in the areas of crop andlivestock production.

Assistant FAO Representative in Jamaica,Dr. Jillian Smith, urged the farmers to makethe most of the training sessions.

"We are aware that the goat farmers inJamaica have a wealth of knowledge alreadyand what we aim to do is build on that. It'sbeen a long process to get this project going.

This is the first in 20 years that livestockfarming has received this kind of funding andthis kind of attention," she said.

Manager for RADA in Manchester, Mr.Donald Robinson, also urged the farmers tolearn as much as possible, to assist in the driveto increase the livestock population.

He said that the 2009 production figures forlivestock production in Manchester showedmarginal increases, especially in broiler andgoat categories, and that Members ofParliament were encouraged to channel fundsfrom the Constituency Development Fund intolivestock production, especially in the area ofgoat production.

Honorary Secretary of the Jamaica GoatFarmers Association, Mr. Derrick Vermont,said that it was the first time in the 13-year his-tory of the group that such assistance wasbeing provided, and that the members wouldensure that production is increased.

The farmers were sensitised about areas,such as small ruminant production; the interna-tional sheep and goat trade and its implicationsfor Jamaican farmers and consumers. Theyalso received practical demonstrations on ani-mal husbandry.

Goat farmers trained

Alpart moves to address dust nuisance

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. JamesRobertson, broke ground for the secondUS$50 million Wigton Wind Farm project,

located in Rose Hill, Manchester on WednesdayMarch 17.

Wigton Wind Farm Limited is a subsidiary of thePetroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ). It has success-fully generated and delivered approximately 306 GWh ofelectricity to the Jamaica Public Service Company(JPSCo) grid using wind power.

The current project, Wigton I, is registered by theUnited Nations' Framework Convention on ClimateChange, and has been trading carbon credits under an

Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement with the DutchGovernment since 2005.

The new project will maximize wind potential andassist in meeting the renewable energy policy target of11% by 2012, as well as offer health and environmentalbenefits from operating clean, renewable energy facilities,as against traditional power plants.

In his address, Mr. Roberson, said Wigton II will savethe country much hard currency and, along with the soonto be established Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project,will drive lower electricity costs.

"We will be using the new energy policy to drive a newJamaica," the Minister said.

Group Managing Director of the PCJ, Dr, RuthPotopsingh, told the gathering that, while the Governmentis playing a lead role in developing the energy sector,space exists for private investments.

She said that the energy diversification strategy mustbe twinned with energy efficiency and conservation, on anational basis.

"As we move towards realizing the achievement ofJamaica's energy diversification strategy, only a concert-ed effort will achieve the change of successful reductionof our use of petroleum energy to make the difference toour environment and most importantly, our energy bill,"she stated.

Wigton II is 100% debt financed from the PetroCaribeFund, and commissioning of the plant is scheduled tocommence in July 2010.

MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010 15

The oil industry in the Niger Delta of Nigeria hasbrought impoverishment, conflict, humanrights abuses and despair to the majority of the

people in the oil-producing areas, according to a newAmnesty International report.

The report, 'Petroleum, Pollution and Poverty in theNiger Delta', also details how the Nigerian government isfailing to hold oil companies to account for the pollutionthey have caused.

“Oil companies have been exploiting Nigeria's weakregulatory system for too long,” said Audrey Gaughran ofAmnesty International. “They do not adequately preventenvironmental damage and they frequently fail to proper-ly address the devastating impact that their bad practicehas on people's lives.”

The Niger Delta is one of the world's 10 most impor-tant wetland and coastal marine ecosystems and is hometo some 31 million people. It is also the location of mas-sive oil deposits, which have been extracted for decades

by the government of Nigeria and by multinational oilcompanies.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)describes the region as suffering from “administrativeneglect, crumbling social infrastructure and services, highunemployment, social deprivation, abject poverty, filthand squalor, and endemic conflict.” This poverty, and itscontrast with the wealth generated by oil, has become oneof the world's starkest and most disturbing examples ofthe “resource curse”.

US$600B in earnings yet citizens living in povertyOil has generated an estimated US$600 billion since

the 1960s. Despite this, many people in the oil-producingareas have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted water,and eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins.

Oil spills and waste dumping have also seriously dam-aged agricultural land. Long-term effects include damageto soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

The destruction of livelihoods and the lack of account-ability and redress have led people to steal oil and vandal-ize oil infrastructure in an attempt to gain compensationor clean-up contracts.

Armed groups are increasingly demanding greater con-trol of resources in the region, and engage in large-scaletheft of oil and the ransoming of oil workers. Governmentreprisals against militancy and violence frequentlyinvolve excessive force, and communities are subjected toviolence and collective punishment, deepening anger andresentment.

Oil spills, waste dumping, and gas flaring are notori-ous and endemic. Oil spills result from corrosion of oilpipes, poor maintenance of infrastructure, leaks andhuman error and at times are as a consequence of vandal-ism, theft of oil, metal for scrap or sabotage.

The scale of pollution and environmental damage hasnever been properly assessed, but hundreds of spills occureach year. According to the UNDP, more than 6,800 spillswere recorded between 1976 and 2001. According to theNational Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency some2,000 sites require treatment because of oil-related pollu-tion. The real total may be higher.

The regulatory system in the Niger Delta is deeplyflawed. Nigeria has laws and regulations that requirecompanies to comply with internationally recognizedstandards of “good oil field practice”, and laws and regu-lations to protect the environment but these laws and reg-ulations are poorly enforced. The government agenciesresponsible for enforcement are ineffective and, in somecases, compromised by conflicts of interest.

Jamaica was one of the mostsought after travel destina-tions on display at the

world's largest travel and adven-ture show, which was held fromMarch 6 -7, at the WashingtonConvention Center, inWashington, D.C.

Over 200 exhibitors took part inthe event, which attracted more than20,000 visitors.

Jamaica's booth was a buzz ofactivity, with the showing of theJamaica Tourist Board (JTB) newadvertisement, featuring the world'sfastest man, Usain Bolt.

The JTB Business DevelopmentManager for the Mid-Atlanticregion, Ms. Victoria Harper, provid-ed visitors to the JTB booth withinformation about the exciting arrayof adventure options available inJamaica, including hiking, cavingand canopy tours. She also provideddetails on the wide range of accom-modations, attractions and events,as well as specially priced pack-ages.

Nature enthusiasts who visited

the booth were able to explore whatmakes the island a nature-friendlytourist destination. Avid bird watch-ers picked up their 'Bird Songs inJamaica', a must-have sound guideidentifying 119 species found inJamaica.

Commenting on the expo,Director of Tourism, Mr. JohnLynch said the timing of the expowas especially right, because theMid-Atlantic is currently experienc-ing extremely cold weather andtravellers can easily escape toJamaica in just over three hours toexperience Jamaica's warmth andthe range of adventure tours avail-able.

"With the diversity and varietyof Jamaica's attractions, theAdventures in Travel Expo affordsus an excellent opportunity toappeal to adventure travellers whomay not know how much Jamaicahas to offer," he said.

Similar shows will be held inChicago from March 20-21; and inNew York City from October 9-10.

Oil: Nigeria’s evironmental curseJamaica a hit at travel show

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson, address-ing the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday March 17, for theUS$50 million Wigton Wind Farm II project in Rose Hill,Manchester.

A fisherman with his oil-soaked canoe in Goi, Ogoniland,Nigeria. Oil pollution has damaged crucial sources of livelihoodfor communities.

The Jamaica Tourist Board booth (at left), was very popular as show goers seekinformation on Jamaica as a tourist destination, at the world's largest travel andadventure show, which was held from March 6 -7, at the Washington ConventionCenter, in Washington, D.C.

A dying bird covered in oil.

Wind farm expansion on track

As Jamaica continues to facethe protracted drought, dat-ing back to November 2008,

Minister of Water and Housing,Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, has under-lined the importance of safe drink-ing water for all.

This the minister stated in a mes-

sage commemorating World WaterDay, March 22.

"Each year, World Water Daydraws attention to the need to manageour water sources and supplies. Thisyear's theme, 'Clean Water, HealthyWorld', speaks to the link betweensafe supplies of clean water, and the

physical, and economic health ofindividuals and nations," Dr. Changsaid.

"At its foundation is the recogni-tion that access to safe drinking wateris a vital element in the fight againstpoverty, hunger and disease. There isno denying that water has a serious

impact on the quality of life. The sad truth is that more than one

billion people worldwide lack accessto clean water, with severe repercus-sions," the Minister said.

According to Minister Chang, theWorld Health Organization (WHO)reports that of the approximately fivemillion deaths that occur annuallyfrom water borne illnesses, such asdiarrhoea, the majority are from poordeveloping countries. He added thatthe loss of production and relatedhealth costs associated with these pre-ventable illnesses, add to the econom-ic woes of countries that are burdenedwith poverty and underdevelopmentresulting in persistent poverty.

"The provision of adequate andsafe water supplies is a key driver ofa government's economic agenda.The viability of a number of sectors,including manufacturing, tourism,agriculture and the services sector,depends on adequate sources of safewater. It therefore demands that thesensible and sustainable managementof water resources must to be high onthe agenda if the process of economicgrowth is to continue," Dr. Changsaid.

He pointed out that Jamaica's waterquality is held in high regard by localsand visitors alike, due to the rigoroustreatment it undergoes before distri-bution, which is in keeping with stan-dards set out by the WHO.

"But preserving the quality andquantity of our fresh water resources,calls for a renewed focus on sustain-able management. The intensive useof fresh water means that it is a vul-nerable and limited resource," hesaid.

The Minister noted that the effectsof climate change, increased urbani-sation, population increases and envi-ronmental degradation are alreadybeing felt in the Caribbean and LatinAmerica.

"We have to look no further thanthe severe meteorological droughtbeing experienced across the regionand the significant reduction in sur-face inflows to our treatment facili-ties. Countering and perhaps revers-ing these effects will requireincreased monitoring, data manage-ment, institutional strengthening, theuse of appropriate technology, water-shed management, collaborationbetween stakeholders and a strongcommitment to conservation amongall water consumers," he said.

"As Jamaica joins the world inobserving World Water Day, restassured that the Government is com-mitted to sustainable and effectivemanagement of our water resourcesas we move towards the MillenniumDevelopment Goal of providingaccess to potable water for all by2015," he added.

Small business owners in the tourism sectorhave been keeping their businesses afloatthrough financial assistance from the TourismEnhancement Fund (TEF).

Proprietor of Bubbling Springs in MiddleQuarters, St Elizabeth, Lincoln Fagan, says theloan saved his property. After starting his busi-ness in 2000, Mr. Fagan confesses that it wasrough getting things off the ground.

"The loan has helped Bubbling Springs inmany ways. Before I got the assistance, thefacility was there but many people didn't evenknow about it," he said.

After years of struggling and applying forassistance from financial institutions withoutluck, Mr. Fagan finally approached JamaicaNational Small Business Loans (JNSBL)Limited in 2009.

He was granted a small loan through the TEF,which had a $200 million component toimprove the tourism product specially set asidefor small businesses in the sector and distributed

by the JNSBL."It completely turned everything around for

Bubbling Springs. It's only recently, after we gotthe loan from JN, that people (started to) knowabout us," Mr. Fagan says.

He used the money to upgrade certain aspectsof his facility, as well as apply various market-ing strategies to increase public awareness of hisbusiness.

"It was a big breakthrough. For some peopleit might be small but, for me, it was one of thebiggest things to happen. When you see peoplestart rolling in, in buses from all over Jamaica, itwas really a great feeling," Mr. Fagan states.

The financing he received through the TEFhas transformed the Middle Quarters mineralbath into one of the major attractions on theisland's south coast for Jamaicans and tourists.

"People come here to get healing from vari-ous complaints. Many have been healed frompain and aches, arthritis, wounds and other ail-ments. They come to Bubbling Springs and

within a day or two they will call us and say theyhave been healed," he boasts.

"I feel good that I am using this business todo my part in developing our country's tourismproduct," he adds.

Diverse Projects BenefitingFinancing has been provided to small hotels,attractions, villas and apartment owners toexpand and develop their properties, as well asin the provision of loans to ground transportoperators in the tourism sector.

Blue Mountain BicycleTours is another attractionwhich has benefited fromTEF funds. Started in1991, it has become oneof the island's leading eco-tourism attractions, offer-ing tours of the BlueMountains.

Providing accommoda-tion in Negril, WestportCottages is also a benefi-ciary of the funding. Theproprietor has developed a16-room facility on theNorman ManleyBoulevard that providesbasic facilities to a diversevisitor base.

Many other businesseshave refurbished andenhanced their operationswith the funds they haveaccessed. A total of 67loans have been disbursedto the sector.

The maximum loan is$3 million and the fundsare provided at a threepercent interest rate for amaximum term of fiveyears. Loans of up to $1million are available forground transportation

operators.The Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism

Development was finalised in 2002, and TEFwas developed to implement the recommenda-tions of this tourism plan.

The mechanism for achieving this was an Actgiving the then Ministry of Industry andTourism the power to collect fees of US$10from incoming airline passengers and US$2from cruise passengers and the proceeds placedin a dedicated fund to benefit tourism.

16 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Minister bats for safe drinking water

Tourism Enhancement Fund Aids Small Businesses

Trucks loading water from a well at the Alpart bauxite plant for sale to communities in St. Elizabeth

Bubbling Springs in Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr.Horace Chang, says that theGovernment is to acquire the servic-

es of a Korean firm to assist in speeding upland registration and titling.

Dr. Chang said the administration has conclud-ed discussions with the firm, and the programmewill facilitate collation of the requisite data to getmillions of parcels of unregistered land registeredwithin a reasonable timeframe.

He explained that the full details will be pro-vided by Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding,in due course.

"But, it's moving forward. We have reached astage where we have identified the funding, thetechnology and the mechanism to get out thereand do it," Dr. Chang said. He was addressing theJamaica Mortgage Bank's (JMB) HousingDevelopment Seminar on the theme: "New Issuesin Planning and Maintaining HousingDevelopment", at the Terra Nova Hotel,Kingston, on Thursday March 18.

Dr. Chang said that the land titling process wasmoving "slowly", resulting in too many unregis-tered parcels of land which cannot be used forsecurity, particularly for transactions involvingpersons in the lower income brackets.

He said that the titling process, particularlysubdivisions, has proven "challenging", especial-ly for low income earners. Attempts have beenmade, at "various levels", to effect the requisiteinstitutional changes necessary to make subdivi-sion titling more easily done, he added.

"We have been able to move the Titles Officefairly effectively within a cooperative frame-work, but it has to be broadened to ensure that wehave a framework that can get subdivision titlingmoving quickly and efficiently, in the market-place," he stated.

The seminar, attended by a wide cross sectionof mortgage and housing solution providers anddevelopers, facilitated dialogue between privateand public sector stakeholders on the issues.

The St. Elizabeth Parish Councilhas doubled its complement ofmunicipal police officers, by

swearing in eight more on Thursday,March 11.

At the installation ceremony at theCouncil chamber, Mayor of Black River,Councillor Jeremy Palmer, charged the newofficers to serve without partiality but withrestraint in their use of force.

"The power of the office is not to servespecial interests, it is to serve the widercommunity, and the wider community is theparish of St. Elizabeth and the entire islandof Jamaica," Mayor Palmer said.

"You have a scope of authority; it is to beused in the interest of the people of St.Elizabeth, and with courtesy. Be guided bythose rules because, under my administra-tion, everybody must understand that cor-ruption is zero tolerant," the Mayor said.

Newly installed officer, Paulette Brown,

said that she will be working along with theIsland Special Constabulary Force (ISCF)to ensure that market vendors abide by therules, and that motorists do not block theroads.

"I will also be working with the TaxOffice to ensure that barbers, hairdressers,and other business operators observe therules and regulations," she stated.

For officer Denzel Myers, the five-weektraining has prepared him to effectivelymonitor the markets and the bus parks;enforce the National Solid Waste Authority(NSWA) Act, work with the Inland RevenueDepartment and ensure that building codesare followed.

Councillor for the Santa Cruz Division,Stallin Brown, said he expects to see moreorder in the town, and called on the newrecruits to exercise their duties with respectfor the people.

Minister of Health and Environment,Rudyard Spencer, says road acci-dents are having a negative impact

on the health system. “If we had significantly less accidents, all

those bed spaces would be available for primaryhealth care,” he said.

Minister Spence has urged the TransportMinistry to do its best in ensuring that roadusers are more careful because of the impact onhospitals and also on the health system.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport and Works,Mike Henry, says his Ministry is working very

closely with the Transport Authority and thepolice to improve road discipline.

Both Ministers were guests on the monthlycall in programme 'Jamaica House Live' whichwas hosted by Minister of Agriculture Dr.Christopher Tufton in the absence of the PrimeMinister.

Minister Henry said that strict attention isbeing paid to the indiscipline of drivers and as aresult road traffic laws are being revised and anumber of initiatives will be introduced toimprove driving discipline.

17MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

Land titling process to speed up

More Municipal Officers for St. Elizabeth

Govt’s mulls integrated approachfor reducing traffic accidents

Persons seekinginformation from arepresentative ofthe National LandAgency at a landtitling seminar inSanta Cruz, spon-sored by JamaicaNational BuildingSociety and the St.ElizabethHomecomingCommittee.

The 3rd JAMCEN (Jamaica Central) Health andWellness Fest took place on the weekend of March 6- 7 in Mandeville.

On Saturday March 6, organisors of the event, 20TwentyStrategies, hosted a workshop by Dr. Sharon Cadiz called GiveWings to Your Dreams. In this her second appearance at thewellness event, Dr. Cadiz presented a 3 hour workshop on howyou can unlock the issues to your growth potential and giveyou the tools to tap into your inner strength.

This workshop was held at the Mandeville Hotel. The fol-lowing day, the main event was held at 3 Brumalia Road and

featured a full day of activities which saw presenters from theUSA, Canada and Jamaica participating.

There were fitness and healthy cooking demonstrations, pre-sentations about weight loss, how to grow your own herbs andpointers on decorating your home on a budget. A number ofcompanies in the health care sector were on hand to offerpointers and information to those who attended the event.

The kids were not left out of the mix as there were activi-ties for them including a Hula Hoop contest. Later in theevening,a number of performers including recording artisteTessanne Chin made an appearance.

18 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

JAMCEN Health Wellness Fest

This lady gets her blood pressure checked courtesy of the HeartInstitute of the Caribbean.

Stott Pilates demonstrates their innovative exercise routine.

“I see dead skin cells”: Marcia Thomas of KirkDistributors gives the result of an Aveno SkinAnalysis.

Enjoying a relaxing facial.This young lady shows off her mad skills.

So young and already a charmer.Fay Wint of HHG Magazine gives pointers onhow to decorate in hard times.

Chef JoseRiquelme of Sunset Resorts demonstrates how to preparehealthy meals.

This portrait artist was kept busy all day.

The Little Ochi Booth was a popular spot with patrons of the Health Fair

“Don’t worry, these cookies are actually good for you,” says thisrepresentative of Kirk Distributors.

The Minister of Youth,Sports and Culture, theHonourable Olivia Grange,

has told representatives of theNational Association of DominoBodies (NADB) that she is pre-pared to clear the way for domi-noes to be accorded official statusof a national sport in Jamaica.

The NADB delegation, led byPresident Rey Smith, visited

Minister Grange at her offices for themain purpose of bringing her up todate on plans for hosting the 10thWorld Dominoes Championship inJamaica in 2012 and to seek the sup-port of the Ministry.

Mr. Smith told Minister Grangethat dominoes' governing body, theInternational Domino Federation(FID), had applied to theInternational Olympic Committee

for dominoes to be an Olympic sportand was told that the IOC would beamenable to the idea if the countrieswhich are members of FID declareddominoes a national sport.

Minister Grange was told thatVenezuela, Russia and Spain hadalready recognised dominoes as anational sport and that Puerto Ricowas in the process of doing so.

On the matter of the staging of theinternational tournament in Jamaica,Mr. Smith said that it would be heldin May 2012 and that there would berepresentatives from 35 countries.

He said Jamaica would becomethe second English-speaking countryto host the World DominoesChampionship, the first being theUnited States. At the 2009Championship in Russia, theJamaican team led up to penultimateday of competition when they lost toSpain.

Mr. Smith said the President ofFID, Mr. Lucas Guittard, hadexpressed the desire that MinisterGrange joins him at the launch of the10th World DominoesChampionship when he visitsJamaica later this year.

Minister Grange said that she waspleased with the various domino pro-grammes and competitions beingconducted islandwide and the collab-orations with public sector bodies

such as the Ministry of Health andthe Social DevelopmentCommission, an agency of theMinistry of Youth, Sports andCulture.

"The theme, 'Choosing YourPartner Before You Play', used inyour HIV/AIDS project with theMinistry of Health was well chosenbecause it applies not just to domi-

noes but to life. I am pleased thatdominoes is being used to assistnational development.”

"You can be assured of the sup-port of the Ministry of Youth, Sportsand Culture in your domino pro-grammes and a successful hosting ofthe international tournament here inJamaica in 2012."

The Jamaica Race Driver'sClub (JRDC) held its offi-cial 2010 season launch on

Friday, March 19, at the JamaicaPegasus Hotel.

In attendance were Minister ofTransportation the Hon. Mike Henry,Chairman of the SportsDevelopment Foundation of JamaicaDavid Mais, Wayne Lawrence VP ofMarketing at LIME, JamaicaBeverages' Stephen Dawkins,KLAS' Kesi Asher along with JRDCExecutive members Hilary JardineO.D., J.P., Marck Carey, DavidSummerbell and others.

LIME formally announced theircontinued association with the RaceDriver's Club and handed over asponsorship cheque valued atJA$3,300,000.00 at the event.

Jamaica Beverages also signed ontheir Turbo Energy drink and will be

the official energy drink of theseries. They will brand the watertank and the entrance bridge, whileKLAS and Power 106 FM commit-ted as the official radio broadcast

partners of the club.Total Jamaica will be the season

sponsor of the entry level IP45 class,while the club will undertakeimprovements to the fencing, safetymeasures and re-instate the originalentrance gate near the Chen house toaccess the track from parking lot #2using the newly sponsored Goodyearbridge.

The club will run as is customary,four race events for the 2010 season.The first, the Carnival of Speed meetis slated for the Easter weekend ofApril 4 and 5, with qualifying takingplace on Sunday the 4th and racingon the following Monday. TheCaribbean Invasion meet takes placeon Labor Day in May, with theIndependence Meet in August andthe Heroes Day meet in Octoberrounding out the season.

The Government has setaside $27 million for theestablishment of a welfare

fund and an insurance scheme,which will provide support forthe island's athletes.

The initiatives, which will comeon stream soon, will be fundedthrough the Sports DevelopmentFoundation (SDF).

Minister of Youth, Sports andCulture, Hon. Olivia Grange, madethe disclosure at the press launch ofthe Jamaica InternationalInvitational Track and Field Meetheld at the Hilton Kingston hotel onMarch 9.

Minister Grange revealed thatapproximately $17 million has beenearmarked for the setting up of thewelfare fund, with $10 million setaside for the insurance scheme.

She said that an announcementwill be made at a later date on thespecifications and how athletes canbenefit from the initiatives.

Baseball Diamond for TrelawnyMeanwhile, the Minister noted

that plans are in place for the con-struction of a baseball field in theisland.

"We are going to be getting abaseball diamond. We have otherdiscussions taking place for us toexpand our infrastructure inTrelawny," she said, adding thatmajor teams from overseas "aretalking to us about pre-season train-ing here."

Also, Ms. Grange noted thatcoming out of a recent trip toSingapore, a new running track willbe established at the NationalStadium.

"We are a little bit behind sched-ule (however) all the materials havebeen shipped and we are reworkingthe schedule. It would seem that wewon't be able start the work nowuntil after the (athletic) season butwe are definitely on track for get-ting the Stadium East track as wellas the infield repaired and put backin A1 condition," she stated.

The Jamaica InternationalInvitational Track and Field Meetwill be held on Saturday, May 1, atthe National Stadium, and willattract a number of top local andinternational athletes. TheGovernment has contributed $27million to the staging of the eventthrough the SDF.

19MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

JRDC launches 2010 season

Club Vice President Marck Carey's carbon fiber, tube framed Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution proto-type, which is expected to have its competition debut at the upcoming Carnival of Speed meet.

Dominoes after dark in the Mandeville park

LIME VP for marketing, Wayne Lawrence (left), confirms his company’s $3 million plus sponsor-ship of the 2010 racing season to JRDC Executive Member Hilary Jardine.

Welfare fund, insurancescheme for athletes

Minister Grange willing to declaredominoes a national sport

20 MANCHESTER & SOUTH COAST NEWS March 15 - 28, 2010

EDWIN Allen High Schooltopped defending champi-ons Holmwood Technical

with 371.5 points to take the femalesection of the 2010 Milo CentralAthletics Championships at theGC Foster College on March 12.

In the boys' section, St Jago HighSchool easily retained their crownwith 289.5 points; more than 100ahead of Holmwood, which finishedwith 164 points.

Edwin Allen's win gives the schoola big moral booster againstHolmwood, going into the nationalchampionships, where they are theseven-time defending girls champi-ons.

In fact, Holmwood only managedto finish third in the two-day meetwith 321.5 points, behind St Jago,who amassed 337 for second place.Vere Technical (190) and Manchester(163.5) placed fourth and fifth

respectively. Holmwood may stillhave a few tricks up their sleeve how-ever, as their complete squad did notcompete at the Central Champs.

Rounding out the top five placesin the boy's section was Edwin Allenwith 120.5 points, Manchester 84,and Old Harbour 58.

A total of 19 meet records wereshattered over the two-day event; tenon Thursday's opening day.

Manchester High's Natoya Goulebroke two records byrunning 10:31.8 in the3000m Open and2:12.01 in the 800mClass One.

Nikita Tracey ofEdwin Allen ran 58.80to establish a newmark in the girls'400m Hurdles Open.

Kemar Bailey-Coleof Old Harbour low-ered the Class One100m record to 10.58.St. Jago's NatalliaWhyte raced to 11.97in the girls' Class Fourevent. Holmwood'sDianna Johnson with11.80 in Class Threealso established a newmark.

Edwin Allen brokethe record in the ClassTwo 4Å~100m whileKevin White ofHolmwood crossedthe line in the boys'Class One 800m in1:52.00 while in ClassTwo, Brian Smith ofClarendon College ran1:57.53 for a newmark. Kellion Knibbof St. Jago threw43.01 in the girls'Class Two, the lonefield event record.

Nine records were broken onFriday's second and final day includ-ing an outstanding new mark of3:49.77 in the Class One boys 1500meters by Kemoy Campbell ofBellefield High School. K e n oHeaven of Holmwood Technicaltook the Class 1 Girls 1500 Meter runin 4:41.55.

Edwin Allen, Jago tops Central Champs