Agricultural show promotion drive

ANNOTTO BAY, Portland — The St Mary Agri-Expo Committee is currently spearheading a bumper sticker drive aimed at garnering public support for the show, which will be staged at the Gray’s Inn Sports Club in Annotto Bay from Sunday, March 31 to Monday, April 1.

Launched in Port Maria on January 26, the campaign will run until March 30. During the period, the committee will also be soliciting corporate sponsorship and encouraging young people to get involved in agriculture.

The expo, which is organised by the St Mary branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), will be held under the theme: ‘Linking Agriculture With Information Technology For Improved Marketing And Development’.

New ward at May Pen Hospital

MAY PEN, Clarendon — As a part of continuing efforts to improve health care services in Clarendon, a new ward was opened recently at the May Pen Hospital. This is to be complemented by the opening of another ward within the next three months and will bring the number of available wards to four.

Chief executive officer of the May Pen Hospital, Canute Thompson, said that the medical facility was well on its way to becoming a Type B hospital. The hospital’s present status is Type C.

Water system turned on

GREAT POND, St Ann — The Great Pond/Warwick Mount water supply system, constructed at an estimated cost of $20 million, was officially commissioned into service on Wednesday, January 30.

The project, designed to benefit 2,000 residents in both St Ann communities, started in March last year with the laying of 4,633 metres of 15 centimetre polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes from Milford Road to White River and 1,097 metres of 10 centimetres PVC pipes from the Warwick Mount/Great Pond intersection into the Warwick Mount community.

As part of the project, a pump station has been constructed at Warwick Mount, in preparation for the construction of a 113,000-litre storage tank.

Post office support group launched

YALLAHS, St Thomas — A group called The Friends of the Yallahs Post Office has been formed to monitor and promote the services being offered to that community by the local post office.

The official launching of the group took place recently at the Yallahs Baptist Church Hall, St Thomas. The group is made up of community members, including teachers, members of service organisations and returning residents.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, postmaster general, Dr Blossom O’Meally Nelson, said the group was part of an initiative of the Postal Corporation of Jamaica to involve communities in the monitoring of postal services. Another group is expected to be launched at Seafort in the parish soon.

“We want you to be our quality monitors, because this is not a one-way street. We want feedback from you as to the quality of service that you get from your post office. We want feedback from you as to what other services you want in your post office,” she stated.