New digital maps to advance community services in Portmore

THE NATIONAL Land Agency utilised the latest mapping technology in the production of the latest set of maps of the Portmore area.

The police, fire brigade and post office, as key Government organisations in Portmore, were each presented with a set of traditional maps.

These maps are now available in digital format, featuring multiple layers that isolate critical aspects such as the road network, terrain and drainage.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony on Friday, April 8, Portmore Chamber of Com-merce and Industry (PCCI) President, Millicent Lynch, stated that Portmore has a rapid growth rate. It was deemed the best place to start such a major project, as the geographical features are constantly changing, thereby making previous Portmore maps grossly outdated.

She added that the presentation to the three entities was due to the crucial role each plays in the community.

Ms Lynch added: "If the fire service and police have these maps, it will help to create a more effective emergency response, and the post office can better plan strategies to improve their delivery mandate."

Present at the function held at the Portmore ('Hundred Man') Police Station were: Deputy Mayor, Portmore, Colin Fagan, PCCI members: Noel Brown, Norman Walker, Ashbourne Solomon and Patricia Camp-bell, senior police officers: Superintendent E. W. Nelson, DSP Basil Grant and ASP Anthony McLaughlin, members of the National Land Agency, including Executive Director, Elizabeth Stair, Fire Brigade District Officer, Norris Mun-roe, and members of the postal service.

The National Land Agency digital map project took 18 months to come to fruition, and these maps are available for sale in both print and digital forms.

President of the Portmore Chamber of Commerce, Millicent Lynch (left), presents the postal service with a set of new maps of Portmore at a ceremony held on Friday, April 8, at the Portmore ('Hundred Man') Police Station. Accepting the gift are postmaster of Bridgeport , Delores Allen (centre), and regional inspector of St Catherine, Martin Grant. The latest maps, designed by the National Land Agency, are also available in digital format, and have multiple layers with numerous features. The fire brigade and police were also presented with maps.

Did You Know?

• The Jamaican postal service, established in 1671, was the first British post office outside of the British mainland.
• There are 306 post offices and 312 postal agencies now operating in Jamaica .
• Regular mail cannot be traced. If it is that important, then register it or send it by international courier: Express Mail Service (EMS).
• Take care in addressing your mail, since we can't get it 'there' if you don't tell us where your mail must go!
• The Postal Corporation of Jamaica (Post Corp) is a company owned by the Government that drives the postal reform and modernisation process.

Peel-and-stick stamps available at last

HAVE YOU ever heard someone saying that the food tastes like glue? Persons who know how glue tastes must send a lot of mail (or may just like licking stamps).

Anyway, the reality is that many people have said that they prefer not to lick their stamps. For these people, a dip of the finger in the water will do them no harm and leaves no 'aftertaste'.

Well, prayers have now been answered, as the Jamaican postal service has now introduced a peel-and-stick stamp! You can simply peel away the stamp from the backing sheet and place it directly on mail items. It's that easy!

The peel-and-stick version is not really new, as this form of postage stamp has been successfully introduced in a few countries, but as we all know, Jamaica cannot be left behind in any race.

Images of prominent buildings

This new style postage stamp is from the recently released definitive 'Buildings Series'. The series features images of prominent buildings, and the first peel-and-stick stamp, in the $30 denomination, presents the photo of the NCB Atrium. Its value to philatelists, as the first peel-and-stick in Jamaica , is likely to be greater than that of the person who just doesn't like to lick postage stamps. We will see how that develops.

Peel-and-stick stamps are presented in a novel booklet design, with ten $30 stamps on one side within the booklet, and a brief postal history outline on the other. The attractive front cover provides a photo of all four stamps in the series, elegantly arranged in a circle around the Jamaica Post logo. Another useful feature is the crucial postage rate reminder on the rear outside cover, and contact details are included.

Go get your peel-and-stick stamps now. They are available at postal outlets islandwide.

Contributed

The new peel-and-stick stamps.