SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE:

With only one livestock officer, currently serving the country, the Ministry of Agriculture is facing a chronic shortage.

According to Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton, his organisation aims to make available one livestock officer for every parish and double the 60 extension officers who work with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority to better serve the farming community.

Tufton stressed that with more than 200,000 small farmers, there needs to be a hands-on approach where they can be better served.

The minister was addressing several persons who turned out at the St Dorothy's Anglican Church in Church Pen, St Catherine, on Wednesday, where the Rural Economic Agricultural Programme, the brainchild of Food For the Poor, has helped to focus on backyard gardening and giving needed assistance to non-farmers.

It was also borne out that at least 18 fishing villages with more than one hundred fishermen have also been empowered by Food For The Poor and its affiliates.

- R.T.

Money woes slow council

PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:

Although faced with financial constraints, the Portland Parish Council has so far spent $400,000 to carry out restoration work along several roadways at the Titchfield peninsula, in Port Antonio, which is to undergo major rehabilitation.

Mayor of Port Antonio, Floyd Patterson, explained that the council was experiencing serious financial difficulties, though the organisation was still committed to completing the restoration of the Titchfield peninsula.

The development became very necessary with the construction of a 200-room hotel by businessman, Michael Lee Chin.

Approximately $40 million will be spent to upgrade the Titchfield area, including the erecting of a boardwalk and promenade, installation of street lights, resurfacing of the road and installation of new pipelines.

As well as asking for patience while the council tries to source money, Mayor Patterson also asked residents to tolerate the dumping of marl and gravel along the roadway.

So far, minor repairs have started along Fort George Street and Foreshore Road, and are to be extended to Queen Street and King Street as soon as funds are made available.

- Gareth Davis Sr

RADA to host greenhouse symposium

ST ANDREW:

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Caribbean Agri-business Association (CABA) will host the island's inaugural Greenhouse Technology Symposium on Monday under the theme, 'Getting it Right'.

State minister in the Ministry of Agriculture J.C. Hutchinson will be the guest speaker at the event, which is slated to commence at 8:00 a.m. at the Hilton Kingston hotel.

Board member of RADA, Stanley Rampair, explained that the event aired to sensitise persons about the use of greenhouse technology, and to inform those who are already involved in its use about the benefits, constraints and the possibilities.

He said the seminar would cover a wide range of topics, including greenhouse construction, the different crops that can be grown, the technology required, fertiliser, pest management and food safety, and international trade.

A number of local and international resource persons, who are involved in the construction and use of greenhouse technology, will be on hand to make presentations, as well as answer important questions.

- JIS

Permit parking a success

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Secretary/manager at the Manchester Parish Council, Winston Palmer, has said that the permit parking system, which was implemented in Mandeville some six months ago, has brought more order to the town.

Palmer said that the system, which operates from Ward Avenue to Manchester Road, was set up to address the problem of congestion, which inconvenienced pedestrians and restricted access to a number of businesses.

The secretary/manager explained that all the necessary regulations have been put in place to legitimise the system. Palmer also made sure to mention that failure to comply would result in vehicles being clamped and the cost to remove the clamp was $2,500.

The advantage of buying a ticket is that the motorist can spend about 10 minutes at one location and move to any number of permit locations during the life of that ticket.

- JIS

Mayor expects prompt start to hospital

PORTMORE, ST CATHERINE:

Mayor of Portmore Keith Hinds expects ground to be broken for the proposed Portmore Municipal Hospital soon.

The mayor said he has been advised that all the necessary provisions have been put in place for the start of the first phase of construction.

According to the mayor, approval is now being awaited from Cabinet for the acquisition of the land.

Pointing out that he had received assurances that funding was in place, the mayor indicated that the project would cost approximately US$200 million, with half of that sum needed for the first phase.

- JIS

Have a heart!

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine:

Guys Hill Primary School in St Catherine is missing one student on its roster. Kimiko Robinson cannot attend because of a heart condition.

The bright 11-year-old, who lives in the nearby Springfield Community, told Across The Nation she was not feeling good about herself because she could not go to school. According to the youngster, the difficulty lies in the fact that the slightest exertion exhausts her.

Robinson said her predicament has not changed since October 2007 and her favourite subjects, mathematics, English language and social studies, are suffering.

nothingness

In place of the excitement Kimiko says she has for learning is nothingness. All she does is sit at home, which she says has made her really sad.

"I want to be a nurse, but my heart needs a new valve and until I get the money, I will not be going to school. I wish someone would help me," she said with a smile across her face.

Her mother, Marlene Small, who ironically was just recovering from open-heart surgery, said her daughter, who is her third child, needs help urgently.

"We need about $150,000 to help with the airfare, as she is getting some help from Dr William Foster in Kingston, but we need to help ourselves somehow; it is really difficult and we cannot find it," said Small, desperation telling in her wavering voice.

Small went on to explain that the child's father, Cecil Robinson, is not in a position to help financially and that the family is crying out to the goodness of persons who can.

When Across The Nation contacted Dr William Foster, he said Kimiko is in need of urgent attention and open heart surgery was necessary. The doctor confirmed Kimiko's report on what needed to be done, saying that a physician in New Mexico could replace or correct the valve.

Dr Foster expressed the hope that Kimiko would get treatment to allow her to complete her education and live a normal life and build her future.