It was 265 Easters ago that Chief Takyi (also Tacky) led a daring uprising against the cruelty of colonialism thus igniting a flame of resistance across the island that would serve as a catalyst for Jamaica’s emancipation decades later Those events of the 1760 Easter rebellion or Tacky’s War that unfolded in the North Eastern parish of St Mary are a crucial bookmark in Jamaica’s story of nationhood That is why Governor General Sir Patrick Allen as St Mary and the nation pay tribute to a powerful historical figure During this year’s observance at the Claude Stuart Park in Port Maria ‘The Spirit of Chief Takyi never forgotten’ asserted that Takyi’s name “lives on in the soil the hills and the hearts of our people” his bravery and his sacrifice will never fade from the memory of our people,” the mayor said while hailing Takyi as a symbol of African pride and resistance in the Caribbean his name remains absent from our official story… his legacy overshadowed [and] under celebrated Wilson said that the 2022 declaration of Chief Takyi Day by the governor general planted a flag for justice we are taking steps to ensure his story lives on through tangible institutions that educate and inspire,” he added pointing to the Tacky High School in the parish “is not just a building but a declaration that the spirit of Takyi will never be forgotten that our students will have access to info on the life and story of Chief Takyi”.Guest speaker at the event Associate Professor of Divinity and Religious Studies at Yale University also underscored the importance of keeping the legacy of Takyi alive and of appreciating history “We are gathered here today because history matters It shapes the stories we tell our children and ourselves [and] the way we see ourselves and each other,” Dr Thomas said “History reminds us of our potential It is historical events like this (Chief Takyi Day) that make history a living We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors like Chief Takyi we build on their strength and we extend their hopes,” she added The day’s proceedings also featured cultural performances by Tacky High farm produce and displays were also on location The event was organised by the St Mary Municipal Corporation in collaboration with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) the St Mary Parish Library and Takyi Heritage Foundation It was supported by Couples Sans Souci and Total Tools View the discussion thread. The legacy and heroics of Chief Takyi (also Tacky) will be celebrated with a civic ceremony in Port Maria The event has been held annually since the proclamation of the national observance by Governor-General in 2022 and will take place at the Claude Stuart Park under the theme ‘The Spirit of Chief Takyi Never Forgotten’ Chief Takyi led a powerful uprising against British colonial rule known as Takyi’s War or the 1760 Easter Rebellion This defiance against slavery also laid the foundation for Jamaica’s Emancipation 74 years later Acting Community Programmes Coordinator at the St said that the civic ceremony is being used to keep the history and legacy of Takyi alive sometimes his name is not spoken in the schools so this is one way of preserving his legacy,” she said She noted that Chief Takyi “has done so much… to show that we are a fighting parish” “We want to celebrate his spirit and what his role in the 1760 Easter rebellion did for the parish,” she added and will feature a main address by Associate Professor of Divinity and Religious Studies at Yale University Other remarks will be brought by Mayor of Port Maria Councillor Fitzroy Wilson; Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Member of Parliament for St Morais Guy; and Member of Parliament for St There will also be cultural tributes and presentations by Tacky High School and student-led displays honouring the legacy of Chief Takyi The event will also serve as a cultural exhibition and marketplace with authentic Jamaican cuisine and locally made goods by local entrepreneurs Mary Parish Library and Takyi Heritage Foundation It is supported by Couples Sans Souci and Total Tools Send An Email Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox. ST MARY, Jamaica – Residents of Cox Street in Port Maria, St Mary are appealing to the authorities for help after a landslide damaged several homes in the community. The landslide occurred during heavy rains in the town earlier this week. “The way I felt nervous, all now mi nervous,” Val Thompson, whose house collapsed in the landslide, said as he recounted the incident while combing a rubble for his belongings. Thompson is asking the Government to assist him in his recovery effort. “The spot where I am, I wouldn’t mind the government, Member of Parliament and everybody who can give me a strength… mek mi find an ends away from here so I can better myself,” Thompson said. His neighbour, whose daughter’s home was damaged in the landslide, echoed his plea. “I love you so much my prime minister, I am asking you please to assist us… my neighbour has nowhere to live and my daughter’s house needs to be fixed, but we don’t have it like that, we are very poor,” the woman said. “I am asking you please to send help towards us.” Former Mayor of Port Maria Walter Brady died on Thursday at age 88 said "we ask for your prayers and consideration during this difficult time for members of Mr Brady's family." Brady was the councillor for the Hampstead division and was chairman of the St Mary Parish Council from 1981 to 1982 He was also a candidate for the Jamaica Labour Party in Central St Mary in the 1980 elections who is member of parliament for St Mary Western said Brady was once one of St Mary's leading banana and winter vegetable farmers He was a graduate of the Jamaica School of Agriculture 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. He was the councillor for the Hampstead Division and chairman of the St Mary Parish Council from 1981 to 1982 Brady was a candidate for the Jamaica Labour Party in St Mary Central in the 1980 elections salesman and life underwriter before starting his own farm A graduate of the Jamaica School of Agriculture Brady was reportedly once St Mary’s leading banana and winter vegetable farmer He is survived by his wife of 63 years Norma and their three children – Michelle View the discussion thread. Jamaica— Two teenagers were arrested and charged for a number of break-ins in the Port Maria town centre in St Mary were standing near a shop in the Port Maria town centre on Wednesday where their actions aroused the suspicion of the police The teens were searched and a steel cutter was found in their possession They were taken into custody where they confessed to committing six break-ins in the town centre and hiding the stolen items in St Ann St Ann where the stolen items were recovered One business owner Sheryl lamented that since the police station has been relocated there has been an increase in criminal activities in the town centre “I don’t feel safe after certain hours You don’t know which business will be the next target You go home wondering if your business is next Need to see the police right through the day and night right now,” the business owner said sought to reassure the business community and the public that the men and women under his charge are committed to keeping the town centre safe “We are committed to the safety of the communities and town centres especially at this time of the year,” Wallace told Observer Online View the discussion thread. Two men have been charged with possession of identity information following a joint police-military operation in the Kiddland and Hamstead communities of Port Maria They have been identified as 27-construction worker Shavan McKenzie and 26-year-old Maurice McKenzie Two other men were also detained in the operation Head of the St Mary division Acting Superintendent Anthony Wallace said the raid targeted wanted individuals It also sought to disrupt gang activities and recover illegal firearms and contraband Wallace said the other two men were being interviewed "The police continue to intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks and reassure law-abiding citizens of their safety Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities," he added 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. View the discussion thread. The St Mary police have imposed a 48-hour curfew in sections of Grants Town Port Maria in response to escalating gang-related violence stated that the curfew was implemented following a series of violent incidents which have heightened fear among residents we believe that immediate intervention is necessary to restore public safety and prevent further criminal activities," Wallace said Point A: From the intersection at the entrance to Villa Road running northwest approximately 1,500 metres to Kidd Land Point B: Extends approximately 2,200 metres north to the intersection of Kidd Land and the Mason Hall roadway Point C: Moves northeast along an imaginary line for about 1,250 metres to the Firefly Estate entrance Point D: Runs approximately 1,200 metres south back to the Villa Road entrance at Point A all persons within the affected area are required to remain indoors unless otherwise authorized by the police Law enforcement teams will be deployed throughout the area to ensure compliance and maintain order "The St Mary Police Division urges residents to cooperate fully with law enforcement officers and report any suspicious activities The public is also reminded that these measures are intended to ensure the safety and security of all citizens," Wallace said View the discussion thread. A man who was caught attempting to steal fuel from a parked tractor-trailer at a business along Wharf Road in Oracabessa the businessman arrived at his establishment around 5:15 a.m to conduct routine checks when he observed the man attempting to siphon fuel from the vehicle the man allegedly picked up a piece of iron and swung it at the businessman the businessman reportedly discharged his licensed firearm in self-defence the injured man sought medical attention at the Port Maria Hospital where he was admitted in serious but stable condition with a gunshot wound,” said Anthony Wallace Commanding Officer for the St Mary Police Division It is understood that the man told doctors he was shot by an unidentified person while walking along Wharf Road Detectives from the Port Maria Criminal Investigations Branch have since launched an investigation into the incident View the discussion thread. Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson has confirmed that work on the road leading to Port Maria Hospital in St Mary will commence next week after delays caused by prolonged rainfall partly funded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) was initially scheduled for completion late last year “The reason the project was delayed is due to the persistent rainfall,” Wilson explained to The Gleaner on Thursday “I had instructed that the work not begin under those conditions because I did not want substandard work to be done.” Wilson emphasised that proceeding in adverse weather would have been a waste of taxpayers’ money “When you’re working with marl in persistent rain We are entrusted to make decisions in the best interest of the people even if it means facing pressure to proceed quickly,” he said Wilson assured that work will begin no later than the coming week The mayor also praised the TEF for its prompt response to the municipality’s request for support The project involves complete resurfacing of the roadway from the main road to the hospital as well as the road leading to the infirmary The news has been welcomed by those who frequently travel the route A nurse at the hospital described the current condition of the road as frustrating This repair is much needed,” she said “It’s about time this road gets fixed and even the road leading to Port Antonio Hospital in Portland is terrible and needs urgent attention,” he remarked carl.gilchrist@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. Copyright © 2025 Multimedia Jamaica Ltd Jamaica — The canoe “Gifted” with Captain Donovan Green his brother Geovoni Green and Patrick Wainwright landed a marlin weighing 242.8 pounds to capture the 40th Port Antonio Canoe Tournament received the West Indies Petroleum trophy for their 122.6 pound marlin Third was Lucky One with a 113.2 pound marlin The Portland Chamber of Commerce ran the canoe tournament along with the Sir Henry Morgan Anglers Association Captain Green of Gifted which is from Pagee Beach in Port Maria “This is a wonderful prize and it was a hard fight with the marlin as my finger got hurt We enjoyed the ride over from Pagee Beach (Port Maria) as we all came to win we are going home with the prize but we are all winners We are surprised about the engine as we did not expect this,” Green shared Donovan has been involved in the canoe tournament for over eight years “In 2018 we won on ‘She’s Royal’ but this year it is my boat ‘Gifted’ The tournament was good and went down but is coming back up now “We are delighted to give this engine to these real fishermen who endure the hazards of the weather for their livelihood and we hope this engine will make their experience better.” The tournament had sponsors from Yamaha Engines Portland Chamber of Commerce and Sir Henry Morgan Anglers Association Rabbit of the Sea landed a marlin weighing 124.4 pounds but came in after the weighing station was closed resulting in the disqualification of the marlin They were however awarded a fair play prize He has also warned that there will be tighter anti-vending measures in place in 2025 “We had over 40 registered vendors attending the meeting where it was highlighted the way forward in regards to vending during this period; the vendors were all satisfied,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer “Over 30 spots have been identified for vending and vendors should get registered to get a space Based on the recommendations by the police vending will not be allowed in some areas where it will cause congestion,” he added The area was cleaned ahead of the expected influx of vendors that usually show up for Christmas “We washed and sanitised the town and cleaned all the major drains and removed all the garbage in preparation for this,” said Wilson But street vending in assigned areas will only be allowed up to the first week of January next year all things are back to normal,” Wilson said The mayor pointed out that there is space available in the Port Maria Market and he appealed to vendors to use it water and it protects you from the elements of the weather,” he urged He also gave an update on two other major markets in the parish He is hoping construction on the Highgate market will begin by the next quarter while the Annotto Bay Market is undergoing a $21-million renovation Portland — The canoe Gifted with captain Donovan Green and Patrick Wainwright pulled in a marlin weighing 242.8 pounds to win the 40th Port Antonio Canoe Tournament at Ole Marina in Portland on Tuesday Lucky One was third with a 113.2 pound marlin Rabbit of the Sea landed a marlin weighing 124.4 pounds but it came in after the weighing station was closed Gifted is based at Pagee Beach in Port Maria The canoe’s captain was elated with the outcome We enjoyed the ride over from Pagee Beach… we are going home with the prize but we [the competitors] are all winners,” Donovan said “We are surprised about the engine [prize] as we did not expect this,” he added “In 2018 we won on She’s Royal but this year it is my boat Gifted The tournament was good… we are happy,” he said in closing Andrae Alexander from Yahama Engines said: “We are delighted to give this engine to these real fishermen who endure the hazards of the weather for their livelihood The tournament had sponsors included Yamaha Engines Jamaica – An early morning accident on the Stewart Town main road has left three people nursing injuries and the driver being sought by the police a white Toyota Mark X motor car was travelling from Port Maria to Ocho Rios when it lost control near the Emerald Estate housing scheme and crashed into a tree The driver of the vehicle is said to have fled the scene while the passengers were taken to the St Ann’s Bay hospital where they were admitted for their injuries The St Mary Police Traffic Department is investigating the identity of the driver St Mary — Officials from St Mary Municipal Corporation will meet on March 19 to discuss findings of an investigation into allegations that a mentally challenged woman was sexually assaulted while in a State-run facility I can say that they have received the reports and a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday to discuss what is in those reports and a plan of action,” Inspector of Poor Lincoln Brooks told the Jamaica Observer Monday In response to questions from Port Maria Mayor Fitzroy Wilson during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the corporation Brooks had been unable to provide details about the incident It reportedly took place at a drop-in centre and he indicated that he had not yet received a report from the staff The incident is said to have occurred about two weeks ago and video footage has reportedly been making the rounds Acting Superintendent of Police Anthony Wallace told the Observer he was unaware of a report being made to the police This was in line with comments made during the council meeting Wallace said the police still had not received a report It is unclear if a watchman was on duty at the time of the incident or if the surveillance cameras were working The municipal corporation’s Poor Relief Department manages the facility “Based on my information it is not the first of such incidents; it is a regular occurrence at the same location and [so] we should have had information on that from our surveillance cameras,” Wilson said during Thursday’s monthly council meeting “It should not have taken someone from the streets to see that something was going on to put their life and safety on the line to bring that to the forefront… that this person… could be able to be conducting such activities These persons are no less than a child in that a child under 16 cannot give sexual consent… The matter must be dealt with in a serious way,” Wilson said St Mary — Days after a video surfaced of what appears to be a mentally challenged woman being sexually assaulted at a drop-in centre in the parish St Mary Municipal Corporation’s Poor Relief Department has been unable to provide a report on the incident and Mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson is demanding answers it is not the first of such incidents; it is a regular occurrence at the same location and [so] we should have had information on that from our surveillance cameras It should not have taken someone from the streets to see that something was going on to put their life and safety on the line to bring that to the forefront,” Wilson said during Thursday’s monthly council meeting in that a child under 16 cannot give sexual consent… The matter must be dealt with in a serious way,” he added He said he had expected the matter to be on the agenda “We would have expected a report would have been forwarded to [Inspector of Poor Lincoln] Brooks and the [corporation’s] CEO [Ethlyn Douglas] We… might not be able to discuss those matters in its entirety at this committee but we at least could be briefed as to what actually transpired,” the mayor said The incident is said to have occurred after closing hours sometime last week There are unconfirmed reports that the sexual act was carried out by an outsider told the Jamaica Observer he was unaware of any report being made CEO Douglas said they were awaiting a report from relevant personnel “If it happened at a time when a watchman should be on the compound and there was no watchman — or the surveillance camera not working — it’s a serious matter,” Wilson said Thursday Responding to the mayor’s demand for answers Brooks said he was unable to provide answers because he had not received an incident report Though there is a register that watchmen sign there also appeared to be some uncertainty about the identity of individuals who provide security after the centre is closed “The administrator does not know the security [officer] that works at night When she’s leaving the premises he’s not there and she hasn’t received a report from him,” Brooks explained The councillors present were visibly angry at this response that person must be introduced to say this is the watchman,” the mayor insisted He argued that Brooks should make a greater effort to stay on top of occurrences at the centre If the [local government] minister calls or the prime minister calls I cannot just say what Mr Brooks said; I need to know what transpired Mr Brooks is in charge of all poor relief matters for the parish; anything to do with indoor and that you don’t know you should go out and seek them out,” Wilson stated Brooks responded that the little information he had received was based on who was present at the time of the incident St Mary — Member of Parliament for (MP) St Mary Western Robert Montague has declared that the Government is making major investments in the parish that will see thousands of young people becoming employed through the creation of an economic zone and other developments Montague pointed to the planned developments during the National Heroes’ Day celebration on Monday at the St Mary Anglican Church hall He said the water woes facing residents of sections of central and western St Mary will soon be a thing of the past the greater Mason Hall Water Supply Project but will also supply Tower Isle straight into Port Maria to ease the water woes of the people of western and central St Mary “While in Annotto Bay the two Georgian wells when [they are] commissioned…central St Mary water woes will be eased,” said Montague In regards to the Ian Fleming International Airport Montague noted that American Airlines will make daily flights to the destination starting on December 5 American Airlines introduced twice weekly flights from Miami to the Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel but suspended the service for an announced six week in September With questions being asked about the value of the airport Montague also announced that come 2025 another major airline will start making stops at the facility The veteran MP pointed out that south of the airport an economic zone is already under construction and the manual labour for the project will be sought from within the parish “The idea is to establish a free zone and urban centre which will create 2,500 jobs for the people of western St Mary we have partnered with the Heart/[NSTA] Trust to train these people We do not want to see the people from Manchester or St Ann getting these jobs,” added Montague Scores of persons with disabilities benefited from a range of justice services as the Legal Aid Council (LAC) took its series of justice fairs to the Claude Stuart Park in Port Maria The event gave the residents an opportunity to access legal advice child diversion and restorative justice services Several government entities were also on hand to provide information and render assistance to the disabled community reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to making justice accessible for all Jamaicans He noted that there are ramps and elevators in some courts “but more importantly where a disabled person is unable to enter a court we can always have virtual sessions [and] we have mobile buses that can accommodate a disabled person” he said the mobile justice units have ramps “so that persons can easily go in and give their evidence from that bus” even if a courthouse doesn’t have a ramp or an elevator we can put that person in the mobile bus or at an appropriate spot and just take the evidence virtually from that person,” he outlined Minister Chuck underscored that Ministry personnel have been trained in sign language and there are plans in place to build the capacity of attorneys to serve deaf Jamaicans The Ministry implored Jamaicans to make use of the various justice services while pointing out that persons can arrange for the mobile justice units to visit their communities Among patrons at the event was Clifton McKenzie who is a 59-year-old castor bean farmer from Portland I came because I thought maybe I could learn something I was particularly interested in the fact that the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is here and I am dabbling into farming so that is useful to me,” he told JIS News In addition to the various exhibitors offering a wealth of information there were also exciting performances from the PAH Deaf Dancers; 2024 Jamaica Festival Song Winner Kimiela “Candy” Isaacs; and fast-rising dancehall star The next leg of the justice fair for persons with disabilities takes place in Mandeville Get the latest news & updates from the JIS sent to your inbox More than $13 million in grants has been distributed to Hurricane Beryl victims under the Government’s ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ initiative in St The presentations were made to the beneficiaries during the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ tour at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria on September 6 which marked the final leg of this engagement underscored that the $1-billion initiative is predicated on more than just infrastructure recovery “Rebuild Jamaica is not just talking about rebuilding the four walls and the roof; we’re talking about rebuilding the sense of purpose and unity in this nation where we continue to take care of each other Minister Charles maintained that the Government is committed to supporting Jamaicans in “bouncing back better” following Hurricane Beryl while lauding the fact that the country is now in a position to develop initiatives like ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ not just to acknowledge the challenges that you have faced but to acknowledge that we have placed ourselves in a position to provide resolution to you,” he pointed out Noting that more than 1,850 assessments were done across St the Minister said the category-four weather system which passed just south of Jamaica on July 3 had a significant impact on households and livelihoods in the parish urged the recipients to make good use of the cash grants this is our time to pull together and show that we value each other we value our nation and we can hold ourselves accountable” Charles advised that there are monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure the appropriate use of the grants provided $150,000 and $400,000 are disbursed to beneficiaries depending on the level of damage to their home Charles said that for those who receive $400,000 a $200,000 disbursement will first be made “and our team will be working with you to receive the next $200,000 after we see you apply this [initial] portion” “You are a part of this Rebuild Jamaica initiative… you are the most integral part of this team providing you with the tools and the knowledge so that when you rebuild you put yourself and your community in a better position,” the Minister emphasised State Minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Member of Parliament for St told banana and plantain farmers in the parish that the Government is working to ensure their recovery we will come out of this stronger than before Let us rebuild with a sense of purpose and pride,” Dr ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ is supported by the World Food Programme (WFP) Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Adventist Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA) St Mary — After years of unfavourable working conditions and calls from fire and health officials for it to be closed the Port Maria Police Station is a step closer to being relocated a few minutes outside of the bustling town centre of Port Maria “We have been threatened to be closed by the health and fire departments on more than one occasion,” superintendent of police in charge of the parish said during last week’s monthly meeting of the St Mary Municipal Corporation Those agencies will have to sign off on the proposed location before the station is relocated “Although a definite timeline hasn’t been set for the relocation as yet this is a welcome move of the Port Maria Police Station and the divisional headquarters,” Morgan Simpson told the meeting She said measures will be put in place to minimise disruptions resulting from the move Among the issues being explored is setting up a police post inside the town’s transportation centre “We have taken all considerations into account We are looking at all these and the details will be worked out in due time,” said the senior cop Jamaica – Eighteen people were arrested during a targeted operation in Port Maria According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kevin Francis two were arrested for ganja-related offenses while the others were taken in custody based on warrants “The police carried out targeted raids across the parish with the support of police personnel from PSTEB where high-risk targets were pursued,“ Francis told Observer Online He said more operations are in the works for targeted areas “We will continue our effort to serve and protect the people of the parish of St Mary while assuring law abiding citizens and business interests We encourage our citizens to report strange persons entering their communities so that there can be a partnership between residents and the police,” he said Sean Wellington was no stranger to the operations of a funeral home was situated on the same property as his home he often helped out with designing funeral programmes but he had never considered pursuing a career in the funeral industry After graduating from college in the United Kingdom (UK) at 19 Wellington returned to Jamaica for a six-week holiday He had booked his ticket to go back to the UK to take up a job offer in a management consulting firm implored him to stay and take over the family business “He liked the impact I was having on the staff and that I was coming up with new initiatives I decided I would give up going back to the UK and take over my grand-dad’s business full time,” Wellington related “My granddad was a serial entrepreneur hardware business-owner and a prominent figure in the business community,” he explained while also pointing out that the funeral home was the first in the parish Wellington worked in his grandfather’s funeral home for 12 years until 2021 gaining invaluable experience and insight into the funeral industry he learned the intricacies of funeral home operations and developed a deep understanding of customer relations and business management along with the mentorship from his grandfather equipped him with the knowledge and confidence to establish Wellington Funeral Home “One of the biggest lessons I learned from him is to be willing to take calculated risks Another crucial lesson he embraced is the importance of people skills “He taught me to always treat people well and look out for their best interest they will want to do their best and help your business grow they won’t care either,” he added Valerie Wellington related that her son brought much expertise which helped to significantly transform the family business and that she is proud of how he is using technology to improve the service “He has been able to bring the funeral industry into a ‘First-World’ standard which were unheard of as a result of his exposure overseas,” she explained Wellington places much emphasis on compassion and care for bereaved families while making the funeral planning process as simple as possible “Whatever we can do for them that they don’t need to do We have transparent pricing and itemised billing so that they can see exactly what they are paying for and make informed choices,” he explained Some clients have never stepped into our office Our website allows people to select and customise a casket online and this service isn’t limited to persons who are doing business with us,” he said who has used Wellington Funeral Home for the burial of three family members during the past year related that she is impressed with the excellent service she received “Right throughout the grave digging and funeral It was absolutely amazing,” she said states that growing up in a family business is a dynamic blend of learning “They witness firsthand the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship the early exposure provides them with a very good knowledge of business operations which are critical skills that can help them to manage a business.” Smith pointed out that to effectively groom the next generation family business operators should involve their children in various aspects of the business provide mentorship and encourage them to pursue formal education in business management View the discussion thread. has called on Jamaicans to recognise and value the contribution of the country’s older population Addressing the National Senior Citizens Month church service on Saturday (September 14) at the Port Maria Seventh-day Adventist Church in St he said persons 60 years and older play a significant role in the society noting that their experience and wisdom are integral to the nation’s progress The Minister said that senior citizens are now the fastest-growing demographic in the country comprising approximately 14 per cent of the population “Our senior citizens are a vital part of our community and it is essential that we recognise their contributions and provide the support they need,” he said The Minister acknowledged the need to develop supportive environments to better the lives of seniors including providing improved healthcare and accessible infrastructure “We must create environments that are accessible and supportive of their needs,” he said “The commitment of the Government is to continue to put in place the policies and programmes that will bring into reality the vision of senior citizens living and participating actively in [society] that guarantees your rights… and recognises your capabilities your contributions and facilitates your enjoyment of a life of fulfilment,” he added Minister Charles urged younger generations to respect and value their elders and learn from them noting that they play a crucial role in maintaining cultural values and collective wisdom “Our society would lack the essential insights and experiences without our elders,” he contended The Minister urged seniors to connect and register with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) noting that the entity is a vital resource for support and community engagement for the country’s seniors The entity is located at 11 West King’s House Road View the discussion thread. Kemar Evans is closer to reuniting with his children under one roof after receiving grant assistance towards the restoration of his home under the Government’s ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ initiative Mary resident’s house suffered significant damage during the July 3 hurricane and his children have been staying with relatives since then “The house was completely down… it was a disturbing look,” he tells JIS News during the handover of more than $13 million in grants to residents of the parish at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria on September 6 his own temporary living arrangements are “not very suitable” and when he found out that he would be among the more than 100 beneficiaries of the ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ initiative in St “I was feeling so excited and I said at least the Government recognises us and we’re getting good help I am so proud of what the Minister is doing right here,” the elated father says On being apart from his two daughters and his son Evans tells JIS News that “It is affecting me in many ways They call every minute and ask when they can come home.” He notes that he has acquired a job since the hurricane and this more than 100 beneficiaries received cash grants under the $1-billion Rebuild Jamaica initiative Among them is Nashay Clarke of Ramble district “Apparently Hurricane Beryl came high and I live on top of a hill so I got all of it Clarke tells JIS News in relating the terrifying experience She says that although she was not significantly hurt suffering “just a few scars and small bruises” Expressing gratitude for the $400,000 assistance from the Government James Barrett of Golden Valley says the category-four hurricane “affected me very badly because the house blew over and an ackee tree dropped in it and split it up” He tells JIS News that his furniture and appliances were destroyed and he is grateful for the assistance from the Government to help him recover It (the cash grant) will carry me very far Give thanks to them to help the people survive back again,” Mr the Rebuild Jamaica tour delivered cash grants to Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Beryl persons whose homes suffered minor damage received grants of $50,000 while those with severe damage received $150,000 Persons whose homes were completely destroyed received grants of $400,000 Partners on the initiative include the World Food Programme The 11,500 Jamaicans who were most affected by Hurricane Beryl on July 3 are being targeted for cash assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) to support their recovery Head of the WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Jamaica Office speaking at a ‘Rebuild Jamaica’ handover ceremony in Port Maria $36,000 and $50,000 are slated to be delivered shortly Sacchetti pointed out that the cash intervention will prioritise those who suffered the most damage to their homes and that the assistance will be tailored to the size of the household A sum of $20,000 will be provided over two months to a household between one and two persons; $36,000 to households of three and five persons; and $50,000 for households of six and more persons “We understand that the [hurricane] has left many of you facing significant challenges from the loss of homes and livelihoods to the disruption of essential services The World Food Programme is committed… [to] helping you get back on your feet,” Mr he informed that more than 750 residents will receive support through the initiative “Beneficiaries of the programme will soon be notified of their eligibility for assistance in text messages Cash assistance will be disbursed through Western Union’s national network of more than 230 outlets The WFP is working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Western Union to ensure that the support reaches the people and families for whom it is intended,” Mr that in addition to the level of damage to the house elderly persons or persons with disabilities are being prioritised Sacchetti reaffirmed the WFP’s solidarity with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security particularly on its Rebuild Jamaica initiative Jamaicans whose homes were affected by Hurricane Beryl have been receiving cash grants of $50,000 Mary was the final stop in the two-week islandwide tour under the $1-billion initiative ST MARY, Jamaica — Getting five out of six votes, councillor-elect for the Boscobel Division in St Mary Western, Fitzroy Wilson of the People’s National Party, (PNP) has been elected chairman of the St Mary Municipal Corporation and Mayor of Port Maria. Wilson retained the Boscobel Division in the February 26 local government election by beating back a challenge from the Jamaica Labour Party’s Leroy Sewell, who had defeated him in 2016. He replaces the Jamaica Labour Party’s Richard Creary as Port Maria’s mayor. Paul Fyffee (Highgate Division, PNP) received four votes and has been named deputy mayor. This will be Fyffee’s second stint in that role. He also had the role when the PNP last controlled St Mary in 2012. Levan Freeman (Belfield Division) was the mayor then. A source inside the division told Observer Online that the other three councillor-elects, who last week came to office on a PNP ticket, each voted — on Sunday — for themselves to be deputy mayor.  They are Corrine McDonald (Port Maria Division and the only female elected on a PNP ticket in the parish), Jouvaughnie Byfield (Gayle Division), and Ramone Henry (Oracabessa Division). Before Monday’s vote, the PNP held only three seats in St Mary. In a close race, the final tally indicated the PNP won seven divisions to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) six. One of the biggest upsets was in the Gayle Division, which the JLP has held for more than 20 years.  Byfield unseated the former deputy mayor, Jason James by 47 votes. The six seats retained by the JLP are the Annotto Bay Division, held by Hugh Bryan; Lenford Danvers in Castleton; Richard Creary, Richmond; Doreen Hutchinson of the Carron Hall Division; and Mitzy Hudson of Hampstead. The only newcomer for the JLP is Daunte Moulton of the Retreat Division. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Text description provided by the architects. Port de la Selva is a small coastal settlement in the northernmost part of the Costa Brava. The intervention is located on a plot of land in the “La Tamariua” urbanization on the north slope of Puig Gros, a small promontory that surrounds and protects the town’s port. The topography presents a pronounced slope towards the sea with abundant outcrops of “pòrfit”, a dark and very hard rock that characterizes the geology of the volcanic origin of the place. The climatic conditions are typical of the Mediterranean climate, although sometimes they become extreme, with strong winds from the north (Tramuntana) that frequently hit the coast. “pòrfit” gravel from the emptying of the excavation has been used to finish the roofs and the interstitial patios between the intervention and the bedrock To compensate for the intrinsic qualities of concrete oak wood has been chosen to materialize the exterior carpentry providing the whole with warmth and harmony You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email View the discussion thread. View the discussion thread. The family dispute over the will of Hartley Nugent businessman and operator of St Paul’s Funeral Home in St Mary who died in 2019 a medical practitioner who is the executor of the will and was a defendant in the case said yesterday that he can now proceed to have the will probated by the court Wright said he was happy with the outcome of the case and could start the new year knowing that his integrity has been vindicated “It was a very vexing and contentious matter because it was being broadcasted locally and internationally that I had made a bogus will Now that the matter has been settled by the court I hope good sense will prevail,” Wright said Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman represented the defendants and Wright said he was grateful to Wildman who took over the case after the death of his attorney and did an excellent job to see that justice was done who said he had a good relationship with his father had brought a claim against his sister Nicole Nugent and Wright He stated that he was challenging the will on behalf of his mother and brothers and contended that because his father had suffered a stroke he was not physically able to sign a will because he was paralysed on the right side Vernon Nugent sent the will to a handwriting expert who said the signature on the document was different from other writings of the deceased Nicole Nugent is the beneficiary of the funeral home in Port Maria and the claimant was seeking an order from the court that their father died intestate because the will was a forgery Wright stated that the deceased was his patient and was mentally able to give directions and dictate the contents of a will He said that after the deceased made the will Nobody put me under no pressure to do nothing,” the deceased said in the recording Wright said the deceased came to his medical facility in Port Maria on October 25 saying he wanted to make a will and he took him to his conference room where the deceased dictated a will which was witnessed by two of the doctor’s employees Wright said that at the request of the deceased he guided his hand when he was signing the will left one of the two funeral homes to his daughter after hearing evidence and submissions in a trial that lasted two days ruled last month that no evidence was presented to show that the will was forged She said the handwriting expert was unhelpful The judge said further that she was satisfied editorial@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. and a library are now able to tap free Wi-Fi after a public hotspot was established in Port Maria widening the Internet highway for the St Mary capital and adjoining communities Energy and Technology Minister Daryl Vaz said easy access to the Internet was a critical deliverable in global economies and was viewed as crucial for communication The need for high-speed Internet became a global imperative as many schools were shuttered in 2020 and much of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic forcing greater reliance on online classes who was guest speaker during last Thursday’s launch at Claude Stewart Park said the ministry was proud to have the second free public Wi-Fi spot in St Mary is targeting the establishment of hotspots in three communities across Jamaica’s 63 constituencies “I must commend the hard-working and competent Universal Service Fund team for providing public Wi-Fi hotspots to the people of Port Maria since I was not the minister in charge 17 years ago and give credit to all of those ministers that have served in this ministry during that period,” said Vaz the vision is a commitment to the provision of access to technology for all.” Port Maria Mayor Richard Creary spoke about the importance of accessing free Internet with students sitting under those trees doing their homework and they can sit and conduct their educational activities,” Creary said St Mary Central Member of Parliament Dr Morais Guy lauded Vaz for honouring a commitment to the town of Port Maria Guy urged students to encourage their parents to learn to use the Internet and get on board the digital age gareth.davis@gleanerjm.com View the discussion thread. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page View the discussion thread.