CUMI’s Trust fund now at $5 million

MONTEGO BAY, St James — A half-a-million donation from the National Housing Trust (NHT) has now pushed the CUMI/Paul Eldemire Trust Fund to a third of its $15-million goal.

The Trust, which began about six years ago from the funds donated at Eldemire’s funeral, is CUMI’s attempt at becoming self-sustainable.

Formed 11 years ago, the non-governmental group has made contact with more than 800 street people and has successfully rehabilitated almost half of that amount. It also cares for the children of the mentally ill, by providing them with happy homes and tending to their educational needs.

The Montego Bay-based institution gets by on the generous donations of individuals and businesses from as far afield as Kingston. The NHT donation comes on the heels of a similar cash injection, in April, from Digicel. Grateful for the donations of cash and kind over the years, CUMI administrators are appealing to the public to help it reach its trust fund goal of $15 million, which would provide enough of a cushion that would keep them from relying so heavily on the public.

Mandeville’s flooding problem gets attention

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The National Works Agency said it will soon be correcting the flooding problem that has been plaguing residents of Mandeville and its environs.

“Following rigorous investigations and testing, the decision was taken to implement corrective measures that will effectively deal with the problem. These measures include creating soak-aways and building retention areas especially in the low-lying areas of the affected communities,” the NWA said in a statement.

Already work has started on Confidence Avenue, the laying of four ft pipes to conduct water to the major sink-holes to alleviate flooding in this area.

Preliminary works should begin within the next four weeks at Greenvale, while drawings for Finley Avenue, Caledonia Avenue and Hanbury have been completed and are awaiting the results of further tests.

According to the NWA’s manager for technical services, Roger Smith, “prior to any future housing developments in these areas, there should be consultants with the technical department to minimise any negative impact that could arise from such activities”.

Cops get ready for Police Week

MAY PEN, Clarendon — Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in Clarendon will be staging several activities in celebration of Police Week, from November 24 to December 1.

The events will be held under the theme: “Police and Community in Partnership for a Safe Jamaica”.

Inspector of Police, Herold Newton who is co-ordinating the activities, told JIS News that the week would commence with a church service for the region of Manchester, Clarendon, and St Elizabeth at the St Mark’s Anglican Church in Mandeville, on November 24.

Christmas in New Kingston

KINGSTON — Digicel is this year’s major sponsor of the New Kingston Civic Association’s (NKCA) annual grand market and tree-lighting ceremony, entitled, “The Spirit of Christmas in New Kingston”, set for December 8.

Digicel’s promotions manager, Pamela Bunting said that Digicel would be going all out to ensure that this year’s ceremony would be one of the most exciting events staged during the Christmas season.

“Having our head office in the heart of the New Kingston business community allows us to identify more closely with the cause of the NKCA,” Bunting said. “That is to preserve the uniqueness of the New Kingston area while helping to make Christmas more enjoyable for our less fortunate brothers and sisters.”

Parish council says thanks

ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann — The St Ann Parish Council has written to the National Water Commission (NWC) expressing commendation and thanks for work undertaken by the NWC in the parish.

In a letter to the commission, secretary/manager of the council, Dorothy Delgado conveyed her appreciation for the work done on water supply tanks at Wilberforce, Green Hill, Welcome, Cuffie Ridge, Middlesex/Turnberry, Friendship and Murray Mountain in the parish.

The Catchment Tank Rehabilitation Programme is undertaken by NWC with funding provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“The construction of chlorination facilities is especially welcomed, as this aspect has been of concern to the Council. Please convey to your staff members and contractors our thanks for the expeditious manner in which the works were completed,” the letter said.

Diabetics urged to check eyes regularly

KINGSTON — Ophthalmologist Dr Donovan Calder has urged persons with diabetes to have their eyes checked regularly to prevent blindness.

He was speaking at a lunch-hour session held recently at the Ministry of Health’s offices in downtown Kingston under the theme, “Your eyes and diabetes: Don’t lose sight of the risks”. The session was part of activities to observe Diabetes Week from November 11 to 16.

Noting that diabetes was one of the leading causes of blindness among adults, Dr Calder said that persons with the chronic blood sugar disease needed to take more active roles in managing their health including having “timely screening” of the eyes.

“You need to know what is the best time to do the screenings and you achieve these by doing studies which will guide you and you need to intervene early. You don’t want to wait until the complication has set in and everything is bad,” he said.

The ophthalmologist noted that poor management of the disease could lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which is damage of the retina. Retinopathy does not occur in all people with diabetes, and rarely interferes with vision in the first 10 to 15 years of diabetes. The condition however, may lead to blindness.