Christmas Extravaganza stays in St Elizabeth

GT Taylor

Events promoter/radio personality GT Taylor recently announced that his annual Christmas Extravaganza stage show will remain in St Elizabeth.

Earlier this year, the veteran promoter made it known to the public, via several media interviews, that he was considering moving the event out of the parish because of the hefty fees he had to pay for the use of the Independence Park venue in Black River.

However, he recently brokered a deal with the St Elizabeth Parish Council to secure the venue on more favourable terms. Therefore, the Black River venue which has hosted the event for the past 12 years will remain the home of Christmas Extravaganza.

“We’ve been able to come to favourable terms with the parish council. This means that we will not have to move the show to another parish,” Taylor sad.

GT, who is a native of St Elizabeth, said he is happy that he will not have to move the event as it would have adversely affected a number of people who benefit from its staging.

“I am very happy that the show will stay in the parish; a lot of people look forward to the show each year. It also makes a big economic contribution to other businesses in the parish, including hotels, restaurants and stores. Aside from that, the show also provides employment for over a hundred people in the parish,” said Taylor.

This year’s Christmas Extravaganza will take place on its usual December 25 date and will feature a host of top dancehall and reggae acts.

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Christmas Extravaganza stays in St Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth farmer dies in fire

Milverton Simpson, a farmer from Potsdam near Munro College in St Elizabeth, died in a fire early Tuesday.

Simpson who was in his mid-50s, was clearing a plot of land with fire, for farming, when the blaze got out of control.

Fire personnel belive he was overcome by smoke, which eventually led to his death.

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St. Elizabeth farmer dies in fire

Another bush fire in St. Elizabeth

Farmers in another community in the southern parish of St Elizabeth are counting their losses, following another massive bush fire on Monday .

About 50 acres of  farm lands went up in flames in Cheapside, destroying fruit trees and crops.

Farmers in the community say the fire destroyed several acres of  guinea grass.

This is the second fire in the area in recent days. On Saturday a massive fire in the drought stricken community of  Malvern destroyed hundreds of  acres of  farm land; and damaged property as well as farm supplies. On Sunday, several other fires occurred including one near Munro College.

Meanwhile, President of  the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) Senator Norman Grant has warned farmers against the use of  the slash and burn method, to clear farm land.

He said the JAS will embark on a public education campaign, to alert farmers about dangerous methods in farming.

And following the massive fires in St. Elizabeth, the parish is to get another fire unit.

 That’s the word from Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott.

 The response unit will be assigned to the Junction Fire Station.

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Another bush fire in St. Elizabeth

Massive fire destroys hundreds of acres of land in St. Elizabeth

A massive fire in the drought stricken community of  Malvern in St. Elizabeth, has razed hundreds of  acres of  farmlands and damaged property as well as farm supplies.

Livestock was also destroyed in the blaze, which started early Saturday.      

At news time, personnel from the Santa Cruz, Junction and Black River Fire Stations, were trying to contain the blaze that is now threatening sections of  the Bigwoods and Mountainside Plains. 

Assistant Superintendent of  the Black River Fire Station, Harry Clarke, says his teamencountered difficulties en route to the scene.

“We responded with one unit from the Santa Cruz fire station … we are battling a huge blaze , so far about 600 acres of farm and pasture land have been destroyed by this fire.   

Based on a report from a very large cattle farmer in the area, someone lit a fire in  a section of his pasture and due to severe drought conditions and high winds, the fire spread quickly to adjoining areas,” Clarke said.

Meanwhile, Manager at Fareview Farm in Malvern, Anthony Hamilton, said in less than 30 minutes the fire quickly spread and employees could only stand and watch helplessly.

“On our farm here we lost about 500 acres , we didn’t lose any of t he animals, but when you speak of the posts and wires, you are talking about several thousands (of dollars).

A team from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) team was dispatched to the company’s wind farm in Munroe, due to the threatening flames.

Firefighters were successful in preventing the fire from reaching  Munro College and nearby houses.

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Massive fire destroys hundreds of acres of land in St. Elizabeth

New fire truck for St Elizabeth following weekend fires

Local Government Minister, Noel Arscott, says plans are in place to assign another response unit to the Junction Fire Station in the southern parish of St.Elizabeth following the massive fires in the parish over the weekend.

Arscott made the announcement at a conference in Junction in the parish late Sunday.

It has not yet been determined whether the station will receive a new fire truck or an existing one.  

A massive fire in the drought stricken community of  Malvern on Saturday destroyed hundreds of  acres of  farm land and damaged property as well as farm supplies.            

On Sunday, other fires occurred including one near Munro College.

And the Local Government Minister said he will be holding talks with the Office of  Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to ascertain how it can assist in reducing fires in St. Elizabeth.

“They will come in and work with the community and prepare a proper plan on how were can prevent the recurrence of fires t hat cause so much hardship for  the people,” he said.

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New fire truck for St Elizabeth following weekend fires

Missionaries robbed in Balaclava, St Elizabeth

Latest News

Thursday, August 08, 2013 | 1:28 PM

MANDEVILLE, Manchester  – Head of the Police Area Three (Manchester, St Elizabeth, Clarendon)  Assistant Commissioner Derrick Knight has confirmed that “about 20 Missionaries” were held up and robbed at a rented house in the Balaclava area on the border of north west Manchester and north east St Elizabeth early Thursday.Reports say four men armed with machetes and knives took Jamaican and US currency as well as personal valuables from the missionaries. Knight told the Jamaica Observer that intense investigations were taking place to locate the criminals. He is urging members of the public with relevant information to call him “personally” or any of the numbers listed by the police so that “we can identify the persons involved”.Knight gave his cell numbers as 3692195 and 3224721.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Missionaries robbed in Balaclava, St Elizabeth

17-y-o Brandon Daley of Dry River,St Elizabeth missing

Latest News

Friday, July 26, 2013 | 1:42 PM

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — An Ananda Alert has been activated for 17-year-old Brandon Daley, of Dry River district, St Elizabeth, who has been missing since July 22.Brandon is of dark complexion, slim build and is about five-feet-four-inches tall.The Maggotty police reported that Brandon was last seen about 4:30 pm, in Dry River district, dressed in a pair of multi-coloured shorts and slippers. Anyone knowing his whereabouts is being asked to contact the Maggotty Police at 963-9680, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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17-y-o Brandon Daley of Dry River,St Elizabeth missing

Alleged St Elizabeth "cow thief" remanded

Latest News

Friday, July 26, 2013 | 2:42 PM

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — One of four men who were taken into custody in relation to the larceny of cattle in Malvern, St. Elizabeth on July 17, was remanded when he appeared before the Black River Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 23.He is 24-year-old Donwayne Wright of Ridge Pen district, Watchwell, St Elizabeth. Wright and three other men were arrested when a group of police officers intercepted a truck in which they were travelling. The cattle were discovered in the back of the truck. Further investigations revealed that the five animals were stolen from a farmer in the area. Wright was then charged on July 23 with Larceny of Cattle. He is to reappear before the Black River Resident Magistrate’s Court on August 14, 2013.The other three men who were taken into custody by the Malvern Police were questioned and released.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Alleged St Elizabeth "cow thief" remanded

Alleged St Elizabeth "cow thief" remanded

News

Friday, July 26, 2013 | 2:42 PM

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — One of four men who were taken into custody in relation to the larceny of cattle in Malvern, St. Elizabeth on July 17, was remanded when he appeared before the Black River Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, July 23.He is 24-year-old Donwayne Wright of Ridge Pen district, Watchwell, St Elizabeth. Wright and three other men were arrested when a group of police officers intercepted a truck in which they were travelling. The cattle were discovered in the back of the truck. Further investigations revealed that the five animals were stolen from a farmer in the area. Wright was then charged on July 23 with Larceny of Cattle. He is to reappear before the Black River Resident Magistrate’s Court on August 14, 2013.The other three men who were taken into custody by the Malvern Police were questioned and released.

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Alleged St Elizabeth "cow thief" remanded