Childcare group lauds Jamalco

MAY PEN, CLARENDON:

Tameka Casanova, children's officer for Clarendon with primary focus on foster care at the Childcare and Protection Agency, has commended Jamalco for introducing a mentorship programme to Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Clarendon.

Such a programme, Casanova explained, was beneficial as there was a lack of good role models in the society.

Casanova was addressing members of the Excellence Club at the school last Thursday. The club was born out of the Jamalco mentorship programme launched in October last year.

Turning her attention to the matter of abuse, she encouraged the student body not to hesitate to report cases of neglect, physical, emotional or mental abuse to the 1-888-PROTECT toll-free line.

- Angella Chin

Elderly man beats murder rap

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Sixty-year-old Derrick Lloyd of Cedar Grove district in Mandeville was freed of a murder charge on Tuesday during a session of the Circuit Court in Mandeville.

Lloyd was charged and convicted for the murder of a 15-year-old girl in 2002, after the girl was found dead in his house.

After his conviction, Lloyd, represented by attorneys Donald Gittens and Richard Small, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court and a retrial was ordered.

When the case came up for trial, Lloyd's attorneys filed a no-case submission. Presiding judge Donald McIntosh agreed with the defendant and the jury was instructed to return a not-guilty verdict.

- Angelo Laurence

Manchester adds to murder count

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Paul Cox, a 39-year-old man from Greenvale in Manchester, was shot and killed about 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

Reports are that Cox was gambling with a group of men when a dispute developed and he was shot several times.

Cox attempted to flee his attacker before he collapsed and died near the Winston Jones Highway in the vicinity of the Total Gas Station. This is the third murder in the parish since the start of the year.

Last year, the parish recorded 52 murders, of which 36 remain unsolved by the police.

- Angelo Laurence

Small loans available for fishermen

HOPE ROAD, ST ANDREW:

The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture is advising that a revolving loan of $50 million, administered by the National People's Co-operative Bank, is available to small fishers.

Fishers may use loans to retool, purchase additional equipment, boats, engines and other inputs. The repayment schedule is negotiable and is based on the circumstances of the individual.

Borrowers can have a maximum of $500,000 at an interest rate of 7.8 per cent. They will need to have equity of 20 per cent of the loan.

Fishers must be licensed with the Fisheries Division and have at least two years' relevant experience in the sector. A moratorium on payment is possible, such as in times of natural disasters, when beneficiaries may be unable to meet their payment.

- JIS

Samaritan comes to the aid of fire victim

PAPINE, ST ANDREW:

The road to recovery after losing everything to fire is nothing short of difficult, especially when there is an entire family to consider and no alternative places to live.

This has been the reality Corre Ford from Elletson Flats, Papine, St Andrew, has had to deal with after losing his house a little less than two weeks ago. The structure once housed 18 persons.

After watching his mother face a similar situation, businessman André Hylton couldn't help but extend some tangible assistance to Ford and his family.

"My mother suffered the same fate once and I totally understand what it means to lose everything to fire and the crisis that can occur as a result of this dilemma; losing your home, your personal documents and those things that have sentimental attachments," said Hylton.

In a recent visit to the family, in the presence of loved ones, concerned residents from Elletson Flats, and Glen Brown, president of the community's citizens' association, Hylton presented beds, groceries, a stove, a cylinder of gas, clothing, and school supplies to Ford and his family.

In response, Veronica 'Blackie' Grant, Ford's mother, expressed gratitude.

"Mi feel good seh someone still remember us," she said.

Ford also expressed thanks for the assistance he received, as he reminisced on his near-death experience.

"Bwoy, all I can say is that I glad I was around to save the youths on that night because I was on my way out to go to work. In the same breath, we appreciate the assistance weh we get," he said.

- LL