WHAT'S NEW COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

(l-r) Sonia Hyman, Programme Co-ordinator, Lift Up Jamaica, Staff-Sergeant Rowan Burton and Sgt. Michael Slowly both of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Clerk of Works involved in phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme inspect the Holiness Temple Early Childhood Development Centre in Lauristan, St. Catherine. The school is one of nine Early Childhood Institutions which have received attention in the parish under phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme. The facility which has 82 students in attendance was recently constructed by Lift Up Jamaica at a cost of $6.7M. The Lift Up Jamaica Programme is managed by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in collaboration with major partners Heart Trust/NTA, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

For further information, please contact
The Corporate Relations Department
Urban Development Corporation
12 Ocean Boulevard
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel :(876) 922-8310-4
Email cr@udcja.com
Website: www.udcja.com

April 2008

BRIDGEPORT BASIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTED

Karlene Powell (l), Teacher and Alva Williams (r), Vice Principal, both of the Bridgeport Basic School in St. Catherine lead several of the students at the institution in song. The school is one of nine Early Childhood Institutions which have received attention in the parish under phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme. The facility valued at $6.8M comprises classrooms, kitchen and bathroom facilities, sick bay and principal’s office. Under phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme over $90M has been spent to implement 20 projects in St. Catherine, providing employment for over 600 young people.

Giving Thanks for 40 years

Staff members and well-wishers turned out to participate in a Service of Thanksgiving for the UDC on March 16, 2008, held at the St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk United Church on Duke Street, Downtown Kingston to mark the Corporation’s 40th Anniversary. From right Prime Minister Bruce Golding and His Worship Mayor Desmond McKenzie converse with Joy Douglas, Acting General Manager, UDC, and Rev. Dr. Ralph Hoyte.

UDC CELEBRATES WORLD WETLANDS DAY

Dayne Buddo, environmentalist, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) introduces students to the different organisms which live in the root of a mangrove tree including crabs, shrimps, oysters and sponges. The occasion was a tour of the Bogue Lagoon in Montego Bay on Friday, February 1 in celebration of World Wetlands Day which is held on February 2 each year. Under the theme “Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People” the UDC in collaboration with the Montego Bay Marine Park and the Marine Police conducted talks and tours of the lagoon with students from five secondary and tertiary institutions in Montego Bay as part of its public education programme on the environment.

February 5, 2008

UDC ENCOURAGES BEE FARMING

Eric Norman, bee farmer displays honey reaped at a bee farm in Kenilworth, Hanover to students of Spot Valley High School during a tour of the apiary. The school has recently established an apiary as part of the teaching and learning programme for Agricultural Science. The project was established in collaboration with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

February 2008

Contract Signing for Transportation Centre

L-r Patrick Smellie, managing director of Jatlin Construction and Associates, Louis Williams, chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Junior Leslie, managing director of Alcar Construction & Haulage Company examines official blueprints. Joining in the occasion is his company secretary Euvine Dare and Joy Douglas, acting general manager of the UDC. The occasion was the contract signing for the construction of the Urban Transport Centre and upgrading of the St. William Grant Park on January 15, 2008 at Jamaica House. Alcar Construction & Haulage Company will be constructing the transport centre and Jatlin Construction & Associates, the upgrading of the St. William Grant Park.

January 2008

UDC CLEANS BEACH

(l-r): Lorna Clarke, Corporate Relations Manager, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and members of the Hellshire United Football Club and a resident of the community of Hellshire remove debris from a section of the Half Moon Bay Beach at a Beach Clean Up organized by the Corporation recently. Over 30 individuals from the communities of Seaforth, Johnson Hill and St. Georges Cliff along with the Hellshire Park United Football Club turned out to support what has become an annual event. Attractions managed by the UDC in the community of Hellshire include the Fort Clarence Beach and Two Sisters Caves.

November 23, 2007

UDC HOSTS PARENTING SEMINAR IN HELLSHIRE

Francis Madden, General Manager, Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation makes a presentation to parents at a parenting seminar which was organized by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) at the Hellshire Park Basic School in St. Catherine on October 24, 2007. The event which is hosted annually, as part of the UDC’s Values and Attitudes Programme is geared towards building the capacity of parenting skills within the community of Hellshire. The presentation provided strategies which can be utilized to build confidence in children, emphasized the importance of encouraging children to read and offered tips on how to recognize if children are experiencing learning difficulties.

November 9, 2007

GREEN GROTTO ENVIRO FAIR - UDC AWARDS COLUMBUS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

UDC AWARDS COLUMBUS PREPARATORY SCHOOL: Dayne Buddo (l), Environmentalist, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) presents a cheque to Nicholas Douglas (r) and Britanni Harrison (2nd right), students of Columbus Preparatory School, while Callet Henry, Teacher Columbus Preparatory looks on. Columbus Preparatory School copped the top prize in the Primary, Junior High and All Age category, valued at $25,000 in the UDC inaugural Schools Enviro Competition. The presentation was made at the 2nd annual Green Grotto Enviro Fair held at the Green Grotto Caves and Attractions on October 24, 2007.

November 2 2007

SOAPBERRY INSPECTION

SOAPBERRY INSPECTION: (l-r) Lloyd Grey, Acting Vice President, Technical Services Division, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and George Harty, Deputy Chief Engineer, UDC introduce Marjorie Campbell, President and CEO, UDC to the controls for the diffused air filtration system, while on a tour of the Soapberry site. The completion of the Soapberry plant and commissioning into use will result in the conveyance of all the untreated waste into a centralized system that will provide treatment in keeping with local and international standards. The project is being undertaken as a joint venture initiative involving the UDC, National Housing Trust (NHT), Ashtrom Building Systems and National Water Commission (NWC), as equity partners. Together they have formed the Central Wastewater Treatment Company (CWTC), which will manage the operation of the Soapberry plant upon completion.

UDC HOSTS SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP

(l-r) Shomarie Mcleggan, Business Development Officer, Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC), Shernett Sinclair, resident of Portland, Lorna Clarke, Corporate Relations Manager, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and Ronald Smith, resident of Portland engage in dialogue at a Small Business Development Workshop. The workshop was hosted by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) on September 26, 2007 at the New Testament Assembly Church, located at Reach in Portland, where the Corporation is currently managing the Reach Falls Attractions. Other initiatives sponsored by the UDC in Portland include, Remedial Reading and Community Tourism Workshops and Values and Attitudes Programmes.

CONSTRUCTION OF ALL SAINTS BASIC SCHOOL

Participants in the Lift Up Jamaica (LUJ) Programme carry out construction works at the All Saints Basic school in Kingston. Approximately $6.5 million is being spent to construct a new school building, which will consist of 3 classrooms, principal’s office, sanitary facilities, sick bay and a kitchen. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has overall responsibility for the programme and its major partners are the Heart Trust/NTA, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

UDC CONDUCTS COMMUNITY TOURISM WORKSHOP

Mrs. Cynthia “Polly” Perry, regional manager, Jamaica Tourist Board explains how to market one’s business at a community tourism workshop organised by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) at Reach All Age and Infant School in Portland. The participants were also exposed to the health standards and requirements for tourism and hospitality and how to access financing from the Portland Co-operative Credit Union. The workshop was held as part of the UDC’s community outreach programme.

UDC SUPPORTS SKILLS TRAINING FOR HIV PERSONS

Mr. Isaac Gordon, area manager, Urban Development Corporation (UDC) presents cheque valued $40,000 to Dr. Beverley Scott, executive director, Family and Parenting Centre in Montego Bay as a contribution towards the Centre’s computer skills training for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Others sharing in the presentation from left are Mrs. Sandra Miller Hall, community development officer and Mrs. Patricia Blake, office manager both of the UDC. The donation was made as part of the UDC’s community development programme.

UDC CONDUCTS REMEDIAL READING WORKSHOPS

Mrs. Margaret Chin (centre), lecturer, Mico University College demonstrates the profile of a very hyperactive child’s brain with Kerreen Mitchell of Comfort Castle Primary and Junior High School sitting on a ball with projections. Mrs Chin explained that the discomfort experienced by Miss Mitchell reflects that of a child who is unable to focus on any one thing for any extended period of time and therefore becomes very restive. Other participants in the demonstration from left are Alva Williams, Ken Wright Primary and Benjamin Whitmore of Windsor Primary Schools. Looking on in the background is Mrs. Rosemarie Morris, liaison officer, Urban Development Corporation (UDC). The occasion was a two day Remedial Reading Workshop held at Christ Church Education Centre in Portland. Twenty teachers from 15 primary, all age and high school teachers in Portland participated in the workshop which was organised by the UDC as part of its community outreach programme. Teachers were taught how to assess students and were given different reading intervention strategies.

LIFT UP IN TIVOLI

Sonia Hyman (l), Programme Co-ordinator, Lift Up Jamaica, reads to the children at Carnival Basic School, located in Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, while Stephannie Hutchinson-Ffrench (r), Project Officer looks on. The Carnival Basic School and the adjoining Tivoli Gardens Park are currently being upgraded under the Lift Up Jamaica Programme. The project, which is valued at approximately $5 million, has provided employment to 26 Lift Up Jamaica participants. To date, over 50 early childhood institutions have been selected for upgrading islandwide.

HEART TRUST/NTA TRAINS LIFT UP PARTICIPANTS

Angella Smith (r) facilitator, Heart Trust/NTA trains participants in the Lift Up Jamaica Programme at the Barbican Police Station in Grants Pen, Kingston. Lift Up participants are trained by the Heart Trust/NTA for 5 days prior to the start of the project. Subject areas in which participants are trained include communication, interpersonal relations, team building, deportment and basic construction skills. Since December 2005, approximately 4000 Lift Up Jamaica participants have been trained by the Heart Trust/NTA. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has overall responsibility for the programme and its partners are the Heart Trust/NTA, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

BATH MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY CENTRE GETS POWER

(l-r): Keith Hastings, Clerk of Works, in the Lift Up Jamaica Programme assists Paul Miller, a participant in the Programme to install electrical fixtures at the Bath Mountain Community Centre in Friendship, Westmoreland. The project, which is valued at approximately $5 million has provided employment for 32 participants and includes the upgrading of the centre, the addition of kitchen and bathroom facilities and the implementation of drainage works. The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has overall responsibility for the development and implementation of the programme. Major partners are the Heart Trust/NTA, the Social Development Commission (SDC) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

SPECTATOR STANDS FOR WILLIAMSFIELD SPORTS COMPLEX

Clifton Hill and Tracy-ann Gordon, participants in phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme construct a spectator stand at the Williamsfield Sports Complex in Glenislay, Westmoreland under the supervision of Adrian Gray, Team Leader. The project, which is valued at approximately $5 million has provided employment for 40 participants and includes the construction of kitchen facilities, bar and a multi-purpose court and the grading and fencing of the playing field. Other projects being implemented under phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme include the construction and renovation of schools, construction of post offices, the removal of zinc fences and the rehabilitation of cemeteries and drains.

REHABILITATION OF SPORTING FACILITIES AT MORANT BAY HIGH

(l-r): Dennis Brown, Team Leader, Lift Up Jamaica and Louise Maitland, Project Manager observe as Dervel Senior, a participant in the programme rehabilitates the playing field at Morant Bay High School in St. Thomas. The project, which is valued at approximately $5 million has provided employment for 27 participants and includes the construction of a perimeter fence for the playing field, the irrigation of the field and the construction of two multipurpose courts. Under phase 2 of the Lift Up Jamaica Programme approximately $23 million is being spent to implement 7 projects in St. Thomas.

TROY HIGH SCHOOL MAKES PROGRESS

Technical personnel lift steel beams to complete the roofing of the Troy High School in Trelawny. The works which are being carried out under the J$3.8B North Western Schools Programme is being implemented on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Youth by the Urban Development Corporation along with West Indies Home Contractors through a design and build contract. Other schools completed and handed over to the Ministry of Education and Youth include Frome Technical, Westmoreland; Irwin High and Primary, Success Primary, Spot Valley High, Green Pond Infant, Primary and High, St. James; Holland High, Hague Infant and Primary, Trelawny and Hopewell High, Lucea Infant, and Orange Bay High, Hanover. The construction of the schools is geared towards meeting the needs of a growing school population in Northwestern Jamaica.