PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

The Muirton Child Care Facility in Portland is receiving valuable assistance from the College of Agriculture, Science and Education.

Since March 2006, the college, through its Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, has been involved in a number of developmental initiatives aimed at improving the surroundings of the facility and furthering the education of the 25 boys in its care.

Among the initiatives are the establishment of a homework programme, through which the boys are assisted with schoolwork by faculty members of the college; special workshops to prepare boys sitting Caribbean Examination Council tests in mathematics, English language, integrated science, human and social biology, and agricultural science, as well as the implementation of projects aimed at beautifying the facility, inclusive of painting the building, and planting trees and flowers.

Formerly, the Muirton Boys' Home, the Muirton Child Care Facility was established jointly by the Government of Jamaica and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica in March 1978. It is run by the Child Development Agency.

- JIS

OCHO RIOS, ST. ANN:

Minister of Education, Andrew Holness has said that the ministry is moving to tackle the issue of violence in schools by improving security arrangements.

Addressing the annual retreat of principals of secondary schools in the Ministry of Education's Region 6, held recently at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, Mr. Holness said notices about the new measures will be sent out to schools.

He urged the principals to document all incidents of disruption in school in order to develop a database of potential problem kids.

Calling on principals to support the ministry's plans to stem violence in schools, the minister opined that positive results could only come from a united approach.

The retreat, which was geared towards improving the professional development of principals, was held under the theme: 'Partnering, the Vision for Increased School Autonomy'.

- JIS

ST. ANDREW:

The popular saying, 'a friend in need is a friend indeed', can best describe the joint venture between Food For the Poor and the Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring to construct a wood structure inside the Corporate Area headquarters of Jamaica AIDS Support (JAS) at 4 Upper Musgrave Road in St Andrew on Saturday.

The structure is an extension to the existing building.

The venture was the brainchild of Kiwanis Club of Constant Spring president Trevor Richards.

The cost of the project is $667,000, which includes material and labour.

The site will host a counselling area, storage space and a doctor's office.

Currently, the facility is used as a clinic for adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. Over 200 persons are registered.

However, on a daily basis, doctors and nurses see about 20 patients. At the facility, patients are given their antiretrovirals and other medication to improve their immune system.

- Anthony Minott

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Regional Branch Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority's (RADA) Manchester branch, Neville Burrell, has blamed the glut of tomatoes on the market on overplanting by some farmers.

According to Burrell, during the hurricane-relief effort, a great amount of fertiliser and seeds were distributed to farmers, with tomato seeds issued in excess. He indicated that the farmers went ahead and planted all the seeds without first consulting the agency.

Reports that some $3 million worth of table tomatoes are being imported into the parish on a monthly basis, he said, has also severely affected the farmers' ability to sell their produce.

Burrell said that RADA had been assisting in the process and had already helped farmers in Cross Keys, Cocoa Walk and other areas to sell some 20,000 pounds of tomatoes to higglers and processors. He said that assistance would be continued in the coming weeks.

- JIS

OCHO RIOS, ST. ANN:

St Ann parish agricultural manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Pedro Worghs, has encouraged more farmers in the parish to adopt greenhouse technology to improve the quality and quantity of agricultural produce.

He said that RADA had provided irrigation equipment to two farmers and was willing to assist others to design greenhouses and purchase equipment.

For farmers who wish to adopt this method of protective agriculture, the RADA parish manager said they must have access to land that is at least 1,500 feet above sea level, in addition to a reliable source of water.

Acknowledging that the cost of putting in the technology might be an inhibiting factor, Worghs urged farmers to seek funding through the People's Cooperative Bank.

- JIS

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

According to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority's (RADA) Manchester branch manager, Neville Burrell, drought conditions that are now affecting south Manchester have not hit crisis proportions but have the potential of getting to that level.

Burrell said conservation measures have been employed, including the trucking of water to the affected areas. The Government has also been issuing storage tanks to farmers.

On the matter of irrigation, he disclosed that only a small number of farms had been outfitted with this facility.

Burrell also revealed that the authorities are now more vigilant and have sought to educate farmers about lighting fires to clear their fields, especially during the drought, because of the potential of bush fires.