EBOLA is MAN MADE IN AFRICA? Listen to the reasoning....WHAT DO YOU THINK? (5 mins VIDEO)

Chikungunya, CHIKV delays start to Kartel juror trial

Wednesday, October 15, 2014    
THE trial of the juror who allegedly attempted to bribe his colleagues in the Vybz Kartel trial failed to start yesterday after it was disclosed that the accused man's attorney and the lead investigator in the case were suffering from chikungunya-type symptoms.
Vybz Kartel
The trial of 50-year-old Livingston Cain, which was set to take place in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court, was rescheduled for March 23 next year. Cain's bail was also extended until then.
Cain, a football coach of Stony Hill in St Andrew, is facing counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice and one count of conspiracy.
The Crown is alleging that Cain offered 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.
Cain was reportedly recorded on a cellular phone making the offer to the foreman.
He was the only juror to vote not guilty in the March conviction of Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer), Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell and Andre St John for the 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Some Opposition Members of Parliament have said that the $2 million allocated for the Chikungunya (ChikV) clean-up in their constituencies isn’t sufficient to carry out the work.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | 8:50 PM  
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Some Opposition Members of Parliament have said that the $2 million allocated for the Chikungunya (ChikV) clean-up in their constituencies isn’t sufficient to carry out the work.
Olivia Babsy Grange, MP 
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made the announcement Tuesday during a meeting with MPs and mayors and health officials, among others at Jamaica House. The meeting was called by the prime minister to give an update on the CHKV fight and Ebola preparation.
Opposition MPs Ruddy Spencer (South East Clarendon constituency), James Robertson (West St Thomas), Olivia Babsy Grange (Central St Catherine) and Dr Ken Baugh (West Central St Catherine) have said that the $2million that each MPs are to get is insufficient.
“With the vast amount of swamp lands that is there, two million is just a drop in the bucket,” Spencer said referring to his constituency.
Grange said ‎she doesn't think that the money is enough, indicating that a particular sewer in Tawes Pen, in Spanish Town would take up the bulk of that money to be cleaned. more

JAMAICA: Ebola surveillance to be heightened at ports of entry --Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has instructed immediate the heightening of Ebola surveillance at Jamaica’s ports of entry be heightened immediately.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | 9:24 PM  
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has instructed immediate the heightening of Ebola surveillance at Jamaica’s ports of entry be heightened immediately.
Portia Simpson-Miller
Simpson Miller said part of this heightening involves an extension of the existing immigration form, to document information on countries which persons have visited or will intend to visit, and whether or not they experience symptoms similar to those characterizing Ebola, on arrival in the island.
The Prime Minister was speaking Tuesday (October 14) at a special meeting at Jamaica House, where she updated Parliamentarians on the country’s Ebola emergency preparedness and response mechanisms.
“Jamaicans are being encouraged to take action as part of our personal responsibility in this situation. Avoid travelling to Ebola affected countries, and truthfully declare your travel history, when arriving and departing the island,” she urged.
Ebola Virus
Meanwhile Simpson Miller said she is hoping that Ebola detection equipment being sourced by the administration for placement at the ports of entry, will arrive in the island shortly.
“We are hoping (that) very soon…we will receive the machines that can detect if someone would be coming off a flight with fever,” she said.
The Prime Minister noted that at least one stakeholder has committed to providing some of these machines.  “I know there are others that the Ministry of Health has ordered and (which) will come in shortly,” she said. more

IN JAMAICA: Miranda Judith Townsend, foster mother of 18 children gets National Award...she has been a foster mother for over 45 years

KINGSTON, Jamaica  — Heroes Day, October 20, will be a special day for Miranda Judith Townsend, of Holly Hill in Darliston, Westmoreland as she will receive a national award — the Badge Of Honour For Long And Faithful Service to the Child Protection Sector — at the National Honours and Awards ceremony, to be held at King’s House.
Miranda Judith Townsend
Townsend, who worked as a Basic School Teacher and then as a member of the Post and Telegraph Department, has been a foster mother for over 45 years, during which she has nurtured and raised 18 Wards of the State.
While caring for the children, she has also assisted hundreds of residents, both young and old, from the communities of Holly Hill, Dillon Bigwoods, Hopewell, Darliston, and other adjoining areas.
The biological mother of three children began her role as a foster mother in 1965.  
“I was in church when I heard about a boy who was at one of the children's homes and needed a home. I enquired and got the necessary information and documents, which enabled me to become a foster mother to the seven-year-old. My new ‘son’ quickly settled in the family and stayed until he became an adult,” she notes.
Townsend attributes her commitment to being a foster mother and for serving the country, to her love for children. more

US Government owns the EBOLA Virus Patent: U.S. patent number 20120251502. Why? Who has the most to gain?

Human Ebola Virus Species and Compositions and Methods Thereof
US 20120251502 A1
ABSTRACT
Compositions and methods including and related to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus (EboBun) are provided. Compositions are provided that are operable as immunogens to elicit and immune response or protection from EboBun challenge in a subject such as a primate. Inventive methods are directed to detection and treatment of EboBun infection.
DESCRIPTION
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/108,175 filed 24 Oct. 2008; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
DEPOSIT STATEMENT
The invention provides the isolated human Ebola (hEbola) viruses denoted as Bundibugyo (EboBun) deposited with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”; Atlanta, Ga., United States of America) on Nov. 26, 2007 and accorded an accession number 200706291. This deposit was not made to an International Depository Authority (IDA) as established under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, and is a non-Budapest treaty deposit. The deposited organism is not acceptable by American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va., an International Depository Authority (IDA) as established under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. Samples of the stated Deposit Accession No. 200706291 will be made available to approved facilities for thirty years from the date of deposit, and for the lifetime of the patent issuing from, or claiming priority to this application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is related to compositions and methods directed to a novel species of human Ebola (hEbola) virus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The family Filoviridae consists of two genera, Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus, which have likely evolved from a common ancestor1. The genus Ebolavirus includes four species: Zaire, Sudan, Reston and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) ebolaviruses, which have, with the exception of Reston and Côte d'Ivoire ebolaviruses, been associated with large hemorrhagic fever (HF) outbreaks in Africa with high case fatality (53-90%)2    
Publication numberUS20120251502 A1
Publication typeApplication
Application numberUS 13/125,890
PCT numberPCT/US2009/062079
Publication dateOct 4, 2012
Filing dateOct 26, 2009
Priority dateOct 24, 2008
Also published asCA2741523A14 More »
InventorsJonathan S. Towner4 More »
Original AssigneeThe Government of the US as Represented by the Secretary of the Dept. of health
Export CitationBiBTeXEndNoteRefMan

 more

Shortwood College student, Tracey-Ann Campbell dies of Chikungunya virus (ChikV) complications... the third year English student from Christiana, Manchester, died while being treated by doctors at the institution.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | 5:21 PM    
KINGSTON, Jamaica – A student of the Shortwood Teachers’ College in St Andrew died this afternoon from complications associated with the Chikungunya virus.
Tracey-Ann Campbell, a third year English student from Christiana, Manchester, died while being treated by doctors at the institution.
Aedes aegypti mosquito
Reports reaching OBSERVER ONLINE are that Campbell visited the University Hospital of the West Indies Sunday and the Kingston Public Hospital on Monday and was treated and released.
Today, Campbell, who is said to asthmatic, visited the doctor about 3:40 pm and was pronounced dead by 3:48 pm.
Classes have been suspended at the teacher-training institution and students are undergoing grief counselling.

International Recording Artist Shaggy Nominated for Soul Train Award.....SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will take place on November 7, 2014 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and air on CENTRIC and BET on November 30, 2014 at 8PM ET/PT.

"Its always a great accomplishment to be
 acknowledged for the work I love and 
enjoy doing everyday. To Soul Train
 Awards and CENTRIC thanks for
 acknowledging the hard work"says Shaggy.
New York, New York (October 14, 2014). International recording artist Shaggy started 2014 on a high note. It is evident there is no stopping for the Grammy award, diamond selling recording artist to end the year any other way. 

On Monday, October 13, CENTRIC announced the nominees for 2014 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS, which celebrates R&B's finest and most soulful artists. Among the nominees is Shaggy, who was nominated for Best International Performance for his single ''You Girl' featuring R&B superstar Neyo. 

SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2014, hosted by Wendy Williams, will honor artists in 12 different categories. R*B star Chris Brown leads the pack with seven nominations and R&B diva Beyonce follows with six. For Shaggy this nomination is a great honor and recognition for the work he enjoys and loves.

SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will take place on November 7, 2014 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and air on CENTRIC and BET on November 30, 2014 at 8PM ET/PT.
Best International Performance (CENTRICTV.com)
Davido - Aye
Machel Montano - Ministry Of Road (M.O.R.)
Nico & Vinz - Am I Wrong
Sam Smith - Stay With Me
Shaggy feat. Ne-Yo - You Girl

Ziggy Marley - I Don't' Want To Live On Mars

World Health Organization (WHO): UP TO 10,000 CASES A WEEK COMING......New Ebola Cases Could Be Up To 10,000 Per Week In 2 Months....Death Toll Rises... 70 Percent Fatality Rate... Dozens Possibly Exposed At Dallas Hospital... No Answer How Nurse Was Infected... CDC: New Battle Plan Needed... Doctors In Africa Go On Strike... Experimental Vaccine Begins Human Testing...

GENEVA (AP) — The death rate in the Ebola outbreak has risen to 70 percent and there could be up to 10,000 new cases a week in two months, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.
WHO assistant director-general Dr. Bruce Aylward gave the grim figures during a news conference in Geneva. Previously, WHO had estimated the death rate at around 50 percent.
Aylward said the 70 percent death rate was "a high mortality disease" in any circumstance and that the U.N. health agency was still focused on trying to get sick people isolated and provide treatment as early as possible. He told reporters that if the world's response to the Ebola crisis isn't stepped up within 60 days, "a lot more people will die" and there will be a huge need to deal with the spiraling numbers of cases.
For the last four weeks, there's been about 1,000 new cases per week — including suspected, confirmed and probable cases, he said, adding that the U.N. health agency is aiming to get 70 percent of cases isolated within two months to reverse the outbreak.
WHO increased its Ebola death toll tally to 4,447 people on Tuesday, nearly all of them in West Africa, from 8,914 cases. more

Best Motivational Video to show Love- A motivational video that shows how real life hero's are made.... like and share

IN JAMAICA : OBEAH MURDER.....Kingston woman, 2 daughters on murder rap charged with the alleged knife-slaying of their neighbour following a dispute over obeah

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 
A Kingston woman and her two daughters charged with the alleged knife-slaying of their neighbour following a dispute over obeah are scheduled to return to Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on December 1 for a preliminary hearing.
Gavel
Forty-year-old Stephanie Hall-Beckford of Elm Crescent in Kingston and her daughters Yanique Smith, 21; and 22-year-old Garfiesha Smith are charged with murder and conspiracy to murder in relation to the April 23 death of Tanesha Bottom.
The date for the preliminary hearing was set last Friday when the trio appeared before Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey, who also extended their bail.
Allegations are that, on the day in question, the accused were involved in a quarrel with Bottom and the police were summoned. During their mediation, Bottom reportedly went inside her house and returned with a bottle containing a liquid substance and a ratchet knife, but was disarmed by members of the police team.
Shortly afterwards, while the police were still present, it was reported that Garfiesha allegedly used a knife to stab Bottom in her chest. The injured woman was rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The court heard that Bottom, in a previous case, had accused Hall-Beckford and another woman of working obeah on her. She had told the court that the women had sprinkled white rum, chicken's blood and white rice in her yard. more

Ebola Facts : The World Health Organization suggested that the 2014 outbreak can be traced to fruit bats in the West Africa region. Guinea, where bat soup is a local delicacy

Published: Monday | October 13, 2014
Monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, and fruit bats are said to be the main animal carriers of the Ebola virus. The World Health Organization suggested that the 2014 outbreak can be traced to fruit bats in the West Africa region. Guinea, where bat soup is a local delicacy, has reportedly banned the sale and consumption of bat meat.
Research has shown that gorillas and chimpanzees suffer massive population declines during Ebola outbreaks, with the virus killing an estimated 5,000 gorillas in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo from 2002-2003.
Dogs, pigs, and other domestic animals can be infected. One study noted that "dogs could be a potential source of human Ebola outbreaks and of virus spread", but they did not test if human infection could occur through licking, biting, or grooming.
One study also said cultural differences in behaviour and the diet of pet dogs may alter risks in Ebola transmission. Dogs studied in Gabon scavenged for their food, eating dead animals that could have exposed them to the virus, as opposed to dogs that are fed dog food.
Animal and Ebola

26-year-old Nina Pham Confirmed As First Person To Contract Ebola In U.S.

The Huffington Post | By Alana Horowitz Email Posted: 10/13/2014 12:39 pm EDT 
TThe identity of the Dallas health care worker who contracted Ebola after treating a patient who later died of the virus has been confirmed.
View image on Twitter
26-year-old Nina Pham
The family of 26-year-old Nina Pham, a nurse at Dallas' Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, confirmed the news to WFAA.The family also confirmed the news to USA Today.Pham had been helping to treat Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who was diagnosed with Ebola last month. Duncan was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. He died last week.
Last week, Texas health officials announced that a hospital worker who treated Duncan had showed symptoms of the virus. They confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday.
According to CNN, Pham was wearing protective gear whenever she had contact with Duncan.
CDC Director Tom Frieden blamed the Dallas Ebola spread on a breach of protocol.He said on Monday that he wouldn't be surprised if another hospital worker became ill. Here's a picture of Pham, courtesy of WFAA.

Kingston, Jamaica : Bringing joy to Trench Town Community...projects get much-needed support from British Airways, UK charity

Monday, October 13, 2014    
A A social intervention programme in Trench Town, being organised by the Joytown Community Development Foundation, is to get financial support from the UK charity Comic Relief, through which passengers and 40,000 employees of British Airways have donated nearly
nine million sterling pounds for projects across the world.
Major Richard Cooke (left), president of Joytown Community
 Development Foundation, takes Frank Van der Post managing
director for Brands and Marketing at British Airways, on
a tour of Trench Town. Also on the tour were executives of
 British Airways and Comic Relief, the UK charity which
has given financial support to social intervention
programmes in Trench Town.
Managing director for Brands and Marketing at the UK-based British Airways Frank Van der Post said it was encouraging to see the work being done in Trench Town by Major Richard Cooke, president of Joytown Community Development Foundation and his team.
"It became obvious to us today how important these kinds of initiatives are, especially those aimed at youth empowerment in communities such as Trench Town," said Van der Post, who was among a group of the airline's executives who toured sections of Trench Town, last Thursday
"We are pleased that in addition to providing special programmes for youngsters who need intervention, the parents are also being guided in ways to encourage their children to be the best they can be," he noted.
Van der Post explained that the funds donated have come from contributions made by British Airways passengers on each flight and fund-raisers put on by the thousands of staff of the airline, all of which is given to Comic Relief, which identifies needs around the globe.
This is the first time that a contingent of executives at British Airways was viewing a project in Jamaica and the first time that Van der Post was visiting the island. more

Bodies of two men, killed in separate incidents, found in St Catherine, Clarendon

Monday, October 13, 2014 | 9:54 AM    
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The decomposing bodies of two men, killed in separate incidents, were discovered on Sunday in Clarendon and St Catherine.
Preliminary reports reaching OBSERVER ONLINE are that in the first incident in St Catherine, the body of a man estimated to be in his early 40s was discovered about 8:30 am face down in a decomposing state.
It is believed that the man was chopped to death as a machete with blood stains was seen in the house where the body was found.
Meanwhile, in May Pen, Clarendon, the body a man identified as Sheldon Reid was discovered around 10:00 am in a decomposing state with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
It is said that a home-made hand gun was also found close to the victim.

'EARTHQUAKE' VATICAN DOCUMENT: ACCEPT GAYS ....Vatican Proposes Dramatic Shift In Attitude Towards Gays, Same Sex Couples...In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer"

Published October 13, 2014
(Reuters) - In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer" and asked if Catholicism could accept gays and recognize positive aspects of same-sex couples.
Da Pope
The document, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops on the family, said the Church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for homosexuals without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.
While the text did not signal any change in the Church's condemnation of homosexual acts or its opposition to gay marriage, it used language that was less judgmental and more compassionate than past Vatican statements under previous popes.
The document will be the basis for discussion for the second and final week of the assembly, known as a synod, which was called by Pope Francis and focuses on the theme of the family.
It will also serve for further reflection among Catholics around the world ahead of another, definitive synod next year.
"Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a further space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home," said the document, known by its Latin name "relatio".
"Are our communities capable of proving that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?" it asked.
John Thavis, Vatican expert and author of the bestselling 2013 book "The Vatican Diaries", called the document "an earthquake" in the Church's attitude towards gays. more

Ebola Vaccine Would Likely Have Been Found By Now If Not For Budget Cuts: NIH Director

BETHESDA, Md. -- As the federal government frantically works to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and as it responds to a second diagnosis of the disease at home, one of the country's top health officials says a vaccine likely would have already been discovered were it not for budget cuts.
francis collinsDr. Francis Collins, the head of the National Institutes of Health, said that a decade of stagnant spending has "slowed down" research on all items, including vaccinations for infectious diseases. As a result, he said, the international community has been left playing catch-up on a potentially avoidable humanitarian catastrophe.
"NIH has been working on Ebola vaccines since 2001. It's not like we suddenly woke up and thought, 'Oh my gosh, we should have something ready here,'" Collins told The Huffington Post on Friday. "Frankly, if we had not gone through our 10-year slide in research support, we probably would have had a vaccine in time for this that would've gone through clinical trials and would have been ready."
It's not just the production of a vaccine that has been hampered by money shortfalls. Collins also said that some therapeutics to fight Ebola "were on a slower track than would've been ideal, or that would have happened if we had been on a stable research support trajectory."
"We would have been a year or two ahead of where we are, which would have made all the difference," he said.
Speaking from NIH's headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, the typically upbeat Collins was somber when discussing efforts to control the Ebola epidemic. His days are now spent almost exclusively on the disease. But even after months of painstaking work, a breakthrough doesn't seem on the immediate horizon. more 

Duane Stephenson is fourth on Billboard chart

Monday, October 13, 2014    
DDANGEROUSLY Roots, the album by reggae singer Duane Stephenson, is currently number four on the Billboard Reggae chart.
Released on September 23, it entered the table two weeks ago at number six.
Stephenson is pleased with the progress of his fourth album.
Duane Stephenson
“It hard to explain my every thought right now but I am extremely grateful. When I released the project all I did was hope for the best and so far it's doing really well,” he stated.
Stephenson says he and his team have put a lot of promotion into the 15-track album. On Tuesday, he returned to the island after a 10-day stint in New York.
Next stop will be dates in Colorado and California this month.
The latest edition of the Billboard Reggae Album chart sees Steady by American band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad at number one.
Another American band, SOJA, is number two with Amid the Noise and Haste, followed by Count Me In by Rebelution from California and the compilation Summertime Reggae. more

58 y-o Drummer Lincoln 'Style' Scott an original member of the influential Roots Radics Band, was killed at his Manchester home

Monday, October 13, 2014    
LINCOLN 'Style' Scott, an original member of the influential Roots Radics Band, was killed at his Manchester home last Thursday evening.
The Corporate Communication Unit reports that the 58-year-old Scott was found dead by police at his home in Williamsfield district just after 10:00 pm.
 Lincoln 'Style' Scott
The police were told that explosions were heard from Scott's home at about 10:10 pm.
No arrests have been made in the case.
Born in Chapelton, Clarendon, Scott was a member of the Jamaica Military Band who also played the north coast hotel circuit before joining the 'Radics'.
In 1979, the fledgling band also included bass player Errol 'Flabba' Holt, rhythm guitarist Eric 'Bingy Bunny' Lamont, lead guitarist Noel 'Sowell' Bailey, and keyboardist Wycliffe 'Steely' Johnson.
They were, arguably, the hottest reggae band of the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, playing on numerous hit songs by Barrington Levy Looking my Love, Bunny Wailer Rock 'N' Groove and Gregory Isaacs Night Nurse.
Along with the Radics, Scott recorded and toured with Isaacs, Wailer and roots group Israel Vibration. He is the fourth member of the band to die; Lamont, Johnson and Bailey preceded him. more

IN JAMAICA (HORRIFIC CRIME): Gunmen rob $2 m payroll, kill four workers of Mount Rosser leg of Highway 2000....MP to meet with Chinese to allay fears ....The dead men, all said to be employed to the project have been identified as Courtney Courbourne, 38, Carlton Scott, 37, Greg Harris, and another man identified only as Kirk.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, October 13, 2014   
FOUR men transporting a $2-million payroll for workers on the Chinese-constructed Linstead to Moneague Leg of the North/South link of Highway 2000 were brutally murdered yesterday in a daring daylight robbery in the community, of Bowers Wood on the outskirts of Bog Walk in St Catherine.
The dead men, all said to be employed to the project have been identified as Courtney Courbourne, 38, Carlton Scott, 37, Greg Harris, and another man identified only as Kirk.
According to the police, approximately 3:30 pm the men were travelling through the community with the cash to pay a group of employees who are working on the highway when they were ambushed by criminals carrying high-powered weapons.
"Reports received are that the men intercepted the vehicle and opened fire while they were making their way to the community," the police told the Jamaica Observer.
Police said the vehicle transporting the men overturned as it appeared the driver was attempting to escape but was impeded by the narrow roadway.
The criminals then went over to the injured men as they lay suffering from gunshot wounds, and fired several additional shots.
The men then took off with the payroll.
Yesterday, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Central St Catherine Natalie Neita-Headley described the attack as vicious and brutal.
"The incident has really left me in shock," said the MP, who was at home with her family when she got word of the tragedy.
Neita-Headley, during a late evening visit to the area, told the Observer she was making preparations to meet with some Chinese nationals to allay fears and assure them that work would continue on the highway.
It is understood that close to 70 people were left without pay.
Residents in the area described the incident as the worst to take place in recent history.
"Our community is a peaceful and quite area, and to see something like this come happen has left us all in shock," said Horace Johnson, a 48-year-old family member of one of the victims. more

RSPL: Boy’s Town defeat Arnett Gardens on way to second round

RSPL: Boy’s Town defeat Arnett Gardens on way to second round  9:10 PM

 KINGSTON, Jamaica — Red Stripe Premier League outfit Boys’ Town today beat fellow Red Stripe Premier League campaigners Arnett Gardens 2-0 at the Anthony Spaulding Sport Complex to move into the second round of the Flow Cup. It was first round failure for Arnett Gardens, who have never won the cup. Garfield Gillespie (3rd minute) and Shamar Nicholson (16th) scored the goals to continue the two-time winner’s hunt. Hurbun Williams Read More

Additional J$350 million funds released to fight chikungunya outbreak in JAMAICA

Thursday, October 09, 2014 | 1:41 PM 
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller has announced the release of additional funds to tackle the outbreak of the Chikungunya Virus.
At a press conference on Thursday, Simpson Miller revealed that the Government has approved a further J$350 million to provide resources.
She noted that although more money will be allocated, this will not solve the problem and appealed to members of the public to do everything they can to destroy potential breeding sites.
The Prime Minister said garbage collection has been increased in several communities and this exercise will be followed up with the cutting of trees and shrubs among other things.
Concerning medication to treat the virus, she said there is no need for alarm as the island has enough supplies of paracetamol for distribution free of cost to persons in need.
Meanwhile, the Government has stepped up the pace as it relates to measures concerning the deadly Ebola virus.
The Prime Minister said Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Kevin Harvey is heading a technical team that has been briefed on the protocols to deal with any Ebola case.
The team includes the army, police and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). more

(FOLLOW UP STORY): Digicel, KingAlarm come to rescue of Correta Vincent, woman whose wheelchair was stolen at gun point on Spanish Town Road, on Tuesday .... Police say robbery never reported

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, October 09, 2014  
THE physically challenged woman who was robbed of her wheelchair at gunpoint on Spanish Town Road, on Tuesday, can finally smile again after telecommunications company Digicel yesterday presented her with a spanking-new motorised scooter.
KingAlarm has also committed to providing security for her in order to prevent a recurrence of the horrifying ordeal.
Physically challenged Correta Vincent is overcome with joy
 as she embraces programme manager for special needs
 at Digicel Foundation Judene Hunter after the organisation
 replaced her motorised chair, which was stolen by gunmen
 on Spanish Town Road on Tuesday.
 (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)
The organisations stepped in to help after the Jamaica Observer highlighted the plight of Correta Vincent, who said she was on her way downtown Kingston to purchase goods for the small stall she operates when she was held at gunpoint by men who alighted from a vehicle. They took her from the chair and left her on the sidewalk in the vicinity of the May Pen Cemetery. She was eventually rescued by a handcart operator who transported her downtown.
Yesterday, an obviously elated Vincent was presented with the fully motorised chair by representatives of Digicel Foundation at the offices of Independent Living, Kingston, a facility which supplies items such as power chairs, mobility aids, bath safety devices and semi-electric beds to members of the disabled community.
Programme manager for special needs at Digicel Foundation Judene Hunter said the decision to provide the chair for the 37-year-old mother was made immediately after reading the story.
"Digicel continues to be a major advocate for the special needs community, as officials of the organisation believe that it was an area that deserved much more attention," said Hunter. more

Fire leaves 28 homeless in downtown Kingston...fire of unknown origin gutted an eight-bedroom house along Chancery Lane in downtown Kingston last night.

— Published by Jamaica Observer Kimmo Matthews Thursday, October 09, 2014 
TWENTY-ONE persons were left homeless as fire of unknown origin gutted an eight-bedroom house along Chancery Lane in downtown Kingston last night.
Reports are that at about 6:30 pm residents saw smoke coming from a building and called firefighters.
01
Fire victims mulling around as to their next move
"No one was injured in the blaze but eight adults and 13 children were left homeless," one firefighter on the scene told the Jamaica Observer.
Sharon Andrews, a mother of six, said she lost everything in the fire.
"I am not sure what started the fire but all I know is I lost everything in the blaze," the despondent woman said
Five units from York Park, and Rollington Town responded to the blaze.
Last night as the firefighters spent hours trying to put out the blaze, it threatened to spread to several businesses located along Orange Street. more

BOLT net worth: Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who is widely considered the fastest human on the planet and has a net worth of US$30 million...He charges $250-300,000 for a track meet appearance....Usain Bolt's net worth should be well over US$100 million when he arrives in Brazil in 2016..

BOLT
Usain Bolt net worth: Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter who is widely considered the fastest human on the planet and has a net worth of $30 million. Usain Bolt was born in Jamaica on August 21, 1986 to parents Wellesley and Jennifer. A high school school cricket coach recognized Usain's speed and encouraged him to focus instead on track and field. Usain quickly became one of the most talented young sprinters in the world who would eventually set world records in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 4x100m relay. Usain Bolt won three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He won five gold medals and two silver medals at World Championship competitions. Amazingly, Usain Bolt's net worth is going to explode even more in the coming years thanks to his performance at the 2012 London Olympics. Considering Usain is only 25 years old today, he is young enough to compete in the 2016 Brazil Olympics. If that's the case, and he stays on pace with earnings, Usain Bolt's net worth should be well over $100 million when he arrives in Brazil in 2016.
Usain Bolt net worth: How he earned it:
In 2012, Usain Bolt was one of the highest paid athletes in the world with earnings of $20.3 million! Bolt makes the majority of his money from endorsement deals with brands like Gatorade, Nissan, Visa, Hublot, Virgin Media and Puma. Out of $20.3 million in earnings, $9 million came from Puma alone for him to wear their brand of shoes.  more

Winkler, Germain and Gussie get medals : AUTHOR Anthony Winkler and music producers Donovan Germain and Gussie Clarke are recipients of the 2014 Musgrave Award....The Musgrave Award has been in existence since 1889. It is a memorial to Sir Anthony Musgrave who served as governor of Jamaica from 1877-1883, and who founded the IOJ in 1879..

AUTHOR Anthony Winkler and music producers Donovan Germain and Gussie Clarke are recipients of the 2014 Musgrave Award.
The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), which presents the annual awards, announced its list of nine awardees yesterday.
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Winkler (L), Germain (C) and Gussie (R)
The ceremony takes place October 22 in the IOJ's Lecture Hall.
Winkler, author of books such as The Lunatic and The Painted Canoe, will receive a gold medal for his contribution to literature. Germain, head of Penthouse Records, earns a silver medal for his contribution to music while Clarke, who began producing music over 40 years ago while attending Kingston College, will receive a bronze medal for similar contribution.
Germain, whose label helped develop the careers of Buju Banton, Wayne Wonder and Romain Virgo, said he is humbled by the Musgrave award.
"It shows that the kind of music we make has a quality that deserves recognition," he told the Jamaica Observer.
Gold medals will also be presented to sculptor Petrona Morrison for her work in art and education; and professor Celia Christie-Samuels for her work in medicine.
Other silver medallists are Jasmine Thomas-Girvan for her achievements in jewellery and sculpting; and Dr Karl Aiken for his research in the field of life sciences.
Bronze medals will also go to Phillip Thomas for his achievement in art; and Dr Tannecia Stephenson for research in the field of physics.
The Musgrave Award has been in existence since 1889. It is a memorial to Sir Anthony Musgrave who served as governor of Jamaica from 1877-1883, and who founded the IOJ in 1879.
— Howard Campbell