ONE-MINUTE READS

NWA starts work on Hanover roadways

The National Works Agency (NWA) has commenced work to rehabilitate sections of the Burnt Ground to Ramble, and Mackfield to Ramble roads in eastern Hanover, at a cost of $36.5 million.

Janel Ricketts, community relations officer at the NWA's Western Office, said the project commenced last month and is expected to be completed by June.

"The project involves extensive drainage improvement, with the construction of a number of drains, including French, curb and channel drains. The work also includes the reshaping and resurfacing of the roadways using asphaltic concrete overlay," she said.

Ricketts said the current works follow the rehabilitation of another section of the Burnt Ground roadway, at a cost of $17.8 million, noting that this formed Phase One of programmed activities in the area.

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National Blood Transfusion Service does collection drive in Westmoreland

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) carried out a blood drive at Godfrey Stewart High School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, on May 22, as the entity continues efforts to boost blood collection to serve the needs of the health sector.

Blood donor organiser at NBTS, Odean Black, emphasised the importance of the outreach where more than 25 persons, including students, staff and parents, gave blood on the day.

He pointed out that such initiatives are critical to meeting the increasing demand for blood across Jamaica, highlighting the continuous challenge in getting persons to donate.

"The number of willing persons is not as much as we would like, but we still have to do our work anyway, and do what we need to do to make sure we collect as much blood," Black said.

'So, today is just our usual outreach where we go to schools, churches and business places. The intention is to meet people part way, to donate blood," he pointed out.

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ITA wants more caution on roads

The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is renewing calls for road users to exercise greater caution when traversing the roadways, despite a five per cent decline in road fatalities for the first quarter of 2024.

One hundred and two lives were lost to road crashes during that period, a difference of five when compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and private motor vehicle drivers were the top three road user categories with the highest number of road fatalities during the quarter. The main causes of these fatalities were speeding, failure to keep to the proper traffic lane, and pedestrians walking out or standing in the roadway. As of May 27, 167 lives have been lost to road crashes, resulting from 144 fatal collisions.

The ITA is reminding all road users to be alert and follow the rules of the road at all times. The intention of all road users is to get to their destination safely and back home. Road users must ensure they cut out distractions, cut out all unnecessary actions that could lead to a crash or a fatality and think about their loved ones who they want to go home to. It is also very important that they learn the Road Code and abide by it.

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Gov't seeks to reduce violent incidents in schools

The government is moving to strengthen measures to reduce incidents of violence in schools.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says it is important that every step is taken to reduce instances of violence, so that children can learn in a safe environment. The Ministry of Education and Youth, as well as the Ministry of National Security, are to undertake a reassessment of the security risks of schools.

"That way, we can get a better understanding of which schools are at risk and how to direct resources to those schools. We have already started to increase the number of case managers that would be available for community interventions and school interventions through the Ministry of National Security, and we are going to increase the number of school resource officers," Holness said.

"What we are going to seek to do now, after the conduct of this new assessment of the schools, is to increase the numbers and then redirect some of these officers to those schools with the highest risk," Holness said.