The Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre (General Penitentiary) received 20 toilets, Tuesday (August 25), from two support organisations, Prison Fellowship Jamaica and the Board of Visitors, to assist in improvements to the penal institution's sanitary conveniences.

Commissioner of Corrections, June Jarrett, thanked both organisations for the toilets, in particular, and for their continued support of the correctional institutions over the years, in general.

She said that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) was fortunate to have their support, at a time when it is under pressure to improve the amenities, despite the serious economic challenges it is facing.

Chairman of both the Prison Fellowship and the Board of Visitors, Councillor Audley Gordon, said that this was only one of several projects which the organisations have planned to assist the institutions.

"There is also an upstairs block at Tower Street where there is no water, and we plan to install both a water tank and a pump to ensure that inmates can have water available at all times," Councillor Gordon, who represents the Hughenden Division in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Council, told JIS News.

He said that there were also plans to tile the chapel at the South Camp Rehabilitation Centre (Gun Court) on South Camp Road, Kingston.

Executive Director of the Fellowship, the Rev Mark Hardy, said that he will be seeking the support of his board to make a similar donation to the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre (formerly the St Catherine District Prison), Spanish Town.

Superintendent at the Tower Street institution, Leroy Fairweather, thanked both organisations for their goodwill which, he said, will go a far way in improving conditions there.

He said that the institution welcomes whatever support it can get, in creating for inmates a more rehabilitative environment, while awaiting the construction of a new prison to replace the overcrowded facility.

$1M for restoration of National Hero's statue

Approximately $1 million is being spent by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) to restore the statue of National Hero, the Rt Excellent Paul Bogle, which is located in front of the Morant Bay Courthouse, in St Thomas.

Restoration of the statue is expected to be completed by October this year. It was recently removed from its base by the JNHT. Work will be carried out by noted Sculptor, Fitz Harrack, who will be restoring the statue to its original condition.

Executive Director of the JNHT, Laleta Davis-Mattis, told JIS News that on completion, an unveiling ceremony will be held. There are also plans to work with the community to get their continued support to protect and preserve the nation's historical sites.

Davis-Mattis said a sign would be erected in front of the Courthouse in Morant Bay to inform residents and visitors of the restoration work to be undertaken.

The statue was designed by the late sculptor, the Rt Excellent Edna Manley, wife of National Hero, the Rt Excellent Norman Manley. It was erected in October 1965 and declared a national monument by the JNHT on April 3, 2003.