IN JAMAICA: DEATH SQUADs: Ex-cop claims extrajudicial killings are planned, ordered by senior officers

Hinds

Ex-cop claims extrajudicial killings are planned, ordered by senior officersCorey Robinson, Staff Reporter
A RETIRED cop and a serving police officer have broken the unwritten vow of silence within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to reveal how, they claim, cold-blooded killings are ordered by senior officers.
But Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds has rebuffed the claims relayed to The Sunday Gleaner, arguing that police personnel are sworn to uphold the law and that there are appropriate avenues for them to take if they are ordered to operate contrary to their duties.

“They (police) know their obligations. They know what the law is, and one would want to believe that if they get something that is contrary to the law, then they have recourses,” Hinds insisted, as he noted he was hearing the allegations for the first time. “There are a number of  independent bodies set up to investigate the police.” more

IN JAMAICA: Top University-Bound Students Promise To Return

Nicole Campbell (left), director of
Aim Educational Services, speaks
 with scholarship winners Christine Jones
 (second left), who attends the
American International School of
 Kingston (AISK); Ana Katrina Donaldson
 (centre), of Campion College; Yannick Eatmon,
 a Wolmer's sixth-former; and Marissa
 Webber from St Andrew High Schoo
l for Girls, during a meeting at
AISK last Friday.-Winston
Sill/Freelance Photographer

With recent reports indicating that Jamaica has the largest contingent of Caribbean nationals studying in the United States, and one of the latest Bill Johnson surveys showing that young, educated Jamaicans are more likely to migrate, it takes little effort to understand why four teenagers would jump at the opportunity to attend some of the best universities abroad.

For Ana Katrina Donaldson, of Campion College; Christine Jones, who attends the American International School of Kingston; Yannick Eatmon, a Wolmer's sixth-former; and Marissa Webber, from St Andrew High School for Girls, getting into four of the top-10 universities in the US have been nothing but a dream come true.

Not only have they managed to get into these highly competitive schools, they have already secured the majority of their fees. more

STATES MULL FIRING SQUAD.....NIGHTMARE EXECUTION PUTS DEATH PENALTY IN CROSSHAIRS... Court Acknowledged Untested Cocktail As 'Experiment'...

One day after a controversial lethal injection case in Ohio put the death penalty in crosshairs, another set of state lawmakers have proposed legislation that would allow execution by firing squad.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Friday that Missouri's HB 1470 puts that option on the table. State Rep. Paul Fitzwater (R-Potosi) told the paper that he cosponsored the legislation with the victims in mind. “People look at inmates who will be executed as victims,” Fitzwater said. “But the real victims have no voice because they are gone.”

The Missouri bill arrives alongside that Ohio execution, which saw Dennis McGuire suffer through a 26-minute infusion of chemicals into his body. According to the AP, that was the longest of 53 executions in Ohio since the state reinstated capital punishment in 1999. McGuire's son, also named Dennis, told the AP that the death process was torture, adding that "nobody deserves to go through that." more

RULA BROWN - "LIPS of WINE" with LYRICS (Taken from the forthcoming CD "Peace and Love, 1984-2014") ..... Download on iTUNES, EBAY, Amazon.com for 99 cents. Proceeds go to PALAS scholarship program.

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth (JAMAICA): Two more murders in St Elizabeth.....The murder toll in St Elizabeth has now risen to seven since the start of 2014, following two killings in the north western and south easterly sections of the parish betwen Friday night and early Saturday.

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth - The murder toll in St Elizabeth has now risen to seven since the start of 2014, following two killings in the north western and south easterly sections of the parish betwen Friday night and early Saturday.

Police said that 73-year-old pensioner Robert Campbell, a returned resident whose wife died on January 8, was shot dead in Middle Quarters, north west St Elizabeth, around 8:45 Friday night.

And around 6:30 am Saturday, 54-year-old farmer and vendor Vivian Staple was found dead on his verandah in Ballards Valley, south east St Elizabeth. Police said that Staple's body had multiple chop or stab wounds.

According to the police, Campbell was driving his helper home along Baptist Road in Middle Quarters when someone shouted for him to stop. The voice reportedly said "mi have something fi you". Campbell reportedly stopped the vehicle. A man approached, pulled a gun and shot him.

Campbell drove a short distance before the vehicle came to a stop with him slumped at the wheel, police said. He was rushed to the Black River Hospital where he was pronounced dead. more

Man beats lover after she catches him having sex with another woman......"She catch me with another woman and we make it up and she say she forgive me, but after that she mash up me windshield, she go inna me car and thief out me money"

LAST week, it was non-stop drama inside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, which saw cases involving men who got physical and assaulted their women, following relationship problems. Even teenagers were involved in the drama.

In the first case, a man faced the court for beating his lover whom he claimed was making his life a living hell after she caught him having sex with another woman.

Vernon Livingston, who was charged with assault, told the court that his lover had been a thorn in his side for the past six months, even though she claimed that she had forgiven him.

Man beats lover after she catches

"She catch me with another woman and we make it up and she say she forgive me, but after that she mash up me windshield, she go inna me car and thief out me money, she all a call me boss, she call police on me say me a molest me daughter, she even get two man fi drive way me car," Livingston told the court.

But the complainant told the court that Livingston, despite asking for her forgiveness and for a chance to continue their relationship, went and slept with the girl a second time. more

JAMAICAN BOBSLED IN WINTER OLYMPICS IN RUSSIA: Organisers say Jamaica qualify for Sochi Games Cool Runnings 2?

THE Jamaican bobsled team may be headed to another Olympics. The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast.

Olympic organisers said yesterday that Jamaica has qualified for the two-man competition at the Sochi Games, though it remains unclear if the fledgling squad will get a chance to race. Funding is a serious problem and sled driver Winston Watts told The Associated Press yesterday he's trying to raise as much as US$80,000 in the next two weeks to cover travel and equipment costs. "Right now," Watts said, "we're at zero."

Winston Watts driving the Jamaican
 Bobsled in the two-man race.
(PHOTO: DAILY MAIL)

They are certainly among the world's most storied bobsled teams, and that has little to do with results. Jamaica first competed in Olympic bobsledding in 1988 at the Calgary Games, a story that inspired the Cool Runnings film. For a nation lacking bobsled tradition, or snowy winters, Jamaica has often fared quite well on the international circuits..

It's been 12 years since Jamaica has had a sled in the Olympics, with Watts finishing 28th at the Salt Lake City Games with Lascelles Brown — now a key part of Canada's national team. Brown won a medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games, one where the Jamaicans were hoping to compete, but were again thwarted by funding issues. more

IN JAMAICA: 18-year-old Kadeja Braham's dream denied by death.......Young woman's demise to rare disorder blows her hopes of modelling, flying

IN a mere 22 days, a cruel twist of fate shattered 18-year-old Kadeja Braham's dream of advancing from a promising modelling career to becoming a flight attendant.

Kadeja Braham

Last Thursday night, Kadeja succumbed to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, described by health experts as "a rare, serious disorder in which your skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication or infection".

An example of what the disorder
 does to the skin is seen on this
patient overseas.

The speed with which the illness ended the Pulse model and Guy's Hill High School past student's life has devastated her family, who are still trying to understand what went wrong, given that Kadeja had shown no sign of illness before.

To add to their grief, they need to find at least $556,000 to settle Kadeja's medical bills, which they racked up in a desperate attempt to save her life. Kadeja's date with destiny started on Christmas Day 2013 when she felt the symptoms of a fever and took over-the-counter flu tablets before reporting to work at the downtown Kingston boutique where she was employed. more

Dennis Rodman Checks Into Rehab Center For Alcoholism Treatment, Agent Says

Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed alcohol rehabilitation center to treat his long-time struggle with alcoholism, his agent says.

Darren Prince declined on Saturday to say which facility will treat Rodman and how long he will be there. Rodman recently returned to the United States from his latest trip to North Korea.

Rodman

He later apologized for comments he made in North Korea about a detained American missionary, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized an exhibition game there. He also sang "Happy Birthday" to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the start of the friendly game.

"What was potentially a historic and monumental event turned into a nightmare for everyone concerned," Prince said. "Dennis Rodman came back from North Korea in pretty rough shape emotionally. The pressure that was put on him to be a combination 'super human' political figure and 'fixer' got the better of him. more

Serena Williams Defeated By Ana Ivanovic In Australian Open Upset (PHOTOS)...... She's knocked out No. 1 seed #Serena Williams 4-6 6-3 6-3

Serena Williams suffered a surprise defeat to Ana Ivanovic in the Round of 16 at the Australian Open. Game, set, match to @AnaIvanovic. She's knocked out No. 1 seed #Serena Williams 4-6 6-3 6-3 #ausopen

Australian Open        ✔ @AustralianOpen

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"It's amazing, honestly I wanted to play the best I could…it's amazing, Im thrilled" #Ivanovic on winning today. more

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) camp held Sandy relief money hostage, mayor Dawn Zimmer of Hoboken, NJ alleges.....on UP w/ Steve Kornacki MSNBC story

Two senior members of Gov. Chris Christie’s administration warned a New Jersey mayor earlier this year that her town would be starved of hurricane relief money unless she approved a lucrative redevelopment plan favored by the governor, according to the mayor and emails and personal notes she shared with msnbc.

PHOTO BY ANDREW BURTON/GETTY

Mayor Dawn Zimmer (L) of Hoboken 

talks with New Jersey 

Governor Chris Christie (R)

 prior to a joint press conference,

 Nov. 4, 2012 in Hoboken, N.J.

The mayor, Dawn Zimmer, hasn’t approved the project, but she did request $127 million in hurricane relief for her city of Hoboken – 80% of which was underwater after Sandy hit in October 2012. What she got was $142,000 to defray the cost of a single back-up generator plus an additional $200,000 in recovery grants. 

In an exclusive interview, Zimmer broke her silence and named Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Richard Constable, Christie’s community affairs commissioner, as the two officials who delivered messages on behalf of a governor she had long supported.

Mayor Dawn Zimmer, (D-Hoboken)

“It’s not fair for the governor to hold Sandy funds hostage for the city of Hoboken” because he wants support for one private developer, she said Saturday on UP w/ Steve Kornacki.

Constable and Christie – through spokespersons – deny Zimmer’s claims. more

MAY PEN, JAMAICA: Cop On Murder Rap - Police Officer Charged After Search Of May Pen Station

A MEMBER of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been arrested for murder and conspiracy to murder following a major probe under way by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

The cop was charged after INDECOM conducted a search of the May Pen Police Station on January 16, 2013, at which time several weapons were recovered.

In a release yesterday, INDECOM said it has been tracking the conduct of police officers attached to the Area 3 Police.

"The Commission has received files from the Jamaica Constabulary Force in furtherance of this investigation," INDECOM added.

The investigative body says it is seeking the cooperation of the JCF as it carries out its investigation.

INDECOM says the investigation is at a stage where no further comments can be made. more

News : Defence lawyers grill cop in Vybz Kartel trial Witness tells lawyer question inappropriate.

DEFENCE attorneys yesterday took further pot shots at the credibility of prosecution witness Corporal Sean Brown during the murder trial of Vybz Kartel and his four co-accused in the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston.

Defence attorney Pierre Rodgers accused Brown, who is assigned to the Crime Forensic Unit of the Organised Crime Investigation Division, of being unfair and unjust.

Kartel

Rodgers charged that Brown's incomplete perusal of the phone data obtained from telecommunications company Digicel was unprofessional.

"Wouldn't justice and fairness dictate that you go through all the data?" Rodgers asked.

Brown admitted that he had used key words such as 'murder', 'killing', 'Kartel' and 'Lizard', to narrow down the pool of text messages and call records he provided to the court as evidence. more

IN JAMAICA: Lisa Hanna: CDA, adoption board working to clear application backlog

Hanna: CDA, adoption board working to clear application backlog

MINISTER of Youth Lisa Hanna says the Child Adoption Board (CAB) and the Child Development Agency (CDA) are working assiduously to clear a backlog of adoption applications. "There are 311 cases ... Read More

Lupita Nyongo WINS Critics Choice Awards 2014 | Lupita Nyongo Speech....."12 Years A Slave"

31 y-o Nun Gives Birth To 9 pounds Baby Boy In Italy

A Salvadorean nun who said she had no idea she was pregnant gave birth in Italy this week after she felt stomach cramps in her convent and was rushed to hospital, Italian media reported on Friday.

The 31-year-old mother and her baby boy, who weighs 3.5 kilograms (9 pounds), are doing well and other new mothers in Rieti hospital have begun collecting clothes and donations for her, the reports said.

"I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain," the nun was quoted as saying at the hospital, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. La Repubblica said she gave birth on Wednesday. ANSA said the nun had named her baby Francesco (Francis) -- also the pope's chosen title and one of the most popular names in Italy, where St Francis of Assisi is the much-loved national patron saint. The hospital could not be reached for comment.

The nun belongs to the "Little Disciples of Jesus" convent in Campomoro near Rieti, which manages an old people's home and reports said she would keep the baby. Her fellow nuns were quoted saying they were "very surprised". Copyright (2014) AFP. All rights reserved. more

LZ: America afraid of '12 Years a Slave'?.....'Hustle,' '12 Years' are among top Oscar nominees

Steve McQueen's Oscar-worthy scene?

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• LZ Granderson: "12 Years a Slave" deserves praises for its unflinching portrayal
• Granderson: Even though it's a contender for Oscars, it hasn't attracted many viewers
• He says many people may not be ready to see a movie about our ugly past
• Granderson: "12 Years" deserves best picture for sure, but who will see it?

Editor's note: LZ Granderson writes a weekly column for CNN.com. A senior writer for ESPN and lecturer at Northwestern University, the former Hechinger Institute fellow has had his commentary recognized by the Online News Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. Follow him on Twitter @locs_n_laughs.

(CNN) -- The image of Solomon Northup's body hanging from a tree -- noose around his neck, hands tied behind his back, feet barely touching the ground -- is uncomfortable to look at.

And Steve McQueen, director of "12 Years a Slave," does not spare the audience with an expedient exit.

There is no overbearing soundtrack to drown out the sound of him gasping for air. For what feels like an eternity, McQueen makes us watch. He makes us listen. He makes us know the truth about slavery in a way no Hollywood film in recent memory has. The beatings are not brief. Christianity is not spared. There are no scenes of white heroes racing against time to save him or undo the injustice that is being done.

As he hangs there, we hear the birds singing. We see the sun fading. more

Entertainment : Three Little Birds turns musical THE musical, Bob Marley's Three Little Birds, written by the reggae legend's daughter, Cedella, opens at the New Victory Theater in New York on February 7, one day after what would have been his 69th birthday.

THE musical, Bob Marley's Three Little Birds, written by the reggae legend's daughter, Cedella, opens at the New Victory Theater in New York on February 7, one day after what would have been his 69th birthday."This is going to be the best birthday ever for Dad," Marley told the Speakeasy magazine. "There will be a lot of children around celebrating."

A scene from the musical
Bob Marley's Three Little Birds.
(Photo: repeatingislands.com

Bob Marley

The musical is based on Marley's children's book, Three Little Birds which she says was inspired by her three sons..

"That was the song that could put them to bed at night and wake them up in the mornings," she said. "My middle son was getting bullied at school. He would come home crazy sad and I would hum the song to him."

The Three Little Birds musical originated in Washington, DC, last year, and Marley remembers bringing her children to opening night.

Cedella Marley

"To see the little children in the audience singing along -- I thought maybe they would know 1-2 songs, but they knew so many," she said "I was like, 'wait a minute!' They were singing 'One love'."

In addition, the musical includes the title song Jamming, Roots Rock Reggae, I Shot the Sheriff and Is This Love.

The show will play at the New Victory until February 23. more

Michelle Obama 'fabulous' at 50: Has the big birthday changed?......Tune in at 10 p.m. ET Friday, January 17, for CNN's documentary, "An Extraordinary Journey: Michelle Obama turns 50."

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Michelle Obama turns 50 on January 17
• About turning 50, the first lady says "she's never felt more confident" in herself
• Many women 50 and older relish the midcentury milestone: 50 is the new 40
• Others dread it, with one woman saying "everything either hurts or doesn't work"

Tune in at 10 p.m. ET Friday, January 17, for CNN's documentary, "An Extraordinary Journey: Michelle Obama turns 50."

(CNN) -- Michelle Obama's not just embracing her half-century milestone, she's relishing it.

Describing herself as "50 and fabulous," the "Let's Move" creator is getting ready to move herself on Saturday -- as in show off some dance moves -- with a big birthday celebration at the White House.

"I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman," the first lady told Parade magazine last summer when asked about approaching the big 5-0.

That confidence was on full display when she recently took on the topic of aging and whether she'd ever consider plastic surgery. more

READ THIS, WATCH THAT.......Professor form Giligans Island dies, Country singer in rehab after setback, 9 food that boost metabolism and more

Professor from 'Gilligan's Island' dies

I'm the product of a sperm swap3:46

Power couple is 'a normal family'

Country star in rehab after 'setback'

Her hellish dates include armpit-sniffer4:16

Did Gisele go too far with this pic?2:41

9 foods that boost metabolism

Blood Falls and other natural oddities

See devil baby scare New Yorkers

Kartel trial: Witness accused of misleading court.......Texts about Lizzy were referring to Shawn Storm’s daughter

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Defence in the Vybz Kartel murder trial have accused Crown witness Corporal Shawn Brown of deliberately attempting to mislead the court by presenting selected cell phone texts by a co-accused. 

Defence attorney Tom Tavares-Finson suggested Thursday that the witness abstracted texts from a series sent by co-accused Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell which gave the impression that Campbell was referring to victim Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

One of Shawn Storm’s text presented as evidence to the court read: “How much for the thing to deal with Lizzy.” 

The texts were sent to an unknown number, the court was told.

However upon request by the defence that information from the unedited disc be presented, it was revealed that the unknown number was that of Campbell’s girlfriend and the texts were regarding their daughter Lizzy’s school supplies. more

Grammy-nominated gospel singer claims he was stalked by missing Jamaican-American doctor

Marvin Sapp, 46, a chart-topping gospel singer in Michigan, said he was forced to file a protection order against Patrick after she allegedly showed up at his church, sent him scores of letters and contacted his children, according to the New York Daily News

KALAMAZOO, United States, Friday January 17, 2014, CMC – In a new twist to the search for Dr. Teleka Patrick, a missing Jamaican American doctor, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer says he was stalked by the doctor.

American doctor, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer says he was stalked by the doctor.

Marvin Sapp, 46, a chart-topping gospel singer in Michigan, said he was forced to file a protection order against Patrick after she allegedly showed up at his church, sent him scores of letters and contacted his children, according to the New York Daily News..

The paper said the Grand Rapids, Michigan pastor claimed that Patrick sent him more than 400 love letters, joined his congregation and even moved to Michigan from California to be closer to him. more: 

Barbados central bank forecasts sluggish economic growth...... is expected to accelerate slowly from less than one per cent in 2014 to about 1.6 in 2015 increasing up to three per cent thereafter.

 

In an analysis of Barbados’ current economic performance, the CBB said that its forecast is based principally on expectations for the tourism sector and on major investment projects planned by the private sector and the government.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday January 16, 2014, CMC – The Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) Tuesday predicted that the island’s economic growth is expected to accelerate slowly from less than one per cent in 2014 to about 1.6 in 2015 increasing up to three per cent thereafter.

In an analysis of Barbados’ current economic performance, the CBB said that its forecast is based principally on expectations for the tourism sector and on major investment projects planned by the private sector and the government.

It said the forecast also took into account the strategies for strengthening the competitiveness of the foreign exchange sectors, and the potential growth of alternative energy production. more: 

20 New Subpoenas Issued By Panel Investigating Christie Scheme......Another twist from scandal emerges

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A special legislative panel investigating an apparent political payback scheme involving Gov. Chris Christie's aides issued 20 new subpoenas Thursday, and he made his first trip since the scandal broke to pledge he won't be distracted from the job of rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy. 

According to a report by Politicker NJ's Matthew Arco, those subpoenaed include Kevin O’Dowd, Christie's pick for state Attorney General, as well as fired Christie aide Bridget Anne Kelly and David Samson, the ...more

Vanity Fair Accused Of Lightening Lupita Nyong'o's Skin Color, Do You Agree? (PHOTO, POLL).....Vanity Fair In Hot Water Over Lupita N'yongo Spread.....The "12 Years A Slave" actress has already scored a Golden Globe nomination, Oscars nomination.

Lupita Nyong'o's star is rising quick, fast and in a hurry! The "12 Years A Slave" actress has already scored a Golden Globe nomination, Oscars nomination, a few magazine covers (see: this and that) and a major fashion campaign. But it's Lupita's most recent accolade that has some people jeering not cheering.

On Wednesday, Vanity Fair proudly announced that the 30-year-old Kenyan beauty was the subject of the Vanities section of its February issue by tweeting out a photo from the editorial. more

Executed Killer Dennis McGuire Gasped And Snorted For 15 Minutes Under New Lethal Drug Combo......NIGHTMARE EXECUTION: Inmate 'Gasped'... 'Choking Sounds Lasted For At Least 10 Minutes'... Chest Heaved, Fist Clenched... PAPER: 'May Not Have Been' Pain-Free... Inmate's Adult Children Sobbed... Took More Than 15 Minutes To Die... 'Never Before Used' 2-Drug Cocktail... Grotesque Search For Killer Drug...

Dennis McGuire

LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A condemned Ohio inmate appeared to gasp several times and took more than 15 minutes to die Thursday as he was executed with a combination of drugs never before tried in the U.S.

Death row inmate Dennis McGuire made several loud snorting or snoring sounds during one of the longest executions since Ohio resumed capital punishment in 1999. In attempting to halt his execution with the new method, McGuire's attorneys had argued last week he was at substantial risk of "agony and terror" while straining to catch his breath as he experienced a medical phenomenon known as air hunger. more