The Ministry of Education and Youth is working to equip the Mahoe Hill All-Age School in St. Mary, which has been operating out of the HEART Trust Training Centre in Broadgate since February 14.

Minister of Education, Maxine Henry-Wilson, who recently toured the relocated facility, said the ministry was committed to providing the school with the necessary facilities to enable the continued delivery of quality education to the students.

The institution was relocated following the collapse of the Broadgate/Mahoe Hill swing bridge on February 11. The bridge was the only route to the school, which has a student body of 105 and a staff of four.

The Japanese Embassy, under its Grass Roots and Human Security project, has signed a US$88,000 (J$5.94 million) grant agreement with the Top Mountain Citizens Association for the establishment of a fruit processing and skills training project in the St. Catherine community.

Under the agreement, which was signed February 15, at the embassy's offices on Oxford Road, St. Andrew, the Government of Japan will facilitate the construction of a training and fruit processing facility and provide equipment for the facility to produce jams, jellies and juices using indigenous fruits in the area such as mangoes and otaheite apples.

The Japanese will also provide a motor vehicle to aid the small cottage industry in the delivery of supplies and produce to markets and facilitate a trainer's programme that will be implemented with the assistance of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, Masahiro Obata, in his remarks at the signing ceremony, said that the life of persons within the Top Mountain community should improve under this project.

The National Works Agency (NWA), has re-started its multimillion-dollar drainage improvement work in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. The work will see the construction of a second box culvert valued at $9 million.

The NWA has already completedwork on one box culvert valued at $6 million. About 60 per cent of the new channel has also been cut. Work was suspended by the NWA following difficulties accessing two properties in the area. These difficulties have now been resolved.

Howard Hendriks, community relations officer for the NWA's central region, said the new culvert located at the southern section of the canal in the vicinity of the Mar Blue Guest House should be completed in three months.

The Treasure Beach community was severely affected by flood waters in 2005 during the passage of hurricanes 'Emily' and 'Wilma'. Damage to homes and businesses was estimated in the millions of dollars.

The Scientific Research Council (SRC), earlier this month, kicked off it annual search for potential inventors and persons with innovative ideas with a forum at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville. Two more are slated for Kingston and Montego Bay. Each year, the SRC holds a competition which brings together inventors and innovators from all age groups. This year, the focus is on schools.

There is a cash prize of over $400,000. Persons entering must have had their invention in operation for at least one year prior to the competition.

Part of the forum was devoted to educating the public on how to protect their inventions, access funding and getting it on the market. Those present were advised to protect their inventions by submitting the details, drawings, specifications and date of revelation to the appropriate govenment agency for registration.

They should also mail copies by registered post to themselves. The SRC will also assist in the worldwide search to ensure that submitted inventions have not already been registered by way of patent being granted in other jurisdictions.

- Angelo Laurence

The country needs a crime prevention plan according to Mandeville attorney-at-law Keith Smith. Mr. Smith, who was addressing members of the Rotary Club of Mandeville, saidthat persons accused of crimes are provided with legal representation while the victims of their crimes are left to fend for themselves. "Who is looking after these victims?" he queried, while suggesting that it was time that the Government put in place a system where persons convicted of crimes be placed in work programmes that generate income that would be channelled to the victims.

The attorney further suggested that any property owned by convicted persons should be confiscated and become part of a victim reimbursement fund.

He said that while he lauded the efforts of the police to stem the rise in the crime rate, the recently announced mobile police station to be placed in crime 'hot spots,' as needed, will not be enough.

- A.L.

Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, is up in arms with the Ministry of Local Government over funds he said were promised to beautify the town ahead of the ICC Cricket world Cup which starts next month.

He told The Gleaner that he was asked to make an estimate to clean verges and drains from the Linstead to the Bog Walk roundabout. He said he submitted the claim to the Ministry of Local Government for $2.2 million to do the work and was reassured by the minister and the Permanent Secretary that the money would be given.

However, he learnt on Tuesday that the money will not be granted for the clean-up of St. Catherine. Said he: "I am deeply concerned that after they promised the money to clean up and beautify that corridor of roadway, we are now made to learn that a volunteer group had done a little work there, so the money will not be granted. If World Cup Cricket is to benefit all, then St. Catherine should not be left out," he said.

He was attending the Spanish Town Ministers Fraternal Annual General Meeting and Job Registration Centre launch on Thursday.

- Rasbert Turner