Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Farmers Benefiting from JBI Greenhouse Project
#Mandeville, February 23, 2019 – Jamaica – Twenty farmers from Content in Manchester are getting ready to reap sweet peppers and tomatoes from their greenhouses.
They are part of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Water Harvesting and Greenhouse Project that has been operating in eight communities across the island since 2013. The project aims to provide sustainable livelihoods for residents of mined-out communities.
Marjorita Isaacs is the only woman in the project, and she is growing sweet peppers.
“This is my second crop and I now have my full quota,” she told JIS News.
From a farming family, Ms. Isaacs says her parents were Irish potato growers, so farming is in her blood. She said she prefers greenhouse to outdoor farming, when heavy rainfall affects her crops.
Another farmer, Raymond King, has been in greenhouse farming for four years.“I love it because when you have problems outside, you don’t have them inside and it pays better. When you are outside, you have one crop, but inside you can pick several for one year straight,” he said.
Mr. King said even when it is raining, he can still be working, and he has a steady, reliable market for his crops, including yam and sweet potato.
For her part, Dianne Gordon, a Director of bauxite lands at the JBI who has been with the Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP) for some 21 years, said the project was conceptualised in collaboration with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) to fulfil the mantra ‘Life after bauxite’.
“You can have production and life long after the mining is finished. Content is a living example of that. This area was mined in the 1960s and we started in 2018,” she noted.
Ms. Gordon said JSIF and JBI got together, along with RADA, in 2013 and put the project together.
The farmers in Content occupy 20 greenhouses. There are seven other locations with 160 farmers, namely, Nine Miles, Tobolski, Watt Town and Clapham, in St. Ann; Blue Mountain and Rose Hill, in Manchester and Myersville, in St. Elizbeth.
“The beauty of the project is that mined-out pits are converted into water-harvesting ponds using a solar water pump to take the water to temporary storage tanks, and [it is] fed to the greenhouses using the gravity method. This helps farmers to plant whether there is drought or not,” she said.
Contact: Barbara Ellington
Release: JIS
Photo Caption: Farmer, Raymond King, examines peppers in his greenhouse located in Content, Manchester, during a tour of the farm by Executives of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), recently.
JIS photo
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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