North & East

A young cop is leading them

ASP Haughton instructs police personnel under his command before releasing them for street duty. (PHOTO: RENAE DIXON)

YOUNG, dynamic, vibrant and enthusiastic are just a few words used to describe the youthful head of the Ocho Rios Police. At age 30, Assistant Superintendent of Police Throyville Haughton is the youngest police officer to head that division. With his love for policing and his dedication, many are ... Read More

Residents say the Johnson River contains sulphur which assists with healing wounds. St Thomas' best kept secret
WATERFALLS cascading several feet to the Johnson River in Hillside, St Thomas not only serve as a re ... Read More

Deborah Whyte, a resident of Hillside, St Thomas, points to her house which was twisted by a landslide in the community. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD) Hillside residents still worry when it rains
THE demolished houses still partially buried under mounds of sand are a constant reminder to residen ... Read More

PHOTO: Boscobel Primary Dance
Students of Boscobel Primary School in St Mary performing a dance piece during the recent Jamaica/Ko ... Read More

Three women and their farm!

BY RENAE DIXON Sunday Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, March 02, 2014    

The women work together on their Islington farm. (PHOTOS: RENAE DIXON)

AT a time when unemployment is on the rise and many are facing economic hardship, three St Mary women are ensuring that their family never goes hungry. Sisters Paulette Simmonds and Elmarita Simmonds Shaw, along with their cousin and retired postmistress Pauline Simmonds, have not only been carrying out regular domestic duties in the house as mothers and wives, but the women have been engaged in wide scale farming in their community of Islington, Central St Mary. The women say that they have n ... Read More

MP says clearing of land to blame for St Mary flooding

BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor - special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com | Monday, February 17, 2014    

A section of the road in Jacks River

MEMBER of Parliament for Central St Mary Dr Morais Guy has attributed last month's flooding in the parish, for which damage has been estimated at $200 million, largely to deforestation and a related blocking of the natural drains. To make his case, the MP pointed to the Otram and Pagee rivers which did not overflow their banks this time around, unlike an incident in 2012. "Most of the damage that occurred did not occur in the flat; it occurred in the hills, which led us to presume that a lot o ... Read More

The Good Samaritan

BY RENAE DIXON Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Monday, February 17, 2014    

Charles Simpson (right) with the assistance of Kevin Leighton (centre), issues boxes of food to the homeless in Ocho Rios last week. (PHOTO: RENAE DIXON)

For Charles Simpson, the season of giving lasts all year round, and as such, the street people in the St Ann resort town of Ocho Rios can expect to see the former homeless man bringing them meals at least once per day several times each week throughout the 12 months of the year. Simpson has been able to accomplish this with the help of several corporate citizens in the town. Four years ago when he started feeding the street people, Simpson single-handedly funded the initiative by selling his c ... Read More

'I am proud of myself'

BY RENAE DIXON Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Monday, February 17, 2014    

Yanique Mendez and friend Kemille Johnson at the Moneague College recently

Being confined to a wheelchair is no setback when it comes to academics for 17-year-old Yanique Mendez who is enrolled in the pre-university arts programme at Moneague College in St Ann. The famous quote from national hero Marcus Garvey, "Without self-confidence, you are twice defeated in the race of life", is what guides this confident teen who believes she can achieve her goals despite being physically challenged. With nine Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects under her belt, ... Read More

Delroy Pitt just loves being a porter

BY RENAE DIXON Sunday Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, February 09, 2014    

PITT... I love this job not just for the work, but I love to help people

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius DELROY Pitt landed the job as a porter out of a desperation to find work. However, he has grown to love what he does and continues to enjoy every bit of it... 35 years after he started. For many, going to work daily has become a routine in order to make money. For others, it is dedication to service. For Delroy Pitt, it is more than those ... it is his passion. He has seen many die and m ... Read More

Revivalism alive and well!

BY RENAE DIXON Sunday Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com | Sunday, February 09, 2014    

Bishop Clifford Cameron and wife, Rev Gillian Cameron ... the backbone of the Bethel Lighthouse Church. (PHOTOS: RENAE DIXON)

FLAGS are flown inside the building, water is placed in vessels on a table, olive oil is an active part of worship, so too are the drums. But according to Bishop Clifford Cameron, the denomination that he leads practises Christianity and not obeah as many are led to believe. "A revival church is a normal Christian denomination," he said. A pastor for over 20 years, Bishop Cameron said that revivalism is an authentic form of worship, which is attracting more youth than ever bef ... Read More

Rural Routes - Feb 3

Monday, February 03, 2014    

This man entertains himself and his friends with his guitar in St Thomas recently.

These three were seen riding this bicycle along Folly Road in Portland on Saturday This man does a balancing act as he transports this oversize pumpkin on his bicycle along the Dover main road in Portland. Year three students from the College of Agriculture, Science and Educationin Portland performing a skit entitled 'Do well in School' at the Fellowship Primary and Junior High School awards ceremony where they are doing their year three practicum. These children are a picture of perfectio ... Read More

Student incentives work well at Whitehall Primary

BY INGRID BROWN Associtae editor — special assignment browni@jamaicaobsrver.com | Monday, February 03, 2014    

Students of grade two and their teacher

A few years ago, students of Whitehall Primary School in St Thomas were labelled as rowdy and got into almost daily fights, but a staff initiative aimed at rewarding them for doing good deeds is helping to significantly curb behavioural problems and boost academic performance at the rural school. "When you come to the school you could drop a penny and hear it because of how quiet and orderly the students are," guidance counsellor Hazel Richardson told the Jamaica Observer North East. As a spin ... Read More

PHOTO: TOP ACHIEVERS

Monday, February 03, 2014    

Top achievers

Manager of First Caribbean International Bank Nellie Walker presents students of the Fellowship Primary and Junior High in Portland Kamau Stampp and Shaneil Ramnaught with the Principal's Award trophy for top achievers at the school's recent awards ceremony (Photo: Everard Owen) TOP ACHIEVERS --> Read More

Couples in Action group treats seniors

BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor — special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com | Monday, February 03, 2014    

Couples in Action group president Lucan Turner (right), assistant president Murlenia Whyte- Stephenson and public relations officer Otis Brown. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

The Hampton Court and Port Morant Circuit of Seventh-day Adventist Church in St Thomas have not only sought to meet the spiritual needs of its members, but also the physical, as was evident through a dinner reception held recently to honour several senior citizens. Some 38 senior citizens were treated to fine dining courtesy of the Couples in Action group, which is a ministry of the Family Life Department — a first for many of these rural folks. "We went all-out to ensure an elegant amb ... Read More



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