LISA HANNA: 'They're Sick' - Hanna Says Many Of Nation's Children Have Mental Disorders

Lisa Hanna

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna says a large number of children with behavioural problems are afflicted by various mental conditions and the change in the legislation to decriminalise those deemed 'uncontrollable' would allow the Ministry of Youth and Culture to administer specific interventions.

Hanna, who was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum last Friday, revealed that her ministry had engaged a group of psychiatrists, who will be assisting in assessing and recommending appropriate interventions for children who have been placed in state care for behavioural problems.

According to the youth minister, "over a third of juveniles in detention centres were there for uncontrollable behaviour".

With the change in legislation that is to come shortly, she said those children deemed 'uncontrollable' will be removed to a special facility that is to be established, where they would be assessed by a council of psychiatrists who would recommend the appropriate intervention. read more...

Premila Lal, 18-Year-Old Colorado Teen, Shot Dead In Prank Gone Wrong

A Colorado teen was shot and killed Friday evening after a prank on a friend went horribly wrong.

Police say that Premila Lal, 18, and a cousin planned to scare her 15-year-old brother and an older friend, Nerrek Galley, by making noise and jumping out of a closet. But when Galley thought there was an intruder wandering the house, he opened fire, fatally injuring Lal.

"They somehow entered the house and my son and Nerrek didn't know it was them," Lal's father, Pravenn, told KDVR. "After she was shot, then Nerrek realized it was Premila." read more...

8 Ways To Make Your Guacamole That Much Better

We don't mess around when it comes to guacamole. We understand the importance of this simple avocado dip. It makes happy hours that much better, parties worth leaving our house for, and Cinco de Mayo a holiday to that can rival (almost) Thanksgiving. Without guacamole, margaritas wouldn't go down as smoothly and tortilla chips wouldn't even matter anymore.

Guacamole is just one of those foods that makes life a little bit better. So, when making it homemade it's important to get it right. We've whipped up countless recipesand have eaten even more bowls of the stuff than we care to admit, all in search of the perfect guac. This abundant avocado dip consumption has gotten us to the bottom of what makes a guacamole great -- and all the simple tips and tricks that can make your homemade guacamole that much better. read more...

KARMA, KARMA, KARMA ? George Zimmerman in Custody After Gun Incident....3rd running with the law since acquittal of killing Trayvon Martin (VIDEO)

George Zimmerman is being questioned by police after a domestic incident with his wife and father-in-law that may have involved a gun, according to police.

Zimmerman is being held at the home of a relative after the incident, which involved his wife, Shellie, and her father, Colin Morgan, police in Lake Mary, Fla., told ABC News. Police are investigating whether a gun found at the scene was used in the incident.

"There was some kind of a domestic, we know that with his wife and father-in-law. Apparently there were some weapons involved and threats," the deputy police chief in Lake Mary told ABC News.

Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime. read more...

WAR WITH SYRIA MAY BE AVERTED....Syria Welcomes Russian Proposal To Put Chemical Weapons Under International Control

MOSCOW, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Syria welcomes a Russian proposal to place the nation's chemical weapons under international control, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said on Monday after talks in Moscow, praising the Kremlin for seeking to "prevent American aggression".

Moualem, who spoke to reporters through an interpreter after Russia expressed hope the proposal could avert military strikes against Syria, stopped short of saying explicitly that President Bashar al-Assad's government accepted it.

"I state that the Syrian Arab Republic welcomes the Russian initiative, motivated by the Syrian leadership's concern for the lives of our citizens and the security of our country, and also motivated by our confidence in the wisdom of the Russian leadership, which is attempting to prevent American aggression against our people," he said. (Reporting by Alexei Anishchuk; Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Alison Williams). read more...

ENTER CHAT, LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7

               FOR AUDIO ONLY (No Commercials) - CLICK PLAYER ABOVE on RIGHT

                                                                              OR

                  FOR USTREAM VIEWING & RBN CHATROOM CLICK ON PLAYER BELOW    

To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. TONY RYAN w/ Tony Ryan Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

ALL IN ON WAR....Obama Grows Isolated On Syria As Support Wanes.....Major Push Begins Monday... Obama Meeting With House Members... Courting Media... Addressing The Public... VOTE LOOMS: 233 Lean No... Just 39 Yes... Poll: Americans Against... McDonough: Lack Of Support 'Understandable'...

WASHINGTON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - White House efforts to convince the U.S. Congress to back military action against Syria are not only failing, they seem to be stiffening the opposition.

That was the assessment on Sunday, not of an opponent but of an early and ardent Republican supporter of Obama's plan for attacking Syria, the influential Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, Mike Rogers.

Rogers told CBS's "Face the Nation" the White House had made a "confusing mess" of the Syria issue. Now, he said, "I'm skeptical myself."

Congress will be in session on Monday for the first time since the August recess. Debate on Syria could begin in the full Senate this week, with voting as early as Wednesday. The House of Representatives could take up the issue later this week or next. read more...

IN JAMAICA: Some doctors accused of harming prostate cancer patients

ONE of the country's leading oncologists is warning general practitioners to desist from using only the results of a transrectal ultrasound to diagnose prostate cancer.

Dr William Aiken, consultant urologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, is also urging general practitioners to immediately refer a cancer patient to the urologist once an abnormal PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level is detected or if they suspect that the patient has cancer, and to end the long wait.

Transrectal ultrasound is a procedure used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer after an abnormal PSA is detected in a patient.

But Dr Aikens said: "In the evaluation of men with prostate cancer, a transrectal ultrasound must always be combined with a biopsy, because the inherent characteristics of an ultrasound cannot differentiate between the prostate cancer and the absence of the cancer." Read more: 

Denham Town Bids Goodbye To Irreplaceable Tassanique.....Residents of Denham Town take a final look at 11-year-old Tassanique James, outside the home she once lived, before a thanksgiving service held at the Regent Street Seventh-day Adventist Church, Denham Town, west Kingston yesterday. Young James was shot in her community last month by gunmen.

Residents of west Kingston, particularly Denham Town, say the Clan Carthy Primary School student, who was gunned down on Emancipation Day, will not readily be forgotten.

Scores attended her funeral yesterday and lamented the extinguishing of a life that held much promise.

There was regret at the grade six desk she never got to use; the high school and university she would never attend; and the profession she would not get to pursue.

Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie bemoaned that Tassanique "could have gone on to be another great person coming out of the constituency." read more...

JN Rewards 33 GSAT Top Performers With Scholarships

Leighann Dacres-Jones' eyes gleamed like the sunshine on a bright sunny day as she made her way from the podium, she was beyond delighted to be the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) GSAT scholarship recipient for the parish of Manchester.

The 12-year-old was among 33 students who were formally recognised as JN Scholars by JNBS yesterday at the scholarship reception. The event took place at the JN Half-Way Tree Branch.

Each of the awardees received five-year scholarships to cover their fees throughout their high school tenure.

"I am very grateful to JN and I am thankful for my parents, as they were able to put me through school. It was long journey, but thankfully I made it and I'm ready for the next stage of my life," she told The Gleaner. read more...

CAN HE MAKE THE CASE?....Obama Faces High-Stakes Week On Syria......Full Court Press: Interviews With 6 Anchors On Monday... National Address Tuesday... Americans Skeptical.... EU Pleads: Wait For UN... Inspectors' Report Could Come Next Week... House Vote Edging Toward Defeat... 41 Lean Yes, 229 Lean No... Kerry: Obama Doesn't Need Congress... But Could Return To UN

President Obama (Photo by Sergey Guneev/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images)

PARIS — The U.S. tried to rally support on Saturday for a military strike against Syria, running into resistance from the American public and skeptics in Congress and from European allies bent on awaiting a U.N. report about a chemical attack they acknowledge strongly points to the Assad government.

President Barack Obama prepared for a national address Tuesday night as a growing number of lawmakers, including fellow Democrats, opposed the use of force. The American public didn't yet appear persuaded by Obama's argument that action is needed to deter the future use of chemical weapons. Meanwhile, a U.S. official released a DVD compilation of videos showing victims of the Aug. 21 attack near Damascus. read more...

Syria Chemical Weapons Footage Shown By Obama Administration To Senators: CNN (GRAPHIC VIDEOS)

CNN released graphic footage Saturday from 13 different videos showing apparent use of chemical weapons in Syria.

According to the CNN report, the Obama administration has shown these clips to the Senate Intelligence Committee, noting that the videos are from the Aug. 21 attack. AU.S. government assessment released in August said that attack is believed to have killed at least 1,429 people, including 426 children. read more...

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEOS BELOW

Adults Stuck In 'Youth' Care - Hundreds Remain In Homes After Age 18 Years

Lisa Hanna

Hundreds of Jamaicans remain in the care of the State even after turning 18, as abandonment by families haunts them from infancy through adulthood.

Figures from the Ministry of Youth and Culture, the umbrella ministry for the Child Development Agency (CDA), indicate that 354 adults remained in state care, 76 of whom were able-bodied, and 278 mentally and intellectually challenged.

According to the CDA, the oldest person remaining in the State's care is 47, but has the psychological age of a child.

Though these individuals do not remain in children's homes, the Government spends more than $6 million each year, through the CDA, to contribute to their care. read more...

IN JAMAICA: Boring Churches Spooking Men - Money Demand Scaring Men From Houses Of God!

The male-depleted congregations of many of the island's churches have become increasingly worrisome to some members, and at least one pastor believes the Church is to be blamed for being less-than-welcoming to men.

REV DON STEWART: You can't expect young,
 strong men to come to church week
after week to sit down, sing and clap
hands and listen to a pastor speak.
There is no fun in that.

In some churches, females outnumber males three-to-one, and the dream of many Christian women to find Christian husbands is becoming more improbable year after year.

The Reverend Don Stewart, pastor of the Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church in Portmore, St Catherine, said churches must target and tailor their activities towards men, without abandoning the loyal female congregants. read more...

GLENMUIR HIGH STUDENT with 22 DISTINCTIONS in CXC, CAPE to do MEDICINE AT UWI.....Canaan Heights teen has highest average of UWI's 2013 intake

PURSUING a Bachelor's degree in medicine or surgery has always been one of Andrew Ellis' dreams. What he never imagined, however, was that he would be awarded a full scholarship

Andrew Ellis 

Ellis, 19, matriculated into the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona with the highest average for the 2013-2014 academic year, having aced 22 Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations — 11 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and 11 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). 

Even with all that success, he never saw the honour coming and was surprised when campus registrar Dr Camille Bell-Hutchinson made the announcement at the annual matriculation ceremony for freshmen Thursday evening, where he symbolically signed the Matriculation Register on behalf of all first year students. Read more:  

107-year-old man killed in police shootout in Arkansas, authorities say

 

(CNN) -- A man who police said was 107 years old was killed in a confrontation with SWAT officers Saturday night.

Police were called to a home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where suspect Monroe Isadore was. "When they arrived, they were able to determine that an aggravated assault had occurred against two people at the residence," Lt. David E. Price, a Pine Bluff police spokesman, said in a statement.

The two victims were led out of the house. It was not clear what role the suspect had in the aggravated assaults or what they were. read more...

Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson represented Veronica Campbell Brown (VCB) at drug case hearing......awaits verdict in drug case

JAMAICA'S track star Veronica Campbell Brown will now await the verdict from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Disciplinary Committee after her legal representatives ended their case at the hearing into her adverse analytical finding at 107 Old Hope Road yesterday.

Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB)

Campbell Brown, who tested positive for a prohibited substance after competing at the May 4 Jamaica International Invitational (JII) meet in Kingston, was represented by former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, and celebrated California-based attorney Howard Jacobs.

The JAAA Disciplinary Committee was headed by former Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, and included Dr Aggrey Irons and Lincoln Eatmon. They are now charged with reviewing evidence presented during the four-day hearing, which started on Balmoral Avenue on Monday, but which was switched to the Old Hope Road premises the following day in an effort to avoid the glare of the media. Read more: 

Fraser-Pryce, Bolt, Weir lead Jamaican victories in Brussels

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Warren Weir both won Diamond trophies as the IAAF Diamond League season came to an end in the final of the 14-meet schedule at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday.

Fraser-Pryce

It was the third diamond in two years for Fraser-Pryce, who capped a stupendous season by retaining the 100m title with a brilliant and well executed meet record of 10.72 seconds (-0.3 m/s), while Weir made the best of a 'gift' presented to him by Racers Track Club teammate Usain Bolt when he took the 200m title, his first, by holding off compatriot Nickel Ashmeade to win the event in 19.87 seconds (-0,2m/s).

Bolt, meanwhile, made a mockery of a deep men's 100m field with a powerful run over the second half to win in 9.80 seconds (+0.6m/s), a full tenth of a second over American Mike Rodgers, who ran a season's best 9.90 seconds, while World Championships bronze medallist Nesta Carter had yet another sub-10-second run this season (9.94 seconds) for third. Read more: 

LIME-Gleaner Overachiever Shaquille Thomas Gets Additional Help

Shaquile Thomas

The inaugural LIME-Gleaner Inner-city Overachievers scholarship was a resounding success, with the five winners receiving more than $30,000 in much-needed back-to-school supplies and a tablet computer.

However, the initiative, between the two companies and their partners, has sparked a wellspring of support from ordinary Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.

So inspiring was the move, that a young Jamaican studying in Spain decided to launch his own charity, One Love Jamaica, to honour one of the five scholars.

Krishna Brown, a past student of Kingston College who grew up in the inner-city community of Greenwich Town, St Andrew, told The Gleanerthat Shaquille Thomas' story was the impetus he needed to make his dream of starting a charity a reality. read more...

Cancer Risk From CT Scan Radiation..... Pediatric CAT scans are estimated to cause hundreds of cancer deaths every year....Cancer Risk of This Medical Scan Equal to Smoking 1400 Cigarettes

IN ST. CATHERINE, JAMAICA: Man with mental illness gunned down....Mario would probably still be alive had he taken his medication

MARIO Jackson's sisters say that had he taken his medication on time Tuesday he would have fallen asleep by about 7:30 pm. But because he wanted to stay up and party with friends and the medicine made him sleepy, Jackson opted against following the prescription. That decision cost him his life.

Jackson... wanted to stay up and party

At about 10 o'clock that night, Jackson, 24, and another man, identified by residents as David Todd, otherwise called 'Yellow', were brutally gunned down outside Jackson's home, which houses a bar and gambling shop, on the Linstead bypass in St Catherine. Todd, who residents said was in his 40s and who may have been the target of the attack, was shot more than 10 times by two gunmen, who also turned their guns on Jackson as he tried to run into his yard.

Jackson was hit in the back of the head and keeled over just as he entered his gate. The mayhem forced relatives and about 30 gamblers to scamper for cover. Yesterday morning, residents with bloodshot eyes and tear-stained faces recalled the night of madness. Read more... 

Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx and Jah9....Europe Loves Reggae Revival - Rototom Insider Likens Movement To Jamaican Music Of The '70s

Chronixx

The 'Reggae Revival' was alive and well at Rototom Sunsplash's Reggae University.

Celebrating its 20th staging in Benicassim, Spain, the Rototom Sunsplash festival is one of the largest platforms in the world for reggaemusic.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Ellen Koehlings, an organiser of the Reggae University's sessions and an editor of the Germany-basedRIDDIM Magazine, told of the revival's presence at the festival.

Among the artistes affiliated with the 'Reggae Revival' are Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Chronixx and Jah9.

Most exciting

"In general, the Reggae Revival is perceived as the most exciting thing happening in reggae music right now, because all these artistes - and there are many more - show a great amount of talent and creativity in expressing positive thoughts. They are very much aware of their roots, be it culturally or musically. Instead of competing with each other they display an unusually strong sense of unity, and instead of following one formula they display a rich musical diversity. Many compare this time in reggae music to the '70's golden era of roots reggae," said Koehlings. read more....

IN JAMAICA: Chinese Firm Complains About Slow Processing Of Work Permits..... Are the Chinese about to buyout JAMAICA?

Kellier

A COMPLAINT by Chinese company COMPLANT about the slow pace at which its work permits are being processed by Jamaica has taken Derrick Kellier by surprise.

Kellier, Jamaica's labour minister, told The Gleaner yesterday that his ministry has a responsibility to do the required due diligence on all work permits.

"In the interest of the country - security reasons and otherwise, and the protection of our own workers - we have to do the due diligence on these requests.

Following a closed-door meeting with a Jamaican delegation headed by Prime Minister Simpson Miller in Beijing, China, recently, Dr Carlton Davis, chief adviser to the prime minister, said COMPLANT was desirous of importing skilled workers for the modernisation of their sugar plants.

"I am not going to pre-judge, but what the people are saying is that they need certain technical skills and they want that to be expedited," Davis said.

COMPLANT, which has acquired a number of Jamaican sugar factories, operates as Pan Caribbean Sugar Company Limited. read more....

IN JAMAICA: Goat Islands Not Big Enough for the Chinese to develop the logistic hub project

Pickersgill

THE AVAILABLE acreage at Goat Islands, which China Harbour Construction and Engineering Company wants for the construction of a trans-shipment port and industrial park, is less than the desired amount of the lands the Chinese are seeking for the project.

The archipelago, located off the coast of Old Harbour, St Catherine, which is the property of the Urban Development Corporation, has 617 acres, which is far less than the 3,000 acres which Robert Pickersgill, the minister of land, environment and climate change, said is needed for the development.

According to the titles for the Goat Islands, surveys conducted in 1941 show that the Great Goat Island comprises 465 acres, one rood and six perches. Little Goat Island comprises 152 acres, two roods and 77 perches.

The lands, comprising Great Goat Island and Little Goat Island, were transferred from the commissioner of lands on September 21, 1970 to the UDC, which paid $37,077.38 for the property. read more...

USAIN BOLT goes to HOLLYWOOD.....Movie Star Bolt?

Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson is hoping to lure Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt off the track and on to the big screen for the 2014 movie The Secret Service.

Except for lead spots in commercials for his sponsors such as Puma, Gatorade and Digicel, the world's fastest man - a six-time Olympicchampion and 100m and 200m world record holder - has very little acting experience, but Jackson, who is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet is hoping Bolt's expectedly lighter schedule next year will make his big-screen debut possible.

Football star David Beckham is also being approached for a role in the movie, which is based on comic books, and has Colin Firth and Michael Caine playing superagents, according to the BBC. It will be directed by Brit Matthew Vaughn. Read More...