May Pen market dominates council
published:
Wednesday | March 19, 2008
MAY PEN, CLARENDON:
The Clarendon Parish Council revisited issues of illegal vending in May Pen and other townships, the non-use of the Spaldings Public Transport Park, and the inequitable distribution of relief funds to Hurricane Dean disaster victims.
Mayor Milton Brown spoke of the need to properly maintain the May Pen market. He said dogs and pigs were overrunning the market and that a failed drainage system meant the facility appears unattractive to both users and customers. He called on the superintendent of roads and works, Alston Esmie, to bring the market up to a standard that would comfortably accommodate the stakeholders.
Brown, in commenting on the state of the sidewalks and non-vending zones being taken over by higglers, said the police were now passing the buck by shifting the responsibility of removal of the illegal vendors to the parish council.
- Angella Chin
Women's group bring hope to orphans
CHRISTIANA, MANCHESTER:
The women's group of the Christiana Gospel Chapel recently visited the Salvation Army-run home for orphans and children in need of care and protection at Royal Flat in Manchester and presented gifts for the wards. The home was opened in 1992 and is currently headed by Captain Jacky Palmer.
The gifts, which included textbooks and toiletries, valued at over $20,000, were presented to Major Rose White of the home by Sister Nadine Griffiths of the Christian Gospel Chapel.
The visitors, who were warmly welcomed to the well-kept home, gave motivational speeches.
Some of the 50 wards, aged four-17 years, at the home attend a school on the compound which is run by two trained teachers, while those who have earned GSAT placement attend public schools.
- Byron McDaniel
Water Supply Department under scrutiny
PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:
Mayor of Port Antonio, Floyd Patterson, said he would not support tardiness or any lacklustre approach on the part of personnel assigned to the Portland Parish Council Water Supply Department.
The no-nonsense mayor, who was addressing a water crisis situation being faced by residents at Reach District in east Portland and other adjoining communities, said he was not impressed by the slow progress made by officers assigned to the project.
The Reach Water Supply System, which serves at least three other adjoining communities, was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Dean last year. Recent heavy rains have compounded that damage. Several pipelines that were relaid are being gravity fed to places at higher altitudes.
A senior officer attached to the council's Water Supply Department assured Mayor Patterson that everything should be in place by next month's parish council meeting.
- Gareth Davis
Americans help early childhood institutions
PORT MARIA, ST MARY:
A number of basic schools in St Mary are to receive a facelift from a team of tourists from the United States who describe themselves as friends of the parish.
The all-male team has already started work on the Cromwelland Basic School and have donated several gift items to students at Brainer Basic. The team is putting up perimeter fencing, constructing.
