MAY PEN, CLARENDON:

Some two hundred residents and farmers from McGilchrist Palm, Clarendon are set to benefit from an improved source of irrigated water.

Jamalco handed over two water-pumping stations to the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) at the latter's head office in Kingston recently.

Jamalco's lands superintendent Evon Williams presented the keys for the McGilchrist Palm pumping station and the Toll Gate re-lift station, to the NIC's chief executive officer Stanley Rampair.

Jamalco constructed the facilities and installed equipment in 2003 as part of its development of the McGilchrist Palm sub-division for the resettlement of persons whose lands were being mined for bauxite.

McGilchrist Palm comprises a mix of farming and residential lots. The two stations are part of the NIC's Mid-Clarendon Irrigation System and will also allow for improved service to farms in the Prospect community.

- AC

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:

Mile Gully High School, in Manchester, has received eight computers from the charity organisation, Food For the Poor.

Making the presentation at the school, Marcia Hall-Walker, manager for the Education and Social Outreach Programme at Food For the Poor, said the organisation decided to contribute to the school's 10th anniversary with items that would enhance the learning environment there.

Expressing gratitude for the computers, Careba Salmon, president of the Mile Gully High Students' Council, said the gift would be helpful to the students, as more of her peers would have easier access comouters.

The computers were handed over to Ulit Brackett, principal of Mile Gully.

The school has a population of 677 students, and 32 teachers.

- JIS

MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER

Auchtembeddie All-Age School walked away with two prizes in the northwest Manchester Schools Essay Competition, held at the Mile Gully High School, last Friday.

The school placed first in the grade six category, and second in the grade five category.

First place winner, Davia Davy, said the competition, which required students to write essays highlighting the history and important features of their school community, was an experience that "has motivated me to work harder at my school work, and encourage other students to enter the competition."

Grade six teacher at the school, Nadine Nembhard, said the team had one week to prepare the essays.

Jennifer Morgan, principal of Mile Gully Primary School, said the competition sought to unearth the history and culture of the communities in which the schools were located.

Mile Gully Primary placed first in the grade five category and third in grade six. Fourteen schools participated in the competition.

- JIS