Ms Nation won for her efforts in lifting the awareness of autism through writing letters to the newspaper, published in the Jamaica Observer, calling for more tolerance for the disabled and for writing poems about the plight of the disabled, published in The Sunday Gleaner. more
IN JAMAICA: PALAS Scholarship recipient and Medical student at UWI, Nicole Nation Disabilities Awareness Activist -...Wins Autism Foundation Award....Tops NSWMA All-Island Essay Competition
The Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation is happy to announce that 18-year-old Nicole Nation is the overall winner of the inaugural Autism and Disabilities Ambassadors competition. The competition is one of the main efforts of the Foundation to help heighten awareness of autism and other disabilities. The competition was staged between January and April, global autism month.
PALAS SPRING FLING DANCE FUNDRAISER EVENT at KOZY COVE , 4654 HOPE SPRING ROAD, STONE MOUNTAIN GA 30083. Admission is $15.00 (Includes Dinner)
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| Peace and Love Academic Scholarship (PALAS), 100 scholarships & 100 computers for 2014. Please donate at www.PALAS1.org or send a check payable to PALAS. PO Box 5461, Alpharetta GA 30023. |
HANOVER, JAMAICA: Settle those differences, PNP official tells members.....supporters demonstrating in Lucea on Wednesday, calling on their Member of Parliament Ian Hayles to step down.
BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at-Large Western Bureau cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, March 30, 2014
LUCEA, Hanover — Hyacinth Shakes-Warren, the People's National Party (PNP) Hanover West constituency chairman, has called for an amicable resolution to the bitter conflict that she said could destroy the governing party's machinery in the constituency.
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| People's National Party (PNP) supporters demonstrating in Lucea on Wednesday, calling on their Member of Parliament Ian Hayles to step down. |
"I hope that for the party's sake the matter will be resolved amicably and they will stop this whole foolishness which is not good for the party," Shakes-Warren told the Jamaica Observer on Friday.
She was referring to a slew of charges and counter charges between supporters loyal to Member of Parliament for the area, Ian Hayles and Lucea Mayor Shernett Haughton, who is also the chairman of the PNP-controlled Hanover Parish Council.
Haughton, who represents the Green Island Division, has for several weeks been under pressure from the majority of councillors at the council to step down as chairman.
The councillors, who seemingly have the support of Hayles, have said that they are dissatisfied with Haughton's leadership of the local authority and have vowed to unseat her.
Three weeks ago, the monthly general meeting of the Hanover Parish Council fell through due to the lack of a quorum, as the controversy surrounding Haughton's leadership of the local authority appeared to be deepening.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 10:00 am. However, just over an hour later, the mayor entered the chambers and thanked members of various State-run agencies, Parish Development Committee representatives and members of the media for coming out. She latter stated that the meeting had fallen through because of the lack of a quorum.
Then, just over a week ago at a workers meeting at the Green Island High School, Hayles made several pronouncements -- deemed by many to be disrespectful to the mayor- as he sought to explain the reasons for the impasse between the councillors and the mayor.
The MP's pronouncements have since been condemned by the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), as well as the Association of Local Government Authorities (ALGA), who have called on Hayles to apologise to the embattled Mayor. more
Champs To The Caribbean - Promising Regional Athletes Head To Jamaican Schools And Dominating Marquee Event.....Zharnell Hughes & Delano Williams 2 examples....at most track and field championships, the men's 100m, has been quietly erased at the premier high school track event in the world. Is this good or bad for the sport in JAMAICA?
Published Sunday March 30, 2014. Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter
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| KC's Anguillan, Zharnel Hughes |
Jamaica's dominance in the marquee event at most track and field championships, the men's 100m, has been quietly erased at the premier high school track event in the world.
The ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championship is widely accepted as the best meet of its kind in the world, but for the past three years the marquee event, the Class One 100m, has not had a Jamaican champion.
The latest winner was Kingston College's Anguillan, Zharnel Hughes, who won last Friday with a 10.12-second clocking to better the old record of 10.21 set by Yohan Blake in 2007.
In 2012 and 2013, the races were won by Delano Williams of the Turks and Caicos Islands, who was representing Munro College.
Williams, who now represents Great Britain, went on to win the sprint double, as he captured the 200m on both occasions.
He has remained in Jamaica to train at the Glen Mills-led Racers Track Club, home of World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt and Blake. It is also the training base for Hughes.
Both Williams and Hughes have local connections as their mothers are Jamaican, but that is not the only thing that pulled them to the island to compete in the world-renowned 'Champs'.
ISSA General Secretary Garth Gayle, who has also been an official at Champs for the past 36 years and assistant meet manager for the last 15 years, believes that given the global environment, we are likely to see more youngsters coming here to attend schools and take part in the meet. more
IN JAMAICA: Careers & Education Grace Kennedy puts over $52 million into education.....Executive Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, Caroline Mahfood said "I wish we could do more, because the need is so great."
Sunday, March 30, 2014
DESPITE the tough economic climate which existed in 2013, GraceKennedy, through its GraceKennedy Foundation and Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, invested over $52 million in education and education-related expenses last year.
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| GraceKennedy Foundation bursary recipients listen intently to pharmacist and former GraceKennedy Foundation bursary recipient Dr Tonoya Toyloy-Williams at the 2013 ceremony where they were officially awarded. |
Through the assistance given at the tertiary and secondary levels, skills training, student support, student medical and its five homework centres, the company's community outreach arm, the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation, invested some $19.54 million. Unlike the GraceKennedy Foundation which is corporate-endowed, Grace and Staff's expenses are covered by voluntary contributions from GraceKennedy staff members, which are then matched two to one by the company. The Foundation also stages its annual Education Run, with proceeds going to the furtherance of inner-city education programmes. Grace and Staff was established in 1979 in response to the social and economic conditions existing in inner-city communities.
"We are happy to make a difference," said Executive Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, Caroline Mahfood. "I wish we could do more, because the need is so great." more
JAMAICA Centenarian: Christiana Elizabeth Rose,101, strict and loved to beat....."She took care of us and every other woman's children in the community,"...."We just sit down and counsel them. If you counsel your children they will behave good,"
By DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Sunday Observer Staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaoserver.com Sunday, March 30, 2014
She is loved and fondly spoken of by her children.
But one thing is foremost on the top of the list when describing the cheerful Christiana Elizabeth Rose, who turned 101 on March 24, is that she was strict and loved to beat.
"Lawd Jesus she loved to beat!" Catherine Rose, postmistress at the Spanish Town Post Office and one of Rose's 10 remaining children said when asked about her mother.
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| Christiana Rose, 101, is surrounded by a number of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren last Friday. |
"She love beat! She love beat! And you couldn't outrun her! When she say she want to beat you, you better run. And if you run she going to catch you. She could run!" the centenarian's daughter recalled with a broad smile.
"She was very disciplined. She grew us really good. She said that one person came to court her daughter and when she asked why he didn't look elsewhere, he said because he heard she grew the best children," she said.
The postmistress described her mother as a blessed and God-fearing woman for as long as she can remember.
"She had been going to her church until when she finally couldn't go, but she still praise her God and she encourages people along the way," she said.
"She took very good care of us. And she could cook! She never used seasoning so she used to say is like her hand has in seasoning because whatever she had, she cooked it and it tasted real good. And she always liked to share with neighbours and friends," the youngest of the siblings said.
Her sentiments were echoed by some of her brothers.
"She was a nice mother, strict, but I mean she would never eat and don't give anybody none," the centenarian's 66-year-old son Joseph said.
"In those days when we were growing up, we couldn't think 'bout carrying girls to the house. We couldn't think 'bout that. And we couldn't go road," he recalled. "When the big brothers going show (movie), man, they had to beg her to let me go, mi couldn't come out of the yard. All when mi big, mi couldn't go road like youths now. When you looking a little girlfriend a pure hiding, man. A mussa when mi reach 'bout 21 mi start get girl," he laughed.
But despite her strict nature, Rose's 56-year-old son, James, described her as the best mother anyone could ever have, especially since her strictness was for their own good.
"She took care of us and every other woman's children in the community," James said.
A laughing Rose agreed that she was in fact strict and that if they did anything wrong she would 'cut their skin'.
"They grew up under rule. But them father stricter than me," she said. "My children don't grow up at dance. And they don't keep company with others who never good. If you a woman and you nuh live nuh life, don't come a mi yard because my husband would run you. And if you don't grow up you pickney dem good, you can't come," she said.
Rose admitted to growing 15 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild along with her 12 children, two of whom are now deceased. She said however, that they never argued with each other.
"We just sit down and counsel them. If you counsel your children they will behave good," she told the Jamaica Observer from her Kellits, Clarendon home on Friday.
She said that if her children went out, even when they were adults and were told that they could not come in after a particular time, which was set at 9 o'clock, they had to sleep outside, as the door would not be opened.
So strict was her mode of discipline that it was transferred to her children. more
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth : Unite against crime, Governor General urges Jamaicans ... as Beryl Rochester installed as custos of St Elizabeth... "making an unprecedented appeal to all residents of this country... to come together, under God, and beat back this scourge of crime". .
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large South Central Bureau Sunday, March 30, 2014
BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — There was plenty of pomp, colour and ceremony as Beryl Rochester was formally installed as Custos Rotulorum last Thursday at this historic coastal town's Independence Park.
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| The new custos of St Elizabeth, with husband Derrick Rochester (centre) and governor general Sir Patrick Allen. In back row, from left are Members of Parliament Richard Parchment and Raymond Pryce. |
But also, there was much substance, as Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke and Rochester,
who is St Elizabeth's first woman custos, delivered sober messages relating to national development.
Speaking to an audience of leading citizens of St Elizabeth and the wider Jamaica, including custodes, scores of justices of the peace, and political representatives, Sir Patrick underlined the threat posed by criminals among the nation's top priorities.
He urged Jamaicans to overcome "fear" and turn their faces firmly against criminals whom he said were seemingly "bent on destroying our homeland" and "who have no qualms about wrecking the prospects of honest people, snuffing out the lives of our people, including innocent infants and children".
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| Daesharae Arthurs of Santa Cruz Primary provides light entertainment with a cultural item. |
Sir Patrick said that "law-abiding citizens... should not remain so fearful that we even refrain from reporting crimes or giving the police useful information. Each of us should be willing to do whatever we can, within our power, to reverse the tide of crime".
He reminded residents that last month, the prime minister and the opposition leader joined with him in "making an unprecedented appeal to all residents of this country... to come together, under God, and beat back this scourge of crime". He instructed custodes and justices of the peace, to "always give leadership at the community and parish levels to secure peace and tranquility across Jamaica". more
Ex-Christie Aide's Attorney Rips 'Venomous' Report....Bridget Anne Kelly's Lawyer Responds To 'Venomous' Gov. Christie Report... "The report's venomous, gratuitous, and inappropriate sexist remarks concerning Ms. Kelly have no place in what is alleged to be a professional and independent report."
The lawyer for Bridget Anne Kelly, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's former deputy chief of staff, issued a fierce defense of Kelly in a report on the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal.
In a statement obtained by the Newark-based Star-Ledger newspaper, Kelly's attorney Michael Critchley, condemned the Christie-commissioned report released on Thursday, saying "The report's venomous, gratuitous, and inappropriate sexist remarks concerning Ms. Kelly have no place in what is alleged to be a professional and independent report."
In a statement obtained by the Newark-based Star-Ledger newspaper, Kelly's attorney Michael Critchley, condemned the Christie-commissioned report released on Thursday, saying "The report's venomous, gratuitous, and inappropriate sexist remarks concerning Ms. Kelly have no place in what is alleged to be a professional and independent report."
The report cleared the Republican governor of wrongdoing in the Bridgegate scandal that closed Fort Lee, N.J.'s, access roads to the George Washington Bridge from Sept. 9 to Sept. 12. The report blamed the closure on Kelly and former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Official David Wildstein. The report also mentioned that Kelly was involved in a relationship with former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien.
Christie fired Kelly from her job in January after emails came to light connecting her to the closures. more
CHAMPS IN JAMAICA: Wolmer's' Jaheel Hyde, KC's Zharnell Hughes (10.12 secs) in blistering record runs....Scintillating 16-year-old St Jago star, Raheem Chambers, smashed Yohan Blake's Class Two 100m record of 10.34 secs and lowered it to an amazing 10.29 seconds.
BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walker@jamaicaobserver.com Saturday, March 29, 2014
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| Kingston College’s Zharnel Hughes (left) reacts after establishing a new record in the Class One 100m final ahead of Jevaughn Minzie of Bog Walk High. Hughes won in 10.12 seconds, with Minzie stopping the clock at 10.16 seconds. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) |
DEFENDING champions Calabar High surged impressively to the top of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Athletics Championships with 83 points despite early mishaps to hold a 13.5-point advantage on a day that local fans witnessed three unbelievable records at the National Stadium yesterday.
Calabar rebounded in style after 15 finals and lead KC on 70.5 points and JC with 70 points going into the final day.
It was an amazing day and KC's Zharnel Hughes took schoolboy sprinting to another level with a jaw-dropping 10.12 seconds to smash Yohan Blake's record of 10.21 seconds done in 2007.
Hughes easily confirmed that he was the fastest junior in the region showing great top-end speed to catch Jevaughn Minzie, who also went below the previous record with 10.16 seconds.
Just minutes earlier, fans were left in awe as 16-year-old St Jago star, Raheem Chambers, smashed Yohan Blake's Class Two 100m record of 10.34 and lowered it to an amazing 10.29 seconds.
Chambers pulled the talented 15-year-old Jhevaughn Matherson of KC to 10.37 seconds. The lanky Akeem Bloomfield of KC limped in at eighth.
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| Wolmer’s Boys’ Jaheel Hyde clears a hurdle on his way to a smashing new 49.49-second record in the Class One 400m hurdles. |
The irrepressible Jaheel Hyde of Wolmer's — the World Youth 110m hurdles champion — stepped up to the 400m hurdles and decimated the field in a National Junior record of 49.49 seconds, lowering Omar McLeod's 49.98 done last year.
The smooth-hurdling Hyde left Marvin Williams, the World Youth 400m hurdles champion, in his wake and in the process turned in the performance of the meet to date.
Tyreke Wilson and Dejour Russell gave Calabar maximum 16 points placing first and second in the Class Three 100m. Wilson just missed Matherson's record of 10.85, stopping the clock at 10.91 seconds. more
TRACK & FIELD: Edwin Allen take contro at CHAMPS, set sail for glory....The Michael Dyke-coached team finished the day on 151 points, 39 more than Hydel High (112 points), while St Jago, powered by their awesome sprinters, are in third place on 93.
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com Saturday, March 29, 2014
EDWIN Allen High girls appeared well set to win their second ISSA/GraceKennedy national athletics title as they opened up a massive lead after yesterday's fourth and penultimate day at the National Stadium in Kingston.
After trailing Hydel coming into the day, Edwin Allen took over the lead after the ninth final, the second of the day, and never looked back as they accumulated points almost at will.
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| Paul-Ann Gayle of Edwin Allen High School during the Class Two discus throw. She won after throwing 44.27m. |
The Michael Dyke-coached team finished the day on 151 points, 39 more than Hydel High (112 points), while St Jago, powered by their awesome sprinters, are in third place on 93. Defending champions Holmwood Technical, well back in fourth place on 78 points, had any hopes of retaining their title all gone.
On the day when speed reigned supreme with the semi-finals and finals of the 100m being the highlights of the day's schedule, the drums and horns came out setting the cadence for the athletes under another brilliant cloudless sky.
Edwin Allen's Christania Williams celebrated her comeback in fine style as she destroyed the field from the start to win the girls' Class One 100m title in a sparkling 11.19 seconds, dismissing the challenge of Wolmer's Girls' Jonielle Smith, who was second in 11.32 seconds, and defending champion Monique Spencer of Edwin Allen, who finished third in 11.46 seconds.
As expected, the Class Two girls' 100m went down to the wire with Wolmer's Shauna Helps just beating St Jago's Nattalia White to the line and both girls being credited with the same time, 11.80 seconds, and another St Jago runner Shanice Reid taking third place with 11.89 seconds.
Edwin Allen's Shellece Clarke powered her way from a quality field to win the Class Three 100m in 11.79 seconds ahead of two Hydel runners -- Shaneil English, who was second with 11.87 seconds, and Yanique Dayle in 11.93 seconds. more
Entertainment Tanya Stephens, Sanjay tackle domestic abuse....."Get out first chance you get. Sometimes it (abuse) doesn't happen in stages. It's not always predictable, cut [leave] before it reaches that stage,"
Saturday, March 29, 2014
DANCEHALL entertainer Tanya Stephens and television host/artiste Sanjay have teamed up for the music video Corners of My Mind.
Shot locally, the video was directed by Australian Daniel Saboune. Released on International Women's Day earlier this month, the production deals with the touchy subject of domestic abuse.
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Sanjay and Tanya Stephens |
Sanjay told Jamaica Observer that he had an idea for the song, sent Stephens a demo of the chorus and she loved it.
He urged women to leave abusive relationships.
"Get out first chance you get. Sometimes it (abuse) doesn't happen in stages. It's not always predictable, cut [leave] before it reaches that stage," he said.
Stephens said she was happy to be part of the project.
"We have a lot of negative role models in the industry. Sanjay is a good role model and I was happy he could have partnered with me to spread this message. We plan to do a follow-up on different topics and now that a lot of people are aware, I would love if we could broaden the reach of the message to not just music but touching persons on a personal level," she said. more
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CHAMPS IN JAMAICA: Sprinters ignite Champs....Jamaica College surge to lead on day three with 42 points....St Jago High’s Martin Manley, Calabar High’s Boys’ Class One sprinter Michael O’Hara, Kingston College’s Zharnel Highes looked awesome
BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, March 28, 2014
JAMAICA College surged to the lead of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships with 42 points, 12 ahead of Kingston College (KC) on 30.5 and Calabar with 21 points after six finals at the National Stadium last night.
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| St Jago High’s Martin Manley in action in the Boys’ Class One 200m yesterday. Calabar High’s Boys’ Class One sprinter Michael O’Hara in action yesterday. Kingston College’s Zharnel Highes looked awesome in the Boys’ Class Two 200m yesterday. (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS) |
Warren Barrett Jnr of Cornwall College broke the Class Two shot put record with a massive heave of 18.18m and erased the 2009 mark of 17.41m set by Calabar's Ashina Miller. It was the third boys' record of the championship following exploits by Christopher Taylor in the Class Three 400m heats on Tuesday and Obrian Frith in the 2,000m Steeplechase on Wednesday. Kevin Nedrick of Petersfield was second with 16.08m and Wolmers' Kyle Mitchell third with 16.03m.
Meanwhile, Basil Bingham finally got defending champion Calabar off the mark easily winning the Class One discus throw with 60.29m, well clear of Glendford Watson of Petersfield High with 54.21m. Demar Gayle of Edwin Allen was third with 53.36m. Alec-Verne Longmor of JC was fourth with 50.08m ahead of Andre Beckford of Calabar in fifth.
JC's Malik Cunningham outlasted Calabar's Ricardo Clarke to win the Class Three high jump on the count back. Both athletes leapt to 1.86m. Alexander Thompson of STGC was third with 1.80m ahead of Cedric Titus' Samuel Jordan also with 1.80. more
IN JAMAICA: Japan donates J$123 million (US$117,176) for equipment to The Bustamante Hospital for Children....grant from the Government of Japan to purchase vital equipment, which will significantly boost health care delivery at the institution.
Friday, March 28, 2014
THE Bustamante Hospital for Children has received a $123-million (US$117,176) grant from the Government of Japan to purchase vital equipment, which will significantly boost health care delivery at the institution.
The funds, provided under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots and Human Security Projects, through the Japanese Embassy in Jamaica, will be used to acquire 23 pieces of equipment which the hospital's management has identified as urgent.
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| Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson (second left) participates in the symbolic presentation of a $123-million (US$117,176) grant agreement being provided by the Government of Japan |
These include a ventilator; eight vital sign patient monitors; an internal mobile dental unit; and six internal mobile blood pressure units.
Agreements formalising the donation were on Wednesday signed by Chargé d'Affaires at the Japanese Embassy Koji Tomita and the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Anthony Wood, at the facility's Arthur Wint Drive location in Kingston.
The latest grant commitment is the third such extended to the Bustamante Hospital over the last 19 years. Similar gestures were made in 1995 and 2008, facilitating the acquisition of a multi-purpose ambulance, and laboratory equipment.
In his remarks, Tomita expressed confidence that the latest grant provision "will have far-reaching benefits for the development of Jamaica's health system".
He assured that the Government of Japan was "firmly committed" to ensuring that emphasis on safeguarding the welfare of persons is the major focus of the country's Official Development Assistance policy.
"Thus, our commitment to Jamaica's health needs continues to be a core priority for the Government of Japan, and we are willing to work with the Government of Jamaica as well as each hospital, like the Bustamante Hospital for Children," more
Department of Correctional Services to decide if VYBZ KARTEL can record while incarcerated....Cited was the case of singer Jah Cure (real name Sycatore Alcock), who recorded three albums while incarcerated....WHAT DO YOU THINK? WOULD YOU ALLOW KARTEL TO RECORD MUSIC?
BY KARYL WALKER Editor — Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, March 28, 2014
VYBZ Kartel will only be allowed to record music in prison if the Department of Correctional Services deems him fit to be
part of a rehabilitation programme, depending on his conduct, a former prison official told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was responding to questions posed by the Observer after Justice Lennox Campbell postponed to April 3 the sentencing of the deejay and his three co-accused — Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John — who were found guilty of the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams on March 20.
Justice Campbell postponed the sentencing after defence lawyers informed him that they had not received a letter he instructed the Supreme Court to draft and send to the prosecution and the defence.
Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn admitted receiving the correspondence.
Justice Campbell told the court that he wanted the assistance of both sides on sentencing guidelines.
He said the degree of participation of each convicted man in the murder would be important in his decision on how long they would be locked away in a penal facility.
"Sentences are not just clutched out of the air," Justice Campbell said. The judge said Llewellyn had made her recommendations and had pointed to sentences handed down in similar circumstances.
He referred to the case of singer Jah Cure (real name Sycatore Alcock), who recorded three albums while incarcerated at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre, and wondered if, in the event that Vybz Kartel recorded music while he served his sentence, any proceeds made from those songs should go to Williams' estate. more
VYBZ KARTEL SENTENCING: Under JAMAICAN law the penalty for murder is DEATH.....Controversial entertainer to be sentenced for murder today Kartel’s sentencing forces more street closures
CONTROVERSIAL entertainer Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused face the possibility of life in prison for murder when they appear before Justice Lennox Campbell in the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston, today.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, fellow entertainer Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre 'Mad Suss' St John were found guilty two Thursdays ago after a record 65-day trial.
The men were convicted for the beating death of Clive 'Lizard' Williams which police say occurred at a house owned by Palmer in Havendale, St Andrew, on August 16, 2011.
Williams was killed, police say, over the disappearance of two missing firearms.
His body is yet to be found.
Under Jamaican law the penalty for murder is death, but since 1992 no convicted murderer has been executed, despite calls from the populace for the penalty to be utilised and a majority vote by legislators in Parliament in November 2008 in favour of retaining the penalty.
Former tough cop Reneto Adams last week suggested that Vybz Kartel be slapped with a 50-year sentence for his role in Williams' murder.
During the trial, voice notes, video, text and BlackBerry message evidence was used by the prosecution to secure the conviction of the four men.
A fifth accused, Shane Williams, was found not guilty by an 11-member panel of jurors, but has since been slapped with another murder charge by police and still remains in custody.
The prosecution's case rested heavily on the testimony of a former 'Gaza Empire' member, who gave damning eyewitness evidence against the accused men.
The witness testified that he and Williams were summoned to Havendale by Kartel and were taken there by Campbell in a taxi driven by a man known only as 'Need For Speed'. more
Pastor/rapper Mase is a fake who has committed blasphemy by using the holiness of the church to advance his very unholy rap agenda .....Pastor/Rapper MASE Blasted By Worshipers.... He's Runnin' With the Devil....(VIDEO)
BY TMZ STAFF Pastor/rapper Mase is a fake who has committed blasphemy by using the holiness of the church to advance his very unholy rap agenda ... so claim many of the worshipers at his house of worship.
Some of the worshipers tell TMZ ... they believe Mase is living a double life, spending as much time in the studio with hardcore rappers as in the church. And they say his messages from the pulpit drip in hypocrisy, because what he raps about is exactly the opposite. One of the things that set parishioners off ... the TMZ story that Mase -- who built both his church and his fortune on his marriage -- secretly filed for divorce in January and then withdrew the legal docs a few weeks later.
Some of the parishioners tell us Mase has been going on and on about the virtues of marriage even after the TMZ post, never addressing his own failures ... and they're fed up. There's talk now about refusing to fund the church ... that's how bad things have become. more:
Third JAMAICAN student, 26 y-o Rocque Ferguson to pursue graduate studies in Korea on EWP/JPS scholarship.....The programme is designed to train globally smart leaders in developing countries to take the lead in economic and social development.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Rocque Ferguson has become the third recipient of the EWP/JPS Foundation post-graduate scholarship that will allow her to pursue a master's degree in South Korea.
Ferguson joins Gavin Myers and Leon Samms, who are both pursuing master's degrees at Yeungnam University.
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| FERGUSON... will begin reading for her two-year global master’s in public administration at the Seoul National University in August |
A community mobiliser with the Ministry of National Security's Citizen Security and Justice Programme and a resident of August Town in St Andrew, Ferguson will begin reading for her two-year global master's in public administration at the Seoul National University in August. The programme is designed to train globally smart leaders in developing countries to take the lead in economic and social development.
The scholarship was offered as part of EWP's continued support for access to advanced education and aligns with the JPS Foundation's focus on developing the capacities of youth leaders.
Ferguson, who holds a bachelor's degree in computing, said the scholarship will further enhance her capabilities in the areas of research methods, community development theories and violence prevention.
"Winning this scholarship means everything to me. I prayed a lot for this opportunity and I am grateful to the JPS Foundation and EWP for selecting me from so many others to represent them and the country as I undertake this programme," she said. more
ST MARY, Jamaica: 31-year-old police constable Fabian Henry among 3 charged for death of missing man.... The police say Hudson, who was a musician, was reported missing on January 25
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 | 12:30 PM
ST MARY, Jamaica — A police constable is among three men remanded in custody for the murder of 25-year-old Anthony Hudson of Mount Zion district in St Mary.
Hudson’s decomposing body was found buried in a ditch in Esher district, Highgate in the parish on Tuesday, days after the trio first appeared in court.
OBSERVER ONLINE learnt that 31-year-old police constable Fabian Henry, who is assigned to the St Mary Division, 51-year-old mason Franklyn Anderson and 25-year mechanic Neville Anderson were remanded when they appeared in the Annotto Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, March 21. They are to reappear on April 3. Both Neville and Franklyn are from Esher district.
Investigators say that the evidence led to the accused being arrested and charged before Hudson’s body was found.
Reports are that about 10:20 am, residents discovered Hudson’s body in the ditch and summoned the police. When the lawmen got to the location they reportedly observed that the body was in a decomposing state with multiple wounds. The police say Hudson, who was a musician, was reported missing on January 25. more
CHAD THOMAS (18 y-o) , FLORIDA STUDENT RECEIVED 150 OFFER OF SCHOLARSHIPS.
Chad Thomas, a senior football player at Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School, has received 150 scholarship offers for his talent both on and off the gridiron.
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| Chad Thomas |
The 18-year-old phenom plays not one, not two, but nine instruments and has been sought after by colleges around the country for his diverse skills. Ultimately decided to go with the home team — Thomas will play football for the University of Miami and also hone his musical talents at the University’s Frost School of Music — the multi-talented teen credits his grandmother with his love of music.
Read more below from 10 News:
Thomas helped lead the Booker T. Tornadoes to back-to-back state championships and win a national title this season. But it’s not only being on the field that he loves—Thomas says he fell in love with music at the age of three while listening to his late grandmother’s gospel CDS.Thomas said his grandmother bought him a guitar and also signed him up for piano lessons. By the time he was five, Thomas was performing.“My plans…I’m going to UM for music technology and I’m going to play football,” said Thomas.So play for the NFL or a career in music production—for Thomas his focus in in both.“So if I make it to the NFL that would be a blessing for me,” said Thomas. But his love for music remains a strong passion. “I have love for music and took it upon myself to learn and play the instruments I hear in the songs.”Thomas plays the piano, trombone, euphonium (a small tuba), base guitar, regular guitar, snare, tuba, trumpet and drums.
Read more at 10 News.
Congratulations Chad! We’re rooting for you! more
IMPORTANT US IMMIGRATION INFO: Everyone immigrating to the US must have their own visa, except..The one exception is if an expecting mother gives birth after she is issued an immigrant visa, but before she has the chance to move to the US...
Q: My son recently had a child with a woman who was being filed for. The baby was born in November 2013 and I now understand that her papers have come through. The baby was not filed for. The mother does not want to leave her baby, and I don't know how to advise them. What is the best way to proceed?
A: Generally, everyone immigrating to the US must have their own visa. The one exception is if an expecting mother gives birth after she is issued an immigrant visa, but before she has the chance to move to the US. In this case, the infant does not require a visa. For example, if your grandchild's mother was issued her visa on November 1, 2013, and her child was born November 5, 2013, the child will not need a visa, and can immigrate together with mom...
If the child was born before she was issued a visa, the child will need his or her own visa. If the visa category of the mother allows for derivatives to be added to the case (for example, an F11, the unmarried son or daughter of a US citizen over 21), the child can be added as a derivative to the mother's petition as long as the mother has not yet naturalised.
Immediate relative visa categories (such as IR1, spouse of an American citizen, or IR2, child of American citizen under 21), do not allow for derivatives, so a separate petition must be filed for the child. If the mother was filed for by her husband, the husband could file a separate petition for the child as a stepchild, for example.
Because the answer will depend on the type of visa the mother was issued and when the child was born, the next best step would be to send an e-mail explaining the circumstances and a copy of the child's birth certificate to kingstoniv@state.gov....
Reminder for US citizens
All US citizens who live outside of the United States and want to vote by absentee ballot must complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every year if they wish to vote from abroad. For more information, please visit the www.fvap.gov. You may drop off your voting materials with postage affixed at the US Embassy in Kingston or at the US consular agencies in Montego Bay and the Cayman Islands for delivery to the United States. more
KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Arsonists torch house while man, 41-year-old Michael Rose slept Evil Death....at the hands of evil arsonists who reportedly crept up to his home while he was asleep and torched the building,... For mom, Carlene McLeod, it was a familiar experience, as Rose was her fourth son to die tragically.
BY KARYL WALKER Editor - Crime/Court Desk walkrk@jamaicaobserver.com Wednesday, March 26, 2014
CARLENE McLeod could do nothing but 'speak in tongues' as she stood metres from the spot where the charred body of her son lay covered by a white sheet in what was once his one-room dwelling at Upper Somerset Avenue in Franklyn Town, East Kingston, yesterday.
CARLENE McLeod could do nothing but 'speak in tongues' as she stood metres from the spot where the charred body of her son lay covered by a white sheet in what was once his one-room dwelling at Upper Somerset Avenue in Franklyn Town, East Kingston, yesterday.
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| A grieving Carlene McLeod (left) is escorted from her son’s death scene by one of his daughters, Tyshona Rose, at 55 Upper Somerset Avenue in Franklyn Town as police secure the area, yesterday. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD) |
Her son, 41-year-old Michael Rose, also called 'Bear', died at the hands of evil arsonists who reportedly crept up to his home while he was asleep and torched the building, police at the scene of the tragedy told the Jamaica Observer. The incident happened around 3:00 am.
For McLeod it was a familiar experience, as Rose was her fourth son to die tragically.
Years ago, her young son perished after being hit by a train. Another was killed by gunmen at Stony Hill, St Andrew, while yet another died at the hands of gunmen in downtown Kingston a few years ago.
The tragedy was too much for the elderly woman to bear, and as her grandchildren urged her not to look at the burnt remains of her son, she wailed uncontrollably, speaking in an unfamiliar language. One of Rose's grieving daughters, Tadesha, tried her best to comfort her.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, the daughter of the dead man said that she was unaware of any rancour between her father and anybody, and was puzzled by her father's terrible demise.
"Is Sunday I see him, you know. Him was riding past my house and me run out and ask him, 'Daddy, how you a pass my yard and don't stop and talk to me?" the younger Rose said before breaking into tears.
Like in other inner-city communities, residents who gathered behind the police yellow tape said they were unaware of what could have led to Rose's death and stared blankly when asked if there was any tension in the community.
One resident was overheard saying that the grille to Rose's house was padlocked and it appeared that he had no chance of escaping the fire, which spread quickly. The police, meanwhile, reported that a feud has been ongoing between men from Upper Somerset Avenue and York Street. Both streets run parallel.
"There has been tension in that section of Franklyn Town recently as rivals feud over 'God He knows' [what]. It is tragic, as we have no information that this man was involved in any gang activity," one policeman said. more
Business in Jamaica worst at innovation, credit? among nearly 60 developing nations, according to a recently released World Bank study on entrepreneurship.....Less than 10 per cent of Jamaican firms under five years old have "actual and benchmarked access to credit", compared to 50 per cent in Trinidad & Tobago
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
JAMAICA scored worst in terms of access to credit and third worst in terms of innovation among nearly 60 developing nations, according to a recently released World Bank study on entrepreneurship.
The island under-performed the rest of the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the study entitled "Latin American Entrepreneurs, Many Firms Little Innovation".
"The Latin American economies... tend to be above the median and in most cases near or above their predicted shares," stated the report. "Some notable exceptions are several small Caribbean economies plus Jamaica and Mexico."
Less than 10 per cent of Jamaican firms under five years old have "actual and benchmarked access to credit", compared to 50 per cent in Trinidad & Tobago, according to the study's tables.
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| Jamaica worst at innovation, credit? |
The region, however, still under-performs that of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
"Much of the gap appears to be explained by Latin America and the Caribbean's (LAC) turbulent macro and financial history and by a shortage of promising productive projects (that is, a shortage of innovation) rather than by credit rationing and credit supply-side constraint per se," said the report.
Less than 20 per cent of Jamaican firms "introduced a new product to the market over a five-year period", according to the study. Only St Lucia and Dominica earned lower scores among a group of 57 nations within and outside the region. more
Business in JAMAICA: Phillip Paulwell nudges Digicel towards building outsourcing office space, a Digi City inside Montego Bay.....to now look outside to see if they can establish their own Digi City to create a million square feet of office space that will employ thousands of Jamaicans in business process outsourcing activities
BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter MONTEGO BAY, St James Wednesday, March 26, 2014
PHILLIP Paulwell gave Digicel a nudge to establish a Digi City inside Montego Bay to bolster the number call centre and other office space.
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| Phillip Paulwell, Technology Minister |
Digicel Business's Jason Corrigan told the Jamaica Observer that "it's certainly something that we will look at and possibly deliver".
Paulwell explained that research has shown that North American investors are now rethinking their strategy of growth in India, Phillippines and Indonesia and have their sights set on the Caribbean, especially Jamaica because of "our close proximity".
"I think that Digicel, along with the others, would have a good business case as they have reached saturation point for voice telephone service in Jamaica, to now look to see how they will grow their business and their revenues by going into creating plug and play facilities," said Paulwell. "The investor who comes to Jamaica wouldn't have to deal with real estate development, wouldn't have to be dealing with telecommunications issues. They will have ready-made facilities, which is what they are seeking and which is one of the reasons why we have lost so many opportunities."
Both Paulwell and Corrigan made their comments following Digicel Business' ground -breaking of a $600-million next generation underground fibre network in Montego Bay last week. more
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