RBN USTREAM Broadcast (BELOW)    LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7

            FOR AUDIO ONLY (No Commercials) - CLICK PLAYER ABOVE on RIGHT OR

        FOR USTREAM VIEWING CLICK ON PLAYER BELOW    

To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. 

You may also listen commercial FREE by clicking ON AIR-Listen LIVE AUDIO BOX above or TUNE-IN LINK or call in on Tele at 213-401-0061. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat , please sign in with your Chatango account.Please support the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

Kabaka Pyramid: ‘Pyramid’ puts blame on politicians... ON his latest song, Well Done, roots artiste Kabaka Pyramid lets loose on Jamaican politicians, blaming them for most of the country’s challenges.

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer  Friday, March 06, 2015 

ON his latest song, Well Done, roots artiste Kabaka Pyramid lets loose on Jamaican politicians, blaming them for most of the country’s challenges.

Kabaka Pyramid

Produced by Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Well Done hears the 29-year-old singjay addressing hot topics such as the government’s arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, and the presence of Spanish hotel franchises in Jamaica.

The song also looks at the divisive Goat Island issue involving the government’s proposed deal with Chinese investors to establish a port on that location in Old Harbour, St Catherine.

“I don’t want it to look like I’m on a all-out attack against the government, but I want people to be aware that they have a say in the governance of the country,” Kabaka Pyramid told Splash.

He added: “It might be a harsh statement but I see no inclination that politicians are interested wholeheartedly in the welfare of the people.”

Here are Kabaka Pyramid’s views on...

The IMF:

“We claim to be independent but we are dependent on these bodies an’ wi forever in debt to them. The deals we agree to, there’s no way to pay dem back; there are certain stipulations that we import certain things which for me is not development but further de-stabilisation of the country. So, I’m not impressed when they say these things (passing IMF tests) ‘cause the less we depend on organisations like the IMF, the better.” more

HEALTHY LIVING: You don’t have to go all veg to live longer, study finds by Maggie Fox of NBC News...The findings come from a giant, ongoing study of more than 450,000 people living in Europe,

People don’t have to go all the way vegan or even vegetarian to lower their risk of heart disease. Even a few changes—cutting out some meat and eating more plant foods— can improve health, researchers reported Thursday.

The findings come from a giant, ongoing study of more than 450,000 people living in Europe, who have been having their blood tested, kept food diaries and had their health watched since the 1990s.

People who got 70 percent or more of their food from fruits, vegetables and grains had a 20 percent lower risk of dying from heart diseases, the team at Imperial College London told a meeting of the American Heart Association.

"A pro-vegetarian diet doesn't make absolute recommendations about specific nutrients. It focuses on increasing the proportion of plant based foods relative to animal-based foods, which results in an improved nutritionally balanced diet," said Camille Lassale, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London's School of Public Health who led the study.

"Instead of drastic avoidance of animal-based foods, substituting some of the meat in your diet with plant-based sources may be a very simple, useful way to lower cardiovascular mortality," Lassale said in a statement.

The same ongoing study has found that vegetarians are 28 percent less likely to develop heart disease than meat-eaters. more

ST. ANN, JAMAICA: Father and son found dead...The bodies of 57-year-old Leslie Parkes and his son Warren, 24, were discovered by a man who had gone to check on the father after calls to his phone went unanswered.

Friday, March 06, 2015    

ST ANN'S BAY, St Ann — The St Ann police have launched an investigation into the deaths of a man and his son whose bodies were found at their home in Mount Zion minutes after 7:00 am yesterday.

The bodies of 57-year-old Leslie Parkes and his son Warren, 24, were discovered by a man who had gone to check on the father after calls to his phone went unanswered.

The Dwelling

Leslie's body was found on the floor while that of his son was found on a bed in the small dwelling shared by the two.

Police on the scene said there were no signs of violence and that they would await post-mortem reports to determine the cause of death.

"A bush mi deh when mi get the call. Him fi go do some work this morning, so a when him friend a call him and can't get him, he went over there," Derrick Parkes, Leslie's brother, told the Jamaica Observer.

He said his brother worked as a painter in the community and was expected carry out some work yesterday, but did not show up. That was when one of his colleague painters decided to check on him.

He said that father and son were last seen on Monday afternoon. He theorised that they died between Monday evening and Wednesday as the bodies showed signs of decomposition.

Family members have since theorised that the two men were poisoned after consuming a meal, which included ackee, on Monday. Unconfirmed reports are that another person who ate with the family on Monday had to seek medical attention on Tuesday.

Derrick, meanwhile, said he believes no one would have reason to hurt his brother and nephew. more

ST THOMAS, Jamaica : 2nd man in custody for 14-y-o's Kayalicia Simpson murder

ST THOMAS, Jamaica - Police have taken another man into custody in relation to Tuesday's murder of 14-year-old Kayalicia Simpson of the Newlands Housing Scheme in St Thomas.

Kayalicia Simpson

The suspect is expected to be questioned in the presence of his attorney soon.

His identity of is being withheld as the police continue to follow leads in their murder investigation.

The police made the first arrest in the teen's murder on Wednedsay, his identity has still not been released.

Information received is that about 6:30 am, Kayalicia’s body was found near her home with several chop wounds.

Meanwhile, lawmen are appealing to anyone that may have information on the incident to contact the Yallahs Police at 982-5075, Crime Stop at 311, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.

"Persons may also give information using the Stay Alert App, which is a mobile application that can be accessed free of cost through the Unite for Change website at uniteforchangejm.org or through the Google Playstore," a release from the Corporate Communication's Unit said Wednesday. more

Kingston, Jamaica : Attorney Harold Brady charged with fraud Brady to appear in court today

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, March 06, 2015    

NOTED attorney and senior member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Harold Brady spent last night behind bars after he was arrested yesterday by detectives from the fraud unit of the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Branch (C-TOC).

Police report that Brady was charged with fraudulent conversion in connection with the sale of property of a local businessman.

“He has been charged with fraud in relation to the sale of a property for Mr Jeffery Panton,” attorney-at-law Raymond Clough, who is representing Brady, told the Jamaica Observer.

He made the comment some two hours after Brady turned up at the Fraud Squad offices on Duke Street and was questioned at length by detectives.

Clough, who arrived with attorney-atlaw Abe Dabdoub, said the police are alleging that Brady received the purchase price for the property but has not turned over all the money. He said Brady is denying the claim. “My client is saying that Mr Jeffery Panton asked him to convert the money to US.

Harold Brady

He has paid a substantial part and, in fact, the balance of the money he has converted it, but the US dollars came in and was being held by the bank and it has not been released yet,” Clough told journalists outside the Fraud Squad.

Yesterday, police said Brady will appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court today to answer to the charge. more

Harrison Ford Injured After Crashing Small Plane On Golf Course In Los Angeles: Ford Taken To Hospital After Plane Crash ....NBC reports that Ford sustained serious injuries, including cuts to his head. "There was blood all over his face," a Penmar Golf Course employee told NBC News.

The Huffington Post |  By Jessica Goodman Email Posted: 03/05/2015 6:34 pm EST 

Harrison Ford was involved in a plane crash near a Los Angeles golf course on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple reports. CBS News confirmed that Ford was piloting the the plane, which crashed on Penmar Golf Course in Venice. Ford's rep did not return HuffPost Entertainment's immediate request for comment.

Harrison Ford

TMZ was the first to report the news that Ford was taken to the hospital following the incident. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed the plane's solo occupant wastransported to a local hospital and tweeted that he was in "critical condition." In an updated briefing, a representative for the LAFD said the patient was found in"moderate condition," "conscious," "breathing" and outside the plane when the paramedics arrived on the scene. No other people were injured.

NBC reports that Ford sustained serious injuries, including cuts to his head. "There was blood all over his face," a Penmar Golf Course employee told NBC News.

Ford is a seasoned pilot, and was reportedly flying a vintage World War II-era plane. NFL's Andrew Siciliano tweeted a photo from the golf course: more

JAMAICA'S Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James named number one Caribbean airport...Find out why!

Thursday, March 05, 2015    

JAMAICA'S Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James has been named the region's number one airport for 2015 by the online publication Caribbean Journal.

A view of the Sangster International Airport in
Montego Bay, St James. 

"Any airport where we can grab a piping hot Tastee patty within moments of arrival is a good one in our book. Throw in Club Mo'Bay (a tranquil, Jamaican art-filled oasis we tapped as our best airport lounge last year); a plethora of shops; diverse dining options that include a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville and a Bobsled Café; a smoking lounge and free baggage carts and you've got an airport where a long layover doesn't seem that bad," the publication in naming Sangster Internation as it "favourite Caribbean airport for 2015".

Said the publication: "These days, getting there isn't always half the fun. Long lines and having to practically undress at the security checkpoint can make flying more fraught than fab. Which is why we love transiting through these Caribbean hubs, which take the drudgery out of departing with perks every passenger can appreciate."

The publication gave the number two spot to the Bahamas' Lynden Pindling International in the capital Nassau.

"The $400 million the Bahamian Government laid out to modernise and expand their airport was money well-spent. US bound travelers will appreciate the convenience of pre-clearance through immigration, and in the US departures terminal, the plush Graycliff Divan lounge (with comp wi-fi) and the array of shops (we like My Ocean) take the sting out of having to go home," said the Journal. more

11 Reasons Ginger is One of the Healthiest Spices are supported by scientific research....Ginger is a flowering plant that originated from China. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal...The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.

 March 1, 2015 Authority Nutrition   

Ginger is among the healthiest (and most delicious) spices on the planet. It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain.

Here are 11 health benefits of ginger that are supported by scientific research.

1. Ginger Contains Gingerol, a Substance with Powerful Medicinal Properties 

Ginger is a flowering plant that originated from China.

It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and is closely related to turmeric, cardomon and galangal.

The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It is often called ginger root, or simply ginger.

Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional/alternative medicine. It has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.

This is what ground, fresh and sliced ginger looks like:

Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice, and is sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics. It is a very common ingredient in recipes.

The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol.

Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (1).

Bottom Line: Ginger is a popular spice. It is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  more 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) : At Last a Biological Insight Into the Disease....It’s a condition that blights the lives of possibly as many as four million Americans, but the medical community still knows relatively little about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) ....The Columbia University researchers identified a group of molecules, including the cytokine molecule in particular, that appears to be present in much higher quantities for CFS sufferers.

by Steve Williams March 3, 2015    

It’s a condition that blights the lives of possibly as many as four million Americans, but the medical community still knows relatively little about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and whether it is purely psychological or at its heart can be traced to a physical cause.

Now, new research published in Science Advances, sees doctors identify key differences in the immune systems not just of people who have CFS, but also differences between those who are newly diagnosed and those who have had the condition for a number of years.

The Columbia University researchers identified a group of molecules, including the cytokine molecule in particular, that appears to be present in much higher quantities for CFS sufferers. These molecules are involved in the body’s immune response to infections, with cytokine previously linked to the fatigue caused by the Epstein Barr Virus. That’s not to say that CFS is linked to that same virus, but rather that there may be “biomarkers,” things that we can look for in a person’s body, to better identify if they have CFS. As diagnosis of CFS can be very difficult, that prospect alone is something that is encouraging.

But What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

That’s a good question. There is still no firm diagnostic criteria for CFS or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) as it is sometimes known (for clarity, we’ll stick with CFS). In general, people may first present to their doctors saying that they are unable to do the things in their daily routine that before they became ill were effortless or required very little exertion. That sense of fatigue can also be characterized by the fact that even with bed rest the physical and mental feeling of being exhausted doesn’t go away. At its worst, CFS can leave people bedridden and unable to perform anything but the most simple of tasks like dressing themselves.

While currently there are no standardized diagnostic frameworks, the Centers for Disease Control notes that a CFS diagnosis usually hinges on three main criteria:

• The patient should have suffered from chronic fatigue for more than six months with no other medical causes of fatigue being present.
• The fatigue should significantly impact day to day life–for instance, many people with CFS find that holding down a job can be difficult.
• The patient should have four or more of the following symptoms: needing to recover after exertion for more than 24 hours, finding sleep does not reinvigorate, significant memory and cognitive “fuzz” or impairment, muscle pain as well as joint pain and swelling and redness, headaches, tender lymph nodes, and/or a persistently sore throat.  more 

Morgan Heritage album for April 20 Wednesday, March 04, 2015.... The album features an array of 13 memorable tracks fusing both reggae and dancehall including Perform and Done, Child Of Jah (featuring Chronixx), Put it On Me, and So Amazing (featuring J Boog, Jemere Morgan and award-winning drummer Gil Sharone).

MORGAN Heritage will be releasing their latest album Strictly Roots on all major digital platforms April 20, 2015. The physical copy will be released the following day.

The project is the first under the siblings imprint label CTBC Music (Cool To Be Conscious).

Morgan Heritage album for April 20

"This album is our most progressive album to date. We feel as if we've covered the full spectrum of Jamaican music and how it has influenced today's global music industry. The root of these influences you hear come from Jamaica. Hence the title Strictly Roots," said Mojo Morgan.

The album features an array of 13 memorable tracks fusing both reggae and dancehall including Perform and Done, Child Of Jah (featuring Chronixx), Put it On Me, and So Amazing (featuring J Boog, Jemere Morgan and award-winning drummer Gil Sharone).

OBAMACARE ON CHOPPING BLOCK – AGAIN : Latest Challenge Over 4 Words... 9.6 Million Could Lose Health Care... 37 States Could Lose Tax Credits... 'Defies Not Just Legal Conventions But Also Common Sense'... 'Fiction. Provable Fiction'... 'The Court Itself Is In Peril'... These Lives Hang In The Balance... No 'Replacement Plan' From GOP In Sight...

WASHINGTON -- Obamacare faces its strangest challenge yet when the Supreme Court takes up the law for the third time Wednesday, but the oddity of the lawsuit shouldn’t obscure the cataclysm that a loss for President Barack Obama would provoke.

US Supreme Court

The Supreme Court case is the latest legal effort by political opponents of the Affordable Care Act to ruin Obama’s signature domestic achievement. If successful, the suit would tarnish Obama’s legacy, foment infighting among Republicans, aggravate bitter partisanship between the GOP Congress and the White House, and threaten chaos in the health insurance market. But the worst consequences would fall on the estimated 9.6 million people who would lose their health insurance.

The lawsuit, King v. Burwell, isn’t like the previous two Obamacare cases that came before the Supreme Court. Three years ago, in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s four liberals inupholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate that most Americans obtain health insurance. The Supreme Court last year weakened Obamacare’s birth-control coverage rule in Hobby Lobby v. Burwell, a case with religious-freedom implications. more

VALERIE AUSTIN & Sir KeithAnthony w/ Hypnosensei- Health & cancer cures, speed reading and hypnosis

Austin was born in Blackpool to two hoteliers. She married at 18 years old and had a son. The marriage ended in divorce, and to support herself and her son, Austin took a job selling advertising space on a commission only basis and surprised herself by quickly becoming the top sales person, breaking all their records during her seven years there.[2] At that time, a near fatal accident on a motorway left Austin with hysterical amnesia (severe memory loss) which eventually led her into hypnotherapy. The accident left her with a 24-hour memory for over two years. She could remember yesterday but not the day before, and her life was in chaos.[3] Eventually, she “recovered” her memory through hypnosis.[4][5] Shortly after regaining her memory, she met and married her second husband, John Austin (international editor of The Hollywood Reporter) in Las Vegas. She moved to the US and was active in the film industry selling feature films and wrote her own column in a Hollywood trade magazine interviewing celebrities and film financers. However during one of her trips back to the UK a number of family deaths, including her mother, accidents and trauma triggered her memory loss. She forgot she was married, did not return to the US or her husband and spent the next four years with a 24 hours memory. She regained her memory for the second time with hypnosis and then started to take a greater interest in the subject.[2] Following her divorce from Austin, her journalism experience in Hollywood helped launched her second career as a journalist and writer. She freelanced in Fleet Street until she did a course in hypnotherapy, discovered she was good at it, and built a career.[2]

KINGSTON, Jamaica: 31-year-old Rohan Deacon charged for 2013 murder of Catholic Priest, Father Charles Brown ....

Tuesday, March 03, 2015 | 7:23 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man was on Sunday charged for the murder of a Roman Catholic priest, Father Charles Brown, which occurred on Monday, July 29, 2013.

He is 31-year-old Rohan Deacon of Phase one, Seaview Gardens, Kingston 11.

Reports from the Hunts Bay Police are that Deacon, who was listed as a person of interest, was picked up in Clarendon on Thursday, February 19. He was formally charged on Sunday, March 1, by investigators probing the priest’s murder.

The decomposing body of Brown was found in bushes with multiple stab wounds on the Plantation Heights main road in St Andrew.

Deacon is scheduled to appear before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Friday, March 6.

Dobby Dobson Returns For Simply Myrna, March 7...What does Dobby Dobson have in common with the late Jamaican international actress, Madge Sinclair of the famous Trapper John M.D American television series? They both attended Central Branch School in Kingston and had their acting debut in the play, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Dobson played the lead role while Madge Sinclair played the role of his wife.

What does Dobby Dobson have in common with the late Jamaican international actress, Madge Sinclair of the famous Trapper John M.D American television series?

They both attended Central Branch School in Kingston and had their acting debut in the play, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Dobson played the lead role while Madge Sinclair played the role of his wife.

Dobbie Dodson

While Sinclair continued to pursue her career in acting, Dobson, christened Highland Ralph Dobson, began a singing career in the early '50's, spreading his wings across the Caribbean, South, Central and North America, Canada and the United Kingdom, thrilling audiences with his stirring performances that left them begging for more.

Come Saturday, when celebrated songstress Myrna Hague presents her fifth annual Simply Myrna Revue, Dobson will be flying into the island from his home base in Florida, as her special guest, for a second time, to be part of this milestone.

Also specially invited to perform is vocalist A.J. Brown, lead singer in the legendary Third World Band, and the colourful Carifolk Singers. Simply Myrna, which has been enjoying an increasing number of patrons over the years, will see an A-list of musicians providing backing for the star of the show, Myrna Hague, and her guests, at Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. Sir Kenneth and Lady Rhema Hall have again graciously accepted to be patrons of the show, which will commence with cocktails at 7 p.m. Show time is 8 p.m.

55 BAIL ON BIBI: Elizabeth Warren, Al Franken Join Growing List Of Democrats Skipping Netanyahu Speech

The Huffington Post |  By Mollie Reilly Email Posted: 03/02/2015 8:11 pm EST

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced Monday that they will not attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Tuesday address to a joint session of Congress.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

One day after President Barack Obama said he would veto any new sanctions against Iran, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited Netanyahu to make his case to Congress against a nuclear deal. Boehner extended the invitation without first consulting the White House, a move seen by some as disrespectful to Obama. The administration has pushed back on the speech, calling Boehner's invite a breach of protocol.

"I strongly support Israel, and I remain deeply concerned about the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon, which I discussed in detail with Prime Minister Netanyahu when we met in Jerusalem last November," Warren said in a statement, according to the Boston Globe. “It's unfortunate that Speaker Boehner’s actions on the eve of a national election in Israel have made Tuesday’s event more political and less helpful for addressing the critical issue of nuclear nonproliferation and the safety of our most important ally in the Middle East."

In a statement earlier Monday, Franken described the speech as a "partisan spectacle."

Elizabeth Warren and Al Franken

"This has unfortunately become a partisan spectacle, both because of the impending Israeli election and because it was done without consulting the administration,” Franken said. "I’d be uncomfortable being part of an event that I don’t believe should be happening. I’m confident that, once this episode is over, we can reaffirm our strong tradition of bipartisan support for Israel." more

KINGSTON, Jamaica : Chinese delegation in JAMAICA collecting data for proposed design of hospital....The hospital is expected to provide services for children from 0-19 years old and will be the only facility of its kind in Jamaica, Permanent Secretary, Dr Kevin Harvey said. It is proposed that the facility will be constructed on lands identified on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

Monday, March 02, 2015 | 9:54 PM 

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Data collection is currently being carried out by a Chinese delegation, which is on the island to inform the proposed design of the child and adolescent hospital to be constructed in the Western region of the island.

Permanent Secretary, Dr Kevin Harvey (right) in discussion
 with member of the Chinese delegation Zhang Xuejian, Vice
President and Senior Engineer at the Beijing Institute of
Architectural Design in China (left) and Dr Ken-Garfield Douglas,
Regional Director of the Western Regional Health
Authority (centre). The Chinese delegation is in Jamaica to
 gather information to inform the proposed design of
 the Child and adolescent hospital to be constructed in
 Western Jamaica.

A discussion with the delegation was led with personnel from the Ministry of Health, the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the National Environment and Planning Agency at PIOJ Monday morning, regarding their activities for the next three weeks of their visit.

Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson made the point that this type of hospital was needed, as presently there is a requirement for children to be transferred to Kingston to receive intensive care services, specialist services and appropriate care. Additionally, there is no specific facility geared towards the needs of adolescents.

“I am happy that the members of the Chinese delegation were able to visit Jamaica to start this important process. The health team and other Government agencies will be working with the delegation to ensure that at the end of the visit we can have an idea of the way forward in terms of design and budget,” Dr Ferguson said.

The hospital is expected to provide services for children from 0-19 years old and will be the only facility of its kind in Jamaica, Permanent Secretary, Dr Kevin Harvey said. It is proposed that the facility will be constructed on lands identified on the grounds of the Cornwall Regional Hospital. more

IN JAMAICA: Big increase in income tax, GCT revenue collection projected for 2015/16 tabled by Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips on February 19, is targeting J$138.9 billion in GCT collections and J$129 billion in income tax through increased compliance.

Balford Henry Monday, March 02, 2015 | 8:17 PM  

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Government is banking on significant increases in both income tax and general consumption tax (GCT) next year, to boost its tax revenues.

Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips

The revenue estimates tabled by Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips on February 19, is targeting J$138.9 billion in GCT collections and J$129 billion in income tax through increased compliance.

Income tax brought in J$111.5 billion in 2013/14, the last available full financial year figures, and GCT of J$113.3 billion. Consolidated Fund receipts so far, for financial year 2014/15, which ends on March 31, are J$79.3 billion for income tax, and J$94.9 billion for GCT.

Other substantial tax revenue increases for 2015/16, which begins on April 1, are: J$5 billion in customs; J$3.2 billion in education tax; approximately J$5.5 billion in special consumption tax; and J$1.2 billion in travel tax.

Non-tax revenue next financial year is expected to be more than J$10 billion above 2013/14, with the bulk coming from departmental and other miscellaneous revenue.

The Government also plans to transfer J$1 billion from the capital development fund (CDF), which is financed by the bauxite levy, and receive J$129 billion in loans, bringing total revenue and loan receipts to J$576.6 billion next year.more

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA: St James police deny killing shopkeeper....Yesterday, residents of Salt Spring staged a peaceful demonstration in their community over the fatal shooting of 28-year-old shopkeeper Sandrea Johnson of Simmonds Crescent

Monday, March 02, 2015 | 8:08 AM    

MONTEGO BAY, St James – The St James police are refuting claims that they shot and killed a businessman whose bullet-riddled body was discovered in a section of the Salt Spring community in the parish yesterday morning.

Yesterday, residents of Salt Spring staged a peaceful demonstration in their community over the fatal shooting of 28-year-old shopkeeper Sandrea Johnson of Simmonds Crescent, Montego Heights in Salt Spring, St James.

The irate residents, who mounted roadblocks in the community, accused the police of killing Johnson.

But, according to head of the St James Police Division, SSP Derrick Champagnie, about 12:45 am, the St James Operation Support team responded to a call from Area One control, that gunshots were heard in the Montego Heights area of Salt Spring.

Upon the arrival of the police, Johnson's body was allegedly found lying along the roadway with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds to the back, chest, face and both hands.

The senior cop also revealed that 12 9mm spent shells were discovered at the scene.

SSP Champagnie noted that as a result of the resident's claim that Johnson was shot by the police, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) was called in to commence a probe. more

$100-million downtown Kingston project.... Food bazaar first pillar of UDC plan

 BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, March 02, 2015 

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will shortly be inviting proposals for the management of a food bazaar, which will be part of a $100-million multi-faceted commercial project aimed at injecting new life into downtown Kingston.

K D Knight

The bazaar is among the first components of what will be called a festival marketplace in the business district, which successive governments have, for some time, promised to revitalise.

Director of Corporate Communication at the UDC Lorna Clarke told the Jamaica Observer that under phase one, which will take place from February to May 2015, the bazaar would be constructed on the lawns of the Victoria Craft Market, while landscaping and beautification are to be carried out along the waterfront between Victoria Pier and the craft market.

“The overall festival marketplace development will require significant private investment and planning towards this is in progress,” Clarke said, explaining that the UDC would be responsible for maintenance for phase one works, supported by the income expected from the rental of food and beverage kiosks.

Last month, UDC Chairman KD Knight announced the 8.9 acre development, stating that the aim was to keep downtown active after regular business hours. An office complex is also to be built in the area.

The festival marketplace will be an extension of the renewed market and commercial districts, and the ending point of the existing east-west pedestrian arcade and promenade. more

TRELAWNY, JAMAICA: Four dead in horrifying crash...The four dead men were identified as: Sergio Gonzales, Garvin Arias and Ruiz Farael of the Dominican Republic and Oliver Torres of a Spanish address.

BRACO, Trelawny — Death came quickly and brutally to four foreign nationals — three from the Dominican Republic and one from Spain — after their rented Toyota Yaris motor car crashed into a truck laden with sand on this section of the North Coast Highway near dawn yesterday.

crashed vehicle

Blood, crushed bones and chunks of human flesh scattered across the crash site, horrifying evidence of the violence of the smash that police immediately attributed to bad road conditions caused by early morning showers and possible speeding in an area known as a death zone.

The four dead men were identified as: Sergio Gonzales, Garvin Arias and Ruiz Farael of the Dominican Republic and Oliver Torres of a Spanish address.

They were all employed at a St Ann hotel. Trelawny police who put the time of the crash at 4:35 am, said the four were travelling in the direction of St Ann's Bay when the car drifted into the path of the International truck which was heading in the opposite direction.

The truck overturned but the unidentified driver and a female passenger apparently suffered only minor injuries and were treated at the nearby Falmouth Public General Hospital and sent home, Jamaica Observer sources said.

Meanwhile, a large crowd of onlookers swarmed the scene of the carnage, some expressing shock at the dreadful view of the mangled motor car and the overturned truck, which spilled most of its cargo of sand.

One extremely mutilated body remained inside the crumpled car for hours as it was feared the body was too cut up to be removed from the vehicle ahead of the arrival of the funeral home team. more

IN JAMAICA: These three beauties from Hillel Academy, from left, Ella McConnell, Emily Vaz, and Leah McConnell, were spotted at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica's annual Run for your Heart awards ceremony

Pretty Girls, All In A Row

Sunday, March 01, 2015    
These three beauties from Hillel Academy, from left, Ella McConnell, Emily Vaz, and Leah McConnell, were spotted at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica's annual Run for your Heart awards ceremony at the Altamont Court Hotel on February 24. (Photo: Garfield Robinson) more

The greatest show on earth : The centuries-old tradition of playing mas dispatched the clarion call to the global contingent of bacchanalists for the annual pilgrimage to Trinidad and Tobago

Sunday, March 01, 2015    

“De riddim it have ah vibe, ah feel so alive!”

“Me an’ meh crew gone wile out.”

“We guh make ah mess in here.

Bumpa like rain.

The centuries-old tradition of playing mas dispatched the clarion call to the global contingent of bacchanalists for the annual pilgrimage to Trinidad and Tobago to pay homage to the soca genre and all the rapturous frenzy that accompanies it. Dwayne Watkins, wedding and lifestyle photog extraordinaire -- with his TeamDWP Studios associate shutterbug Steven McFarlane in tow -- returns to capture the explosion of rhythmic movement and multicoloured displays at the Dirty Dozen J'Ouvert as well as the Carnival Monday experience inside Limin' Professionalz: The Syndicate band, and the Carnival Tuesday hurrah alongside YUMA revellers. SO 'chips' through the bustling landscape of capital city Port of Spain, hanging on to the lyrical coat-tails of the current season's chart-toppers. more