ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across the nation

Jamaica Moves now in schools

Education Minister Fayval Williams said healthy habits, such as being physically active and eating well, have proven to yield long-term dividends in the fight against lifestyle diseases.

Speaking last Friday during activities marking National School Moves Day, at Ferncourt High in St Ann on April 29, Williams said data from a 2017 Global School Health Survey showed that 65 per cent of children, 13 to 17 years, were overweight, while 26 per cent were considered obese.

She further referenced the findings of a 2016-2017 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey which, she said, indicated that one in two, or 54 per cent, of overall Jamaicans were pre-obese or obese.

Williams said that Jamaica Moves in Schools was an early intervention programme, and among those designed to ensure that children participate in a minimum amount of physical activity daily, en route to creating overall healthier lifestyles.

"We are happy to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals of Secondary Schools, and the Jamaica Association of Primary and Infant Schools, to encourage a healthier lifestyle among our [student] population," Williams stated.

She added that, while COVID-19 had severely impacted the programme's implementation, "we are committed to renewing the efforts to achieve the desired results, including encouraging children to get moving about, even in their own home environments."

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Roads being repaired in Westmoreland

Five roads in Westmoreland, that are being repaired by the National Works Agency (NWA) at a cost of $180 million, are at varying stages of completion.

Janel Ricketts, regional community relations officer at the NWA Western Office, said that work has been completed on a section of the Prospect to Bath Mountain Road, in an area known as 'Locust Tree', while repairs are set to start on the Shrewsbury to Logwood Road, starting today.

The scope of works on the latter roadway, which serves the communities of Roaring River and Whithorn, includes drainage improvement and reshaping and asphalting of the surface. These are slated for completion within five months.

Ricketts further advised that repairs are far advanced on the remaining thoroughfares - the Fort William to Welcome, Retrieve to Marchmont, and Farm Pen to George's Plain roads.

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Chang says security forces reaping results

National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says Government's investment in the security forces is bearing fruit.

The security forces last week seized $88 million worth of cocaine and a large sum of United States and Canadian currencies in Western Jamaica and US$1.7 million (approximately J$255 million) worth of ganja in Clarendon.

Speaking at the official opening of the Firearm Licensing Authority's (FLA) Northern Regional Office on Friday in Discovery Bay, St Ann, Chang said the seizure means cutting off the supply of cash to criminals, which means they will be unable to buy guns.

This will lead to a drop in homicide rates, he argued.

"I would like to commend the police officers, supported by elements of the Jamaica Defence Force, for the success they've been having," Chang said.

"It demonstrates that investment by the Government in the security forces is showing results," he added.

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Youths get farmlands

Twenty lease agreements have been inked with youths and selected mango agro-park investors, under an initiative facilitated through the Agro-Investment Corporation (AIC).

The move aligns with the ministry's mandate to ensure that 20 per cent of government-owned lands are offered to young persons 18 to 35 years, for agribusiness-related projects.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Pearnel Charles Jr, said an additional 20 young people will also be awarded leases in short order.

"It has been recognised that the average age of farmers in Jamaica is 50 years old, and, in this context, the AIC as part of its succession planning and sustainability strategy, has sought to ensure that our young people have a place within the agro-parks and production zones," he said.

Charles Jr was speaking at the handover ceremony for the leases on Wednesday, April 27, at the mango agro-park in Toll Gate, Clarendon.

The minister said that beneficiaries will have extended support from the AIC.

"[Support will come] in the form of land preparation, technical support and market linkages, in partnership with stakeholder agencies, including the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica 4-H Clubs and the National Irrigation Commission Limited," he said.