MORE THAN 30 per cent of employees at the Noranda Bauxite Company in St Ann could be out of a job come early next year.

The Gleaner understands that the company is considering a massive redundancy exercise when it reopens in 2016 in order to reduce costs.

The company will close down operations today until January 3, laying off in excess of 100 employees.

General secretary of the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), St Patrice Ennis, said the company raised the proposal late last week.

A harmonious contrast between the old and the new, Manchester’s capital is a booming business centre set amidst rolling hills and lush vegetation. The town is situated some 2000 feet above sea level, and is one of the more peaceful and attractive places on the island. The name Manchester comes from the days when the Duke of Manchester, who later established the capital and named it after his son, the Viscount of Mandeville, in 1816, governed Jamaica.

High in the Santa Cruz Mountains lies the sleepy town of Malvern, named after its counterpart in England, which is famous for the Malvern Health Resort. For a place in St Elizabeth (generally regarded as one of the hottest parishes on the island), Malvern has an unusually mild climate. Even on very warm days the temperature rarely averages more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

 Liberty Hill Great House was built in 1740 and is a Historical House set on 25 acres of land, 1200 feet above sea level, and boasts views of both mountain and the Caribbean Sea as well as the cities of St. Ann’s Bay and Drax Hall.

Lacovia is the longest village in Jamaica, laid out for more than five miles on either side of the South Coast highway and the Black River, both of which divide the community into East and West Lacovia. Throughout the 18th century, Black River and Lacovia alternated as the capital of the parish of St Elizabeth. At one point in time, the river was the main transportation route for the parish, as road travel through the dense and humid mangrove swamps was treacherous at worst, miserable at best.

Greenwood Great House is over 200 years old. Formerly owned by the family of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, the famous English poet, Greenwood is one of the best preserved great houses on the island.

Built during an era of elegance and brutality, Greenwood has retained the atmosphere of the 19th century and continues to capture the imagination of its visitors.

Bellefield Great House captures the essence of Jamaica’s plantation-rich history: expansive views, tropical gardens, and an unforgettable mansion replete with antique furnishings and classic family heirlooms. This exciting explosion of “island life” is located on the privately owned Barnett Estate. Visitors are transported back in time as they explore the 300-year old great house and enjoy the breathtaking view of the 3,000acre estate. After which they are treated with a sample of freshly-pressed cane juice, age-old rums, spicy “jerk” chicken and coconut milk.

One of the most picturesque natural harbors in the Caribbean, Discovery Bay was renamed in 1947 to commemorate the place where it was once thought that Christopher Columbus first set foot on Jamaican soil. Discovery Bay is home to Columbus Park, an open-air museum facility featuring various Columbian and Colonial artefacts.