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JAMAICA: Bamboo Factory for Hanover

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Montego Bay, May 28, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson, says an investor has expressed interest in opening a bamboo factory in the parish of Hanover.  He made the disclosure during his address at the Hanover Agricultural Show held at the Jockey Factory in Lucea on Saturday (May 25).

“This is the parish with the largest amount of bamboo. Bamboo is growing all over Hanover, and we want to ensure that something can be done about all of this bamboo that you have growing wild,” he said.

“There is an investor who is coming in who is looking to set up a business at one of your school [properties] which is now idle. They are going to be setting up a bamboo factory there. We are also going to have the expertise whereby we can have things constructed using bamboo,” he noted.

Minister Hutchinson outlined that bamboo can be used to make a wide array of small items as well as large infrastructure such as bridges and buildings.

“I recently went to China and I saw where they made bridges out of bamboo as well as bicycles, paper, towels and buildings. We want to produce all those items right here [in Jamaica],” he pointed out.

For his part, Custos of Hanover, Hon. Dr. David Stair, implored farmers to practise responsible agricultural techniques in order to preserve the environment.

“Gone are the days when we dug a yam hill and hoped for the best. All of us who farm will now have to understand the science behind it, so that we do not destroy the environment with our practices, including slash and burn and the indiscriminate use of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals. These not only harm the environment, but they lead to our own demise in the long-term,” the Custos said.

Dr. Stair further underscored the importance of the agriculture sector, noting that it is the foundation of the nation.

“If we are unable to feed our people, then we cannot have productive workers; if we are unable to grow food in Jamaica, we cannot benefit fully from our hotels getting tourists. We would just be another destination,” he noted.

“Every farmer, whether large or small, has to now farm smarter. Agriculture now has to, therefore, be reintegrated in a more meaningful way into our growth discussions. It is through shows like these and the coming together of all of the various subsectors in agriculture that we foster the discussions that will allow a more viable approach to our producing more, conserving more and improving lives,”  Dr. Stair argued.

The Hanover Agricultural Show was held in collaboration with the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Hanover Association of Branch Societies (HABS). Various agencies of government, as well as several farmers and business entities participated in the event.

The day’s activities included a stage show, farm queen competition and farmers’ competition.

The event was held under the theme ‘Agriculture: Producing more…Conserving more…improving lives’.

Contact: Serena Grant

Release: JIS

Photo Captions:

 3560 – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (centre), looks at a bottle of black castor oil manufactured by Cestan Hills Nature’s Beauty and Delight, while the entity’s owner, Madge Conliffe (left), explains the benefits of the product. Occasion was the Hanover Agricultural Show, which was held at the Jockey Factory in Lucea on Saturday (May 25). At right is Local Economic Development Coordinator at the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Hanover office, Kimberly Ashley.

3696 – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left), greets contestants in the Hanover Agricultural Show farm queen competition, at the event held at the Jockey Factory in Lucea, Hanover, on Saturday (May 25).

3756 – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. J.C. Hutchinson (left) discusses rabbit rearing with general agriculture student at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Shashel Ricketts. Occasion was the Hanover Agricultural Show held at the Jockey Factory in Lucea on Saturday (May 25).

Serena Grant Photos

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CARPHA Progresses to Eligibility for the First Disbursement of Pandemic Funding

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Following a landmark Public Signing Ceremony for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Technical Cooperation Agreement (“Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response” [RG-T4387] Project) on December 14, 2023, in Trinidad, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) continues to progress towards the start of implementation.

 CARPHA fulfilled the IDB’s nine conditions prior to first disbursement, achieving full eligibility on March 15, 2024, and is now eligible for the first disbursement. This milestone achievement in just 3 months after the signing speaks to the commitment of both CARPHA, the Executing Agency, and IDB, the Implementing Entity, toward the regional PF project with the objective of supporting the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) surveillance & early-warning systems (EWS), laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and in countries.

Since the signing of the Technical Cooperation Agreement and as part of the conditions prior to first disbursement, CARPHA has achieved the following key outputs (i) the development of the PF Project Operations Manual, Multi-annual Execution Plan, Procurement Plan, Financial Plan, Procedure for CARPHA’s Financial Reporting System; (ii) vacancy announcements for two tranches of consultants with the subsequent hiring of five (Technical Coordinator, Financial Specialist, Procurement Specialist, Operations Officer and Project Operations Coordinator) and (iii) the establishment of the Project Execution Unit (PEU) and Project Execution Steering Committee (PESC). The dedicated PEU will be responsible for execution according to its planned timelines, which will be led by the Dr. Lisa Indar, the Project Director (CARPHA’s Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control Division).

 CARPHA, as the lead regional public health agency and an expression of Caribbean Cooperation in Health is mandated by its Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to support its 26 CARPHA Member States (CMS) in bolstering national systems and coordinating regional response to public health threats. The Agency works closely with regional and international agencies and uses regional mechanisms, surveillance systems, and networks for coordinating its public health response work.

In July 2023, the PF Governing Board announced that CARPHA’s regional entity proposal, entitled ‘Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Strengthened Integrated Early Warning Surveillance, Laboratory Systems and Workforce Development’ was successfully selected for the first round of financing. It was one of only 19 proposals selected from over 300 submissions and the only regional project. The three priority areas in the proposal are: (i) Comprehensive disease surveillance and EWS, (ii) Laboratory systems and (iii) Human resources and public health and community workforce capacity.

This project is expected to begin implementation in March 2024, starting off with a blended onboarding session. A Stakeholder Meeting with countries is tentatively planned for July 2024.

CARPHA remains dedicated to working together with the IDB, CARPHA Member States and the Pandemic Fund to successfully implement the regional proposal geared toward reducing the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean.

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Men who had Murdered Man, Marley Higgs’ cell phone face Court

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Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

The prosecution intends to try two young North Caicos men, both age 21 for the offense of possession of property of a murdered man, property that was stolen and landed in their possession.

The phone belonged to Peureton ‘Marley’ Higgs, who is believed to have been an innocent gunned down at his apartment complex in the Glass Shack area in a spray of bullets on February 2 that killed another man and wounded two others, including a ten-year-old little girl.

The cell phone was described as white in colour, an iPhone, in a hard black case. 

On Monday, March 18th, JEFFVANO HANDFIELD of North Caicos pleaded not guilty to the offense, and the matter was adjourned to April 2024. He was granted bail in the matter.

A second North Caicos man was charged similarly.  

SARENO CAPELLAN aka, Kino Williams is the second individual brought before the court pertaining to the said cellphone. He appeared in court a week after JEFFVANO HANDFIELD, the date being Monday March 25th 2024.

The case for the Crown is that both men sometime in February of this year possessed the cellphone knowing or suspecting it to be stolen property.

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Supreme Court Closed for Easter

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NOTICE is hereby given that the Easter Recess shall commence on Friday 29th April, 2024 and end on Friday 5th April, 2024. During the Easter Recess Judge Selochan will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.

Court Business During the Easter Recess

A person who wishes to have a matter heard during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Judge deems it fit for urgent hearing.

Opening Hours During the Easter Holiday

The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for the first term is Thursday 28th March, 2024. The Court will officially resume sittings on Monday 8th April, 2024. The Supreme Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.

The Court Office will be closed on the following public holidays:

  • Friday 29th March, 2024 (Good Friday) CLOSED
  • Monday 1st April, 2024 (Easter Monday) CLOSED

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