ONE-MINUTE READS ... News from across Jamaica

Backyard Garden Project gathers steam

Floyd Green, minister of agriculture and fisheries, says that the Backyard Garden Project is "up and running", with more than 400 gardening kits already distributed to householders across the island.

The kits contain assorted seeds, seedling tray, mix and fertiliser to help persons grow vegetables and herbs in small spaces in their backyards or other community spaces. More than 2,500 kits are targeted for distribution under the $10-million project, which was launched on February 19.

The objective is to strengthen the country's food security by engaging citizens to grow and consume their own food, thereby saving costs, while enhancing their nutrition, health and well-being.

"We want to encourage our people in urban spaces to do agriculture and to do gardening, to do containerised agriculture and to help us grow the sector," Green said during a ceremony in Twickeham Park, St Catherine, where 13 kits were handed over to residents of the parish.

-----------

Businessman charged for son's murder

The St Andrew businessman who allegedly shot and killed his son at their business place on Gordon Town Road, Kingston, last Monday has been charged with murder.

Delton Knight, 64, was slapped with the charge by detectives assigned to the Half-Way Tree Criminal Investigations Branch. His son, 38-year-old Ruel Knight, was shot dead during an argument. It is reported that the elder Knight, who is a licensed firearm holder, brandished a firearm and fired shots, hitting Ruel in the chest, and then fled the scene.

He was subsequently questioned by the police, in the presence of his attorney, and charged on Saturday.

---------------

Education Minister Fayval Williams has commended the Usain Bolt Foundation for its contribution of 150 Dell laptop computers, which was given to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information for distribution to early-childhood institutions in rural areas.

The devices, which are valued at US$40,000 (approximately J$5.9 million), were handed over during a ceremony held at the ministry's Heroes Circle offices in Kingston.

Williams called on other stakeholders to support the education of the nation's youth through the provision of devices.

"We continue to make the appeal to corporate Jamaica, to individuals, to our diaspora and international partners to continue to support us, even as the Government continues its own procurement activities," she said.

Chair of the Usain Bolt Foundation, Winsome Wilkins, said the donation is part of the its ongoing work to enhance the life experiences of children through education and cultural development.

"The current global pandemic has forced many students to do only online classes and it highlights the need for technology in schools. We will keep working to provide much- needed equipment and support the education of the next generation," she said.

------------

Aspiring Spanish speakers get financial aid

A total of 51 students from nine tertiary institutions who are facing financial difficulties, have been awarded bursaries totalling $4.5 million, courtesy of the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation.

The bursaries were handed over during a virtual ceremony on Friday.

The recipients, who include pretrained Spanish teachers, persons who study Spanish, and students of hospitality services, were selected based on their academic performance, financial need, level of community service, knowledge of the Spanish language and comportment during an interview.

They are from the Shortwood Teachers' College, Church Teachers' College, Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, Montego Bay Community College, HEART College of Hospitality Services, The University of the West Indies, Brown's Town Community College and Bethlehem Moravian College.

The students from teachers' and community colleges will benefit from partial scholarships to assist with the payment of their school fees, while students of the HEART College of Hospitality Services are being provided with funds to purchase equipment necessary for their respective course of study.