SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:

Dian Harrison-Holland, a 30-year veteran at the Jamaica Tourist Board, gave students and staff at the Doris Easy Basic School in Spaldings, Clarendon, a well-needed Christmas gift on Sunday.

The gift, a US$ 500 cheque, was presented to Pamela Jones, principal of the institution, at a service at the Spaldings United Church on Sunday.

The JTB's California-based business development manager, with responsibility for promoting Jamaica in the 13 west coast states, said the funds were to replace the school's water tank.

Harrison-Holland, who was actively trying to source the funds, was given the donation by The Northern California chapter of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, which has responsibility for promoting the Caribbean as a tourist destination.

Jones thanked Harrison-Holland and her organisation for being mindful of the school's need.

- George Henry

Festival queen launches literacy programme

GRANGE HILL, WESTMORELAND:

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Miss Jamaica Festival Queen, Katrina Grant, on Monday launched an adult literacy programme in Grange Hill, Westmoreland.

The programme, the brainchild of the festival queen, who saw the need to support second chances in education, is guided under the I Can Foundation.

"The adult literacy programme will lead to the eradication of social ills," she said, while outlining details of the programme.

Classes began on November 11 with 18 registered students.

According to Grant, the growth of the programme will demand more volunteers and computers.

Currently, there is just one volunteer, her mother Delores Grant, who is a grade-one teacher at Grange Hill Primary School and one laptop, donated by The Westmoreland Co-operative Credit Union.

The programme is done in collaboration with JCDC and the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning.

- Dalton Laing

May Pen turns crime capital

MAY PEN, CLARENDON:

The May Pen police district has said the crime spike in Clarendon since the start of the year is for the most part isolated in the parish's capital.

These cases of crime include murders, shootings, rapes and robberies.

Areas within the May Pen police district of the most concern are hot spots like Bucknor, Sevens Heights, Rectory Road, Bucks Common, Effortville, Farm, Webb Lane, Palmer's Cross, Juno Crescent and Canaan Heights.

Addressing a recent Police Civilian Oversight Authority Public Forum at the Versalles Hotel in May Pen, Clarendon, Crime Chief Dayton Henry revealed alarming crime statistics.

There have been 158 murders in the parish since the start of the year and of this number, the May Pen police district accounted for 69.

One hundred and twenty-seven shooting incidents have taken place with May Pen also accounting for 69. Of the 48 cases of rape in Clarendon, 28 have occurred in May Pen. There have been 116 robberies in May Pen out of a total of 196 in the parish.

The crime chief went on to highlight a number of measures he would be embarking on.

- Dwight Nelson