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Five-minute feature on acts of kindness by local or overseas based non-government individuals and organisations that have benefitted Jamaicans.
Written and produced by the Radio Department of the Jamaica Information Service
News for Week of December 11, 2022
We are here to inspire, motivate and uplift.
OCT-DEC 2022
Drones to help tackle crime in St Elizabeth
Residents and other stakeholders in St. Elizabeth are being assured by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that plans and strategies have been developed to better police the division.
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This, against the background of the parish recording an uptick in most major crimes, to date, this year compared to the corresponding period in 2021, said Commanding Officer Superintendent Kenneth Chin.
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Superintendent Chin said it is imperative that the St. Elizabeth police maintain a strong presence in public spaces, particularly over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. He indicated that this and other efforts to combat crime will be bolstered with the use of two drones, which the Division recently received.
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MAY-JUN 2022
Be smart when shopping this holiday season
Consumers are urged to “be smart” in their approach as they go shopping this Christmas season.
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“We encourage our consumers that while we shop, we have a balance, that we be smart in our approach,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), Dolsie Allen. We know there are many different products on the market [and] many different offerings; we see the advertisements.
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She pointed out that consumers may see offers from the financial sector, such as “lower interest rate, pay later”. However, they are being advised to “do the maths before entering into those types of arrangements”.
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The CEO added that while consumers may be excited to go out and shop this year as opposed to the previous years when there were restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, they must first remember to do their planning.
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“You must do your budget. We may find ourselves with additional funds, but it is very important that we plan nonetheless,” she said.
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$41 million booked for Westmoreland roads
Significant rehabilitation work will be undertaken on the Beckford Lodge Road in Westmoreland at a cost of $41 million. The project is slated to be undertaken over four months from January to April 2023.
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Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie signed the contract with Managing Director of Wadmar Construction Limited Mark Knight in Kingston on Wednesday, December 7.
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Roughly 1.9 kilometres length of roadway will be fully rehabilitated with new base and wearing surface comprised of asphaltic concrete and surface dressing. Drainage features, including curbs and channels, have been incorporated in the design to facilitate surface water run-off.
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The contract will be implemented and supervised by the Ministry and the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation.
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“All the materials that will be used on the roads will be subjected to testing and can only come from an approved source,” Minister McKenzie said, noting that this will assist in verifying the quality of the material.
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He said that an annual maintenance programme will be put in place to preserve the integrity of the road.
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Tufton salutes nurses under ‘CODE CARE’
Jamaica’s backlog of elective surgeries has just been reduced by 20, thanks to a batch of nurses from the United States who worked alongside local surgeons at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, under Government’s ‘CODE CARE’ programme.
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The 12-month special initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, aims at clearing the backlog of elective surgeries in the island’s hospitals due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and reduce wait time.
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This is to be achieved through public-private partnerships, procurement of surgical equipment, nursing missions, project management and the rehabilitation of operating theatres at some public hospitals.
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The team of six nurses, four of whom are of Jamaican descent, represented the first mission under the project and spent a week at the Type C hospital conducting surgeries relating to cataracts, oral cancer, sinus cancers, thyroid and more.
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Last week members of the team women were recognized for their service by Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in St. James.
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“Today represents for us another significant milestone under the CODE CARE programme, with this one being a pioneer, said Tufton. “You (nurses) are the trendsetters; you are the exemplary group; you are the ones that we want to benchmark against, and you are the ones who we want to show the virtues of the programme, to explain and give testimonials about your experience.”
Chapelton Community Hospital back in service
Thousands of residents of Chapelton and surrounding areas in Clarendon are benefitting from improved access to health services following the renovation of the Chapelton Community Hospital at a cost of $309 million.
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The project was undertaken through funding by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund; Jamaican businesswoman/philanthropist, Beverly Nichols; and the National Health Fund (NHF).
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It included extensive rehabilitation of the main building with the termite-damaged timber flooring replaced with a sustainable concrete solution; putting in new structural walls and a new roof; construction of an ambulance bay; upgrading of a ramp to allow for stretcher access; restoration of the minor operating theatre; installation of medical gas and a fire detection and alarm system; and electrical works.
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In addition, there was upgrading of plumbing to provide adequate water pressure to the building, inclusive of a pressure tank, pump, and concrete pump house; and the construction of a rubble stone retaining wall, guard house and garbage skip.
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The facility now boasts a new 20-bed ward (the Beverly Nichols pavilion); a new pharmacy, laundry department, linen room, and staff lunchroom; expanded food service department; additional parking and driveway; and is equipped with a standby generator system.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that the hospital will serve communities such as Summerfield, Thompson Town, Mocho, Frankfield, Effort, Smithville, Blackwoods, and others within a 20-mile radius.
Ending the austerity pandemic
By Isabel Ortiz and Matthew Cummins
NEW YORK – The world is confronting multiple, compounding crises, from COVID-19, energy, inflation, debt, and climate shocks to unaffordable living costs and political instability. The need for ambitious action cannot be greater.
However, the return of failed policies such as austerity, now called “fiscal restraint” or “fiscal consolidation,” and a lack of effective taxation and debt-reduction initiatives threaten to exacerbate the macroeconomic instability and daily hardships that billions of people are facing. Unless policymakers change course, an “austerity pandemic” will make global economic recovery even more difficult.
