Mayor of Falmouth, Colin Gager, told JIS News that the volume of development the project will bring to the town of Falmouth will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the economy of the town and by extension, the entire parish.
The mayor urged residents of the town, especially young people, to develop an interest in the project, and to grasp every opportunity for training in order to access the job opportunities created by the development.
preparations necessary
Gager also advised the police, health department personnel, representatives of the agricultural sector and the business community, to do the necessary preparations in order to capitalise on this "grand economic opportunity".
President of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Seivewright, said the entire business community was looking forward to the project with "great anticipation".
Seivewright also encouraged citizens to prepare themselves so as to exploit the opportunities that will present themselves.
The preliminary works, which started last week, include the demolition of some structures and removal of debris and the construction of a new fisherman's beach to facilitate the relocation of the existing facility.
Construction works are expected to begin within a matter of weeks and should be completed by June 2010, after which the wharf will receive one of the world's largest cruise ships Genesis of the Sea.
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New loans open to Portlanders
BOSTON, PORTLAND:
Benefits available through the People's Co-operative Bank (PCB) and the Portland Cooperative Credit Union were extensively discussed at a community meeting sponsored by the Port Antonio Regional Office of the Jamaica Information Service, at the Boston Community Centre on February 5.
The meeting sensitised residents of Boston and surrounding communities about how to access membership in financial institutions and the types of financial assistance they could access by virtue of their affiliation to the institutions.
meet financial needs
Manager of the Buff Bay PCB, Kingsley Davis, said the organisation's aim was to take care of the financial needs of people in the communities in which they were located.
Davis pointed out that the bank had changed its lending policy from providing loans for agricultural ventures only to making financial assistance available to members for a number of other purposes.
Those purposes, he explained, included the purchase of motor vehicles, furniture and other household items, the establishment of business ventures and addressing special personal needs with which members were confronted from time to time.
He said that the core business of the PCB was taking savings and providing loans for customers. The loan packages attract the lowest interest rates among financial institutions and interest is paid on savings four times per year.
loans insured
Collateral accepted by the PCB for loan disbursement, include land and motor vehicle titles and life insurance policies. According to Davis, every loan has to be insured, except in cases where they were supplied to persons over 70 years old.
In his remarks, Martin Blackwood, manager of the Portland Co-operative Credit Union, spoke about the various loan packages offered by the Portland Co-operative Credit Union.
Some of the major offerings are the Partner Plan, the Christmas Savings Club, the Senior Citizens Savings Plan and the regular savings plan.
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Guava Ground sees first light
GUAVA GROUND, CLARENDON:
Residents of Guava Ground, Clarendon are happier now that electricity has been turned on in their area.
The first set of street lights were turned on in the area, on February 5, under the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) through which 16 households will also be provided with electricity.
State minister in the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications, Laurence Broderick, pointed out that there were other communities in Clarendon that were without electricity, but assured that plans were in progress to bring change to them.
Meanwhile, Garfield Williams, a resident, said he was happy for the electricity.
major experience
James McLean, another resident, said he had been living in Guava Ground for some 70 years and the commissioning of the street lights was a major experience for him.
The REP was formed in 1975 by the Government to bring electricity to all rural communities throughout the island.
Since the beginning of the programme, Clarendon has benefited tremendously, as approximately 533 kilometres of distribution lines have been built and 7,000 houses wired.
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CDA calls for more foster parents
MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:
The Child Development Agency (CDA) is appealing to persons to open their homes to children eight years and under who need the care of foster families.
Making the call on February 8 at a national church service, held at the Ridgemount United Church, in Mandeville, Manchester, to mark Foster Care Week, Allison Anderson, chief executive officer of the CDA, said foster parenting would make a marked difference in the lives of over 350 children.
attract more persons
She added that if the CDA was going to realise its objective of significantly reducing the number of children in residential care on the basis that the family is the preferred environment for raising children, it was essential that the programme attract more persons.
The CDA also commended the support given to the foster-care programme by religious institutions.
Foster Care Week ends today and persons between 25 and 65 years of age can be foster parents.
- JIS