JG - Embrace Alemanni's 'tough love'

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Embrace Alemanni's 'tough love'

Published: Saturday May 8, 2010 Comments 0

The Editor, Sir:

I wish to commend the citizens of Maverley and EU for agreeing to and embracing a bold step to developing their community. I would further commend the head of the EU delegation for resisting any temptation to show 'soft love' to a community that needs encouragement to be bold in solving its problems.

Read the whole letter here.

Snippet(s):

"Regarding the sending of the message to the 'big men', the culture on the ground suggests that a message from a white foreigner gets a very high level of consideration among the 'big men' than if it were from our own. This might be due to credibility problems that we have created, as well as the superstar perception from television, or even the effect of slavery."

&

"The 'tough love' by Mr Alemmani of the EU is not a new approach to effecting change in these communities. It is the language that they speak and respect. I do hope that this is an approach that our local leaders (at all levels) will consider and embrace."

_____

I am, etc.,

HERMON EDMONSON
hermonc64@yahoo.com
Old Harbour, St Catherine

JO - Scrap metal dealer's licence reinstated

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Scrap metal dealer's licence reinstated

Sunday, March 07, 2010

THE licence of scrap metal dealer St Catherine Recycling Limited has recently been reinstated following suspension in January by the Industry, Investment and Commerce Ministry.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The company's licence was suspended after authorities said it was found with 556 water meters. The company, however, raised an objection to the suspension, saying that it could explain how it came by the meters."

"Joshua Thomas, managing director of St Catherine Recycling, explained that the company had bought the meters from someone on whom it thought it could rely after 30 previous successful transactions without any question of impropriety."

"Samuda bemoaned the fact that the country's infrastructure was being "whittled away" by elements in the scrap metal industry, and said it could not be allowed to continue."

&

"Items such as manhole covers, railway tracks and bridge rails were also being stolen to meet increased demand abroad."

JO - Jamaica to grow rice in St Catherine, St Elizabeth

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Jamaica to grow rice in St Catherine, St Elizabeth

BY MARK CUMMINGS
Observer senior reporter
cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, June 29, 2008

MONTEGO BAY, St James - Jamaica will this week begin the cultivation of 12 varieties of rice on 20 acres of lands in St Catherine and St Elizabeth on an experimental basis, in a bid to ascertain the variety best suited to be grown in the island.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"According to the agriculture minister, roughly 15 acres of the crop will be grown at BRUMDEC and Bouges in St Elizabeth, while the remainder is to be cultivated at Amity Hall in St Catherine.

The varieties being experimented with - which include 'sybonnet' from the USA and 'prosequisa' from Venezuela - are expected to yield between seven and 11 metric tonnes per acre.

The island has produced rice in fairly substantial quantities at various times in its history.

The crop has been historically grown in Westmoreland, St Catherine and St Elizabeth."

"(T)he yield from the varieties grown at that time, raged from four to six metric tonnes per acre.

The development of rice farming in those days, however, was inhibited by several constraints, mainly, the lack of an efficient rice-drying and milling facility."

"(T)he move to re-establish the cultivation of rice comes against the background of spiralling food prices and food security concerns."

&

"The Ministry of Agriculture has projected that within the next 12 months at least 5,000 acres of rice would be under cultivation."