Montego Bay, Jamaica: Three women on cocaine charges 42 y-o Michelle Pearson, 40-year-old Tricia Cunningham Fray and 40-year-old Erica Wilson

THREE women are to appear in court Thursday after they were allegedly found with cocaine weighing a total of six pounds during a search by members of the Transnational Crimes and Narcotics Division (TCND) at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James last Friday.

According to the TCND, one of the acused, Michelle Pearson, 42, arrived at the airport to board an American Airlines flight to Miami, while, 40-year-old Tricia Cunningham Fray and 40-year-old Erica Wilson, the other accused, were to board flights to New York when they were searched and the cocaine with an estimated street value of $3.6 million found.

They are scheduled to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, August 21 to answer to charges of possession of and dealing in cocaine and attempting to export cocaine. Source Jamaica Observer.

MONTEGO BAY, St James: No charge against deaf/mute in Mario Deane death, and so far only two men — Marvin Orr and Adrian Morgan — have been charged in the beating death

Tuesday, August 19, 2014    

MONTEGO BAY, St James — The deaf/mute prisoner who is alleged to have participated in the beating death of Mario Deane is yet to be charged, the Jamaica Observer has learned.

Well-placed sources told the Observer yesterday that reports of a third man being charged were not true, and so far only two men — Marvin Orr and Adrian Morgan — have been charged in the beating death at the Barnett Street lock-up here in Montego Bay earlier this month.

Thirty-one-year-old Mario Deane killed while in police custody.

The involvement of the deaf/mute man, identified only as 'Dummy', was mentioned when Orr faced the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last week. He was alleged to have punched Deane on the instructions of Orr on August 3, leading to a fight where the man was critically injured.

Deane was brutally beaten in the attack that the court heard might have lasted as long as 30 minutes before the police on duty were alerted and intervened.

The 31-year-old Deane, who was arrested for possession of a small amount of ganja and was awaiting bail, suffered injuries all over his body and was transported to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died three days later on August 6, Independence Day.

Orr was the only accused in court last week and will return on September 18 by which time Morgan is expected to be brought before the court as well.

— Paul Reid

Yemalla Edwards, once a homeless medical student at UWI speaks with Rula Brown LIVE in Atlanta, GA

YEMALLA EDWARD'S STORY IS ONE THAT YOU MUST SEE & HEAR FOR YOURSELF.....to hear the interview click play to 2 hrs after show starts (RECORDED 8/17/14).

Yemalla was homeless at UWI for his 1st year as a Medical student sleeping out in the elements wherever he could find a place to rest his head outside.

He went on to maintain 3.83/4.0 GPA, and in 2014 applied for one

of PALAS' coveted scholarships and on 8/23/14 in JAMAICA, will receive his scholarship package from Hon. Lisa Hanna.

He recently was granted a visa to visit USA to work on a cultural exchange program, where he worked in Carolla, North Carolina. In the process visited 6 different States and a number of cities.

Now he is in Atlanta, GA hanging with Rula Brown, visited Martin Luther King Center & home and other historic places and having lots of fun. Come and check out his 1 hour interview LIVE on camera with Rula. Show time is 3-7pm ET and the interview starts at 5:00 pm ET

on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com today Sunday, August 17, 2014.

2013-14 PALAS video for ceremony at UWI...Keynote speakers Hon. Damion Crawford & Patrick Campbell. Winsome Benjamin provided the entertainment.

Yemalla Edwards in Atlanta, Georgia days before he heads back to Jamaica for PALAS 4th awards presentation at UWI-Mona

Post by Rula Brown.
YEMALLA EDWARDS hanging out in Atlanta, Georgia before he heads back to JAMAICA for the PALAS awards ceremony on Saturday, August 23, where he will collect the PALAS scholarship along with 71 other students. Last year this time Yemalla was homeless on UWI campus while being a medical student. Thanks to PALAS and great samaritan, Ms. Judy Grant.www.PALAS1.org

Usain Bolt eases to first 100m win of 2014 in 10.06secs Bolt rocks Rio

Monday, August 18, 2014    

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt won his first 100-metre of 2014 yesterday in an exhibition race run on Rio's iconic Copacabana beach, two years out from the 2016 Olympics.

The Jamaican superstar won in a time of 10.06sec although Bolt had predicted a sub-10sec time when he faced the press on Friday.

Jamaican sprinter and Olympic multi-champion Usain Bolt (right)
 competes during an exhibition race at Leme Beach in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. (PHOTO: AFP)

Britain's Mark Lewis Francis (10.42sec) and Jefferson Liberato of Brazil (10.44sec) shared the podium with Bolt who, after an injury-hit season, was running his first 100m since Brussels in September last year when he won in 9.80sec.

"I had a poor start but I regained some of my poise later in the race," Bolt told TV Globo.

"I felt a bit heavy, and I need to compete in more races... I will be in better shape after that."

The 27-year-old Bolt will compete in his final Olympics in Rio in 2016 before calling time on his career in 2017 after the World Championships.

Meanwhile, Rosangela Santos of Brazil won the women's equivalent in 11.33 seconds ahead of Schillonie Calvert of Jamaica, and Carmelita Jeter of US.

IN JAMAICA: Eleven Early Childhood practitioners in Hanover honoured

Sunday, August 17, 2014 | 11:00 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Eleven Early Childhood practitioners in Hanover were recently recognised by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) for their years of service.

“Wi glad bag buss! Humility and pride weltering within me and my fellow honorees for the recognition accorded to us”, is how an elated Beulah Pryce summed up the show of appreciation by the ECC.  

Hanover awardees: Dr David Stair
(back row, right), Custos of Hanover;
Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughn (second right),
Chairman of the Early Childhood Commission
(ECC); Dr Joan Reid (back row, left), Executive
Director of the ECC; and Hillary Foster
(third left, back row), Regional Director
of the Ministry of Education join the
 ECC tenth anniversary awardees for Hanover.

Pryce was among the eleven early childhood practitioners who were honoured for giving between 35 and 43 years of service to the early childhood sector as part of the ECC’s tenth anniversary celebrations during a ceremony held at the Tryall Club in Hanover.

The parish-wide anniversary celebrations, which continue until November, also seek to recognize Early 

Childhood Institutions (ECI’s) who have made significant progress in meeting the required standards. Based on the ECC’s inspection, the top ten institutions in Hanover attaining the highest legal standards for this year are: Haughton Grove Basic; Pondside Basic; Sandy Bay Basic; Hopewell Basic; Logwood Basic; Bethel Infant; Askenish Basic; Mount Hannah Basic; Miles Town Basic and the Salvation Army Arthur Wint Basic. more

YEMALLA EDWARD'S STORY IS ONE THAT YOU MUST SEE & HEAR FOR YOURSELF.....Show time is 3-7pm ET and the interview starts at 5:00 pm ET on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com today Sunday, August 17, 2014.

Yemalla Edwards

YEMELLA EDWARD'S STORY IS ONE THAT YOU MUST SEE & HEAR FOR YOURSELF.....
Yemalla was homeless at UWI for his 1st year as a Medical student sleeping in the elements wherever he could find a place to rest his head outside.
He went on to maintain 3.83/4.0 GPA, and in 2014 applied for one
of PALAS' coveted scholarships and on 8/23/14 in JAMAICA, will receive his scholarship package from Hon. Lisa Hanna.
He recently was granted a visa to visit USA to work on a cultural exchange program, where he worked in Carolla, North Carolina. In the process visited 6 different States and a number of cities.
Now he is in Atlanta, GA hanging with Rula Brown, visited Martin Luther King Center & home and other historic places and having lots of fun. Come and check out his 1 hour interview LIVE on camera with Rula. Show time is 3-7pm ET and the interview starts at 5:00 pm ET
on www.RulaBrownNetwork.com today Sunday, August 17, 2014.

St. Catherine, JAMAICA: Child hero, a stunning act of bravery displayed by 11-year-old Toni-Ann Miller has landed her a Badge of Honour for Gallantry.... Needs Saviour.....Saved 2 boys from burning house in her neighborhood.

Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer Published: Saturday | August 16, 2014 

A stunning act of bravery displayed by 11-year-old Toni-Ann Miller has landed her a Badge of Honour for Gallantry, which she will receive at the National Honours and Awards Ceremony, come October.

Toni-Ann Miller who rescued two boys from
a burning house. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

On her way home from school on the afternoon of May 15, 2013, Miller, along with her friends in the community of Mount Hermon, St Catherine, noticed thick black smoke coming through the windows of a nearby house. They also heard a child crying inside. Without a moment's hesitation, and with no thought of her personal safety, Miller ran into the house and pulled the child to safety.

In an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Miller said she, at that point, realised that her task was not done.

"When I took the boy outside, he told me that his brother was sleeping inside. So I ran inside again and saw the bed burning and grabbed him and carried him outside," she said.

Due to her quick thinking, the older of the two brothers age six, escaped unhurt. The younger boy, age five, sustained minor burns to one of his arms.

As scary a situation as that would have been for an 11-year-old, Miller, who attends Good Hope Primary School in St Catherine, said she would do it all over again. And she's quick to shrug off praise. "I don't see it as a moment to celebrate, really. I just want to be in a position to offer any assistance I can whenever somebody needs help," she said.

"Somehow, I wasn't scared when I saw the fire. I saw the little boy at the gate and he was crying that his little brother was sleeping in the bed and I was saying to myself that I had to save him," she recalled. more

MURDER of MICHAEL BROWN : Ferguson Erupts Again; Tear Gas Fired, Three Molotov cocktails hit a pizza store causing it to catch fire

After a relatively calm day in Ferguson, Missouri, tension flared again early Saturday morning as protesters were met with tear gas from police wearing riot gear afterreportedly rushing into a convenience store that Michael Brown was accused of robbing. Multiple stores were said to be robbed, and protesters protected several storesfrom looting.

Protesters took up position near the convenience store. Missouri State Highway Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said that someone in the crowd began throwing rocks and other objects, prompting police to deploy tear gas, but no arrests were made. Three Molotov cocktails hit a pizza store causing it to catch fire, CNN reported.... Source Huffington Post (Andrew Hart).

Sponsors persuade Bolt to run until 2017...."I think I'm going to do another year"

Saturday, August 16, 2014 | 2:22 AM    

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) - Sprint superstar Usain Bolt revealed Friday that he will put back his planned retirement until 2017 at the request of his sponsors.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist and 100m and 200m world record holder had intended to retire from the track after the 2016 Rio Olympics, but he told a news conference Friday that he will compete for a further extra year.

"I think I'm going to do another year. My sponsors asked me to do one more year, so I will compete until 2017," said the 27-year-old Jamaican.

If he sticks to his plan then Bolt's last competition is likely to be the 2017 world championships in London.

IN JAMAICA: Deejay’s climb up ZIP FM tower sparks radio play debate..... Getting playedEmcee Nuffy said I Kon D Link acted out of frustration, which many persons like himself can relate to. "The greatest thing is that he didn't jump," he said.

 BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON AND RICHARD JOHNSON Observer staff reporters  Saturday, August 16, 2014    

POPULAR dancehall figure Emcee Nuffy is urging radio disc jocks to give up-and-coming artistes a break.

Nuffy, whose given name is Andrew Nelson, made the suggestion against the background of this week's stunt by deejay I Kon D Link, who climbed up ZIP FM's tower in St Andrew and threatened to jump if his songs were not played. He was subsequently charged for creating public mischief.

DJ Nuffy

"They claim that you should submit your songs to the library... I did that. I have given it to other jocks and still nothing," said Nuffy, who has also tried his hand at producing.

"As someone in the music business, I feel that kind of frustration. Unless you have money nothing gets played. Me haffi tek a stance against it," he said.

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, the regulatory body for the electronic media, recently recommended that payola be made a criminal act with harsh penalties for offenders.

Payola is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement for the broadcast of recordings on music radio.

"They can't just look at the artistes that can spend a money and those on top, or else it will always be this way. It's stressful," he said.

"I'm not bashing disc jocks, but they need to know that when they play a struggling artiste's song, someone may like it and they could get to do a dub plate or jingle," he continued.

Emcee Nuffy said I Kon D Link acted out of frustration, which many persons like himself can relate to.

"The greatest thing is that he didn't jump," he said.

FAME FM's Colin Hines said resorting to disruptive behaviour isn't the solution. He said up-and-coming artistes must be armed with what he termed the "basic elements".

"The basic elements to a great song are lyrics -- which must be funny, sensible or smart. A catchy melody and an infectious beat along with God-given vocal talents and quality production go a far way in getting music on air," said Hines.

The radio jock further noted that if all radio stations are circumventing the work of an artiste, then chances are one or a few of these required elements were missing. more

PAUL CAMPBELL meets RULA BROWN on "JAMAICAN MAFIA" on Sultry Sunday Slow Jamz. Movie opens August

FAMILY: COPS TRYING 'CHARACTER ASSASSINATION'....White Officer who shot and killed Brown names is Darren Wilson....n EARLIER: Cops Say Brown Involved In 'Strong-Armed Robbery' Before Death... Release Photos... Video... Officer Who Shot Brown Identified... Skipped Town?... Why It Doesn't Matter If Brown Stole Cigars... Chief: Officer Who Shot Brown Did Not Know He Was Robbery Suspect... LATEST UPDATES...

The family of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen who was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last week, released a statement Friday.

The statement, from both the family and their lawyers, was tweeted out by attorney Ben Crump after police announced Darren Wilson as the officer who shot Brown, and named the teen as a suspect in a robbery that occurred before the shooting.

Read the full statement below:

Michael Brown’s family is beyond outraged at the devious way the police chief has chosen to disseminate piece mil information in a manner intended to assassinate the character of their son, following such a brutal assassination of his person in broad daylight.

There is nothing based on the facts that have been placed before us that can justify the execution style murder of their child by this police officer as he held his hands up, which is the universal sign of surrender.

The prolonged release of the officer’s name and then the subsequent alleged information regarding a robbery is the reason why the family and the local community have such distrust for the local law enforcement agencies.

It is no way transparent to release the still photographs alleged to be Michael Brown and refuse to release the photographs of the officer that executed him.

The police strategy of attempting to blame the victim will not divert our attention, from being focused on the autopsy, ballistics report and the trajectory of the bullets that caused Michael’s death and will demonstrate to the world this brutal execution of an unarmed teenager.

Benjamin L Crump, Esq.
Anthony D. Gray, Esq.
Daryl D. Parks, Esq.

Two Jamaicans, 25-year-old Wellington Brown and 21-year-old Sheena Dume charged by Feds in US for sex trafficking of minors

Friday, August 15, 2014 | 9:47 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A Jamaican man and his female accomplice were jointly charged with sex trafficking of minors in Connecticut, USA recently.

The two are 25-year-old Jamaican Wellington Brown and 21-year-old Sheena Dume.

According to media reports, the two were indicted by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking of five minors. It is said that Brown and Dume “conspired to recruit, entice, harbour and transport the victims for sex acts” from June 2013 to February of this year.

They were arrested in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on July 30 after being indicted, and they remain detained.

IN JAMAICA:Hundreds mourn cruel murder of Manchester businessman Bennett’s murder a great loss to society

BY KARYL WALKER Editor — Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, August 15, 2014    

FOURTEEN years ago Birkley Bennett was sleeping inside his Christiana, Manchester home with his wife and three children when gunmen barged in and fired two shots.

The gunmen demanded that Bennett hand over his licensed handgun and a shotgun he used for bird shooting.

Mourners inside Bryce United Church shed
 tears for murdered businessman Brinkley
Bennett during a thanksgiving service in
 Coleyville, Manchester yesterday.
(PHOTO: GREGORY BENNETT)

They herded his wife and children into a back room and eventually found his handgun under his pillow and escaped without harming any member of the family.

The incident shook up his wife, Rose, badly and she convinced her husband that the family should migrate in order to escape the escalating crime wave that was sweeping the country.

The family moved to Florida, USA where he eventually opened a dry cleaning business.

But life in America was not enjoyable to Bennett, who, while he was in Jamaica, operated a grain store and enjoyed tilling the soil and animal husbandry.

So, homesick, he returned to the land of his birth and restarted his business.

Soon he was joined by his family and life seemed to return to normal.

But in a cruel twist of fate Bennett fell victim to gunmen's bullets on July 24 as he waited for friends who had just arrived from the United States to join him at a house he had prepared for them in Christiana.

His daughter had gone to pick up the foreigners at the airport and when they arrived at the premises they were held up by gunmen who ordered them inside.

The gunmen called Bennett by name and before he could pull his weapon, they shot him multiple times in front of his child and friends before taking his gun and proceeding to rob those who were still alive.

Yesterday, Bennett was laid to rest after a heart-rending thanksgiving service at Bryce United Church in Coleyville, Manchester.

Anger, sorrow, and despair were etched on the faces of the hundreds who packed the church, an additional hall, a tent, and the grounds of the church. more