Major Richard Creary and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tuftan visited the Richmond Cocoa Fermentry on Thursday, June 26, 2k8, and commented on the poor condition of the faclity and the wages that were paid to the labourers. Mr. Tuftan said that the Fermentry was not reflecting the potential anf profitability of the cocoa industry, which is in great demand locally and internationally.

The minister stated that he will be in dialogue with the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), which is a government entity that recieves it's funding from the ministry of Agriculture.

Mr. Tuftan in is closing remarks stated that every labourer once employed in a government facility should be compensated according to his/her effort, "nothing less or nothing more", he said.

The cocoa fermentry in Orange River was also visited by both Mr. Christopher Tuftan and Major Mr. Richard Creary.

"A one a di greatest feeling in di worl, it mad," Mavado said when THE STAR spoke with him yesterday about his latest Nike endorsement. International sportswear giant Nike has selected dancehall star Mavado to be part of the company's latest consumer marketing campaign. Nike recently commissioned Mavado to appear in an EPK (Electronic Promotional Kit) and to make an original track to support the Jamaican effort at the 2008 Olympics. More...

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), initiators of the Domestic Food Crop Production of Marketing Projects, presented an open day on Green House Production at High Pride Enterprise in Highgate, St. Mary on June 13th. This function marked a significant progressive move for farmers in the parish of St. Mary, as it is the first greenhouse in the parish, growing two crops, tomatoes and sweet peppers.

Although the planting of crops in this project started in the first week of March this year, there has already been massive reaping of crops of competitive standards. According to one of the farmers, Mr. Paul Henry, reaping started as soon as in April, one month after planting. Those in attendance at the function staff members of RADA, The Custos of St. Mary Robert Pottinger, Member of Parliament Dr. Morais Guy, and Minister of Agriculture and Lands Mr. Roger Clarke who gave the main address.

In his address to the gathering Hon. Roger Clarke congratulated High Pride Enterprise on the operation, welcoming them to a collection of farmers in Jamaica who have taken a step towards high efficiency in agriculture, which can only be had through Greenhouse Technology. " This technology allows farmers not to be bothered by the elements and give rise to favourable yields," he said.

Hon Roger Clarke also highlighted the challenges that farmers presently face, these include:

1. Small farmers not embracing a cooperative spirits which he deems is the only way small farmers can get better results

2. The Price of Fertilizer being at a high rate. He encouraged farmers to take the route of going under organic production.

3. The financing of agriculture. Farmers taking a proactive step in getting loans at the different institutions that are offering them can address this he says. " The Ministry of Finance for this financial year is offering 2.5 million dollars of funding for loans for farmers at a reasonable interest rate.

Minister Clarke finally challenged RADA to continue to re-engineer themselves and aim to be a one-stop shop where farmers can go to and get loan advice and technical expertise in order to empower the farmers of Jamaica. The farmers in their response, which was given by Mr. Paul Henry, reiterated the importance of farmers coming together and gave their commitment in assisting other farmers in accomplishing what they had done at High Pride Enterprise.

"We are committed with the kind assistance of the Member of Parliament Dr. Guy and the Minster of Agriculture in setting up at least two more farms in the parish before the year ends," declared Mr. Henry. He also requested that the Ministry would look into making government lands that were presently not in use available for ventures such as greenhouse production. " In the world of globalization we have to join together, we have to Buy Jamaican," he concluded.

Reggae Artist A.K.A Mavado is scheduled to perform with Rap Giant Jay Z in Madison Square Garden. This dual is said to be one of the greatest achievements in history by a local artist. Mavado after recording is smash hit song "I am on the Rock", received an invitation from Jay Z to do a collaboration on the song.

Jay Z after recording his part on the track, has been receiving much love from Mavado fans and also from all the reggae fans accross the planet. Similarly, Mavado has been getting much love from Jay Z huge fan base.

Mavado recorded the song after his annual birthnight reggae stage show was invaded by the Jamaican Constabulary Force. The show despite a great and entertaining start was brought to an abrupt end after the authorities made their intentions clear to boycott the party.

His family has operated the KFC franchise in Jamaica for 32 years, opening the first store in Montego Bay on June 18, 1975.

Chief public Health inspector for St. Mary, Anthony Robins have raised the red flag on several business operators in the Horace Clarke Arcade and Bus Terminus who he says continue to practice improper garbage disposal methods.

This comes after months long reports coming out of the council urging the health department to take actions against the management of the Arcade who the council say have not been doing much to tackle illegal dumping in the area.

In a address to the St. Mary Parish council monthly meeting in march this year, Chairman of the St. Mary Parish Council, Richard Creary, said the council had cleaned the drains in the arcade, December of last year. He added that after visiting the area shortly after he observed that the drains were blocked with food and drink boxes and argued that he do not see why the council should be using public funds to embark on cleaning in the Arcade and Bus Terminus being that the area is no longer considered 'state owned'.

Creary added that cleaning in the area should be the responsibility of the manager and asked that the health department served a notice on the management to have them do so.

This was however refuted by the public health inspector, Anthony Robins, who claimed that notice could only be served on the individuals found in breach of public health guidelines instead of the management of the area.

Now months later, reports coming out of the health department are that operators at the Arcade and Bus Terminus have left the inspectors with no other option but to intervene with the law unless they clean up their act. Addressing this months sitting of the St. Mary parish council monthly meeting, Robins said, “We have gone back and encouraged the use of plastic bags but we are not encouraged by what we saw. This is why we have to go the route of prosecuting offenders."

However, manager of the arcade and bus terminus, Seymour Morales said most of the garbages found in the area are carried in by drains whenever it rains. He accused the council of plotting to gaine ownership of the Arcade and Bus Terminus.

Over the past months, the council and the management of the Arcade and Bus Terminus have been at odds over the ownership of the area. The council is currently waiting legal advise from the Attorney General on how to regain ownership of the area in an effort to stem traffic congestion in the parish capital, Port Maria.