Waterlane gets community centre

WATERLANE, Clarendon — A community centre constructed at a cost of $3.8 million was officially opened on July 12 in this district.

The facility, which was opened by Fitz Jackson, minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, was constructed under the Lift Up Jamaica programme. Some 35 young persons were employed during the construction phase.

The centre is equipped with bathroom facilities, a kitchen and office area, in addition to a large meeting room, which will house the Waterlane Basic School.

A skills training programme in food preparation is now being operated from the centre involving 22 young persons from Waterlane and surrounding communities.

The centre is also the meeting place for the community’s Police Youth Club, the netball group, the citizens’ association and other civic groups.

Miss Ja Festival Queen being crowned this weekend

KINGSTON — The search for the woman who will preside over the 40th anniversary Independence celebrations as the 2002 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen will come to an end this weekend.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will hold the finals of the annual pageant at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew on Saturday, July 20 when the 13 parish queens will display their talents, general knowledge and cultural awareness as they vie for the coveted title.

Parochial roads in Clarendon to be repaired

KINGSTON — Cabinet has approved two contracts valued at $39.8 million for the rehabilitation of 3.89 kilometres of parochial roads in Clarendon.

Information Minister Colin Campbell told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on Monday that the first contract would be done by SWC Woodwork and Construction Limited at a cost of $19.1 million.

The work will be carried out in Long Ground, Dawkins, Piece River, Wish Piece, Belmont and Cockspen Road.

Campbell said the second contract, to cost $20.7 million, has been awarded to Alcar Construction Company. Under this contract roads to be repaired include Gravel Hill, Top Hill, Savanna Cross, Palmetto Pen, Bucknor Road, Longwood, Content and Brixton Hill.

Denbigh Agricultural Show reaches milestone

MAY PEN, Clarendon — The annual Denbigh Agricultural Show will this year mark its 50th anniversary and will be held under the theme, ‘Meeting the Global Challenge through Technology in Agriculture’

The event, which attracts thousands of Jamaicans from all walks of life, will be staged August 4 to 6 at its usual home — the Denbigh Show grounds in Clarendon.

Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, speaking at Tuesday’s launch of the event, described the show as an important mechanism for promoting the agricultural sector.

“Many people don’t understand what is happening in Jamaica’s agriculture, people have just been taking agriculture for granted,” he argued.

Clarke said the Jamaica Agricultural Society and the 4-H Club had been working with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that people were aware of the work being done in the sector. The Denbigh Show, he said, was the best way to achieve this.