PRINCIPAL of Yallahs High School in St Thomas Mark Malabver has said he is optimistic that the installation of cameras inside classrooms at the institution will bring about great results in curbing behavioural problems among his students
The cameras are courtesy of the Ministry of Education
which has spent well over a billion to roll out cameras in several schools across the island
While he noted that the behaviour of the students has improved tremendously from 2016 to present
“These are not the most disciplined of students and that is why you need somebody to guide them and counsel them at all times
I have been principal since December 2016 and I inherited a student indiscipline problem
We have done various interventions and we also took a very hard nose approach to student indiscipline and there has been significant improvement,” Malabver told the Jamaica Observer
who is president-elect of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA)
said that the number of fights and bad behaviour among students have decreased since the implementation of special programmes
and is expecting things to get better with the initiative to place cameras inside classrooms
“Grade seven to nine accounts for the larger chunk of certain types of behaviours
A number of classrooms this year will have cameras
I can stay in my office and see what is happening particularly in the grade seven to nine classrooms
grade eight and nine are covered and we will be moving to grade seven within the next couple of months
We will then branch out to grades 10 and 11
We will monitor inside the classes and these cameras have voice recordings so we can see and hear what is happening in the various classes,” he said
Malabver pointed to the importance of having a full complement of teachers at school and shared that that is an area the school currently has a challenge with
being short of about six teachers and a guidance counsellor
“One of the challenges that we may have is that we won’t get to man all the classes unless we do some mergers and utilise technology
I am mindful that we have to ensure all the classes are manned because an unattended child is like putting a gun in the hands of a madman
Those are the realities we have to contend with.”
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An extensive clean-up of the Yallahs market in St
with a view to begin accommodating vendors as soon as possible
Minister of Local Government and Community Development
who visited the facility on Wednesday (February 26)
disclosed that he has “given instructions to the technical team in the Ministry to work with the Municipal Corporation to carry out an extensive clean-up of the market so a proper assessment can be done on the market to see where we go from here”
The Minister estimated that in another three weeks he expects to have a full outlay as it relates to costing and the first phase of the cleanup
Thomas Municipal Corporation now has possession of the facility
which was leased to a former Councillor for more than 25 years
“The vendors had to sit outside the gate of the market; [they] can’t enter the market
We gave a commitment that when the lease expired
we would not extend the lease to any other individual
Thomas Municipal Corporation now has possession of the market,” he stated
Minister McKenzie is encouraging vendors to make use of the facility once it is renovated
“It is important that we understand that whatever decisions are made after today’s visit and going forward… vendors and those who support the vendors must utilise the market
We can’t budget to spend to retrofit the market and then we find that persons are not utilising the market,” he said
the Minister informed that he has asked the Municipal Corporation to allow the vendors to occupy the facility temporarily
during the assessment phase and after the clean-up is completed
will provide them with a “proper location” to ply their trade and relieve the sidewalks in the busy Yallahs Bay
In addition to provisions for the vending of fruits and vegetables
the Minister said that the market should also include a haberdashery and “all the facets of a market”
and we are taking the actions that are necessary right now.”
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AS the new school year got under way on Monday
principal of Yallahs High School in St Thomas
accused the Ministry of Education of being “tone deaf” to the issue of teacher shortage currently facing Jamaica
who is the president-elect of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association
told the Jamaica Observer that the issue is being downplayed by Government and warned that trouble is imminent
Yallahs High is short of at least six teachers
which means that some of the staff will have to double up their teaching efforts
as well as the school may have to drop some of the courses it offers to the students
“I think the Ministry of Education is tone deaf to what is happening on the ground in terms of teacher shortage
They are certainly burying their heads in the sand and seeking to downplay the issue of teacher shortage in the system
It is having a debilitating effect on principals and their ability to effectively run their school operations,” said Malabver
He charged that the ministry needs to take a more proactive approach in treating with the issue of teacher migration and shortage
Malabver told the Observer that the staff at Yallahs High is resilient and will see how best they can make things work despite the issues
“Our teachers are aware of what the challenges are and I am sure they will step up to the plate
I am however mindful that if the shortage is sustained
it will have significant impact on our teachers in terms of burnout
we will have to redeploy teachers and add additional sessions to their timetables
is going to lead to burnout and teacher absenteeism
especially further down in the year when teachers are just tired
I am also mindful of these things and that is why I am seeking to fill the vacancies as soon as possible
We are taking a look at our timetable in terms of how many more sessions we will be able to add to other teachers’ timetable said Malabver
“There are some hard-nose decisions that we may have to make with respect to
We may have to move from curriculum offerings this term in certain subject areas if we are just unable to fill the vacancies
if we are unable to recruit a teacher for metal work
we are going to have to take it off the timetable and that is the reality we have to contend with
Technical-vocational education and training teachers are in very short supply,” Malabver said
teacher shortage is being experienced in the areas of science
The institution is also in need of a guidance counsellor
“We hope to fill those vacancies as soon as possible
we have never really started off school with our full complement but this year it is at a critical level so we are pushing to see how best we can treat with those things,” the principal said
Teacher shortage is not the only problem facing the school
Malabver told the Observer that the institution is short of desks and chairs
“We were short of 300 desks and chairs but funds that the ministry has sent covers about 100 which we already procured
That is going to be a major challenge next week
That is against the backdrop that we have seen increased numbers of students who are coming into the school
A number of students have sought transfers into the school
We have taken in close to 50,” said Malabver
He that a number of children have been showing increasing interest in wanting to become students of Yallahs High
The current student population at the school currently sit at around 800
the fact that the entire block C at the school
which was decommissioned as a result of damage caused by an earthquake last year
he bemoaned that the resources provided by the Ministry of Education is woefully inadequate and that the school is in a constant state of deficit
we are not able to run a very effective maintenance programme in terms of maintaining the place in the way we want to maintain it
That is also impacting on the teaching and learning exercise and the school’s ability to find resources to purchase various things for teaching and learning,” said Malabver
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie led a tour of the Yallahs Market on Wednesday
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The Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) is slated to be completed by March 2027
bolstered by a $2.5-billion allocation in the upcoming 2025/26 fiscal year
Details are outlined in the Estimates of Expenditure
recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Finance and the Public Service Minister
The breakdown of the projected $2.5-billion-spend involves $125 million for goods and services
and $1.9 billion for fixed assets (capital goods)
The objective of the project is to improve the alignment and capacity of the existing southern coastal main arterial road to make it safe and efficient
free from flooding and provide for future development
while much of the construction work under Part B has been done
apart from the Yallahs Bridge to Port Antonio section
Part B involves the segments from Harbour View to Albion and Yallahs Bridge
The funds earmarked for the upcoming fiscal year will be directed towards undertaking waterline and road works
as well as conclude outstanding land acquisition
and relocating outstanding Jamaica Public Service (JPS) poles
The SCHIP aims to improve the main road spanning 16 kilometres from Harbour View to Yallahs Bridge
involving the construction of four lanes with shoulders from Harbour View to Albion
and 1.35 kilometres of two lanes with shoulders from Albion to Yallahs Bridge
It also involves rehabilitation of 93 kilometres of the main road from Yallahs Bridge to Port Antonio
as well as the refurbishing of 27.5 kilometres of main road from Morant Bay to Cedar Valley
The initiative also encompasses land acquisition
and the construction of the May Pen to Williamsfield section of Highway 2000
JUTC buses have been operating between Yallahs and Kingston
and Morant Bay and the capital city since December 2
JAMAICA Urban Transit Company (JUTC) began operating in St Thomas on Monday with two bu routes
On the first ride Monday morning the commuters included acting managing director of JUTC Owen Ellington; general manager for the Rockfort Depot
Michael James; and Member of Parliament for St Thomas Eastern
Speaking with JIS News Ellington expressed delight at the rolling out of the service in the eastern parish
“I am feeling good for the citizens of Morant Bay
We would like to really make a difference in terms of how they are transported from here to Kingston and back
saf,e [and] affordable service,” said Ellington
JUTC outlined that both the 701 and 702 will depart from Yallahs and Morant Bay at 5:00 am and then again at 5:30 am
The buses will run throughout the day up to 7:50 pm
JUTC buses leave Wharf Road outside Colonel Cove and make another stop at Morant Bay Bus Park on Church Street
the buses will leave Yallahs Square and then make a pickup at Albion
Ellington said that the company will be making its assessments to see if adjustments to the schedule are necessary
“The only adjustment we may make is if the commuter demands [or] dictates that we adjust the time for earlier or later
but as of right now there are two buses committed to this route and — judging by possible load — if we need to put an additional load
James was also optimistic about the service for St Thomas
“This is the very first bus for the environment in Morant Bay
We are looking to service this area continuously and to bring a better transport experience to the residents of this area,” said James
Smiling and curious faces could be observed all around as commuters took advantage of the service
Keri Thompson of Prospect in the parish works in Kingston and has been utilising the public transportation system for some time
She was one of the first passengers on the 5:00 am bus from Morant Bay
because the whole aspect of saving a dollar counts
Comparing the price range that we’re [used] to
to what is now being offered… it’s really a saver for me
so probably I can save up to buy a car,” said Thompson
Adrian Gordon of Trinityville was also eager to have the service in the parish of his birth
“This is a good look for the parish because now we have more options for transportation
They used to say St Thomas is forgotten but look at us now,” declared Gordon
businesses and farms in the Kingston Metropolitan Area
Protecting these two watersheds from degradation
preserving their ecological integrity and the key resource they provide has become a priority
as they face threats stemming from agriculture
quarrying and the clearing of land for housing
“The problem is that the forest cover has been reduced,” says Loúreene Jones, manager for Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
which causes more erosion and sedimentation
a lot of sediment gets washed away into the catchment areas where the water comes from to supply Kingston with potable water.”
“The water utility company then has to shut down the system
To counter these threats, since 2014 NEPA has been implementing an IDB-supported project, Integrated Management of the Yallahs-Hope Watershed Management Area
the path to preserving the watersheds is understanding and implementing land management techniques and practices that support sustainable livelihoods
Through the participation of watershed communities
NEPA has created economic and financial incentives to support sustainable biodiversity and watershed management
Farmers in particular are fundamental in the restoration and protection of the watersheds
and incentives to specifically improve their cultivation and soil management techniques and practices is critical to any effort toward reducing erosion within the watershed,” says Yuri Chakalall
IDB Senior Sector Specialist for Natural Disaster Risk Management
water supply volumes and quality will likely face greater variability and decline.”
returned to Jamaica in 2015 after living many years in St
a Dutch constituent country in the Caribbean
this single father went into farming to provide for his three children
so it wasn’t that strange to me,” says Willis
“I went into the town one day with only my bus fare and 100 Jamaican dollars (approx
He walked into a store that sold crop seeds and found out from the owner that parsley would make him good returns
sowed them in my yard and every morning watered them.”
he started to reap plentifully from those seeds in a short time
After going into the market to sell every Thursday
he took account and realized he had made $75,000 Jamaican dollars (approx
he could cover his children’s schooling and provide for their needs
He could also invest more into his farm.
Contributing to his success was the training provided by Yallahs-Hope project
“I grabbed the opportunity when I learned about it
it was about the whole package,” says Willis
and envisions continuing to grow his farm as well as saving enough to send his eldest daughter to college.
Willis’ training taught him to contribute to the preservation of the area
using unfarmed parts of his land to create hillside barriers that prevent soil erosion
It has allowed him to grow his crops in a cheaper and more sustainable way
reusing what would normally be waste on the farm
through techniques such as composting and mulching
thus spending less on fertilizer and pesticides
Striking a balance between farmers’ livelihoods and the ecological impact of their activities requires investing in their ability to farm more sustainably
and praise the quality of the Blue Mountain coffee
but when you take a trip up to the source of this coffee
the unintended impact of land clearance becomes very evident,” says Andre Reid
we understand you need to make a living but here’s how we can help each other.’ We say
‘plant these trees between your coffee trees
then you will see less soil run off and we will get more water.’”
Education has been the key both to overcome farmers’ initial reticence and to provide them tools to preserve the land and resources they depend on. With the help of a partner agency, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
a farmer field school saw 402 farmers graduate from training
ensuring that the sustainable practices are implemented
and that 500 hectares of land were reforested
Forest fire prevention and management were other critical skills the farmers developed to help protect the watershed area
one of the things the farmers were taught was how to create a fire line
where they would clear a section around their farm to stop any fire from spreading there
A fire watch group was also created and supported with tools and equipment
so in case of a fire they could put it out,” says Shanice Bedward
former technical director on the project’s farmer training component
Bedward sees the outcomes of training as a success: “In the long term
even if all those 500 hectares are not maintained
we still would have achieved a good amount of forest cover
it is quite fulfilling to hear them talk about what they learned
how it benefitted them and the satisfaction they got from being a part of this,” she says.
“I don’t believe they want to purposefully harm the environment or not adhere to best practices
and being able to teach them and expose them to best practices brings awareness
Some of them even say this is the first time they have graduated from something and are proud to have that certificate to show,” says Bedward
we should see a reduction in erosion or the amount of sediment coming downstream to cause catchments and dams to be loaded with sediment
which creates more outages in water supply,” says the IDB’s Chakalall
“Just as public investments are made to collect
equally significant public investments should be made to ensure that watersheds can maintain their integrity so as to ensure a sustainable supply well into the future”
Learn more about how we can guarantee food security in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Context of COVID-19
Find out about the challenges to achieve food security in the region in this free publication (in Spanish).
The St Thomas-based Yallahs Primary and its music department will benefit from proceeds from the inaugural staging of Road to Greatness
Road to Greatness is scheduled to take place on June 1 at the school’s compound and
MEGO Management and The Estate Entertainment
the event is not just about celebrating performers
“Road To Greatness is about celebrating not just the same people that are highlighted in the media every day
but also those who are making significant strides in the industry incognito or historically
we want to highlight and celebrate the journeys of those in the culture of dancehall
This event is just the catalyst for the plans ahead,” Burke shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer
The event which will be the first of two to be held this year
will feature performances from the likes of Skeng
the in-demand university student who has been making a name for himself on the party scene
while Tower Band will provide backing duties
“Patrons can expect a unique experience with quality productions and innovative
state-of-the-art lighting,” Burke disclosed
the inaugural staging of Road to Greatness will be the first of many
“There are plans to take the show to more parishes and countries over time
the next will be Trelawny and we’re hoping to go to Negril and Clarendon,” she said Burke
I feel like our culture is not just about what we hear in our ears
Most people see me doing stage management at events
project management and booking artiste and I never really had my own event in Jamaica,” Burke shared
“Road To Greatness will aim to highlight the beauty and developments of St Thomas
while also giving artistes a chance to connect with current and potential fans in the area,” she continued
View the discussion thread.
the girlfriend of Hymnrancon ‘Bob’ Lewis
helped to push off a red and blue vessel from Yallahs Beach in St Thomas around 7:30 a.m
on Sunday and watched as her boyfriend and his co-worker
With no intention to stay at sea long – their only task was to retrieve fish from pots they had set on Friday – Lewis only carried a bottle of water
Wilmot told The Gleaner that she became concerned when all the other vessels that went out to sea returned except the Young Moore vessel he journeyed in
She tried calling his phone several times and became alarmed when he did not pick up
The girlfriend then made a missing person report to the police
It has been an agonising wait for Wilmot and their eight-month-old son
who expected to see the 36-year-old fisherman return on Sunday
Mi can’t manage da burden yah,” a teary-eyed Wilmot said
“When mi leave off a di beach and go in and bathe him and try put him to sleep
If him even doze off him jump up and say ‘Daddy’ ‘cause he’s used to him and him nuh see no daddy on the bed
I want to see him back safe and sound,” the mother said
Wilmot told The Gleaner that she has accompanied her boyfriend of five years to sea many times – the last being on her birthday
They travelled in a smaller vessel to the same location Lewis and Campbell headed for on Sunday and returned home safely
who sells beverages and snacks on the beach
said the father of three had encountered difficulties before – a failed engine or drifting at sea
who then sent another fisherman to rescue him
Lewis’ disappearance has added more stress to the family
passed away on July 12 and is scheduled to be buried mid-August
“We can’t take another sad news
Mi hope him out deh a drift and dem find him today by the help of God
“Mi have faith and mi heart nuh leap
so mi know seh the two fisherman dem out deh somewhere waiting on somebody to find them
That is the hope I have,” Wilmot said
said they do not have a close relationship but described him as someone who earned an honest living through fishing
He last laid eyes on him on Saturday in Yallahs Square
“We are just hoping and praying that they will show up
last saw him on Sunday morning when he passed his house on his way to the fishing beach
We really haven’t been handling it well,” he said in a low tone
The family and fellow fishermen are appealing for assistance from the Coast Guard to conduct search and rescue operations
No one was at Campbell’s home during a Gleaner visit to his community
The fishing community is hanging on to the hope that Lewis and Campbell will be found alive
as the last time fishermen went missing without a trace from the beach was over three decades ago
Alvin Morgan has known both fishermen since they were children and recalled that they used to hustle on the beach and go to sea with older seafarers
“We made a lot of search in the evening to see if we could find them
A trough get up inna the Sunday deh wid a breeze
suh mi figure say it draw dem gone somewhere
“We make search back a airport and all dem place deh but they just can’t be found.”
But Morgan said it’s early days as fishermen have gone missing before and searches lasted for weeks
View the discussion thread.
Quick response by the police to an early morning robbery at a liquor store in Yallahs
that ended with three thieves shot dead has won plaudits from residents who have expressed annoyance that their parish has been targeted by criminals
“It was a job well done… the police are doing great work,” one resident told the Jamaica Observer as Independent Commission of Investigations officers started their probe of the Thursday morning shooting
Police said they were alerted to the break-in at Progressive Liquor Store
he was allegedly attacked by a man armed with a machete and discharge his weapon hitting the thief
The other robbers opened fire at the licensed firearm holder before entering a motor car and speeding away
which they caught up with in the Grant’s Pen area of St Thomas
Men were seen on the outside of the car and they opened gunfire at the police; the police returned the fire and two of the men were hit,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Oniel Thompson said
“All three persons who were hit were pronounced dead at hospital
One firearm was seized from the scene in Grant’s Pen
Three other persons escaped in nearby bushes,” Thompson told the Observer
“I must say that since the start of the year break-ins have been an issue for us in the Yallahs space
and we are doing everything to cauterise this kind of crime in the area,” he added
obviously heartened by Thompson’s promise and the cutting down of the robbers
expressed satisfaction with the work done by the police
One man said that many times when people come to St Thomas and commit robberies residents are usually blamed
Now that the highway has been built it takes 10 to 15 minutes to get to and from Kingston
There is a lot of infrastructural development and more people are borrowing money to develop their businesses
When people borrow money to do their business and you have criminals coming inside the community and breaking into places and carrying out robberies
It causes business owners not to trust the youth in the space
worse if the young men are not working,” he said
we and the other persons are very glad that the police responded efficiently
to apprehend the criminals from outside coming into the parish,” he said
residents are determined that people from outside the parish will no longer be allowed to come in and commit robberies and other crimes without being challenged
They cannot pass the border line at Ten Miles Bull Bay… the police will apprehend them
“There was a robbery recently about 100 to 150 metres from here
It seems that because dem bingo and got through at that time they decided come back to try another business place,” said the resident
who noted that many houses are being burgled during daylight hours
even two and three houses will get broken into and nobody sees anything until the owners come home
All people say afterwards is they saw a car here or there
If you have relatives coming into the communities to live you need to introduce them so everybody knows who is who,” he said
“If we see that person doing something wrong
we can go to their relative and say that the man you introduced the other day
You can’t even trust your own that is beside you,” he added
Another resident said that thieves may have convinced themselves that St Thomas is rural; therefore
they can come in and do whatever they want
If you are going to come into the community to break it down then you need to go
“By the time I came on the scene I found the door opened and I heard that a man died inside there,” he shared
Phillips said that the men were not from St Thomas and weren’t familiar with the territory
loaded with five live rounds of ammunition
Phillips said that an all-out assault will be launched on criminals who believe they can come into St Thomas and carry out robberies and create mayhem at will
St Thomas has seen an increase in break-ins
Two weeks ago there was a situation where a liquor wholesale was robbed of over $2 million
The community of Yallahs has been suffering at the hands of these persons,” Phillips said
“It is very unfortunate that we still have people so empowered to try and take on the security forces
We are not taking any chances with St Thomas
we know exactly what is happening on this side
That is why we have situated some police teams on the main highway to give us this kind of response
I issue a warning to criminals moving into St Thomas that it is not going to be business as usual,” he said
“I want to just encourage and reassure the citizens in these parts that you have the full support of the police
and the team here are working very hard to keep you safe
and I have all confidence that they will continue to do so
We have a full mandate from the high command and we are going to carry out that mandate without any form of distraction,” Phillips added
Thomas and neighbouring parishes are now better able to manage their operations
following a Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) fruit tree resuscitation training exercise on Wednesday (August 28)
and featured information-based and practical sessions moderated by key stakeholders
The event formed part of post-Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts
“it was observed that most of the fruit trees had broken branches
which caused a majority of the fruits to be laying on the ground”
“The aftermath of such storms can leave trees vulnerable to diseases
reduce their productivity and affect the overall health of the orchard
I believe that a resuscitation training is crucial to help farmers and gardeners effectively restore their trees and minimise long-term damage,” she added
Newman explained that consequent on the training
the farmers are now equipped with the knowledge and skills to rehabilitate damaged fruit trees and can better assess damage
and manage post-storm care to ensure that trees recover fully and continue to produce fruit
Among the enthused participants paying keen attention to the presenters during the interactive session was farmer
in terms of how you bud the trees to enhance production and how to keep them at a certain level to encourage wider spread instead of them growing all the way up
sharing with other farmer colleagues,” she told JIS News
Walker said she opted to get into farming because “I want to help to feed the nation and feed myself”
leaving her home in Portland from 7:00 a.m
Thomas for the training was a worthwhile choice
as she has gained valuable knowledge that will make her a better farmer
Myles plants short-term crops such as Pak choi
as well as longer term crops like plantain
She learned about the session through fellow farmers in St
and I liked the encouragement they gave us that farmers can make more money by coming together in community groups instead of individually,” the farmer of 15 years told JIS News
The day’s slate of activities also included the main presentation by Senior Agronomist
who discussed the Agriculture Ministry’s New FACE of Food initiative and led the practical sessions on fruit tree pruning
Other presentations were made by representatives of DELTA Supply Company Limited
and the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Praedial Larceny Unit
Members of the Forestry Department were also actively involved in the day’s proceedings
View the discussion thread.
Thomas is benefiting from the ‘No Male Left Behind’ project being spearheaded by the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation
tablets have been donated to male students and teachers at the institution
The project aims to cater to the needs of at-risk boys at high schools across the island by providing them with increased access to educational tools
The mentoring component of the project is designed to encourage the male students to stay in school
while also providing them with exposure to social and career development support
tells JIS News that he is “elated to have been given a tablet by the Foundation and I can now do my schoolwork with less worry
I will do my best to keep it safe and I thank them very much for giving us these gifts”
as she has been allowing her son to use her cellular phone to access online classes
and their schoolwork must come first with these tablets
Project Manager at the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation
tells JIS News that 15 schools have been assisted
She says that the Foundation also intends to deepen partnerships with parents and teachers in order to ensure that the male students receive maximum benefits from the interventions
Coy says that the project is among initiatives under the ‘Brewing a Better Jamaica’ strategy
which is targeted at youngsters aged three to 18
She notes that the work of the Foundation is grounded in the belief that education is key to nation-building
“We are cognisant of the truth that an educated and skilled youth becomes an adult that can contribute to nation-building and
we can play a role in the socio-economic development of Jamaica
in order to increase stability for all,” she says
says the school community is “very grateful” for the support
He says he has seen improved participation from the students who have received tablets
Malabver tells JIS News that he is particularly pleased about the mentoring aspect of the No Male Left Behind project
“They are identifying mentors and guidance for them
I am expecting that these boys will be groomed to eventually become outstanding men in the society,” he says
Malabver points out that since the COVID-19 pandemic
several groups have reached out to the school to provide tablets and other support
“They have helped us tremendously during this challenging time,” he shares
The Yallahs High School has a population of 847 students
the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation has invested more than $150 million in causes to benefit a wide cross section of Jamaicans
the Foundation has funded the Learning for Life skills training programme
which has provided more than 11,000 youth with accredited certification and job opportunities
the organisation provided 10 tablets to the Educational Assessment and Intervention Centre based at the Church Teachers’ College in Mandeville
It has also donated $200,000 worth of supplies to assist schools in meeting COVID-19 protocols
The Foundation has also provided gowns and other support to students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Nursing
Jamaica— The National Works Agency (NWA) says it has commenced works valued at $400 million to install streetlights along the Harbour View
St Thomas stretch of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Programme (SCHIP)
The agency stated in a release on Wednesday that the multimillion-dollar work along the 17-kilometre stretch of highway will include the installation of approximately 400 light poles
The project is being executed in partnership with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCO)
Communication and Customer Services at the NWA
Stephen Shaw says that the erection of the poles form part of the final works being undertaken
It is expected that the installation of the poles will be completed by Christmas 2023
Shaw says that progress is also being made with the installation of traffic signals along the corridor
The first bank of lights was erected recently at the junction to the Grant’s Pen community in St Thomas,” Shaw added
“Other final works now being undertaken as part of the overall works are the installation of safety features
as well as corrective works to minor defects in some areas,” the NWA said
The Harbour View to Yallahs leg of the SCHIP is being done at a cost of over US$114 million
The road is being built as a four-lane highway with several sections being realigned for safety and efficiency purposes
View the discussion thread.
THE by-election in the Yallahs Division of St Thomas Western scheduled for this Friday will certainly place a lot of attention on this very historical and important corner of south-eastern Jamaica with its political diversity and a history that takes us all the way back to the period of Spanish colonisation
most of what we now know as the parish of St Thomas was more or less two very large Spanish ranches known as Yallahs and Morant (or Hato Ayala and Hato Morante) in the wake of Spanish occupation after 1509
With the British conquest in 1655 came the “parish” system that initially amounted to only seven parishes
which included St Thomas with Morant Bay as its capital
and the parish of St David with its capital at Yallahs
St David would exist for over 200 years until it was merged with St Thomas in 1866
when the parishes were reduced from 22 to 14
the coastal town of Yallahs is a bustling hub of activity and the main town in the St Thomas Western constituency on the A4 principal highway easterly out Kingston
with a population of 10,849 (STATIN 2011 census)
which is nearly as much as the parish capital and actually ranks 14th in the island
With its beaches and other coastal advantages
robust business and commercial activities and a hinterland of diverse agricultural pursuits
Yallahs has emerged as a prominent urban centre of eastern Jamaica and will undoubtedly benefit further from the proposed major road upgrading of the A4 into Port Antonio
The Yallahs Division was one of the original 16 divisions allotted to the parish of St Thomas
It was also one of the eight consigned to the St Thomas Western constituency when the first Parochial Board Parish Council (PC) Election under adult suffrage was held in October 1947
the quantity of the divisions has been largely reduced in both parish and constituency
and at one point the Yallahs Division was even split into two divisions
the division includes communities and districts such as Poor Man’s Corner
Traditionally the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has dominated the Yallahs Division to the tune of 49¾ years (70.7 per cent) over the 70½ years since October 1947
and with 10 (71.4 per cent) of the total of 14 councillors who have represented the division since that time
the People’s National Party (PNP) has had only four councillors (28.6 per cent) who served for just over 20½ years (29.3 per cent)
Except for the 1960 PC Election under Robert Lightbourne’s tenure as Member of Parliament (MP)
and the 2012 PC Election under MP James Robertson
the PNP’s rare quantum of victories in this division only occurred when the PNP was in power
Under the first St Thomas Western Member of the House of Representatives (MHR)
the JLP consolidated the Yallahs Division in the first contest in 1947 with Reuben O Moore ,who polled only 337 votes (29.5 per cent) and outscored a slate of seven Independent contenders in a 48.1 per cent voter turnout
But by 1951 the division was reduced to just two contenders when the JLP’s AA Rondon defeated the PNP’s Marcus Loague by 38 votes in a 22.0 per cent voter turnout
The PNP’s first national victory in 1955 also brought into the parish the first PNP MHR
Kenneth A Clarke (a cousin of Alexander Bustamante)
as well as the division’s first PNP councillor
who defeated Rondon by 172 votes in a 35.6 per cent voter turnout in the 1956 PC Election
With the JLP’s Robert Charles Lightbourne as the seat’s third MHR in 1959
the Yallahs Division remained steadfast under the PNP’s Lawrence L Telfer
who polled 55.5 per cent of the ballots in the 1960 PC Election
But the next election in 1966 would see the genesis of the division’s longest-serving councillor
who trounced Telfer by 365 votes (28.8 per cent); then Wilkin Robinson (twice)
by then Lightbourne had abandoned the JLP after their 1972 defeat to become an independent member in the House
followed by the formation of his United Party (UP) in 1974 with the Star as its symbol
UP went down and the Star never became an illumination in the political constellation anywhere
Lightbourne’s political acumen and influence in St Thomas Western was clearly accentuated when
all six of his (former) JLP councillors (including Marvelley) ran as independents and all six defeated PNP candidates
A change of the guard in Yallahs came in 1976 with the second PNP Member of Parliament
along with a big swing to the party with Doreen Chin Sang (the division’s first female councillor)
who destroyed the JLP’s Allan Bonaparte Ross by 1,284 votes (52.7 per cent)
both Dewar and Chin Sang were destined to become one-termers
the Yallahs Division was split into Yallahs East and Yallahs West
and following the JLP tsunami of 1980 which brought in that party’s Errol Anderson as the next MP for St Thomas Western
the 1981 PC Election saw the return of Henry Marvelley as the JLP councillor for Yallahs East
defeating the PNP’s Relva Erskine by 830 votes (66.2 per cent)
while the JLP’s Reginald Bogle took the Yallahs West Division when he defeated the PNP’s Leslie Evans by 794 votes (75.8 per cent)
Despite the PNP’s huge national victories in both the 1986 and 1990 PC Elections
Anderson held on to both Yallahs divisions in both elections
who took Yallahs East by 226 votes over Relva Erskine
who defeated the PNP’s Hubert Donaldson by 268 votes in Yallahs West
The repeat JLP victories in 1990 saw Marjorie D Walters conquering the PNP’s Derrick Clarke by 481 votes in Yallahs East and Hamilton Dawkins
It is to the PNP’s eternal shame that under their watch they allowed a period of 8½ years to elapse before the calling of the next PC Election in September 1998
an election that is mandatory every three years
administrations of both major parties have exceeded the law from time to time
but none so barefaced and so deliberate; and
at a time when the JLP opposition perhaps was most vulnerable and at its lowest ebb
It was nothing short of an electoral disgrace and a blot on the party’s record which former party president
by 1998 Yallahs was once more restored to one division
and with the departure of Anderson in 1993 and the emergence of a new PNP MP
George Anthony Hylton (a native of Yallahs)
the Yallahs Division was won for only the fourth time by a PNP councillor (and the present PNP candidate)
who defeated Marjorie Walters by 115 votes
But Bogle’s term only lasted until the next PC Election in December 2003 when he stood down and in his place the PNP’s Joel Scott was whipped by the division’s third woman
It was a PC Election which became the first to be won by the JLP while the PNP was in power
and was also clearly influenced by the victory of the new JLP MP James Robertson
who had crushed Hylton in the 2002 General Election
Turgott increased her margin to 554 votes (28.9 per cent) in the 2007 PC Election
but did not seek re-election in 2012 after the PNP regained power.Constantine Bogle was able to return a second term to defeat the JLP’s Courtney Lewin by 321 votes (12.4 per cent) in a 32.4 per cent voter turnout
In the last Local Government Election on November 28
Bogle was narrowly beaten by 125 votes (4.4 per cent) by the JLP’s Dean R Jones
who polled 1,451 votes (51.1 per cent) to Bogle’s 1,326 (46.7 per cent) in a 32.1 per cent voter-turnout
The official result showed that of the 31 boxes in the division
Jones won 23 (74.2 per cent) to Bogle’s seven boxes (22.6 per cent)
and both candidates tied on 27 votes each in the final box
there is a stark similarity in the Yallahs poll as it relates to both the November 2016 Local Government Election and the February 2016 General Election
James Robertson had triumphed in 25 boxes (80.6 per cent)
Marsha Francis (his PNP opponent) won in only four boxes (12.9 per cent) and both candidates tied in the last two boxes
In spite of his close margin of 414 votes (2.2 per cent)
Robertson had won the Yallahs Division by 522 votes (11.5 per cent) in the general election
then more than doubled his overall margin throughout the constituency to 844 votes (8.1 per cent) in the local government election
based on the political tradition of the division
and with John Lee the new JLP kid on the block who is also a native of Yallahs
this contest is destined to be another steep climb for Bogle
which is so badly in need of an eventful by-election victory
The voter turnout here will be crucial to both sides
although that is hardly a prevalent factor in local government elections
The average voter turnout in the Yallahs Division since 1990 has been 37.7 per cent
which could be considered moderate to high in comparison to other areas
the JLP already leads in the popular vote with 10,710 to the PNP’s 9,794
which explains how important victory is to either side
since victory for the PNP would clinch the St Thomas Municipality six divisions to four
but with less popular votes as in the case of both St Catherine and Manchester
The most votes ever polled in the Yallahs Division were 1,898 by Marjorie Walters (Yallahs East) in 1990
closely followed by Doreen Chin Sang’s 1,850 in 1977
Chin Sang also scored the highest margin of victory with 1,284 votes (52.7 per cent)
but the highest percentage margin belongs to Reginald Bogle’s 87.9 per cent in the Yallahs West contest in 1981
It is also significant to note that of the 14 councillors elected at Yallahs
three (21.4 per cent) have been women (Chin Sang
which slightly defies the tradition of inadequate female participation in our politics
since the Yallahs by-election is all about the judgement that was handed down by the chief justice in the case of the JLP councillor
who was disqualified on the grounds of being a Government employee
I am reminded of another notable precedence which occurred with the same kind of media hype and excitement — that of young PNP attorney-at-law John Archibald Junor
whose excursion into the Borobridge Division of Dr Neville Gallimore’s St Ann South-Western seat in the 1977 Parish Council Election was short-lived by the following year when he was unceremoniously booted out of the division for not being a registered voter in the parish
In what was to be his first political venture
Junor did well too by beating JLP incumbent Stephen Mathison by nearly 500 votes
Junor’s next adventure would be another disaster when he dared to oppose PNP stalwart-turned JLP candidate Allan Isaacs in St Andrew South-Eastern in 1980 and was clobbered by nearly 5,000 votes
Eventually in 1989 he settled in the PNP bastion of Manchester Central where he served as a four-term MP
largely bequeathed by the political legacy of former PNP champion
Police and residents on the scene where the body of Titsy Banney was found in St
View the discussion thread.
A section of the Southern Coastal Highway - file photo
View the discussion thread.
The Yallahs High School in St Thomas is benefiting from the ‘No Male Left Behind’ project being spearheaded by the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation
The mentoring component of the project is designed to encourage the male students to stay in school while also providing them with exposure to social and career development support
Fabean Panton of Yallahs High told JIS News that he is “elated to have been given a tablet by the foundation
and I can now do my schoolwork with less worry
and I thank them very much for giving us these gifts”
said the donation of the device is timely as she has been allowing her son to use her cellular phone to access online classes
and their schoolwork must come first with these tablets because they are not cheap,” Lamont noted
Project manager at the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation Stephannie Coy told JIS News that 15 schools have been assisted so far under No Male Left Behind
She said that the foundation also intends to deepen partnerships with parents and teachers in order to ensure that the male students receive maximum benefits from the interventions
Coy said that the project is among initiatives under the ‘Brewing a Better Jamaica’ strategy
She noted that the work of the foundation is grounded in the belief that education is key to nation-building
“We are cognisant of the truth that an educated and skilled youth becomes an adult that can contribute to nation-building
we can play a role in the socio-economic development of Jamaica in order to increase stability for all,” she said
said the school community is “very grateful” for the support
He said he has seen improved participation from the students who have received tablets
Malabver told JIS News that he was particularly pleased about the mentoring aspect of the No Male Left Behind project
“They are identifying mentors and guidance for them
I am expecting that these boys will be groomed to eventually become outstanding men in the society,” he said
Malabver pointed out that since the COVID-19 pandemic
the school’s past students’ association
and the South Haven Citizens’ Association
“They have helped us tremendously during this challenging time,” he shared
the foundation has funded the Learning for Life skills training programme
the organisation provided 10 tablets to the Educational Assessment and Intervention Centre based at the Church Teachers’ College in Mandeville
The foundation has also provided gowns and other support to students at the University of the West Indies School of Nursing
View the discussion thread.
Jamaica – Work on the Llandewey bridge in Yallahs
This was revealed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC)
during a tour of sections of St Thomas Western
“I’m hoping to be back here with Mr (James) Robertson
to break ground to commence the construction,” the ninister said
Noting the other bridges and breakaways within the constituency
“those I’m going to ask the ministry to move expeditiously to scope and price
Wednesday’s all-day tour stretched from a meeting point at Harbour View in St Andrew to as far as the Mahogany Vale bridge in the hills of St Thomas Western
passing through the districts of the Blue Mountain range
Robertson pointed out that the St Thomas leg of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement project is progressing
[This tour] is to see the second phase of our development of the East and West – how we’re going to face the challenges of the hills,” he added
The touring party also included representatives from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF)
the Municipal Corporation and members of the media
After visiting 22 districts served by five schools
Minister Warmington noted that most road structures are “in very bad condition” and would need special resources to be addressed
He said that from Mount Vernon to East Rural St Andrew
there are a total of six breakaways and that he had given instruction to have them scoped and designed
I’m told that three of the designs are completed
I believe we have to take some immediate actions to try and correct what we have there now… we’re looking at cutting down part of the embankment to widen what is there
so that it would be much easier for vehicular traffic to traverse there,” the minister said