IN JAMAICA: 77-y-o Lloyd Noicley's worries about survival now that welfare benefit ceased by the Government... the $2,800 he receives as pension from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) each fortnight and the $3,000 from PATH every two months. He is now at a loss as to how he will manage without the latter.

BY INGRID BROWN Associate editor - special assignment browni@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, April 28, 2014 

THE loss of both his legs close to 20 years ago did not kill Lloyd Noicley's spirit.

But the 77-year-old, who was recently struck from the list of beneficiaries under Government's social welfare system, the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), now fears that the quality of life he has enjoyed and the independence he has cultivated over the years will soon be eroded.

Lloyd Noicley demonstrates how he
weeds his yard despite being confined
 to a wheelchair.
(PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

Noicley, who has done everything for himself since his legs were amputated said he has been making ends meet with the $2,800 he receives as pension from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) each fortnight and the $3,000 from PATH every two months. He is now at a loss as to how he will manage without the latter.

"Is the first from mi foot cut off that mi fret so from me hear 'bout the PATH money because mi nuh know how mi going to manage," Noicley said as his eyes welled up with tears.

"Mi still weed mi yaad and all the roadside, wash mi clothes and throw them over the line and pin them and mi clean up mi banana walk miself, fork mi place, burn it, and plant mi banana," said the St Thomas resident, as he demonstrated his ability to undertake the chores.

"Ah just mek up me mind and ask God to help me because mi nuh have nutten more to live off," he said.

According to Noicley, he was looking forward to collecting the PATH benefit to purchase groceries this month and was devastated when the postmistress in his Rowlandsfield community informed him that no cheque had arrived for him.

"Right now if ah want ah drink mi haffi trust it from the shop because mi caan buy it," said the former cane cutter.

The senior citizen said he sometimes receives food from a neighbour, Canaan Jones, and from his church, but Noicley said he does not like to beg and had relished the independence which his own money gave him. To make matters worse, Noicley said he recently had to give up his plot of small cultivation as a relative needed the space to build a chicken coop.

And if that were not worrying enough, the senior said his wheelchair is falling apart.

"A lady mother died and she give me this chair and it is me who buy the paint and spray it miself, but mi need one with a soft seat because this one burn me bottom and it is hard to manoeuvre on the road when me going to church and so on," he said. more

REAL TALK FROM DI MAN PON DI STREET IN JAMAICA. WHAT YU THINK? These men explain what poor llife is like in Jamaica.

Post by Crazy Jamaican Videos.

Driver Sues Teen She Killed In Accident : Sharlene Simon, Driver Who Struck And Killed Teen Cyclist Brandon Majewski, Sues Him For More Than $1 Million

Who's the real victim: the teen cyclist who was struck and killed in a crash or the motorist who accidentally took his life? That's a question the courts will now have to answer.

Driver who killed Brandon Majewski now suing dead boy's parents.

In the early hours of Oct. 28, 2012, Brandon Majewski, 17, and his 16-year-old friends Richard McLean and Jake Roberts were riding their bikes home after grabbing a bite to eat. Riding abreast on a two-lane rural road in Innisfil, Ontario, the trio werestruck from behind by a black Kia Sorrento driven by Sharlene Simon, News.com.aureported.

Majewski was pronounced dead two hours later at a local hospital. McLean spent weeks in the hospital recovering from broken bones, including a broken pelvis. Roberts was not seriously hurt.

Simon, 42, who was driving about 55 mph in a 50 mph zone, was not charged with fault in the accident. Police said intoxication was not suspected as a contributing factor either.

According to the National Post, investigators concluded that the “lack of visibility” of the cyclists “was the largest contributing factor,” and that on a dark overcast night, Simon "did not see the cyclists on the roadway and was unable to make an evasive reaction."

A terrible event for all involved, no doubt.Then last December, Simon filed a $1.35-million lawsuit against Majewski's estate, and against the other two bicyclists, for "great pain and suffering." Simon claims she has suffered from depression, anxiety, irritability and post-traumatic stress, and that the "enjoyment of life has been irretrievably lessened" since the accident. more

TWISTER STRIKES: At least 17 dead in Arkansas, Oklahoma in massive tornado......Among the ruins was a new $14 million intermediate school that was set to open this fall. (VIDEO)

VILONIA, Ark. (AP) — Three years after a tornado devastated the Little Rock suburb of Vilonia, its residents found themselves huddling in the dark early Monday wondering how they would rebuild again after the most powerful tornado yet this year carved a path through their city and others nearby, killing at least 16 people.

The tornado touched down Sunday about 10 miles west of Little Rock at around 7 p.m., then carved an 80-mile path of destruction as it passed through or near several suburbs north of the state capital, including Vilonia. It grew to be a half-mile wide and remained on the ground for much of that route, authorities said.

Among the ruins was a new $14 million intermediate school that was set to open this fall.

"There's just really nothing there anymore. We're probably going to have to start all over again," Vilonia Schools Superintendent Frank Mitchell said after surveying what was left of the building.

The tornado was the largest of several produced by a powerful storm system that rumbled through the central and southern U.S. Another twister killed a person in Quapaw, Okla., before crossing into Kansas to the north and destroying 60 to 70 homes and injuring 25 people in the city of Baxter Springs, according to authorities in Kansas. A death was reported in Baxter Springs, but it wasn't yet known if it was caused by the tornado, making the Oklahoma death the only confirmed death from Sunday's storms outside of Arkansas. A suspected tornado struck near Plain Dealing in northwest Louisiana.

The overall death toll stood at 17 early Monday.

The tornado that hit Arkansas didn't form until night was setting in, so the full extent of the damage wouldn't be known until after sunrise on Monday.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said more storms were expected Monday in the South and Mississippi Valley.

The Arkansas twister shredded cars, trucks and 18-wheelers stuck along Interstate 40 north of Little Rock. After the storm passed, tractor-trailer rigs tried to navigate through the damage to continue their journeys, while gawkers held smartphones to their windows to offer a grim glimpse of the destruction. more

PENN RELAYS AFTERMATH: Raymond 'KC' Graham, blasts Kingston College's head coach Orville Byfield after their 4x100m team was beaten into fifth place in the high school boys' Championships of Americas final at the 120th Penn Relays Carnival

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer  Monday, April 28, 2014    

PHILADELPHIA, USA — Raymond 'KC' Graham, the relays coach at Kingston College, has launched a scathing attack on his head coach Orville Byfield after their 4x100m team was beaten into fifth place in the high school boys' Championships of Americas final at the 120th Penn Relays Carnival here at Franklin Field on Saturday.

GRAHAM… the head coach went behind
 my back as the relays coach and meddled
with the team

Graham, who broke down in tears on the infield as he watched Jamaican College set a new record 39.72 seconds to win their first title in 29 years, as Jamaican teams swept the first six places, described Byfield as "a dictator and a bully" and accused him of tampering with the team he (Graham) had wanted to send out for the final.

"We lost the race before the race even started," an emotional Graham told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday. "The head coach went behind my back as the relays coach and meddled with the team.

"How can I be the relays coach and he just come and do this, it is disrespectful," charged Graham.

He said Byfield had taken the anchor leg runner Stephan Clunis, who he said suffers from Asthma, to run the preliminaries of the 4x400m that took place earlier Saturday morning and this Graham said "robbed us of the best chance we had to win a relay here this year".

Graham told the Observer that due to injuries they had just four boys to run the sprint relays and after "doing very well in the preliminaries" on Friday where they ran 41.20 seconds, the fourth fastest time, "I met with the team and decided we would stay with the same team and run the same order, but they had to get all the rest they could to have any chance of winning." more

JAMAICA WORLD RECORD: Female sprint team cops 4X100m in World-leading 42.81 secs....Team of Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart, Anneisha McLaughlin and Tricia Hawthorne

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer  Sunday, April 27, 2014    

(From left) Jamaica’s Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart,
 Anneisha McLaughlin and Tricia Hawthorne wave to
 the crowd while holding their watches after winning
the women’s 4X100m in a World-leading 42.81 seconds
 on yesterday's final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival
 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. (PHOTOS/COLLIN REID
 courtesy VMBS & TEAM JAMAICA BICKLE)

PHILADELPHIA, USA — The Jamaican female sprint relay team sent a strong message that they will be hard to beat at next month's inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in The Bahamas after retaining the event in a World-leading 42.81 seconds on yesterday's final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

In a repeat of last year, this was the solitary win for the Jamaicans as they managed two second-place finishes, a third and a fourth place in their other events, despite a large and loud Jamaican contingent in the stands.

With two members of the team that won gold at last year's IAAF World Championships on the first two legs, Carrie Russell and Kerron Stewart, the Jamaican team outclassed the small field with the United States taking second, well back in 43.15 seconds with Trinidad and Tobago third in 43.35 seconds and Brazil fourth in 43.77 seconds.

Anneisha McLaughlin ran the third leg, while Trisha-Ann Hawthorne ran the anchor leg holding off the USA's LaKeisha Lawson to send the pack grandstand here into wild celebrations.

The men's team that included veteran Michael Frater on his customary second leg failed to replicate the success of the females as they were beaten on the line by 100th of a second by the USA team 38.57 seconds to 38.58 seconds, the two fastest times of the year so far.

Jamaica's anchor leg runner Oshane Bailey just failed to get the USA's Walter Dix on the line.

Jason Livermore led off the Jamaican team, handing off to Frater, while Rasheed Dwyer ran the third leg.

Disappointing anchor legs in the women's Sprint Medley and 4x400m Relays cost Jamaica wins as they led after the first three legs.

Natoya Goule was passed on the 800m leg of the SMR by the USA's Ajee Wilson as the Americans won in 3:37.94 minutes to Jamaica's 3:38.41 with the Caribbean All-Stars taking third. more

ST.ANN, JAMAICA: Living in hell! 49 y-o Paula Gayle, a visually-impaired Woman claims life of distress following report against police

BY RENAE DIXON Sunday Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, April 27, 2014    

MOUNT MORIAH, St Ann — A St Ann woman is begging for assistance, following a series of incidents which she said happened to her after she reported a policeman to his colleagues several years ago.

Paula Gayle displays a copy of a written
statement submitted to INDECOM regarding
 things that have been happening to her.
 (PHOTO: GREGORY BENNETT)

Paula Gayle, a visually-impaired resident of this community, said that the dramatic events, which she described as distressing, started eight years ago when she decided to provide the police with information regarding certain illegal activities that she was aware of.

According to Gayle, who is also known as 'Carol' and 'Fatty', following that report, which yielded no success, she faced abuse from both law enforcers and civilians. When the abuse became "excruciating", the woman said that she filed a report against the police, which, to her, was a "life changer", as since doing that, her life has been agonising.

"Mi a go through hell," the 49-year-old told the Jamaica Observer.

The woman said that she reported the matter to all organisations which she thought would have been able to assist, but there has been no improvement in her situation.

Gayle, who was a vendor before the incident, said that the misfortunes in her life started when the police made her the subject of an investigation after she filed her report.

Soon after, criminals stole her car and several items from her house.

The car was found in St Elizabeth, leading her to believe that it was stolen as part of efforts to get her to leave the area. more

Jamaica Expected To grow on average by 1.4 per cent this year Despite Weak Economic Projections For Caribbean Countries.... # IMF #Tourism

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is projecting that economic growth across the Caribbean this year will dip below last year’s pace. 

The IMF is forecasting low economic activities for most countries across the region in 2014. 

In its latest Regional Economic Outlook for the Western Hemisphere, the IMF has projected economic growth of 2.5 per cent for the region in 2014. 

This is down from 2.75 per cent last year. 

The Washington-based financial institution says construction activities in the Caribbean appear to have bottomed out while tourist arrivals and spending have continued to underperform in most countries. 

However, it says tourism-dependent economies like Jamaica are expected to grow on average by 1.4 per cent this year. 

The IMF says reducing high public debt levels remains a key challenge in much of the Caribbean along with efforts to address long-standing competitiveness problems, notably in tourism-dependent economies. more

IN JAMAICA: Dudus 'Money' Disappears! (FID) has so far found only bank accounts with just over US$300,000 (J$33 million).....The gross proceeds from the distribution of those narcotics is well in excess of US$1,500,000," ( approx. JA$165 Million) argued the prosecution.

The Gleaner Published: Sunday | April 27, 2014

Investigators find only a fraction of the wealth that the Tivoli don was supposed to have amassed

After digging for almost four years, local investigators have found very few assets that can be traced to convicted drug dealer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

One of the houses initially reported as owned by 'Dudus'.

Despite Coke's reputed enormous wealth and his control of what is believed to be one of the largest illegal drug operations out of Jamaica, the Financial Investigations Division (FID) has so far found only bank accounts with just over US$300,000 (J$33 million).

"He was a very smart organised crime boss in terms of how he held his assets ... not directly in his name," one senior FID investigator told The Sunday Gleaner last week.

Chief Technical Director of the FID, Justin Felice, also confirmed that the investigators had found no proof of a $30-million mansion in Plantation Heights, St Andrew, owned by Coke.

According to Felice, they have found no evidence that the convicted crime boss owned any real estate, motor vehicles, or other assets.

Dudus Coke

However, Felice said the FID is going ahead with forfeiture proceedings in the Jamaican courts to have the money in his bank accounts turned over to the State.

Felice also admitted that the investigation has been "extremely complex and challenging" in light of the fact that Coke had legitimate income through businesses that he operated.

To underscore this, principal director of the FID, Albert Stephens, pointed out that the agency was forced by the courts to return millions of dollars in assets that were in the name of Coke's mother, who is now deceased; his girlfriend; and one of his companies, Incomparable Enterprise Limited.

Without pointing fingers, Felice lamented that the probe had been affected by the absence of timely critical information.

"If we would have been provided with better-quality information in a more timely manner, I think FID could have made more of an impact in seizing and restraining assets," the FID boss said.

Before his arrest and extradition in 2010, Coke lived a lifestyle reflecting wealth, spending lavishly at social events, and, based on the word of residents of west Kingston, giving generously to those around him.

But the source of the wealth has never been explained nor has anyone been able to quantify just how much the former strongman was worth.

Publicly, his company, Presidential Click, staged a number of successful stage shows, parties, and adult and children's treats.

He was also a director of Incomparable Enterprise, a company that received many lucrative government and private contracts.

It was alleged that he was the owner of at least two multimillion-dollar houses and several high-priced motor vehicles.

In the aftermath of Coke's guilty plea and 23-year prison sentence in the United States, the Americans have indicated that they will be going after his assets to collect the US$1.5 million (J$130 million) that district judge Robert Patterson ordered him to pay over to the State.

Patterson agreed with the prosecutors that the money should be forfeited based on the criminal conduct that Coke admitted to in connection with his guilty plea.

"In connection with his guilty plea, Coke admitted to trafficking in over 3,000 kilograms of marijuana and l5 kilograms of cocaine in the United States ... . Utilising even the most conservative wholesale values for those narcotics - US$200 per pound of marijuana and US$15,000 per kilogram of cocaine - the gross proceeds from the distribution of those narcotics is well in excess of US$1,500,000," argued the prosecution. more

WOW! Accused Racist, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling To Receive NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award in May, according to the organization's website...."It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people,"

Donald Sterling

Donald Sterling, the Los Angeles Clippers owner who was reportedly caught on tape making racist comments to his girlfriend, is set to receive a lifetime achievement award from the NAACP in May, according to the organization's website.

TMZ released audio on Friday night that included Sterling telling his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, that he does not want her to bring black people to Clippers games or pose with black people for pictures on Instagram.

"It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people," he is heard saying. "Do you have to?"

Sterling and the Clippers later released a statement to TMZ, saying, of the tape, "we do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered."

As Deadspin noted, this isn't the first time the NAACP has recognized Sterling -- or that it's been guilty of poor timing. In 2009, Sterling received a prior Lifetime Achievement Award, just after ex-Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor filed a lawsuit against the NBA, the Clippers, and Sterling, alleging racial discrimination during his tenure. more

LeBron James of the Miami Heat Has Strong Words For Clippers Owner, Donald Sterling Amid Alleged Racist Comments....."there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league."....The four-time NBA MVP also said he even contemplated not playing. "I kind of wavered back and forth whether I would actually sit out. #Racist #Race Relations #Magic Johnson #NBA

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James had some strong words for Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was allegedly caught on tape making racist comments to his girlfriend. According to an audio recording obtained by TMZ, Sterling told his girlfriend, V. Stiviano, that he doesn't want her to bring black people to games.

Lebron James

Before taking on the Charlotte Bobcats in Game 3 of Miami's first-round playoff series, James said that if the report is true, then "there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league."

"It’s unacceptable and as a commissioner in our league, they have to make a stand, and they have to be very aggressive with it. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but you just can’t have that in our league," James said, via the Miami Herald. The four-time NBA MVP also said he even contemplated not playing. "I kind of wavered back and forth whether I would actually sit out. If our owner would come out and say the things that he said, I would really have to sit down with my teammates, talk to my family because at the end of the day, our family, and our teammates are way more important than that."

James also wondered aloud what would happened to a player "came out and said something of that stature" and called on NBA commissioner Adam Silver to "do something very fast and quickly before this really gets out of hand."

LeBron was not alone. TNT analyst and former NBA star Charles Barkley said Silver"suspend [Sterling] and fine him immediately." Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson described Sterling's alleged remarks as a "black eye for the NBA." more

L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling: ‘Don’t Bring Black People To My Games’ “I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” Sterling’s girlfriend, V. Stiviano, is Black and Mexican. (LISTEN AUDIO)

Clippers Owner Donald Sterling to GF - Don't Bring Black People to My Games, Including Magic Johnson - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

Apr 26, 2014 By NewsOne Staff

L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling has been captured on tape going on a racist rant against Black people after his bi-racial girlfriend posted pictures of her and Black people on Instagram, reports TMZ.

Sterling’s girlfriend, V. Stiviano, who is Black and Mexican, posted a picture of herself with Magic Johnson, prompting Sterling to say that she was embarrassing him. He told Stiviano that she was supposed to be a “delicate” Latina and that he preferred not to think about her Blackness. He also told his girlfriend, who said that she could not be racist in her heart, that he does not want her to acknowledge Black people publicly. 

Read more from TMZ:

– “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” (3:30) 

– “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want.  The little I ask you is not to promote it on that … and not to bring them to my games.” (5:15)

– “I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” (7:45)

– “…Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me.  And don’t bring him to my games.” (9:13)

Magic Johnson called Sterling’s remarks a “shame.”

“It’s a shame that Donald Sterling feels that way about African-Americans,” Johnson told TMZ.

“He has a team full of amazing African-American basketball players that are working to bring a championship to Clippers fans. The Clippers also have a strong minority fan base.” more

IN JAMAICA: 41-year-old Michael McLean Charged With Arranging Three Murders including a cop From Prison.....McLean has been in custody since 2006 in connection with the murders of six members of a family in Duhaney Pen, St Thomas.

 Published: Saturday | April 26, 2014 The Gleaner

A man who is accused of orchestrating, from behind bars, the murders of three people, including a policeman, appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday.

He is 41-year-old Michael McLean, who is charged jointly with three others. McLean and his co-accused - Melville McIntosh, Sashkia Sammon, and Brenda Shaw - are to return to court on June 6 as there were outstanding documents to be served on the defence.

Allegations are that in 2010, McLean ordered the killing of Constable Otis Barrett, who was shot and killed in Linstead, St Catherine, on September 19, 2010.

Barrett was attached to Mobile Reserve.

More than a month later, Evian Marsden and Michelle Fisher, who were of a Western Park address in Clarendon, were found dead on Pennant Terrace, off Red Hills Road in St Andrew, on October 25, 2010.

They were killed execution-style.

The police said their murders were linked to the cop's murder.

The police said they used a cell phone reportedly found in McLean's possession at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre to link him to the crimes.

McLean has been in custody since 2006 in connection with the murders of six members of a family in Duhaney Pen, St Thomas.

No trial date has been set in the matter.

IN JAMAICA: Mr Killa causes ‘pandemonium’ despite heavyweights like Machel Montano and Shaggy......"It was wicked. I looked out into the crowd and saw everyone's mouth was open,"

BY RORY DALEY Observer writer daleyr@jamaicaobserver.com  Saturday, April 26, 2014   

Despite heavyweights like Machel Montano and Shaggy, it was Mr Killa's performance that left the audience in awe at Pandemonium held at the LIME Golf Academy in New Kingston on Thursday night.

"It was wicked. I looked out into the crowd and saw everyone's mouth was open," Mr Killa told the Jamaica Observer.

Revellers enjoying the moment

The Rolly Polly singer enhanced his ode to plump women by inviting the 'rolliest of pollys' on to the stage after putting on an energetic dancing display. Unable to find what he termed as a 'Category Five' female, he settled for a Category One and showed fans he was able to replicate his moves in his music video. His continuous display of fitness and 'bravery' had the audience cheering through his performance.

One of Pandemonium's organisers, Orville 'Shaggy' Burrell, said the two-year-old festival has grown.

"I'm happy. We had a bigger turnout despite moving to Thursday, and even though the next day is a work day the energy was unbelievable," he said.

The international recording artiste said the date shift in this year's staging was done to avoid clashes with other established Carnival events.

Montano & Shaggy on stage

"I believe we can all co-exist and the plan is to expand the brand," Burrell said.

Pandemonium offers a blend of reggae and soca. Patrons responded well to opening act Machel Montano, especially the female fans. He rolled through his string of hits including Possessed, Mr Fete, Junction and She Coming before being eventually joined on stage by the lovely Patrice Roberts, who did A Little Wine. Farmer Nappy got in on the action next with Big People Party. more

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Tony Rebel in legal showdown.....The May 7th hearing could result in Rebel having to shell out millions

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator — Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com  Saturday, April 26, 2014    

SINGER Tony Rebel will face a critical hearing in the Supreme Court in downtown Kington early next month. The May 7 hearing could result in Rebel having to shell out millions to a composer who claims that the artiste infringed his copyright.

However, if Rebel is successful, he would be allowed to contest the multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought against him by music composer Jah Wayne.

TONY REBEL

Garth McBean, the attorney representing Tony Rebel, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that all the relevant documents for the hearing have been filed and that they are "ready to rumble".

Jah Wayne, whose given name is Wayne Lattibeaudiere, is suing Tony Rebel and his company Flame Production Incorporation Limited for breach of copyright in relation to the composition of the Going Home rhythm that was released by Tony Rebel under the title La La Bella.

One of the songs recorded on the rhythm is Ghetto People Song performed by Tony Rebel, whose given name is Patrick Barrett.

Wayne is claiming that he was the composer and without this authorisation, Rebel caused the rhythm to be broadcasted, distributed, sold/published without identifying him as the composer.

In his claim, Wayne is asking the court to rule that he is the composer and owner of the copyright of the musical composition. He is also asking for an order that the defendant publish in newspaper, locally and overseas, that he is the composer.

But Rebel has denied the claim and is contending that he created the rhythm.

The matter went to trial in March but took a dramatic turn, days into the proceedings, when it was discovered that Rebel's defence had been struck out from 2006 because his attorney at the time, who is now deceased, had filed a witness statement late. more

Anthony Allen, a 7-foot-1-inch junior college centre, Jamaican-born junior college centre signs with Oklahoma State

Friday, April 25, 2014 | 1:11 PM 

OKLAHOMA, United States (AP) — A 7-foot-1-inch junior college centre has signed to play basketball at Oklahoma State.

OSU head coach Travis Ford says Anthony Allen has signed with the Cowboys and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Allen comes to OSU from Lamar State College-Port Arthur in Texas where he averaged 11 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocked shots per game last season.

Allen chose OSU over Oklahoma and Memphis.

Allen is originally from Kingston, Jamaica and played high school basketball in Connecticut.

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Two Monkeys Do Same Work, But Watch What Happens When One Gets Better Pay. #PALAS #RulaBrownNetwork

Two Monkeys Do Same Work, But Watch What Happens When One Gets Better Pay. #PALAS #RulaBrownNetwork......Dr. Frans de Waal is a biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behavior and social intelligence of primates. Here’s a clip from Ted Talk where he shows what happens when two capuchin monkeys get paid differently for equal tasks.

We don’t like seeing monkeys in cages, but we thought this was really funny!

Vybz Kartel juror, Livingston Cain, a 50-year-old football coach of Stony Hill in St Andrew returns to court May 30.....Cain is accused of offering the jury foreman in the Kartel murder trial $500,000 for a not-guilty verdict.

 Friday, April 25, 2014    

THE juror who allegedly tried to bribe his fellow jurors in the Vybz Kartel murder trial in return for a not-guilty verdict, is scheduled to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on May 30.

Livingston Cain, the juror accused of attempting
to bribe fellow jurors in the Vybz Kartel murder trial,
leaves the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s
 Court with his lawyer Dian Watson, yesterday.
 (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

Livingston Cain, a 50-year-old football coach of Stony Hill in St Andrew, is charged with one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and five counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

When the matter came up for mention in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn asked that the Crown be given a further three weeks to try and facilitate a request from the lawyer of the accused, Dian Watson. She had requested that the Crown hand over the accused man's phone — from which evidence was allegedly collected — for it to be examined by an expert.

As a result the matter was rescheduled and Cain's bail was extended by Resident Magistrate Lorna Shelly Williams.

Cain is accused of offering the jury foreman in the Kartel murder trial $500,000 for a not-guilty verdict. It is also alleged that he told another juror that he would "take care of him" if he returned a not-guilty verdict, as well.

Cain was the only juror to vote not guilty in the conviction of Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer), Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Andre St John, and Kahira Jones. A fifth man, Shane Williams, was acquitted.

IN JAMAICA:Medical Doctor Jephthah Ford on $1-million bail...to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Allegedly caught on camera trying to bribe a policeman, offering him 40 per cent of approximately $60 million that was seized from two Surinamese nationals.

BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, April 25, 2014   

 MEDICAL doctor Jephthah Ford was yesterday offered bail in the sum of $1 million when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court to answer to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The court was told that the prominent doctor was allegedly caught on camera trying to bribe a policeman, offering him 40 per cent of approximately $60 million that was seized from two Surinamese nationals.

FORD… returns to court May 9

The doctor, the court heard, allegedly contacted the policeman a day before the foreigners were taken before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court and promised to give him the funds if he decided against taking the men to court and returned the money to them.

It was alleged that Dr Ford first offered the policeman 25 per cent of the money, but after he gave the policeman a chance to determine how much he wanted, settled at 40 per cent, when the cop reportedly suggested 50 per cent.

The money was seized from Gene Roshen Daniels and Reingoud Mackel Murvin on April 7 when police in Half-Way-Tree stopped and searched the vehicle in which they were travelling and two bags containing US$533,281 and J$1.3 million were allegedly found.

The men's hotel room was later searched and 55 Surinamese dollars, along with US$3,000, and J$700 reportedly found.

According to court documents, the men had received an anonymous telephone call to pick up the money at the hotel and to deliver it to someone they did not know. They were subsequently charged with possession of criminal property and conspiracy to possess criminal property. They were freed of the charges when they appeared in court on April 15. more

DEM TINGS YAH THE CHURCH PEOPLE DEM A DO DWL.... THIS IS A MUST WATCH

Post by Yaadhustletv.

IN JAMAICA: ‘Withdraw the tax’ Andrew Holness warns Gov’t, says Opposition will resist transaction tariff.....concerned that the tax would open the door to other "brazen and thoughtless tax impositions under the guise of passing some IMF test.

BY BALFORD HENRY Senior staff reporter balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, April 25, 2014    

Andrew Holness yesterday told the Government that its intention to introduce the new financial transactions tax was a point of departure between the Administration and the Opposition, and advised the prime minister to withdraw it.

Andrew Holness

"Prime Minister, withdraw the tax, or else," Holness told Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller across the aisle as he made his contribution to the 2014/15 budget debate at Gordon House.

Holness said that the Opposition was concerned that the tax would open the door to other "brazen and thoughtless tax impositions under the guise of passing some IMF test.

"It would be irresponsible of the Opposition to merely say we oppose the tax. We will resist the tax. This is now a point of departure," he said.

"Prime Minister, you claim to be looking out for the interest of the poor and vulnerable. In today's Jamaica, the poor and vulnerable use banks and ATMs. Remember, they have to cash their PATH cheques; they have to take their remittances from accounts they were encouraged to open," he insisted.

But, while the opposition leader was giving his warning inside the Parliament, there was speculation outside that the Government may be softening its position on imposing the controversial tax measure, which will affect consumers' withdrawals from deposit-taking institutions through electronic banking, point-of-sale transactions (debit/credit cards), cheques, Internet transfers and transactions involving ABMs/ATMs. more