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LED STREET LIGHTS INSTALLED ALONG PALISADOES ROADWAY

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KINGSTON, Dec. 3 (JIS): Night-time visibility along the roadway between Rockfort and Port Royal in East Kingston has been significantly improved through the installation of retrofitted street lights along that corridor, at a cost of just over $5 million.

The project, being jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining; Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI); and Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), entails replacement of the high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps previously used, with energy-saving Light Emitting Diode (LED) versions, assembled by the CMI.
The LED lights are expected to yield upwards of 50 per cent savings in energy costs.

The lights were symbolically commissioned into service on Tuesday (December 2) during a ceremony along the Palisadoes Road.

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who was guest speaker, welcomed the project’s development and implementation, which he said resulted from a “meaningful” partnership.

“You have done this very well. This journey to conserve and to become more efficient users of energy is one that the entire country is on,” he stated.

The Minister pointed out that the Administration is undertaking a US$20 million project, through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), “where we are transforming the way we utilise electricity in the Government”, adding that “we are going to be using that as a model for the rest of the country.”

In addition, he highlighted a World Bank-funded US$4.5 million project, which will assist micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSME) to implement energy efficient solutions. These, he said, include energy audits “to look at areas where they need to do the transformation, and to fund the (options) that will result in greater conservation and energy efficiency.”

“So, we are on a mission,… that has been joined by the stakeholders in JPS, our partners at CMI and, we hope, now, the entire country, as we…pursue this major effort of energy conservation and efficiency and to make Jamaica a better place for us all,’
Mr. Paulwell said.

In his remarks, CMI Executive Director, Dr. Fritz Pinnock, also commended the stakeholder inputs, pointing out that the Institute is “here to make a difference in the communities.”

In her remarks, President and Chief Executive Officer of the JPS, Kelly Tomblin, said the entity is committed to developing sustainable energy solutions that will redound to the nation’s benefit.

“Tonight stands as a shining example that when we get together, we really can get something done,” she added.
Other speakers included: Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, who represented Mayor, Senator Councillor Angela Brown Burke; CMI Registrar,

Dr. Mark Broomfield; and JPS Director, Asset Management, Steve Dixon.
Installation of the street lights came under a project, which was piloted in 2013 and involved putting in 30 retrofitted lights along the Palisadoes Road at a cost of just under $1 million.

The retrofitting and assembling of the lights in the pilot phase were undertaken by engineers and technicians at the CMI, and residents of Port Royal and adjacent communities. Ten of the residents were also trained and certified as energy auditors by CMI.

The project was subsequently expanded to incorporate installation of another 200 LED lamps along Rockfort and Port Royal at a cost of approximately $5.1 million.

The expansion followed discussions involving Minister Paulwell, who is also Member of Parliament for the area, and the principals of CMI and JPS, and saw the latter entities signing a Memorandum of Understanding in August to facilitate the arrangement.

Just over 180 of the additional 200 lights have been installed, with the project slated for completion within the next few weeks.

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What’s at LJMMA? President explains snazzy equipment 

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – Situated on a Cay of its own, the LJM Maritime Academy (LJMMA) is the Bahamas’ only school of its kind and with sponsorships from Campbell Shipping, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Carnival Cruises, Disney Cruises, and more it boasts an extremely well-equipped campus. The Turks and Caicos Community College (TCICC) is now partnering with the LJMMA to bring those amenities to TCI students through TCICC.

Brendamae Cleare, President of the institution, joined in on a maritime stakeholder meeting introducing the partnership to the Turks and Caicos’ residents on Tuesday, March 21, detailing everything that the LJMMA had to offer.

“We have– classrooms, workshops, a bridge simulator room, a crane simulator, an engine simulator and we also have a GMDSS simulator and radar simulator as well,” she explained.

The simulator building was commissioned to the tune of $30 million and is only in phase one. Also included alongside the fancy simulators, which give students hands-on experience with the boat engines and cranes that they will work with in the future, there are temporary administrative offices, libraries, nurse’s stations and more.

Other buildings on the Cay include, a firefighting simulator and the school even has lifeboat simulators, which mimic what it would be like pushing the lifeboat off the side of a huge vessel and maneuvering it in the ocean.

The Maritime Academy was birthed in 2011 when executives at Campbell Shipping including Lowell J. Mortimer (which is the only Bahamian-owned shipping company Cleare says), realized that there were no Bahamians working on their ships and were determined to change that.

“We had the college of the Bahamas, which is now the University of the Bahamas. We had a technical and vocational institution. We had banking and tourism colleges, but nothing like maritime but [we said] why not maritime?”

And the LJMMA so was born, named after its founder Mortimer. In its first year, it fielded over 180 applications and accepted just over 40 students. It is semi-regimented, which means strict rules for students, just as they would have to abide by on vessels.

The institution is accredited by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of the Bahamas, the Bahamas Maritime Authority, the Institute of Materials, Minerals, Mining and others.

Cleare said the vision of the school was to become a globally recognized institution of excellence, in maritime education and training.

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Negril Benefits From Improvement Projects

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#MontegoBay, March 27, 2023 – The Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies have undertaken a variety of improvement projects, to enhance Negril’s standing as a tourist destination.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said since 2017, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has committed $465 million to projects in Negril, including road rehabilitation, beautification works, drain cleaning, renovation of the Negril Fire Station and the Hanover Parish Church.

“We can also include the purchase of an ambulance for the Negril Fire Station for use in the resort area, the upgrading of the main community centre and the installation of the popular Negril Jam-Iconic sign, just to name a few,” Mr. Bartlett stated.

The Minister was speaking at a Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy consultation meeting, held at the Negril Community Centre, Norman Manley Boulevard in Westmoreland on March 23.

Mr. Bartlett noted that the government is aware that there is still much work to be done particularly concerning the improper disposal of garbage, harassment, crime and violence, and non-compliance with rules, regulations, and licensing requirements.

“Be mindful however, that an enhanced Negril space is a collective responsibility and many of these issues are social, rather than economic and require a shift in the mindset of the people and businesses that reside in and benefit from the town’s tourism economy,” he stated.

Mr. Bartlett informed that the Ministry and its public bodies are willing to work with stakeholders to address “these issues and tackle Negril’s social, civic, and environmental concerns in a tangible way”.

He added that the Negril Destination Assurance Committee will be central to this process.

In the meantime, the Minister said Negril is an integral part of the tourism product, bringing in one-third of all tourism revenue and being the island’s second largest direct employer of tourism workers.

Mr. Bartlett stated that over the decades, Negril has become one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world, with its unique features, including the well-known seven mile stretch of beach.

“The ‘capital of casual’ is the place to do everything or nothing at all and leave knowing you have had a great trip,” Mr. Bartlett said.

Negril’s Seven-Mile Beach has been voted many times over as one of the best in the world, known for its dramatic sunsets, silky white sands, clear turquoise waters, and spontaneous island spirit.

 

Contact: Garwin Davis

Release: JIS

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JAMAICA: Loads Of Fun In Store For Coffee Festival Patrons

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#Kingston, March 27, 2023 – Lots of fun and exciting activities are in store for patrons attending the sixth annual Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival on Saturday (March 25) in Newcastle, St. Andrew.

Director, Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald Riley, told JIS News that the event will feature diverse coffee by-product displays, including candles, rubs, scrubs, and foods.

“We will [also] be having a mixology competition, which is coffee with an infused liquor, [and] we will be having barista competition, which is the different ways in which coffee is made,” she informed.

Mrs. McDonald Riley pointed out that the Coffee Festival will not be just about drinking the popular beverage.

“We have over 35 persons who will be showcasing different coffee products [in the Festival Marketplace],” she indicated, adding that there will also be a Kids Village for children to enjoy various fun-filled activities.

Mrs. McDonald Riley said another major highlight is the entertainment package, which will feature performances by Etana, DBurnz, the Silverbirds Steelpan Orchestra, and the Charles Town Maroons.

Persons attending the event are required to park at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) in Papine, and utilise the arranged shuttle service.

“We have some beautiful shuttle buses that will be taking you up in the hills, and we have tour operators. Once you take that shuttle bus, there will be excitement. The idea is that you’ll be given a tour by a certified tour guide, who will be able to tell you all of what’s happening in that area,” Mrs. McDonald Riley advised, adding that the journey will be an interesting 45 minutes.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.touchstonelink.com or from authorised ticket vendors, including Blue Brews Bistro, Rituals Coffee House, Starbucks, Cannon Ball Café, Café Blue, Island Coffees Café, and Deaf Can Coffee.

The prices are $5,000 for adults and $3,000 for children, 12 years and older.

 

 

Contact: Shanna K. Salmon

Release: JIS

 

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