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Measures being undertaken to improve access to water for residence of Clarendon

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#Jamaica, October 5, 2017 – Kingston – Several development projects and strategies are being undertaken by agencies of Government and the Clarendon Municipal Corporation to improve access to water for the 246,000 citizens of the parish.  Less than two months ago, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, commissioned the Palmetto Pen/Breadnut Bottom/Rosewell Water Supply Project into service, bringing the commodity into some homes for the first time in 30 years.

A joint venture between the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), the project was completed at a cost of $38 million, representing savings of $12 million to the NWC on the original cost.  The works involved installation of 3.4 kilometres of pipelines, service laterals and reinstatement of pipeline trenches.

The RWSL, which has been mandated to provide water solutions to communities not covered by the NWC, is constructing a pump station, which will form part of the Southern Clarendon Water Supply Scheme Phase 2, and will serve the communities of Portland Cottage, Shearer Heights and much of Lionel Town.   Director of the RWSL, Audley Thompson, says the pump station is slated for completion during the current financial year.

Phase one of the project included rehabilitation of an existing pumping station as well as the installation of two new vertical turbine pumps, fencing, operators’ amenities and a pumping main.   The supply scheme was designed to serve approximately 17,000 residents, and provisions were made to serve an additional 5,000 residents, in the event of a population growth.   The Managing Director further points to the development of a well in the New Bowens area, which, he notes, allows for service to the nearby Longville Park housing scheme.

In the meantime, the Clarendon Municipal Corporation is looking to find more sustainable methods to address the parish’s water problems by identifying and developing as many community-based sources as possible.   These sources, which include springs and rivers, will have to be assessed by experts from the NWC and RWSL to determine their viability.

Mayor of May Pen, Winston Maragh, says two potential water sources have been identified in Frankfield and Brandon Hill.

“We are going to make sure that the people of Brandon Hill and surrounding communities get water from the sources,” he assures.

Mayor Maragh notes, further, that the Corporation is “far advanced” in sourcing funds for a water project in Thompson Town that will serve over 300 residents.  Meanwhile, more than 1,000 persons from Pennants are to benefit from a $10-million water shop.

The complex, which comprises eight 1,000-gallon water tanks plus administrative offices, is set to open shortly, providing residents with reliable access to water.   Persons will receive three months’ free service, after which a cost will apply.   The facility has capacity for development to serve more than 5,000 persons.

The water-shop concept will see facilities being established island-wide to dramatically improve the availability of potable water for residents in communities and regions of the island usually affected by drought.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, says the provision of potable water is part of a “critical mission” being pursued by the Administration under instructions from the Prime Minister.   He informs that funding is being finalised in order to bring the commodity to all Jamaicans, including those in remote sections of the island.

“We will move access to potable water from 55 per cent to near 85 per cent. All Jamaica will have good quality water supply,” the Minister says, noting that in some communities, water-harvesting systems will have to be utilized.

Minster Chang is urging the residents of Rosewell to “make every effort to protect the system”, noting that while the water agencies have a responsibility for management, “the citizens have a responsibility to ensure that it is treated well”.

Under the Palmetto Pen/Breadnut Bottom/Rosewell Water Supply project, the Rosewell Primary School benefited from a new drinking/hand-wash station, and refurbishing of its sanitary facilities.

By: Garfield L. Angus

 

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Caribbean News

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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Caribbean News

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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Caribbean News

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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