PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER number 5/2001 June 7, 2001
Web site - www.portmore.org Reply to webmaster@portmore.org
OK everyone, guess What? I have every little to tell you! So until more news comes in I have time to tell you the many things done last year by the Greater Portmore Joint Council... the Chairman's report is below.
Oh, I almost forgot, the site now has the Minister of Local Government's plans for municipal rates. It's kind of lengthy, but since the minister is speaking on it in Parliament. Yuh betta read it! Also on the site is the page from the Auditor General which proves that we are owed $80 million! Have a look.
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=============== The GPJC report ===============
Chairman's Report AGM of the Greater Portmore Joint Council May 26, 2001
"Special Guests, members and friends,
It is my honor, for the third consecutive year, to present an annual report.
For the benefit of those of you who may not know, the Greater Portmore Joint Council was formed approximately seven years ago with the explicit intention of uniting the citizens of Greater Portmore. I am very proud to report that we have continued this proud tradition.
Just one month after our May 2000 AGM, the members of the Council were out on the streets of Greater Portmore demonstrating and highlighting the issues facing the citizens. We carried banners, flyers and loud speakers. we shouted about the cows destroying our vegetation, we shouted about the need for a hospital in Portmore, we sang about handing over Greater Portmore to the Parish Council, and demanded that the containers sewn around the community at the time be removed.
What was the result?
This (and many other activities by us and others) resulted in the containers removal on June 17th 2000 by Parish Council. Months later, the Minister of Housing and Water handed Greater Portmore over to the Parish Council.
In July 2000 we gathered for a successful in Spanish Town. Throughout the year we did not hesitate to negotiate, write letters, visit various authorities, and participate in projects. We walked in the "March for Peace" organised by popular talk show host Ms. Antoinette Houghton, and we actively protested the soot from the Bernard Lodge ] sugar estate.
In June of 2000 the Greater Portmore Branch library opened and we are proud of the fact that we played a key role in this 6 million dollar effort. The library's computer service has been a huge success.
In September 2000 we were part of the ground breaking for ceremony the new Sports Complex by the Civic Center. At the event, the Minister promised 1.5 million.
In November 2000 members of the Council played major roles in the Portmore Evacuation Simulation Exercise organised by the ODP/EM. Members were trained in disaster management and radio control. We went even further, this year the Council finished its Greater Portmore Disaster Plan and is in the process of presenting it to the various authorities.
In December 2000 we welcomed and hosted, for the second year, 17 NetCorp participants from the National Youth Corp and Canada. We held a well received Jamaican "Welcome Party" for the participants.
There where no major activities since January 2001 for the Council, but we continued to work behind the scenes on very important matters. Municipality, The Sports Complex, The disaster plan, and Other matters have held our attention.
Recently we reaped the benefits of years of hard work. Justices of The Peace were finally appointed in the community. Then, Council was recognised for its use of technology by the NHT.
Ladies and gentlemen , our short time tonight does not allow me to detail everything done by our individual Association Members this year. We are very proud of their countless fund raising efforts, labour day projects, and neighbourhood watch programs. I salute you our members.
We congratulate Silverstone Citizena Association for its outstanding work and many awards won this year. We thank Reid's Penn for joining the Council. This the first none Greater Portmore community to join us.
This report could not be complete without thanks to persons and agencies that have supported the people of Greater Pormtore working through the Council.
We recognise the distinguished support of MP Ftiz Jackson. His donation of $500,000 to the library was well appreciated. Councilor Lee has been a consistent supporter. Thanks to the SDC for the 2 million dollars it donated to the Library. Thanks to NHT, WIHCON, the St. Catherine Parish Council, the South St. Catherine Police, and the schools of Greater Portmore.
Finally, I thank all of you our members. We were to few doing too much! I encourage everyone of us to stay committed to building a better Greater Portmore and a better Jamaica.
May God bless us even more this year.
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====================================== LETTERS FROM READERS AND SITE VISITORS ====================================== From:
Gentlemen:
I am trying to locate Mr. George Lee. Do you have an e-mail address for Mr. George E. Lee, Chairman of Portmore?
RESPONSE OF EDITOR: I asked this person to send a phone number and I will call Mr. Lee. No response yet.
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From: Dowe, Chevan (EDS)
To whom it may concern, I have an issue. I lost contact with a friend 5 or 6 years ago and I would like to know what would be the best search method to use. I have not been to Jamaica in over 7 years. If you could please direct me where to go I would greatly appreciate it. I will give the name of the person I am searching for just incase. Her name is Jeanette Webb, she had one son by the name of Rujon who should be about 7 years old now. I am not sure if she had other children. Please help me if you can...... Sincerely, Chevan :-)
Chevan Dowe Chevan.Dowe@Compaq.Com
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================================== From: garfield robinson
Today Is ! I am interested in linking up with Murdena.She can contact me at 789-1756 or 939-9244.
Thank you, Garfield
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RESPONSE OF EDITOR: Murdina's art work are on the site over 2 years. I have lost contact with Murdina's son. Sorry!
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From: ferdinand gordon
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Mr Reid, I must thank you for this newsletter, it definitely keeps me updated with events in Portmore. I am from Bridgeport and I fail to see any events in Bridgeport. I am living America now and would love to see more events from Bridgeport as well as the rest of Portmore. Thank you and keep up the good word Mr Reid! Stay blessed, Ferdinand Gordon Jr.
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RESPONSE OF EDITOR: Sorry, not only do I not have the time, my digital camera has been stolen! Now I can not even take pictures of Portmore anymore. Can anyone out there help? The cost of a new (or used) camera here is a little much for me at this time!
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From: Kevin McLaughlin [mailto:kpmclaughlin@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 11:39 PM To: slim_shady192@yahoo.com; kreid@jpsco.com Subject: Braeton Killings
Dear Slim
I don't know you, but I have seen a lot of people write to the press espousing the same stuff you are saying.
The Police are to PROTECT and SERVE. Not themselves, us. Its not the webmaster who is making things look bad to foreigners, its the police. When people see Jamaicans are not hiding the bad things that occur in our community, but are exposing it to the light, so that the truth can be known and acted upon, we do not make Jamaica look bad, we make it look GOOD.
Bad things happen everywhere. The places that look bad are those that hide it, that deny it, or that condone it, as some of our fellow Jamaicans are doing (the "support the police at all costs" crew).
This is why Americans are proud of their country. Yes, some evil, sadist cops beat up a black man for a traffic violation. But a well thinking citizen filmed it, and it was publicised world wide, and the cops were brought to justice. That makes America look GOOD.
We Jamaicans should all consider that!
Think on what I have said, and feel free to let me know what your conclusion is.
By the way, I think this is an important point, so I've copied the webmaster in the hope that he'll post it on the website... Discussion on such topics in a peaceful, amicable way can only serve Jamaica good.
Regards, Kevin McLaughlin RESPONSE OF EDITOR: Kevin is a good friend of mine. Here he responds to the person who was not pleased with my exposure of the Braeton Killings. I tried to be balanced in my report, but alas you can't please them all can you? Just please God!
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Not much news, but still interesting don't you thing?
Bye for now!
Kennedy Reid
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