Grief counselling is to continue this week for staff at the Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary following the motor vehicle accident which claimed the life of 36-year-old Nigerian doctor Etti died when the car in which he was a passenger plunged over a precipice Monday morning after the driver reportedly swerved to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle The vehicle was carrying three other doctors who were also injured in the incident Senior medical officer at the Annotto Bay Hospital Dr Glenton Strachan said that Etti had been working in the internal medicine department since March and that during that time Etti displayed professionalism and commitment towards his work "Grief counselling has started and will continue over the week to guide us through this difficult time,” Strachan said Strachan pointed out that the three surviving doctors are in good physical health The three doctors are assigned to the obstetric Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd Jamaica–In a high-energy showdown at the Westmoreland Oval the St Mary Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB) hosted the much-anticipated police vs taxi men football match—an electrifying display of skill which featured the commander for the division gave a determined performance as both sides battled fiercely through two intense halves the taxi men clinched victory with a 4-2 win This spirited match was more than just a game; it was an extension of the PREVENT (Partnership for Reconciliation and Violence Elimination Now and Tomorrow) initiative—an ongoing effort to restore peace and strengthen community bonds within the Annotto Bay Police area and its surroundings A vast number of supporters from the community came out in unity the real victory was the sense of togetherness and goodwill fostered through the event taxi men football clash unites Annotto Bay community The North-East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) is advising the public that the operating theatre at the Annotto Bay Hospital will be temporarily closed for 30 days to accommodate maintenance works the temporary closure will take effect on March 17 as the maintenance interventions and critical renovation works are necessary at this time NERHA said that the temporary closure is necessary to improve the functionality of the operating theatre to ensure the highest standard of care for patients and to enhance employees’ work environment The statement said that during the period of the closure alternative arrangements have been made at the Port Maria Hospital in the parish and also the Port Antonio Hospital in Portland to accommodate operating theatre services Among the services to be conducted elsewhere are obstetric emergencies and elective surgeries at Port Maria Hospital and general surgery emergencies and elective surgery cases at Port Antonio Hospital NERHA said that critical surgical case requiring specialised care will continue to be referred to the St Ann's Bay Regional and other hospitals as necessary "We assure the public that we prioritise our clients' and employees' well-being and care while strengthening our facility which is geared towards enhancing healthcare service delivery," the statement concluded View the discussion thread. Site of one of the roadblocks mounted by protesting residents St Mary — Annotto Bay Hospital is now in a better position to care for patients with respiratory illnesses after receiving a donation of equipment used for liquid oxygen Through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Wellness along with Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) the State-run medical facility has been outfitted with infrastructure for a 4,000-gallon supply of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) The August 9 donation made the hospital the second one in the island to receive this type of infrastructure Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) was the first in 2022 Board chairman for the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) Laura Herron thanked stakeholders for the donation which was vital to the hospital’s ability to operate “This signifies our preparedness to swiftly and effectively support patients who are in need of respiratory attention as the need was proven during COVID-19,” Herron said The same sentiment was expressed by NERHA Technical Director Dr Patrick Wheatle “I must say this is a huge help towards the need for oxygen It was frustrating during COVID-19 as calls would be made to the suppliers and there’s no answer and [it was the] same back and forth with the hospitals to see where their oxygen level is; so this is welcome,” he said Dr Wheatle anticipates the donation will make things a lot easier for all stakeholders involved Associate director of EpiC Sue-Anne Wallace-Brown noted that the donated equipment was accompanied by training and technical assistance for selected staff members She stressed the significance of Jamaica — one of 26 countries considered for the donation — benefiting from the initiative to improve their efficiency in how oxygen is supplied and delivered to patients,” said Wallace-Brown The liquid medical oxygen has been placed on wards that house patients in need of respiratory care are under a curfew as part of the police's ongoing efforts to address increased criminal activity and enhance public safety said that the decision to impose the curfew follows recent incidents of violence and gang-related activities threatening the peace of the area "The curfew aims to restore order and ensure the safety and well-being of residents," he stated East: Along an imaginary line from Point A located near the Paulwell Texaco gas station extending to Point B near the entrance to Marking Stone Beach South: Along an imaginary line from Point B near the entrance to Marking Stone Beach continuing to a section of the Gibraltar Housing Scheme North: Along an imaginary line from Point C following a path through a section of Ross Drive in Gibraltar Housing Scheme returning to Point A at the Paulwell Texaco gas station all residents are required to remain indoors unless otherwise authorised by law enforcement officials “Police personnel will be strategically deployed to ensure full compliance the operation will be carried out with full regard for human rights He encouraged residents to cooperate with officers to achieve a safe and peaceful community Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. Jamaica — A 61-year-old farmer from Enfield while visiting his girlfriend in Iterboreale The incident took place around 7:15 pm while the deceased was reportedly sitting in the yard It is alleged that a silver Toyota Axio motor car stopped at the gate The gunmen then reportedly opened fire hitting him in his left shoulder before escaping in the waiting motorcar Lumley was taken to the Annotto Bay hospital where he was pronounced dead It is believed that Lumley’s murder is as a result of gang violence in the area there have been 24 murders in the Annotto Bay Division since the start of the year four murders are still a cause for concern,” new commanding officer for the parish Deputy Superintendent Wallace told Observer Online A truck driver was killed following a crash along the Orange Bay main road in Portland on Tuesday Police sources said that a trailer truck driven by the now deceased slammed into a commercial building at Wharf Lane in Orange Bay about 10:55 a.m which was reportedly travelling at a high speed failed to negotiate a corner at Wharf Lane and the driver lost control and slammed into the building before overturning The driver was cut from the mangled vehicle and was pronounced dead on the spot by a doctor who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident was rushed to the Annotto Bay hospital in an unconscious state View the discussion thread. OPPOSITION spokesman on health Dr Alfred Dawes has called on the Government to take immediate steps to improve conditions at Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary “I am disappointed and quite frankly and hurt [that] this hospital which used to be the beacon of advanced surgery in Jamaica has been allowed to deteriorate to the point where they can no longer care for surgical patients the way they used to 10 years ago,” Dawes said during a tour of the hospital with the People’s National Party’s (PNP) caretaker for St Mary South Eastern Christopher Brown and Councillor Levan Freeman (PNP Dawes pointed out that the hospital was once a training ground for doctors who did laparoscopic surgeries “This hospital used to be a mecca for young surgeons We came here and we were able to share experiences…and this hospital used to have one of the highest rates for laparoscopy surgeries,” added Dawes He charged that the surgical team at the hospital has been cut and some basic surgical procedures can no longer be done there “Now the surgical team is basically gutted basic things like hernia and gallbladders are not being done at this time,” said Dawes although the hospital has seen an upgrade in status there are many issues that need to be addressed “An upgrade in name does not mean that people who are being served are better off,” said Dawes as he argued that although the hospital has been upgraded from a Type C to a Type B the service has not improved Dawes raised concerns about the hospital’s deteriorating conditions stressing the urgent need for a structured plan to restore it as a leading healthcare facility assessing both the services provided and the deficiencies they are encountering,” he said “We need to go back to where Annotto Bay Hospital was before and build on that to make it a model for hospitals across the country — centres of excellence with diverse specialities “There’s a perennial issue with staffing shortages and not much is being done to address this issue,” said Dawes as he urged the authorities to move from the false narrative of a building being painted and refurbished meaning that patients will get better services “We have to move past the point where we are creating a false equivalency that where we see a painted building that is refurbished it means that you are better off going there as a patient Because it’s certainly not the case at Annotto Bay Hospital and I am extremely disappointed that this has been allowed to happen to one of the hospitals that really and truly should have built on a legacy of advanced surgical areas,” added Dawes Responding to questions on what will be done to improve the health sector if the PNP is elected to form the next Government Dawes that the sector needs someone who understands how the system works I consider myself…a technocrat who has an understanding of the system who is willing to forge partnership and work with other persons in their different specialities — the nurses the doctors and we all can by pooling our creative resources to find solutions to the problems that exists,” declared Dawes He said the Opposition is calling for an honest and immediate reassessment of the hospital’s needs and a concrete actionable plan to address the crisis before the situation worsens In the meantime Brown criticised the Government’s handling of the healthcare system I can’t help but highlight that what we have been seeing so far is governing by announcement the people are actually struggling,” charged Brown View the discussion thread. Jamaica — A St Mary mother is not only nursing gunshot wounds but is also mourning the loss of her son after a shooting incident in Annotto Bay Friday afternoon Dead is 23-year-old electrician Marvin “Ricky Jay” Wilson of an Enfield address Reports are that Wilson and his mother along with other family members were on a verandah in Iterboreale Dry River Bridge around 3:40 pm when a lone masked gunman entered from the back of the house and opened fire Wilson ran into the house but was chased by the gunman who shot him multiple times It was discovered that Wilson’s mother was also shot in the left foot She was taken to the Annotto Bay hospital for treatment while Wilson was pronounced dead The St Mary Criminal Investigation Bureau is investigating Anthony Wallace told Observer Online that Annotto Bay has become a hotspot for crime “The police will maintain a strong presence in the area to reassure residents of the commitment to maintain peace and security,” Wallace said A 31-year-old construction worker has been charged with possession of prohibited weapon and assault at common maw following an incident in Pump Land Reports from the Annotto Bay police are that about 10:00 a.m. a teen boy was at a relative’s house when Miller entered the premises and an argument developed between them A fight ensued after which Miller left and reportedly returned with a firearm which he allegedly used to threaten the teenager A court date for Miller is being finalised View the discussion thread. and two policemen were injured following a shootout as members of the St Mary police attempted to shut down an unauthorised party in the community of Iterboreale on Friday The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Kevin Cunningham otherwise called 'Chemical,' a labourer of Crab Hall An illegal gun was allegedly recovered from him said the Operational Support Team came under attack while shutting down the event at around 9:30 p.m a patron brandished a firearm at the police Cunningham was transported to the Annotto Bay Hospital A Beretta .40 caliber pistol with a partially erased serial number and a magazine containing five live rounds was allegedly recovered from the suspect The Independent Commission of Investigations and the Port Maria Criminal Investigations Branch are conducting further inquiries A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in sections of the Iterboreale area View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) representatives are calling for an “honest and immediate examination” of the needs at the Annotto Bay Hospital actionable plan for improvement following a visit which they say highlighted serious shortfalls Brown visited the hospital recently alongside Dr Alfred Dawes The tour included a meeting with the Senior Medical Officer Dr Glenton Strachn who provided a first-hand account of the hospital’s ongoing challenges Strachn shared the difficulties in staffing we have three surgery posts that are unfilled at the moment.” “What is also clear is that the hospital has been upgraded to a Type B facility with the usual grand announcement without the critical supporting infrastructure to make it effective while critical equipment is old and or frequently broken down while the operating theatre is often out of service as well immediate attention is needed here,” Brown stressed Dawes expressed deep concern over the hospital’s current state calling for a comprehensive plan to restore it to its former excellence “We need to go back to where Annotto Bay Hospital was before and build on that to make it a model for hospitals across the country—centres of excellence with diverse specialities Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party's Area Council 2 is urging his political colleagues to remain focused and encourage JLP supporters to champion the achievements of the government Addressing the Area Council 2 Conference at Annotto Bay High school in St Mary on Sunday who expressed confidence of a JLP victory in the next parliamentary election stated that the Andrew Holness-led administration has performed at the highest standard Warmington cited the country’s lowest unemployment rate along with a stable economy as clear indications that the JLP deserves a third term to continue what he described as the positive transformation of Jamaica who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Central St Catherine spoke about the importance of party supporters being in a state of readiness and for them to set aside any form of malice among each other “We are doing ourselves a disservice by not promoting the achievements of this government It is time to show your colours and let people know about the performance of the JLP," he said “When it comes to Labour Party business I don’t discriminate Labourites sometimes don’t like to talk about the good things that the government is doing has done more to support the well-being of the Jamaican people more than any other government in the last 20 You need to start talking the politics now on the bar stool on the choir and in the community meetings We must not be shy to talk about our achievements because PNP people so hungry fi power that they are going to say any and everything to undermine the government," Tufton added expressed confidence that the constituency will remain in the corner of the JLP as all three divisions in that constituency which were won in 2016 were retained in the February 2024 local government elections “It is important for us to know our neighbour and friends For us to continue to deliver to the people of Jamaica we must leave with fire in our stomach," commented Dunn “We remain a very strong constituency and the strength of this constituency was shown in the last local government election We went in with three seats and we came out with the three seats," Dunn concluded View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Government Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has hinted that he believes the next general election will be called by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness by June or July The election is constitutionally due by September While addressing a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council 2 meeting at Annotto Bay High School in St Mary yesterday the member of parliament for St Catherine West Central also urged party supporters to become more active in spreading the message of the party’s achievements in the months remaining before the election is announced If you never use to call di call-in programmes If you never used to write letters to The Gleaner If you never used to talk a little politics pon di pulpit start talking now,” said the health and wellness minister His comments came the same weekend as reports that an internal JLP poll had the governing party leading the People’s National Party (PNP) by almost six percentage points While the party’s internal poll might serve as a morale boost for supporters the PNP has dismissed it as “nothing more than a desperate attempt to grab headlines and prop up their (the JLP’s) declining public ratings in an election year” which lacks any credible pollster attribution and provides no dates is yet another fabrication designed to mislead Jamaicans then Prime Minister Andrew Holness should waste no time and call the election immediately.” The party added: “The PNP stands ready to present a real vision for Jamaica’s future We await the naming of the election date so the people can have their say at the ballot box.” during yesterday’s Area Council 2 meeting Tufton said the JLP and its supporters would do themselves a disservice if they did not ramp up promotion of the achievements of the Government “It is time to show your colours and let people know about the performance of the JLP,” he said “When it comes to Labour Party business Labourites sometimes don’t like to talk about the good things that the Government is doing has done more to support the well-being of the Jamaican people more than any other Government in the last 20 “You need to start talking the politics now on the bar stool You need to talk about the achievements of this party to any and everyone It is the people on the ground that is going to make a difference between winning and losing We have to dot all the ‘I’s and cross all the ‘T’s We must not be shy to talk about our achievements because PNP people so hungry fi power that they are going to say any and everything to undermine the Government.” reiterated the need for his political colleagues to remain focused and to encourage supporters to echo the achievements of the party who expressed confidence in victory at the next general election stated that the Holness-led JLP has performed at the highest standard as a Government He pointed to the country’s lowest unemployment rate ongoing infrastructure work (road and water projects) islandwide along with a stable economy as clear indications that the JLP deserves a third term in order to continue what he described as the positive transformation of Jamaica and the improving of the lives of ordinary residents editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) representative for St Mary South East Christopher Brown has sounded the alarm for what he has described as a severe water shortage that has persisted for over two months particularly in Belfield mechanical and electrical failures in the region’s water supply systems have left communities with inconsistent and inadequate access to clean water creating a crisis that demands immediate attention Brown noted that the National Water Commission (NWC) pointed to mechanical issues at the Highgate pump which have taken the facility offline for repairs cutting off a critical supply line to key areas including Belfield and Richmond an electrical failure at another pump in Annotto Bay has left large sections of the constituency without reliable water access and surrounding areas are in desperate need of immediate assistance,” Brown said it’s a full-blown crisis that is severely impacting daily life and public health The affected residents have been patient but the situation has now become untenable The authorities must act without delay to restore a consistent and reliable water supply to these communities.” Brown said the prolonged lack of water has left households and businesses in distress endangering hygiene and posing significant health risks He said residents are demanding swift action from the NWC and relevant government agencies to expedite repairs and provide relief Brown added that while immediate repairs are essential long-term solution must also be prioritised to prevent recurring disruptions in the future Jamaica – People’s National Party (PNP) representative for St Mary South East Christopher Brown is calling on the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) to provide concrete timelines for the refurbishment of the Annotto Bay Hospital’s operating theatre but to ensure the right action for staff and citizens safe and a modern healthcare environment requires efficacy and urgency,” said Brown “I am deeply concerned that the temporary closure—with only partial details on how long these renovations will take—could significantly disrupt critical healthcare services in the region particularly those in Annotto Bay and surrounding communities This has gone on for too long with too many broken promises.” the operating theatre at Annotto Bay Hospital will be closed for critical renovations Brown says while patients are being referred to other hospitals there are growing concerns about the added strain on these facilities and the potential impact on timely patient care In addition to key concerns about clarity on the timeline and the capacity at nearby facilities Brown also expressed concern about transportation and accessibility arguing that residents may face increased travel times and costs Brown is urging the ministry and NERHA to: ● Provide a clear timeline for the completion of renovations; ensure adequate resources (staff and transportation) are available at the alternative hospitals; ● Establish an emergency plan for patients requiring immediate surgery who cannot be easily transferred and to ● Maintain transparent and ongoing communication with the public to alleviate concerns and prevent misinformation “The health and safety of our communities must remain the top priority,” Brown stressed Mary also protested last week over the lack of electricity in their community Local and state officials in Jamaica have signed a $197 million contract for the Annotto Bay Coastal Protection Beach Nourishment Project in St The contract was signed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund Managing Director Omar Sweeney; Minister of State in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and St Anthony Sampson at JSIF office in Kingston on Monday (April 15) The scope of the work to be undertaken includes the construction of two groins which will function as a trap to hold the sand in place and the placement of sand along 244 meters (800 feet) of the existing beach This beach nourishment will extend 12 meters (40 feet) seaward from the existing slope The final beach will sit approximately 1.5 meters (five feet) above sea level the project that will be executed under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) is slated for completion in June Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Jamaica – A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in sections of the St Mary Police Division January 28 and will remain in effect until 6:00 pm Thursday North: Along a section of the Iterboreale Main Road near the National Water Commission pump site extending easterly to the Dry River Bridge South: From Forty-One Square moving westerly along an imaginary line West: From the end of an imaginary line at Forty-one travelling northerly to a point near the National Water Commission pump station North: At a section of Top Mountain near the Albion Mountain Square travelling towards an imaginary line in an easterly direction to a section of the Trinity Land main road East: Along a section of the Trinity Land main road towards an imaginary line heading southerly to a Y-junction/intersection along a section of the Cox Street main road West: Along a section of Roslyn Road to an imaginary line that runs northerly to a section of Top Mountain in the vicinity of Albion Mountain Square North: Along a section of Free Hill heading easterly to a section of Trinity Land East: Along Trinity Land travelling southerly to a section of Cox Street main road heading westerly to a section of Roslyn Road West: Along Roslyn Road towards a northerly direction to a section of Free Hill people within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorised by the ground commander View the discussion thread. the 24-year-old newly crowned Miss St Mary Festival Queen is embarking on an inspiring journey to uplift the lives of the elderly and shut-ins across her parish Bailey captured the hearts of both the audience and adjudicators during the coronation ceremony held at the St Mary Anglican Church Hall last Saturday she surpassed five other contestants to claim three out of six sectional prizes including the Most Congenial trophy sponsored by Stayfree/Platex Most Active in the Community sponsored by the Passport Jesus,’ because I attended my grandmother’s funeral in the morning and then turned up for the competition after I cried my eyes out in the morning but gave it my all that night Although grandma wasn’t here to see this I told her I was going to enter the competition she was often confused and forgetful.” A registered nurse at Annotto Bay Hospital and a graduate of The University of the West Indies Bailey embodies resilience and compassion in her pursuit of enriching the lives around her she discovered her passion for nursing through volunteer work realising her love for interacting with and helping people Bailey actively contributes to the Staff Welfare Committee at Annotto Bay Hospital volunteers at the Spicy Grove Youth Centre in Oracabessa and founded the empowering Girls Power group “I usually meet with the young girls on Saturdays mostly over the phone due to our schedules We discuss various issues they might be facing Although we don’t have a lot of resources we still find ways to support each other.” Bailey plans to revive her mother’s dormant community project which provides essential support to the elderly and shut-ins through warm meals and toiletries “My mom started a project on her birthday in 2016 to help the elderly and shut-ins in the communities in and around Oracabessa in our parish and I would get up early on Saturday mornings to prepare hot meals and deliver them to those in need Now I plan to get help from my Girls Power group and maybe even some young men to help take care of the elderly and provide services like hair and nail care and other aspects of holistic care that I want to implement.” “I’m doing this project in honour of my grandmother She received the care she needed before passing but many elderly people lack family support By involving young people in helping the elderly Bailey aims to bring the crown home to St Mary at the upcoming Miss Jamaica Festival Queen National Coronation on August 3 in Kingston with hopes of inspiring and empowering the youth of her parish to achieve their full potential while assisting the elderly View the discussion thread. Jamaica — A 21-year-old man wanted for murder was apprehended on Friday during an intelligence-led police operation in St Mary Annotto Bay had previously been featured on the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s “Wanted Wednesday” in relation to a 2023 killing the police received information of a grey Toyota Fielder travelling along the Robin’s Bay main road suspected to be transporting the wanted man The vehicle was intercepted and Davis along with two other occupants — a man and a woman — was discovered The police said a further search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a black Glock 19 pistol loaded with sixteen rounds of ammunition All occupants of the vehicle were arrested who is believed to be a part of the Forum gang which operates out of the Dover community in Annotto Bay was on the run for the 2023 murder of his neighbour The North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) is today mourning the loss of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Annotto Bay Hospital who died suddenly on Monday while overseas gave 27 years of service to the public health sector and staff of the authority are expressing profound sadness at Lee’s sudden passing According to NERHA: “Miss Marsha Lee was an extraordinary individual whose unwavering dedication to the betterment of patient care and the advancement of healthcare services at the Annotto Bay Hospital has left an unforgettable mark on our organisation and the lives of countless individuals,” NERHA stated “She was a highly respected figure at the hospital and brought an unequalled level of expertise and a profound commitment to excellence inspiring all who had the privilege of working alongside her Miss Lee’s passion was to ensure that her staff members were treated well and implemented human resource and staff well-being programmes that have positively impacted their lives and tenure at the hospital.” The organisation said Lee’s absence leaves a void that can never be filled and extends deepest sympathies to her family View the discussion thread. The Annotto Bay Hospital in St Mary welcomed its 2019/20 class of medical interns and senior house officers on July 8 The newest additions to the hospital’s medical team will spend at least one year in rotations shadowing experienced doctors across a wide range of specialties In welcoming the newest members to the hospital’s medical team Chief Executive Officer Dennis Morgan said “We are privileged to have such a wonderful group of young doctors joining our team I have no doubt they will gain invaluable medical experience from our team of highly qualified and knowledgeable doctors while at the same time making worthwhile contributions to the delivery of quality health care to the people of Annotto Bay and surrounding communities in the Parish of St Mary and beyond “I am most excited about the opportunity to work alongside and learn from many of the facility’s skilled physicians such as Drs Strachan and Jarrett in obstetrics and Dr Wilson in medicine,” said Dr Khadijah McPherson Morgan announced that the facility will be launching a mentoring programme in which new team members are paired with a senior consultant The purpose of the programme is a way to offer support to mentees in their professional development,” he said is one of four hospitals within the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) network and is the largest in St Mary The institution was originally founded by a Scottish physician It is a 117-bed capacity referral hospital serving a population of approximately 180,000 people drawn from the south-east St Mary and adjoining communities with more than 45 physicians and 260 nurses and support staff providing quality health care and administrative support services across several firms The hospital has six wards: Female and Male Medical Services offered include: accident and emergency (24 hours) The hospital’s accident and emergency department sees more than 25,000 patients and performs over 1,100 surgeries annually View the discussion thread. “Very tragic” is how 17-year-old Malick McIntosh described the path he was on before enrolling in an intensive mentorship programme at Annotto Bay High School in St Mary His father was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity when he was 10 McIntosh began losing interest in school and disclosed that he got involved in gang activities he smiled and thanked his school administrators for their intervention I sat seven subjects and I passed six out of it I plan to do math again,” he told The Gleaner shared that her son had a high temper and as a single parent she leaned on the dean to be a male figure and to provide moral support “I just thank God for the dean and Miss Philp for this programme I can sit him down and talk to him and he listens,” she said His mother added that she was anxious about how he would perform in the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations Principal Trudy-Ann Philp told The Gleaner that the mentorship programme was intensified in 2016 “We broke them up into smaller groups of five and we found that it was more effective than having all the boys in a room and inviting speakers,” Philp shared Twenty-five males were identified and matched with mentors in various professions we have made tremendous improvement in terms of eliminating gangs getting our boys to find a sense of purpose and it is also about how we love them at school,” the principal explained She pointed out that the school is located in a volatile community where conflicts would often spill over in the institution often had friction with students and those in authority His metamorphosis from at-risk to thriving and substandard academic performance to excelling is an experience he is proud of as he has renewed hope in himself and his family The young men were a part of the small group mentored by Rev Travis Drummond of Annotto Bay Baptist Church One of the most valuable takeaways he had from the sessions was creating a study plan “I never used to study before and I accomplished five subjects out of six I’m proud of myself because I studied very hard,” he said with a wide smile Powell reasoned that if he had been introduced to the mentorship programme earlier in high school “Community dispute always come over more time At times I get in fights at school and end up reach a di station couple time,” he recalled Powell desires to see his mother retire early as she has sacrificed a lot for him and his siblings “My mother work very hard and she only get one day off She has four of us and just to keep up the home Powell wants to bring peace to the warring factions in Annotto Bay as it is damaging the minds of the youth “Whole heap a body wi walk pass and see More time yuh go a yuh bed and yuh memba dem tings deh,” he said slowly said she welcomed the intervention because she always wanted the best for him She had to visit the school very often for meetings about her son’s conduct but now he is calmer and has become a dependable child Dean of Discipline Olanzer Cameron collaborated with the various stakeholders and provided transportation for the students to attend sessions twice per week “We were having issues among the boys - being disruptive underperforming and gambling,” he detailed “Grade 11 teachers started to outline that if they continue on this path they will definitely make the graduation list and we were really looking forward to that but COVID has dampened that,” Cameron said judana.murphy@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. the incumbent councillor for the Annotto Bay division is confident that his performance in the area is sufficient to convince residents to retain him as their representative in the St Mary Municipal Corporation Bryan said his drive to continue developing the rural township will also enable him to stave off any challenge and be re-elected and take the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) a step closer to securing victory in the municipality “I just want to thank the persons who had supported me during my last election and during the term I am looking forward again to the support of the persons of Annotto Bay division I have done a lot of projects and my work speaks for itself,” Bryan told The Gleaner He said that any PNP supporter with a conscience would admit that he is the best councillor that Annotto Bay has ever seen namely the Iter Boreale housing scheme recently in collaboration with the National Housing Trust (NHT),” Bryan said He said a seawall project that is currently under way was initiated by him through the disaster preparedness mitigation programme in his first term as councillor Bryan was first elected in 2003 to represent the division which is located in the St Mary South Eastern constituency he defeated the PNP’s Valrie Walters to retain the division He lost the seat to Dane Golding of the People’s National Party (PNP) in 2012 before returning in 2016 to wrest it back from Golding by 356 votes The Annotto Bay division is a low-lying coastal area and drainage is one of our main concerns What I have done over the years is that a number of earth drains but converted a lot of them into concrete so that the water will flow more,” Bryan told The Gleaner He contends that there is an issue with garbage disposal practices as citizens fail to use the proper mechanisms contributes to plastic bottles and other debris clogging the drains “Persons would tell you that Annotto Bay is a town that would often be flooded and I can’t recall the town being flooded in the last seven and a half years since I am here because I have cleaned the drains and ensured that the drains are kept clean,” he stressed Bryan also pointed to his collaboration with National Energy Solutions Limited (NESol) in the energy ministry cheekily claiming that even his PNP opponent benefited from that effort they never had streetlights and electricity so everybody had to run their light from the main come in the former councillor got a streetlight at his gate benefited by having his meter removed from out the front and put at his gate A similar project was done in Crooked River and Dover,” Bryan said He told The Gleaner that there are four other areas he is hoping to give similar attention to if elected to serve another term – Gibraltar to Osborne Bryan said that farm roads have also been sustained through a collaboration with the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) that is a road that has never been asphalted That serves a primary school and over 200 residents but we can only work with the amount of allocation and resources that we have,” Bryan said He told The Gleaner that he is hoping for a peaceful campaign Bryan will be challenged by the PNP’s Knute Bartley this time around for the division which has the largest number of electors (9,552) of the four in St Mary South Eastern The other divisions that make up the constituency are Belfield andre.williams@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. The Gleaner team stepped off the main road in Annotto Bay and headed down several flights of stairs into Vincent Maragh’s yard which was just a mere three feet away from one of several houses in the yard The river was calm that day and posed no threat But in the course of the 76 years that Maragh has lived at that location He has never thought of relocating though because Maybe the fact that he has spent the past 60-plus years as a fisherman also makes him feel comfortable being so close to the water despite the numerous times flooding have taken place and despite the ever-present danger He stated that several politicians and other persons in authority have visited the premises in the past but have not done anything to alleviate the threat of the river Maragh would have survived some of the more serious incidents of flooding in Annotto Bay and even in 2012 when flooding brought about by Hurricane Sandy destroyed seven houses in the St Mary town “Seventy-six years mi a duh yah suh; mi bawn an’ grow yah suh,” he asserted mi tiad fi get it; and nobody nuh business wid we No government nuh business wid we!” A 2013 Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment by the Mitigation Planning and Research Division of the Office of Disaster and Emergency Management (ODPEM) concluded that the “causative factors for flooding (in Annotto Bay) relate to the location of the community being on an active floodplain of three rivers coupled with the low-lying topography of the area” The study said the worst flood events recorded in the town occurred in 1933 heavy rains over two days caused the Pencar River to overflow resulting in several homes being washed out and the Fort George Bridge collapsing affecting over 300 households and businesses The ODPEM assessment lists Annotto Bay as one of the ‘high-risk communities’ in the country the town having been affected by over 30 major floods and six storm surges in the last 120 years Maragh thinks that something can be done to alleviate the flooding “Mi think dem fi do di river training an’ wi jus sit inna wi yard an’ we alright But every time rain fall wi haffi fret about the river comin’ down pon we,” he stated whether he’s going out to sea or using the river for a daily catch Other persons in the community also fish in the river Rafting and boat riding sometimes takes place A few hundred metres to the west lies the less potent Annotto River Depending on which side of the river one lives the tales would be one of a friendly or feisty river Khadijah Walsh has lived at the river’s edge for 43 years She has even dumped a section of the Annotto River to expand her land space “Mi live here so 43 years an’ a two time we ever flood out,” she told The Gleaner “As long as the river mouth can burst (open to let the water out to the sea) “But nobody nuh use this water fi drink but it get so contaminated by the Gray’s Inn factory and the Nutri factory “But it nuh come dung fi affect we because we couldn’t build house so near it If it did push with the force of Pencar or Wag (Water) there’s no way [we could live here.]” who has been living at that location for around five years “The water did not reach in my house automatically the water comes over,” Mackie explained He added that the river was not a direct threat to him at this time and what was of greater concern was the dumping of garbage by residents at the riverside she has had her house flooded more than once and has even had her furniture damaged on one occasion “When the rain falls heavy we flood out The water come inna di house and everything wet up,” she revealed She said nothing was damaged on that occasion Neither resident embraced the idea of relocation with Mackie even suggesting that people living in the lane would not be willing to relocate “I don’t think people would be willing to relocate but I think the MP (Member of Parliament Dr Norman Dunn) can come and have a meeting with the residents and get a feedback as to what would be better for them Ver is fearful that she might eventually be flooded out and be forced to relocate; that’s the only way she would Just west of Annotto Bay lies the Wag Water River This river rises from the mountainous regions of St Andrew and runs for just over 36 kilometres the river is dammed near Stony Hill in St Andrew to provide water to the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread.