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JAMAICA: Valentine McLean creates one-of-a-kind jewellery and accessories

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#Kingston, September 23, 2019 – Jamaica – For persons looking for unique, handcrafted jewellery and accessories ‘Koda Handmade’ is the perfect choice.  The business, operated by Valentine McLean, offers one-of-a kind pieces such as necklaces, rings, bracelets, handbags and other items, each beautifully crafted from natural materials such as wood, shells, animal bones, calabash, coconut, bullhorn, suede and leather.

Mr. McLean tells JIS News that he plans to use other materials, such as straw, to make bags.

“I am going into straw now. I am… collecting the material and then I will get somebody to weave the bag for me and I would line inside with fabric and then mix it with leather,” he says.

Detailing his creative journey, Mr. McLean says that he always had a passion for “doing things with my hands” and would often experiment with various designs.  I would go out and see things and say ‘I know I can do this and even do it better’, so I did a lot of experimenting,” he notes.

His says his grandmother and mother, who “used to knit and crochet,” inspired him to go into the business, and he decided to attend the Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, where he perfected his skills in jewellery-making.

Mr. McLean says that over the years, he has received a lot of support from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).  He tells JIS News that he obtained a grant from the agency a few years ago, which was used to purchase a set of jewellery pliers and a drill press.

Mr. McLean says that the drill press, used to cut holes into or through metal, wood, or other materials “made my work easier”.

“For me, the JBDC is playing a great role. They have helped me a lot. They are doing a great job,” he says.

Mr. McLean tells JIS News that one of his greatest passions is to pass on his knowledge and skills to others through training.

“If (JBDC) has a workshop going on, they will call me and I also assist in training persons in leather craft and jewellery making,” he notes.

He has also been invited by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to conduct workshops.

“I do a few training sessions too out of town. Wherever they send me, I just pack my stuff and go and train people how to work with, especially, calabash and coconut shell to make bags and jewellery. I love that part of it,” he adds.

Mr. McLean says he has seen a lot of interest in art and craft and would like to set up a facility where persons can access training and employment.

“My setback is when you finish training persons, that’s it. There is no follow-up to assist them, and that is why I want to do my own thing. I can train those people and after training them, if I get an order for some bags or some pieces of jewellery, I could use those people… and after a while if they want to branch off on their own, that’s fine” he notes.

“You will have more skilled people in the country than people who just learn something today and then that’s it,” he points out.

Persons interested in purchasing jewellery and accessories from Koda Handmade may contact Mr. McLean at (876)779-8874 or via email at valentine_mclean@yahoo.com.   He is also showcases his designs at Kingston Night Market, a weekly artisan popup market held on Tuesdays at 8 Hillcrest Avenue, St. Andrew.

By: Latonya Linton

Release: JIS

Photo Captions:

Header: Owner of Koda Handmade, Valentine McLean (right), along with his spouse and business partner, Deon Sinclair, display an array of accessories at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Expo 2019, held earlier this year at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. (Adrian Walker Photo)


1st insert: Handcrafted earrings by Valentine McLean of Koda Handmade.

2nd insert: Beautifully designed calabash bags made by Valentine McLean, Owner of Koda Handmade.

Contributed Photos

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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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