Latest News (WICKED ACT): 3-y-o girl raped by 17-y-o in Trinidad

Tuesday, July 29, 2014 | 8:25 AM 

TRINIDAD (Trinidad Express) -- A three-year-old girl is in critical condition at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex after she was raped at her parents’ home in Guaico, Tamana, allegedly by a 17-year-old boy.

According to police, the incident took place at about 2:00 pm on Friday.

The toddler was reportedly left in the living room of the home watching television as the child’s mother went to tend to her husband, who police said was bed- ridden.

Police said while the woman was in the bedroom, she heard screaming from the back of the home. 

The mother rushed out to investigate the source of the noise and she found the toddler lying on the ground, naked and bleeding from her vagina.

The three-year-old was then rushed to the Arima District Medical Hospital before she was transferred to the Sciences Complex where she reportedly remained in a critical condition up to yesterday.

The police were notified and a party of officers who were conducting police exercises in the district, responded.

The teenager was arrested and up to late yesterday was said to be in the custody of Cumuto Police. Source: Jamaica Observer

Clarendon, Jamaica: Man Beheads Cousin, 33-year-old Lincoln McLean After Heated Argument

Shanique Samuels, Gleaner Writer

A dispute between two cousins resulted in one beheading the other in Thompson Town, Clarendon this morning. 

Dead is 33-year-old Lincoln McLean, a farmer of Wakefield district, while his cousin, who turned himself in to the police, is facing murder charges. 

Reports reaching The Gleaner-Power 106 News are that the accused and the deceased were involved in an argument over crops, a matter for which both men are before the courts. The argument escalated and the accused used a machete to chop McLean several times before decapitating him. 

This is the second murder in two days in the usually quiet Thompson Town- Mocho area. On Friday, a man used a stone to kill a mentally ill man in Mocho. It's reported that he had had a 20-year-old dispute with the mentally ill man. 

The police in the Thompson Town and Mocho divisions say they are keeping a close watch on both communities. more

JACKS HILL, JAMAICA: Major Bush Fire Raging In Jacks Hill, Residents Worried

The fire as seen from Jacks Hill -
 Bianca Welds @biancawelds

Homeowners in Jacks Hill, Mavis Bank and surrounding areas are worried as a massive fire continues to rage. 

Fire-fighters have been trying to contain the blaze since Friday afternoon. 

District Officer at York Park Fire Station, Garth Mills, says every effort is being made to extinguish the fire.‎‎ He could not confirm if the massive fire is an immediate threat to houses and other properties.‎ 

The Jacks Hill fire -
Kerrin McLean kerro876@gmail.com

However, personnel at the Half-Way Tree Fire Station told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that they have been receiving callsfrom residents who are expressing concern that the fire may make its way to their doorsteps. Meanwhile, personnel at Half-Way Tree say they are concerned about the number of open fires being lit across the Corporate Area.They say in recent times open burning has caused extensive damage especially in areas with high vegetation. 

They further say the situation is being compounded by the dry spell.‎‎ 

IN JAMAICA: "I Love JA" is the 2014 Festival Song by Rushane ‘Deep Jahi’ Sanderson....Second place was won by Sanjay 'Sanj' Thompson for Jamaica Boom, and third went to Sujae 'Kahani' Johnson for My Jamaica.

BY RORY DALEY Observer writer daleyr@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, July 28, 2014    

WITH his song I Love JA, Rushane Sanderson — 2012 Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall champion — added another major accolade to his burgeoning musical career by winning the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Jamaica Festival Song Competition at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, St Andrew, on Saturday night.

"I never thought I'd win in my wildest dreams," Sanderson told the Jamaica Observer.

Rushane ‘Deep Jahi’ Sanderson (left) won the 2014
Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)
Jamaica Festival Song competition on Saturday
 night with his entry I Love JA. Here he accepts
 his trophy from chairman of the JCDC Aston Cooke.

Second place was won by Sanjay 'Sanj' Thompson for Jamaica Boom, and third went to Sujae 'Kahani' Johnson for My Jamaica. The all-male field also consisted of Rodger 'Rojjah' Mendez, Phylbert 'Pehtrol' Graham, Oliver 'Oliver Smoothe' Gordon, Calvin 'King Saloman' Wisdom, Richard 'Bastic' Patterson, Carl 'Clearance' Grey, and Evol 'Bono G' Holness.

Twenty-three-year-old Sanderson, who goes by the stage name Deep Jahi, received a trophy and $500,000 in prize money. He also joins the list of distinguished festival song winners including Roy Rayon, Eric Donaldson, Tinga Stewart, and the late Stanley Beckford.

In light of several quality performances, especially from Sanjay 'Sanj' Thompson, Sanderson managed to squeeze ahead of the field once he touched the microphone, displaying excellent vocal control and range in what was a challenging song.

Thompson would take home to the Best Performer and Voters Choice awards. Both he and Sujae 'Kahani' Johnson had excellent performances getting the crowd up and out of their seats dancing in the aisles.

Between the initial performances and the announcement of the winners, the audience was treated to music from Ikaya, Nesbeth, and Bugle, who received good response while belting out his hits like What I'm Gonna Do and Nuh Compatible. more

IN JAMAICA: Eight shot, four fatally in St Catherine in two days...In the latest incident, police say Tevin 'Gaga' Pryce, 20, and Dwayne Hall, 26, were executed by armed men

Monday, July 28, 2014    

GUNMEN went on a killing spree in sections of St Catherine over the weekend, shooting a total of eight people, four fatally, in two separate incidents between Saturday and Sunday. The series of attacks has awakened shock and fear in the central parish, which has been quiet in recent months.

Detectives go through their paces at the scene where
 two men were killed and four others injured in
 Gordon Pen, St Catherine. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

In the latest incident, police say Tevin 'Gaga' Pryce, 20, and Dwayne Hall, 26, were executed by armed men in a deadly daylight attack in Gordon Pen, a community on the outskirts of Spanish Town. Four others were injured in that incident.

According to the police, a group of people were at a house on Gordon Pen Boulevard around 11:30 am when armed men invaded. Pryce, who was the intended target of the attack, was shot multiple times and is said to have died on the spot. “Based on reports he was shot close to 10 times,” a police source said.

The gunfire sent people scampering for cover. The wounded were taken to hospital where Hall succumbed to his injuries and the others admitted. Less than 24 hours earlier, detectives were called to Fairview Avenue where two men, one of them said to be a relative of a senior civil servant, were chased, shot and killed. They have been identified as Rohan Knight, 40, and Delroy Edwards, 43.

The police report that about 8:30 pm the men were having a conversation when they were approached by gunmen who opened fire, hitting them.

They were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. Head of the St Catherine North Police Senior Superintendent Anthony Castelle said a number of strategies implemented in the division over the past several months have been reaping success and have resulted in a reduction in major crimes. In light of that, he sent a strong warning to criminals that the police would continue to monitor the communities to ensure that the gains made would not be eroded. more

IN JAMAICA: Separated and unhappy because divorce is costly...."We sleep in separate rooms; he has his girlfriend, I have my man," she said. "We've been married for 12 years and I want a divorce but we have no money....."I called one lawyer's office and they told me it would cost me $90,000. Mi really couldn't bother with that,"

 BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE  Monday, July 28, 2014    

GETTING married is easy: You can choose a church and go elaborate and expensive, or you can save money by simply getting an officiant and a couple of witnesses and voila, you can be man and wife in as little as half an hour. But getting divorced is hard, so much harder than getting married, in fact, that many couples are choosing to enter long-term separations rather than face the arduous process.

Liquid Gold models Paul and Krisanna.

"When I realized what I had to go through for a divorce I just decided I wasn't going to bother with it," Bernice F told All Woman.

"I decided that since I was not getting into another relationship anytime soon I just couldn't bother. I told my husband that he was free to go ahead and start the proceedings if he wanted to, but I couldn't bother."

Bernice said she has been married for a total of 17 years, but has been separated for seven of those.

"I called one lawyer's office and they told me it would cost me $90,000. Mi really couldn't bother with that," Bernice said. Thus she said she never attempted a divorce even though she wanted to be totally free from an abusive and stagnant relationship.

Melinda B's story is similar -- she is stuck in a marriage with a "virtual stranger" because neither party can afford the divorce process.

"We sleep in separate rooms; he has his girlfriend, I have my man," she said. "We've been married for 12 years and I want a divorce but we have no money. Plus I don't want any argument over who will get what. Hopefully I will outlive him and get the house for me and the children, without having to bother with a divorce."

For Harold, who is contemplating crawling through the process to make provisions for his children after his wife, from whom he has been separated 23 years, recently took up with a new man, just the quote from the attorney he consulted left him floored.

"Seventy grand. Now where will I find that kind of money? But I have to consider it even though I didn't think of it before, because I don't want this many to lay claim to my property," he said. "I don't think my wife is entitled to half, and I want to set things clear legally before she does."

The legal avenues for getting a divorce in Jamaica are limited to getting a private lawyer to represent you or getting legal aid, which is partly covered by the State.

The process:

1. You have to be married for two years or more in order to petition for divorce. This can be waived in certain circumstances.

2. You must have separated and lived separately continuously for a year before filing.

3. If these requirements are met, you must retain the services of a lawyer, preferably one who specializes in divorce.

4. The divorce petition is filed in the Supreme Court by the attorney.

5. If the divorce is approved, a decree nisi will be granted, and six weeks later, the decree absolute. The decree absolute can be stalled if there are issues with child custody or division of property. more

Dennis Brown Lands International Success With 'Money In My Pocket'

Published: Sunday | July 27, 2014 Shereita Grizzle, Gleaner Writer

Beginning his career in the late 1960s, as early as age nine, Dennis Emmanuel Brown went on to record more than 50 albums, establishing himself as a pioneer in the Jamaican music industry.

Dennis Brown (File)

Born on February 1, 1957, Brown had quite a successful career, one that earned him the title, 'The Crown Prince of Reggae'. And although he started out very young and was enjoying local attention, Brown did not break onto the international scene until 1971 when he recorded and released the single, Money in My Pocket. The song found huge success in the United Kingdom, climbing the charts and reaching the top 20.

The song was produced by Joel Gibbs, more popularly known as Joe Gibbs at the time. Clearly proud of this particular achievement, Gibbs gushed about it to The Sunday Gleaner in an October 2013 article where he made mention of Winston 'Niney' Holness, who was also a huge part of the song's success. "Niney brought Brown to me about 1970-71, and told me he had potential and that I should take care of him.

We became very close. He came with a song to record, but I had this song, Money in My Pocket, which I co-wrote with a guy from MoBay. I told him it would be a hit, so he shouldn't play with it," he was quoted as saying. The rest of the story was told through the song's success. Brown went on to record a host of other hits which also enjoyed international success, including No More Will I Roam, Should I, Silhouette and If I Had the World. more

Alia Atkinson wins to advance to 100m breaststroke semis as she goes after her second swim medal for Jamaica

Sunday, July 27, 2014 | 7:26 AM    

GLASGOW, Scotland - Alia Atkinson won her heat of the women’s 100m breaststroke at the Tollcross Swimming Centre a short while ago to book her spot in the semi-final scheduled for 8:05 pm (2:05 pm Jamaica time).

Atkinson, who won Jamaica’s first medal at these games when she copped silver in the 50-metre breaststroke on Friday, clocked 1:07.95, the second fastest time going into the semi-finals.

Australia’s Sally Hunter had the fastest time of 1:07.77, topping a race that involved Jamaica’s Zara Bailey who touched the board seventh in 1:14.49.

Bailey was also in action in the women’s 200m individual medley finishing sixth of seven competitors.

Digicel Foundation supports families of children with special needs in JAMAICA....NEARLY 400 caregivers of students have benefited from a specialised training seminar

Sunday, July 27, 2014    

NEARLY 400 caregivers of students with learning difficulties, physical disabilities or emotional and behavioural problems have benefited from a specialised training seminar hosted by Digicel Foundation between July 19 and 24.

The training seminar was hosted by the Digicel Foundation in partnership with Irish Autism Action, which seeks to improve the quality of life of individuals and their families affected by autism.

Shannon Eidman, community outreach co-ordinator
 at Irish Autism Action, encourages caregivers of children
 who have learning disabilities at the seminar.

The training was designed and developed following a visit to Jamaica by Irish Autism Action in 2013 to a number of Digicel Foundation partners across Jamaica.

A needs assessment conducted identified two key areas for support -- training for parents and siblings of a family member with special needs; and training for developed individuals who work with persons with special needs.

Over the course of the training seminar, participants benefited from a wide range of interactive sessions on behaviour management, facilitating language and communication, promoting independence in daily living, self-care and wellness for parents of children with special needs and supporting siblings of children with special needs. more

Jamaica take silver in girls’ sprint relay, boys get bronze medals.... Jamaica's medal count at the IAAF World Junior Championships increased to five

BY PAUL A REID Sunday Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, July 27, 2014    

EUGENE, Oregon — Jamaica's medal count at the IAAF World Junior Championships increased to five after the sprint relay teams won medals in their respective events yesterday evening at Hayward Field here.

The girls' team took silver in 43.97 seconds with Sashalee Forbes, Kedisha Dallas, Saqukine Cameron and Natalliah Whyte.

The USA won in a World Junior leading time of 43.46 seconds, the fifth-fastest of all time and second best by an American team, while Germany was a surprise third in 44.65 seconds.

The men's team of Raheem Robinson, Michael O'Hara, Edward Clarke and Jevaughn Minzie took the bronze in their race in 39.12 seconds.

The USA won the double, again in a World Junior leading time of 38.70 seconds, the second-fastest time ever, while Japan was second in 39.02 seconds.

PAUL CAMPBELL meets RULA BROWN on SULTRY SUNDAY SLOW JAMZ to talk about his new movie "JAMAICAN MAFIA" on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at 3-7pm ET on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com. The 3 mins trailer of the movie received over 100,000 views & 1,467 shares on the Facebook page, "BringBackOurJamaica"

Award winning actor, Paul Campbell stars in Jamaican Mafia

Since the release of a 53-second teaser in March of this year, many have been waiting with bated breath for the release of the official trailer for the original movie, Jamaican Mafia. Well, the wait is over, and the trailer is now available for viewing viaYouTube.

Unlike the release of the teaser, which was also uploaded to YouTube, organisers decided to debut the trailer via social media and made the announcement on their official Facebook page.

When questioned on this decision, co-producer Orville Matherson said it was a no-brainer.

"Our fans have been loyal to us on Facebook, so it was only natural. Besides, we are in the social-media age, so there's no better way of creating a buzz about the trailer than on social media," he said.

Users were encouraged to log on to the movie's official Facebook page, where they were given a link to view the video on YouTube.

Since its release, the three-minute-long trailer has amassed more than 8,000 views. Mattherson told The Sunday Gleaner that since last Wednesday, he has had positive feedback on the film. Based on these reactions, the co-producer expects the film to do extremely well both locally and internationally.

"I'm confident that this movie will win numerous awards and it will go all the way to the top," he said.

Anxious viewers may not have long to wait before they see the film in its entirety, as the official release date is fast approaching. In the coming months, producers will be turning the wheels on the promotional bus a bit faster, as the highly anticipated movie is set for an August debut.

Actor Paul Campbell on set

Additionally, several tour dates have been set as the film is expected to be shown in cities across the United States. The tour kicks off on August 8 and will run until September 2, making stops in New York, Boston, Miami, Washington, and Atlanta.

A local premiere is also in the pipeline.

"We are planning to have a grand premiere in Jamaica and we are currently talking to sponsors who are interested in being a part of the event. We want the premiere in Jamaica to be very special and we are excited about the plans." Source: Jamaica Gleaner

After winning silver in 50m race, Jamaica's Alia Atlinson books spot in 200m breaststroke, other swimmers move forward

Saturday, July 26, 2014 | 8:26 AM    

GLASGOW, Scotland --- Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson, fresh from her silver medal performance in the 50-metre breaststroke at the Tollcross Swimming Centre at the XX Commonwealth Games here on Friday, is in with a shot for the elusive gold medal Saturday evening.

Alia Atkinson

Atkinson, who won Jamaica’s first medal at these games, has booked a spot in the final set for 7:36 pm (1:36 pm Jamaica time), even though she finished fourth in her heat of the women’s 200m breaststroke. She earned her spot with the eighth best time across the heats. She did 2:28.33 minutes in a race won by Australia’s Taylor McKeown in 2:26.38.

In the final, the Jamaican will match with Scotland's Hannah Miley, Canada's Martha McCabe, Australia'sTaylor McKeown, Kierra Smith of Canada, England's Molly Renshaw and Australia's Sally Hunter and Tessa Wallace.

But there were preliminary wins for other Jamaicans. Trudiann Patrick topped the field in the women’s 50m butterfly in 28.76 seconds and has advanced to the semi-finals later Saturday at 8:00 pm (2:00 pm Jamaica time).

Jevon Atkinson won heat one of the men’s 100m freestyle in 52.03 seconds to progress, but Dominic Walter finished last in the men’s 200m butterfly and was eliminated. more 

Jamaican woman, Nerene Erica Harrison, 32 y-o, of St Ann's Bay, convicted for marriage fraud in US...After her visa expired, Harrison offered Cruz, a United States citizen, US$6,000 to marry her. She now faces 5 years in prison.

Saturday, July 26, 2014    

FLORIDA, USA (CMC) — The United States Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agency says a Jamaican woman has been found guilty of marriage fraud by a US federal jury.

Court (File photo)

The ICE reported Thursday that Nerene Erica Harrison, 32, of St Ann's Bay, Jamaica, faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23.

Harrison was indicted on November 13, 2013, along with Robert Kenneth Scott Cruz.

"Every marriage fraud scheme corrupts the integrity and fairness of our nation's immigration system," said Susan L McCormick, special agent in charge of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Harrison came to the United States in 2007 on a temporary work visa. After her visa expired, Harrison offered Cruz, a United States citizen, US$6,000 to marry her.

They were married August 15, 2011, and subsequently petitioned for Harrison to receive lawful permanent resident status, based on the marriage.

Cruz who pleaded guilty March 27 also faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has been set for November 11. Source: Jamaica Observer.

AM STILL LAUGHING AND CAN'T STOP : Woman Leff her man in Jamaica and gone a Manami

Post by Josette Martin.

SHEONAE GRANT of St. Thomas, Jamaica : Law Student at UWI-Mona with 4.0/4.0 GPA....President of the inter-school fellowship, member of 4 major teams Volunteers at Bustamante Children Hospital 18 CXC/CAPE passes with 15 distinctions (15 ones)....2014-15 PALAS TOP PERFORMERS STORY (5 of 5)

SHEONAE GRANT of  St. Thomas, Jamaica : Law Student at UWI-Mona with 4.0/4.0 GPA... President of the inter-school fellowship, member of 4 major teams Volunteers at Bustamante Children Hospital 18 CXC/CAPE passes with 15 distinctions (15 ones). She attained 27.3 out of a possible 30 points on the PALAS evalution of her application package.

Below she writes in her essay to PALAS...

I attend the prestigious University of West Indies-Mona. It was a realization of mine that life could be tracked by a series of numbers from date of birth to the tax registration number. It was frightening that one’s legacy could be reduced to numbers on documents. However, I am challenged by the words of Marcus Garvey: “Whatsoever things common to man, that man has done, man can do”. Great people of history, like Nelson Mandela, have ‘done’ so then I too can ‘do’. Therefore I posit the idea that I, Shéonae Grant, am the ideal representative for what any recipient of the prestigious 2014 PALAS Scholarship should possess: a zeal for academic excellence driven by unyielding dedication.
As a Christian, I am guided by the scripture, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others...” (1 Peter 4:10). With this in mind, I perform the duties of Deputy Head Girl, president of the Inter-School Christian Fellowship of Wolmer’s and Treasurer of my church’s Youth Department. I volunteered my time at the Bustamante Children’s Hospital where I engaged patients whose parents could not be present. I am a member of the Volleyball team, Debating Society, Science Club and Peer Counseling Body. In all this I learned how satisfying servitude could be, the art of patience and selflessness which helped me to develop qualities like being diligent, humble and teachable. 
I aspire to be a lawyer because I have a passion for the administration of justice and equality for all who seek it. I became aware of issues concerning equality for persons with disabilities. I admire the law profession for the incredible platform it would allow me to influence necessary legislative reform in this particular area since the last National Policy on Disabilities was passed in 1999. I intend to press for a greater sensitization towards persons living with disabilities. This would be my first contribution towards helping Jamaica attain sustainable development. more

World Junior Champs: Michael O’Hara on track for medal in 200m at the IAAF World Junior Championships after easily winning his semi-final heat in a new personal best 20.45 seconds

Michael O'Hara

PAUL A REID Observer Writer reidp@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, July 25, 2014 | 1:34 AM    

EUGENE, USA -- Michael O’Hara stayed on course to be the third Jamaican man to win a medal in the 200m at the IAAF World Junior Championships after easily winning his semi-final heat in a new personal best 20.45 seconds (1.4m/s) Thursday evening on the third day of the Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The final is set for Friday evening.

O’Hara beat Nigeria’s Ejowvokohene Divine Odudru (20.66) seconds and Cuba’s Reynier Mena, a bronze medalist behind O’Hara at last year’s World Youth Championships where the Jamaican struck gold.

It was the end of the road for the other Jamaican Jevaughn Minzie after he ran 20.77 seconds for fifth place in his semi-final won by Great Britain’s Thomas Somers- 20.37 seconds (1.9m/s) and Anguilla’s Zharnel Hughes- 20.38 seconds, both of whom also advanced to the final.

Meanwhile, both Jamaican women’s 400m runners Tifanny James and Yanique McNeil failed to make it to Friday’s finals; James was a gallant third in her semi-final in 54.06 seconds while McNeil who advanced as one of the fastest losers on Wednesday, was sixth in 54.98 seconds in her heat. Source Jamaica Observer

Falmouth, JAMAICA: Pregnant cop, 35 y-o Camile Spencer dies on job....Colleagues mourn sudden death of cop. "She was a fun-loving person, very kind. She was one of the persons who always kept the office happy. She has gone too soon; that's all I can say," added the police inspector.

BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, July 25, 2014 

 FALMOUTH, Trelawny — The sudden death of a pregnant policewoman, who collapsed while on the job yesterday, has left her colleagues here in western Jamaica in mourning.

Camile Spencer

The Jamaica Observer learnt that the policewoman — Detective Constable Camile Spencer, 35 — who was three months pregnant, in recent days complained of shortness of breath. The detective's condition, a police source said, worsened during the wee hours of yesterday while she was on duty at the Falmouth Police Station. She was taken to the nearby Falmouth Public General Hospital where she was pronounced dead about 6:20 am.

Spencer, who enlisted in the Jamaica Constabulary Force 10 years ago, was assigned to the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT) in Area One (western parishes).

A distraught Inspector Radcliffe Solan, head of the Area One MIT, said Constable Spencer's sudden death has sent shockwaves, not only throughout the MIT, but also the entire Police Area One.

"It is a very sad situation. Members of staff are in deep mourning. Nobody expected this," said Inspector Solan. "She was a fun-loving person, very kind. She was one of the persons who always kept the office happy. She has gone too soon; that's all I can say," added the police inspector.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Woman Constable Collette Reynolds, who is assigned to the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station, where Detective Spencer previously worked.

Reynolds told the Observer that when she last saw Spencer on Tuesday, when the detective attended the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate's Court, she complained of not feeling well.

"We are very devastated at this time," said Reynolds, as tears rolled down her face. more

WEST BANK RISES: Several Thousand Demonstrate In West Bank... Israeli Soldiers Shoot And Kill At Least 1 Palestinian Protester... 200 Wounded...

Amid the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, the West Bank has risen.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement from the West Bank city of Ramallah toward Jerusalem to protest Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of nearly 800 Palestinians, many of them civilians.

Thousands protest Israeli brutality

The protest appears to be the largest mass demonstration since the 1980s. The uprising promises to be different from previous intifadas, partly because it comes in the wake of the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street and other mass protest movements around the globe. But the way in which the world engages with protest has also evolved, due to the advent of Twitter and cell phone video, which can focus attention on raw conflict in a way that bypasses the mainstream media. Today's march is being live tweeted at the hashtag #48kMarch.

Reuters reported that protests also broke out in Jerusalem itself, near the old walled city and outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. more

Usain Bolt blasts officials for reducing Tyson Gay's doping ban fter he tested positive for an anabolic steroid last year..."I'm not really happy with the situation and with how it was done,"

Thursday, July 24, 2014    

GLASGOW, Scotland (CMC) — Sprint super star Usain Bolt has criticised anti-doping officials for reducing Tyson Gay's doping ban after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid last year.

Gay and Bolt's fellow Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell, both 31, failed drug tests for oxilofrine, in July 2013.

Gay was given a one-year ban and Powell was initially suspended for 18 months.

BOLT… you are pretty much telling
people that this is a way out, it's
a way of beating the system

"I'm not really happy with the situation and with how it was done," Bolt said.

"I think for someone like [fellow Jamaican] Asafa [Powell] to get a ban of 18 months for that [stimulant oxilofrine] and then Tyson Gay get just one year because of cooperating, I think it is sending a bad message into the sport that you can do it [dope], but if you cooperate with us, we'll reduce the sentence."

Powell claimed his ruling was "unfair and unjust", and said a legal supplement he took, Epiphany D1, was contaminated.

He appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and his ban was subsequently reduced to six months.

Former 100m and 200m world champion Gay could have been banned for up to two years, but received a lighter penalty because he co-operated with the US Anti-Doping Agency.

"I don't think that's the right way to go," Bolt insisted.

"... because you are pretty much telling people that this is a way out, it's a way of beating the system."

Both Gay and Powell have now returned to action.

Bolt is scheduled to race for the first time this year in the Commonwealth Games 4x100m relay next week.

NEW SKY SCARE: FLIGHT GOES MISSING : Air Algerie Plane Missing: Flight AH5017 Disappears From Radar

PARIS (AP) — France's transport minister says the Air Algerie flight carrying 116 people vanished over northern Mali.

The flight was traveling from Burkina Faso to Algeria's capital when it disappeared from radar early Thursday. Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier spoke Thursday from a crisis center set up in the French Foreign Ministry. Source : Huffington Post

PALAS UPDATE: PALAS to award 70 new scholarships in 2014-2015..... Hon. Lisa Hanna & Attorney Patrick Campbell to deliver keynote addresses at awards presentation at University of the West Indies (UWI)-Mona Campus, Sat Aug 23, in JAMAICA. Reggae singer, Winsome Benjamin will provide the entertainment.."33 other students who met our criteria regrettably will be bypassed due to lack of funds." Stats; 17 male & 53 female students, 29 high school & 41 university students, there were 140 applicants....One-hundred eighty-five (185) total scholarships awarded in 4 years....We are still seeking donations at www.PALAS1.org.

 ATLANTA, GA – July 23, 2014 (Update): Peace and Love Academic Scholarship, Inc. (PALAS) will award seventy (70) new scholarships for the academic year 2014-2015 to worthy, but economically challenged high school and University/College students  in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. Honourable Lisa Hanna, Minister of Youth & Culture and Attorney Patrick Campbell of Washington D.C will deliver the Keynote addresses at the 4^th annual award ceremony - UWI in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday, August 23, 2014, commencing at 5:00pm. Reggae songbird, Winsome Benjamin will provide the entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies will be Mr. Winston Cowans.

PALAS, the Atlanta-headquartered charity organization, has received the support of various corporate bodies and individuals to support the students. The stated mission of the group is to recognize and honor outstanding academic performances of under privileged students residing in the Caribbean region.

Hon. Lisa Hanna,
 Minister of Youth & Culture

The PALAS program was established in December 2010, to honor the memory of young Vanessa Campbell, an aspiring Jamaican artiste who was a casualty of the burgeoning crime and violence problem in Portmore, Jamaica. After Vanessa’s untimely death, an initial scholarship program was created as the SSSJamz/Vanessa Campbell Academic Scholarship to assist high school students from her alma mater, Bridgeport High School. To sustain this effort PALAS has been soliciting funds from all quarters.

Since the inception of the program, PALAS awarded 185 scholarships valued approx. J$8.1 million (US$80,000.00), 20 computers and mentoring for some of the students. Some highlights over the 4 years are; 1,415% increase in scholarships, 376 applicants including Medical Students, Science & Engineering, Law students, Nursing, Business/Accounting and Liberal/Fine arts student applicants. The program is available to students residing in the Caribbean region. The students range in age 12-32 years old from various high schools, UWI, UTECH, NCU, EXED, Shortwood College, UTECH-Guyana and AAIMS Medical School. 

Patrick Campbell, Attorney

PALAS continues to strive for “Preserving Young Minds for Posterity”; we would like to thank all the supporters of these most deserving students who are aiming to reach above the sky. The PALAS scholarship application process for the 2014-2015 academic years was opened April 1, through May 30, 2014. 

Founder, Rula Brown said “the unfortunate news about PALAS’s effort is that, there were an additional thirty-three (33) students who met the criteria for scholarships, but due to the lack of funds we could not assist at this time.”  You may Partner with PALAS (PWP) to have a scholarship in your name, loved one or business by donating a minimum of US$350.00.

Please make a donation to the PALAS program before July 31st. by sending a check to:

PALAS or Peace and Love Academic Scholarship
P.O. Box 5461
Alpharetta, GA 30023-5461. USA
Email: peaceandlovescholarship@gmail.com

Or donate online at www.PALAS1.org with PAYPAL, VISA, MASTERCARD or Check.

Singer, Winsome Benjamin will
entertain and present the
WINSOME BENJAMIN ACADEMIC
 SCHOLARSHIP to a student at event

About Peace and Love Academic Scholarship, Inc.
Peace and Love Academic Scholarship is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization in Atlanta, Georgia founded by Jamaican-born Rula Brown. PALAS’ mission is to help improve the health, education and general well-being of less fortunate children residing in the Caribbean region.

Since its formal launch in December 2010, PALAS has dedicated its resources, human and financial, to help make a difference in the lives of underserved children in Jamaica, West Indies as the well as the wider Caribbean region. For further information about PALAS including sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.PALAS1.org.

For additional information contact:
Rula Brown, PALAS Exec. Director
rulabrown@gmail.com or (770) 715-0224
Or send email to peaceandlovescholarship@gmail.com