KCR TO SUPPORT FOOD FOR THE POOR & OTHER CHARITIES

Garth Gayle, Honorary Secretary, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, commends Nicola Madden-Greig, organizer of the Kingston City Run (KCR) and Area Chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), on the Launch of the Kingston City Run, on Wednesday January 16 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.  Participating are (from left): Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor Jamaica; Mayor of Kingston, Senator Cllr. Angela Brown Burke and Camille Needham, Executive Director, JHTA. Food For the Poor (FFP) is one of four charities which will benefit from the proceeds of the Kingston City Run. The money will go towards projects for the homeless in Kingston by Food For The Poor, Open Arms Drop In Centre, Marie Atkins Night Shelter and Missionaries of the Poor. Speaking on behalf of the four charities at the Launch, Mr. Mahfood endorsed the KCR as an exciting and novel event, which will advance Kingston’s standing as a tourist destination and as a city with a big heart for the improvement of its homeless population. The KCR, which comprises a half-marathon and a 5K Walk/Run will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2013.

            FOOD FOR THE POOR TO BENEFIT FROM KINGSTON CITY RUN

Andrew Mahfood (2^nd left), Chairman, Food For The Poor Jamaica, shares lens time with (from left): Garth Gayle, Honorary Secretary, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, Mayor of Kingston, Senator Cllr. Angela Brown Burke; Nicola Madden-Greig, organizer of the Kingston City Run (KCR) and Area Chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA); Camille Needham, Executive Director, JHTA; Alfred McDonald, Senior Director – Commercial Development & Planning, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA); and  Christopher Jarrett, Member of the KCR Organizing Committee. They were taking part in the Launch of the KCR on Wednesday January 16 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Food For the Poor (FFP) is one of four charities, which will benefit from the proceeds of the Kingston City Run. The money will go towards projects for the homeless in Kingston by Food For The Poor, Open Arms Drop In Centre, Marie Atkins Night Shelter, and Missionaries of the Poor. Speaking on behalf of the four charities at the Launch, Mr. Mahfood endorsed the KCR scheduled for Sunday, March 10. He expressed the hope that the event would receive the support of a wide cross section of Jamaicans and visitors from overseas. The FFP Jamaica Chairman said The FFP Jamaica Chairman said the proceeds from the KCR would provide much-needed support to the existing outreach programmes for the homeless.

                 

                            ENDORSING HELP FOR THE HOMELESS

Garth Gayle, Honorary Secretary, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, has the rapt attention of some participants in the Launch of the Kingston City Run (KCR). They are (from left) Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, Food For The Poor Jamaica; Mayor of Kingston, Senator Cllr. Angela Brown Burke; Nicola Madden-Greig, organizer of the Kingston City Run (KCR) and Area Chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA); Camille Needham, Executive Director, JHTA; Alfred McDonald, Senior Director – Commercial Development & Planning, Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA); and Christopher Jarrett, Member of the KCR Organizing Committee.  The event took place on Wednesday January 16 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.  Food For the Poor (FFP) is one of four charities, which will benefit from the proceeds of the Kingston City Run. The money will go towards projects for the homeless in Kingston by Food For The Poor, Open Arms Drop In Centre, Marie Atkins Night Shelter, and Missionaries of the Poor. Speaking on behalf of the four charities at the Launch, Mr. Mahfood endorsed the KCR, as an exciting and novel event, which will advance Kingston’s standing as a tourist destination and as a city with a big heart for the improvement of its homeless population. The KCR, which comprises a half-marathon and a 5K Walk/Run, will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2013.

Police to target fishing villages

Say hubs a haven for narco trading

Kimmo Matthews
Saturday, December 29, 2012


THE Marine police say they will be closely monitoring the island's fishing villages and "illegal ports" in the new year as they seek to stem the flow of narcotics to the island.
The announcement was made by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ray Palmer yesterday at a handing-over of a refurbished boat to the Marine Police by Food For The Poor (FFP) at the Marine Police headquarters in downtown Kingston.

(From left) Nakhie Hado, technical fishing manager at Food For The Poor (FFP), and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ray Palmer shake hands at the handing over of a rerfurbished boat (in background) to the Marine Police at its headquarters in downtown Kingston, yesterday. Also pictured is Superintendent Terrence Sancko, who heads the Marine Police. (Photos: Lionel Rookwood)

A member of the Marine Police watches as the boat sets sail.

He said the plan is a follow-up to the police's aggressive campaign in 2012, which resulted in the seizure of 26 boats transporting drugs, 16 of which were go-fast vessels.

The senior policeman said that a total of 46 people, including Jamaicans and Haitians, were arrested during the clampdown.

He said the seizures and arrests represented a significant increase over the figures for 2011 when seven vessels were seized and 12 people arrested.

"We know that there are a number of players out there in the illicit trade," ACP Palmer declared. "As part of efforts to clamp down on these operations, the authorities will be launching an all-out attack on the trade for 2013."

Yesterday, Superintendent Terrence Sancko, who is in charge of the Marine Police, said the refurbished boat will greatly improve their operations. The 38-foot boat, which was previously used for international narco trafficking and was seized by the Jamaican authorities, was refurbished at a cost of $400,000.

"I want to thank the FFP for this kind gesture. This will allow the police to carry out their job more efficiently. We look forward to working with the organisation (FFP) again," he said.

Meanwhile, Nakhie Hado, technical fishing manager for the FFP, said the organisation, too, believes that the boat "will significantly improve the operations of the authorities".

Original Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Police-to-target-fishing-villages_13285524

Food For The Poor Donates Well-Needed Boat

Published: Saturday | December 29, 2012

Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer



Equipped with a refurbished 38-foot contender boat courtesy of Food For The Poor, the Marine Police Department said it would be better able to clamp down on drug smugglers and make major success in the fight against the drug trade.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer said the boat was well needed.

"The drug trade will be one of our major focus come 2013, and we will be launching major assaults," he said.

He added, "There are many sectors in Jamaica from which the drug trade operates and the fishing villages and uncontrolled ports are some of these. We will be focusing to a very large extent on this."

According to him, there have been major successes this year.

"We are now operating from 11 locations, up from seven. We have seized some 26 boats this year. We arrested 46 persons up from 12 persons in the previous year and over 5,300 pounds of ganja was seized. I'm sure this vessel will go a far way in advancing that cause," he said.

Head of the Marine Police, Terrence Sanko, also expressed gratitude and told The Gleaner the boat was equipped to carry out advanced searches.

"The boat was in a condition where it could have been better and Food For The Poor came on board and refurbished it. This kind of vessel can go on long runs from as far as Colombia and other foreign countries," said Sanko.

In the meantime, Nakhle Hado of Food For The Poor emphasised that efforts must be made to ensure that marine policemen are given all the tools they need to perform their duties.

"We have to ensure that the Marine Police are comfortable using the boat because if a boat is not reliable to do a search and rescue, then it's really a waste," said Hado.

Original Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121229/lead/lead52.html

Food for The Poor Hands Over Refurbished Boat To Marine Police

Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer(right) explains to Nakhle Hado(2nd left), Fishing Technical Manager, Food For The Poor, the role which the refurbished 32-foot Contender Police Boat will play in strengthening the search and rescue and crime fighting capabilities of the Marine Police. The occasion was the official hand-over of the vessel to the Marine Police Division by Food For the Poor (FFP) on Friday, December 28. Participating in the occasion are: (from left): Superintendent Terrence Sanko, Head of the Marine Police Division; and Deputy Superintendent Oral Harrison. The vessel will also benefit the Food For The Poor (FFP) Fishing Villages, especially with regard to the recovery of stolen boats, search and rescue of missing fishermen.

Representatives of the Police and Food for the Poor exchange pleasantries and get ready to take a test run in the refurbished 32-foot Contender Police Boat after the official hand-over of the vessel to the Marine Police Division by Food For the Poor(FFP) on Friday, December 28. From left (front row): Assistant Superintendent Oral Foster, Superintendent Terrence Sanko, Head of the Marine Police Division; Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer; and Nakhle Hado, Fishing Technical Manager, FFP. In the background (from left): Sergeant Dennyville Lyons and Boat Captain Nicholas Harrison. The boat will play a critical role in the search and rescue, and crime fighting efforts of the Marine Division. The vessel will also benefit the Food For The Poor (FFP) Fishing Villages, especially with regard to the recovery of stolen boats, search and rescue of missing fishermen.

(From left) Nakhle Hado, Fishing Technical Manager, Food For The Poor; Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer and Superintendent Terrence Sanko, Head of the Marine Police Division; inspect and discuss the features of the refurbished 32-foot Contender Police Boat which was handed over to the Marine Police by Food For The Poor. The handing-over exercise took place on Friday, December 28 at the Marine Police's Newport East Headquarters. The boat will play a critical role in the search and rescue, and crime fighting efforts of the JCF Marine Division. The vessel will also benefit the Food For The Poor (FFP) Fishing Villages, especially with regard to the recovery of stolen boats, search and rescue of missing fishermen in the south eastern end of Jamaica's coastal waters. The Boat will operate out of the Bowden Marina in St. Thomas.

Nakhle Hado(right), Fishing Technical Manager, Food For The Poor, extends best wishes to the Marine Police Division on behalf of the charity, as he hands over the 32-foot Contender Police Boat to that police division on Friday, December 28 at its Newport East Headquarters . Accepting the refurbished vessel is Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer. Looking on is Superintendent Terrence Sanko, Head of the Marine Police Division.

Food For The poor Assists in Boosting the Fleet of the Jamaican Marine Police

     Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St. Catherine | Tel.: (876) 984-5005 | www.foodforthepoorja.com



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MEDIA RELEASE


FOOD FOR THE POOR ASSIST IN BOOSTING THE FLEET OF THE JAMAICAN MARINE POLICE

Food For The Poor Fishing Villages To Benefit From Improved Marine Police Fleet

Newport East, Kingston – December 28, 2012: Food For The Poor today boosted the capabilities of the Marine Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) with the presentation to the Force of a refurbished 32-foot Contender Police Boat. The boat will play a critical role in the search and rescue, and crime fighting efforts of the JCF Marine Division.

The refurbished boat will redound to the benefit of the Food For The Poor (FFP) Fishing Villages. The charity has 17 Fishing Villages across the island as part of its FFP Fishing Villages Project, to empower the poor to be independent and self-sufficient. FFP equips the Fishing Villages with boats, gear sheds, engines and other necessary fishing paraphernalia.

Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, FFP Jamaica, explained that the repairs to the police boat were prompted by the vested interest which his organization has in the sustainability of the Fishing Villages: “The primary reason to refurbish the vessel is to ensure our villages get help when we need help. Our Fishing Villages depend on the police to be able to recover our boats if stolen and in an emergency we will require the services of the Marine Police if our fishermen go missing.” The refurbished boat brings to 16, the number of boats which the Marine Police Division now has at its disposal.

Nakhle Hado, Fishing Technical Manager, FFP, today made the presentation of the refurbished boat to Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer and Superintendent Terrence Sanko, Head of the Marine Police Division, at the Newport East Headquarters of the Marine Police.  Mr. Hado pointed out that FFP saw that the boat which was being used by the Marine Police in St. Thomas was defective and in dire need of repairs and offered to undertake the refurbishing.

“I recognised the urgent need and offered to assist them,” Mr. Hado disclosed. “We tried to finish the repairs as quickly as possible. It took us at FFP some eight weeks to undertake the refurbishing.” Mr. Hado pointed out that it costs FFP over $400,000 to effect the repairs. The improvement included body repair and spray painting of the boat, installation of a bimini top as a roofing for the boat, and replacement of all gauges which included two tachometers, two  voltmeters, a main control switch as well as three (3) gas gauges.  There were also replacement of fuel leads, gas valves and filters, and rewiring of the console and all instruments.

The FFP Fishing Technical Manager reiterated that his charity is delighted to refurbish the boat which will assist the Marine Police with strengthening its search and rescue and enforcement initiatives.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Wray Palmer expressed gratitude to Food For The Poor. “On behalf of the JCF, we thank Food For The Poor for assisting us and collaborating with us. We are quite grateful for the help,” declared ACP Palmer.  He indicated that the boat will operate out of the Bowden Marina in St. Thomas and will serve the Marine Police monitoring the south east coast of Jamaica, particularly the St. Thomas coastal waters.

“It will benefit us significantly. This addition to our fleet will increase the police presence in our maritime space, as well as our drug intervention and interdiction capabilities,” stated ACP Palmer. He pointed out that the new canopy on the boat will be important in shielding the Marine Police on duty, from the elements of the weather.

The boat has the capacity to comfortably transport four to eight crew members. In search and rescue efforts, it can carry up to 20 persons.

During today’s hand-over ceremony, ACP Palmer, Nakhle Hado, Superintendent Sanko and other representatives of the Marine Police, and members of the media were taken on a test ride of the refurbished boat.

_____________________________________________________________________  

Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 564-5277

Nakhle Hado, Food For The Poor, T:  434-9922

Four Portland Hurricane Vitim Families Receive Keys to New Homes from Food For The Poor & Supreme Ventures

Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town, St. Catherine | Tel.: (876) 984-5005 | www.foodforthepoorja.com





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


MEDIA RELEASE

FOUR PORTLAND HURRICANE VICTIM FAMILIES RECEIVE KEYS TO NEW HOMES
FROM FOOD FOR THE POOR & SUPREME VENTURES

30 affected families in all to move into new homes for Christmas

Fruitful Vale, Portland – December 21, 2012: Four more families who lost their homes during Hurricane Sandy have received keys to their new houses, built by Food For The Poor and financed by a $3 million donation by Supreme Ventures Ltd. This took place at a happy handing over ceremony in Fruitful Vale, Portland today. One more Portland family is to receive a new home among those financed by Supreme Ventures.

An elated Shelly-Ann Whyte (right) receives the keys for her new home during a presentation ceremony yesterday, Friday December 21 in the community of Fruitful Vale, Portland.   Ms. White represents one out of five Hurricane Sandy victims in Portland slated to receive new and sturdy two-bedroom structures this Christmas, built by Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica in partnership with the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund and sponsored by Supreme Ventures Limited.  On site to present the keys to some of the recipients are (from left) Jacqueline Johnson (right), Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica; Carlene Edwards (centre), Senior Corporate Communications Officer at Supreme Ventures Limited and Daryl Vaz, Convener for the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief 

Today’s ceremony brings the total number of families to receive this much-needed Christmas gift under the programme to 30. It follows yesterday’s handing over of six of 10 new homes in Hamilton Mountain, St. Mary, by Food For the Poor and another corporate donor who contributed $5.7 million. In addition, Food For The Poor has matched these donations to construct an addition 15 houses in St. Mary, Portland and St. Thomas. The communities in St. Thomas, which are benefiting include Johns Town, Pamphret and Dumphries.

Food For The Poor and the corporate donors collaborated with the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund, which was established on October 29, and had oversight for the relief initiative.

Thirty-year-old single mother of four, Shelly Ann Whyte, is a recipient of one of the new two bedroom homes in Fruitful Vale. She recounted that her two-bedroom board house had been completely destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, and that all the family’s belongings had been destroyed, including furniture, clothing, television, and even her daughter’s G-Sat books.

“I was very distressed,” she said, “but once I heard the mention of Food For the Poor, I knew help was on the way. I am overwhelmed and thankful!” Ms. Whyte was so happy to have a home for herself and her family that she could not wait for today’s ceremony – they moved in last night and slept on makeshift sponge beds. And when it started raining, she reports, they rejoiced that they no longer had “to set up bucket to catch water”!

Thirty-year-old Shelly-Ann Whyte (left) expresses thanks to Carlene Edwards (centre), Senior Corporate Communications Officer at Supreme Ventures Limited and Jacqueline Johnson (right), Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica moments before the keys to her new and sturdy two-bedroom structure was officially presented yesterday, December 21 in the district of Fruitful Vale, Portland.  With support from the aforementioned organizations and the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund, Ms. Whyte and four other residents of Portland are benefitting from housing solutions as part of the post Hurricane Sandy relief effort in the parish.

At the formal handing over ceremony in Fruitful Vale today, Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, explained that the families would receive not only sturdy new two bedroom houses, but a full range of furniture. This included, for each family, tables, chairs, stoves, beds, mattresses, stoves and solar lamps.

Mrs. Johnson noted that her early, first hand view of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy had made it clear to her that housing assistance would be critical. She offered sincere thanks to the supporting donors, and to the Hurricane Relief Fund for allowing FFP to continue serving the poorest of the poor. Mrs. Johnson also expressed appreciation to the contractors and FFP team members who had worked tirelessly to ensure the completion of the homes. She urged the recipients to take care of the structures, and hoped they would enjoy the gifts they represented.

Carlene Edwards, Supreme Ventures Corporate Communications Officer, shared the moving rationale for her company’s involvement, saying, “We are thrilled to have partnered with Food For The Poor in donating several houses for persons and families that have been severely affected by Hurricane Sandy in the parishes of Portland, St. Thomas and St. Mary in October.

50-year-old Renhart Strachan and his two daughters were more than happy to accept the keys to their new two bedroom home which was donated by Supreme Ventures Limited, Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund.  Representatives of the organizations ventured in the community of Fruitful Vale in Portland to hand over keys to four of the five recipients including Mr. Strachan.  Participating in the ceremony were (from right) Jacqueline Johnson,  Executive Director of Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica and Carlene Edwards, Senior Corporate Communications Officer at Supreme Ventures Limited.  

She added, “Our contribution of $3M to Food for the Poor, for the building of these units, will no doubt help to put these recipients’ lives back together, especially, as we approach the yuletide season. Upon seeing the devastation that took place after the hurricane, we made a commitment to assist in this effort and today we are humbled to be on location, assisting with the restoration of so many families.”

Daryl Vaz, Member of Parliament for Western Portland and Founder of the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund, thanked FFP and Supreme Ventures for their contributions to the Fund and overall efforts since Hurricane Sandy. He said, “This illustrates that when we work together, a lot can happen, and it’s a pleasure to know that the recipients will be moving in just in time for Christmas.

“It is not an easy task to coordinate these efforts,” he added, “so I want to thank the sponsors, the Government officials and the Portland/Eastern Parishes Hurricane Relief Fund for helping to alleviate the suffering of those whose homes got damaged.”

 ________________________________________________________________________

 Contact:

Erica James-King, PROComm, T: 926-6740 

Petri-Ann Henry, Food For The Poor, T:  984-5005