LONDON, United Kingdom : German-born Jamaican Dustin Brown beats Nadal at Wimbledon
Thursday, July 02, 2015 | 2:33 PM
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Rafael Nadal was sent crashing out of Wimbledon by dread-locked German qualifier Dustin Brown on Thursday, his fourth successive humiliation at the All England Club.
Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, slumped to a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 second round defeat against the world number 102 who hit 13 aces and 58 winners.
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| Dustin Brown |
It was the 29-year-old's first ever defeat to a qualifier at a Grand Slam and came in the aftermath of losing his French Open crown where he had been champion nine times.
The loss followed his 2012 second round exit to world 100 Lukas Rosol, a first round beating by the 135-ranked Steve Darcis in 2013 and last year's fourth round defeat to Nick Kyrgios, who was at 144.
Down at his lowest ranking for a decade -- at 10 in the world -- Thursday's defeat was yet another symptom of the great Spaniard's game being in a terminal state of decline.
For Brown, who once drove to tournaments in a camper van to save money, it was his second win against Nadal having won on grass in Halle in 2014.
It also gave him a third round clash against Serbia's Viktor Troicki.
"I had actually never been on Centre Court before," said Brown.
"They asked me before the match if I wanted to go on the court. I didn't know what was going to happen, so I just said I'll just go on when I play.
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| Jamaican Dustin Brown |
He added: "It's easy for me to play my game against someone like him because I have nothing to lose."
Nadal had the luxury of the first break for a 3-1 advantage in the opening set which was quickly cancelled out by Brown in the fifth game. more
IN JAMAICA: Questions raised over 18 bodies found at May Pen Cemetery...
BY PAUL HENRY Coordinator - Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, July 03, 2015
PATHOLOGIST reports from evidence presented to the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry seem to have run counter to evidence by the security forces as to the time of death of some 18 bodies found in May Pen cemetery.
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| Dudus |
Lt Col David Cummings testified yesterday that the bodies in the cemetery seemed to have been dumped there before the start of the security operation on May 24, 2010 to apprehend Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
The police had also suggested, prior to this, that the bodies were those of people killed in Tivoli Gardens prior to the start of the operation because they refused to co-operate with criminals loyal to Coke.
But yesterday, Lord Anthony Gifford, the Queen's Counsel appearing for the Office of the Public Defender, put to Cummings that the pathologist reports suggested that the 18, with the exception of one, were killed on the 24th and the 25th of May 2010. He said he didn't know.
Cummings agreed with commission chairman Sir David Simmons that it would be highly unlikely for a private vehicle with bodies to leave Tivoli to dump them in the cemetery, given the fact that the security forces controlled the area.
Cummings gave evidence earlier yesterday that a surveillance system was found by soldiers inside the community of Tivoli Gardens after the security forces launched the May 24, 2010 operation to apprehend Coke.
Cummings, who was in charge of the Jamaica Defence Force's Engineer Unit at the time, testified that the system was found at a home at 15A DC Avenue after Coke left the community.
He explained that the surveillance system, connected to a large flat screen, allowed for the monitoring of the entire Tivoli Gardens area and the various approaches to the community.
Cummings, who gave the testimony during his evidence-in-chief led by attorney Linton Gordon, said the equipment was turned over to the police. But Simmons commented that he hadn't heard of this from the senior members of the police force who already gave evidence.
Cummings said soldiers who were with him also found extradition papers in relation to Coke at his "Presidential Click" office in the community. He added that the document was marked "Federal Grand Jury of New York". more
JAMMing for more reggae...Danny Browne restarts local content quota debate. THE call has come for a mandated quota of Jamaican content on local radio and television. What Do You Think?
BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, July 03, 2015
THE call has come for a mandated quota of Jamaican content on local radio and television.
Leading the way is chairman of the Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS), Danny Browne.
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| Chairman of the Jamaica Music Society Danny Browne (left) with President of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians Desi Young at Wednesday’s International Reggae Day conference at the Jamaica Pegasus. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON) |
Speaking at the conference to mark International Reggae Day at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, he cited countries such as Canada, Australia, France and Nigeria which all have local content quotas - as high as 80 per cent.
"None of these countries has given the world at least three distinct genres of music like Jamaica, yet they have quotas to protect their music," Browne argued.
"It would support the development of local culture and national identity. It would also promote diversity and boost the local recording industry. Currently, as much as 70 per cent of the content on local radio is from abroad. While I am not against foreign content, I don't believe it should be at the peril of our local music industry," he said.
He called on colleagues to step forward and lobby media heads to have local content quotas mandated.
"Look at Reggae Month, it should be mandated that only local content is played on radio during February — purely reggae — and then you revert to your regular playlist at the end of the month. Without this the designation of Reggae Month is weak and baseless," said Browne. more
A WOW STORY : Bobbi Kristina Brown's Past Year: Abused, Isolated and Desperate, the Tragic Secrets Whitney Houston's Daughter Was Hiding (VIDEO)
by MELANIE BROMLEY Wed., Jul. 1, 2015
Three weeks before she was found unconscious in the bath, Bobbi Kristina Brown phoned one of her best friends, Alex Reid.
She was distraught and scared, and was hiding from her live-in boyfriend, Nick Gordon. Her refuge of choice—inside her deceased mother's closet.
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| Bobbi Kristina & Nick Gordon |
"I love her. I would never have betrayed her and spoken out before now, " says Alex through tears. "But as she lies there, I feel there is no one else to speak on her behalf. I feel like I have to be a voice for her now."
Hiding from Gordon was just one of the heartbreaking incidents that Bobbi Kristina confided in her friend about: "Krissi was physically abused by Nick on a number of occasions and she told me about some of them," Alex says. "I never witnessed anything…she would FaceTime me every time she was distraught, when something has just happened or show me a bruise."
Meanwhile, there are still a number of unanswered questions about what really went on in those final hours before the 911 call from Bobbi Kristina's Atlanta home on Jan. 31. A police investigation is still ongoing. And Alex is determined to find out what happened to her best friend: "There are things that I know that no one else does," she tells us. "And I hope that by speaking out I can help the investigation in some way." more
Paris Fireworks - World Leaders 'Shelly', Gardner Set For Hot 100m Diamond League Clash
The line-up for the women's 100 metres at Saturday's Diamond League meeting in Paris will be very hot, with five of the women already dipping under 11 seconds this season.
This group is headed by joint world leaders Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and the United States' English Gardener, who have recorded 10.79 seconds.
With 10.79 seconds to spearhead this very strong line-up, Fraser-Pryce's last two runs have been brilliant, as after her close win over the Ivory Coast's Murielle Ahoure at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, where both clocked 10.81 seconds, she followed up that with an even more impressive run at the Jamaica National Championships last Friday.
There, she recorded a runaway victory in 10.79.
Similar Times
On the same day, Gardner, competing in the semi-finals of the United States trials in Eugene, also logged 10.79 seconds to show that she is also in top form. At that same venue, Gardner clocked 10.84 seconds in edging out Jamaica's Elaine Thompson in a 100m 'B' race at the Prefontaine Classic.
After her fast clocking to win at the trials, Fraser-Pryce's coach, Stephen Francis, stated that he was not pleased with the time as he thought she did not execute well in the last 30 metres.
While both athletes have the joint fastest time, the field is loaded with speed as Ahoure, who lost to Fraser-Pryce in a photo finish when both clocked identical 10.81 seconds, will be coming to avenge that defeat, while the likes of Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare (10.87) and Dutch wonder girl Dafne Schippers, with a season best of 10.97, will also be backing themselves to win.
Also included in the field is Natasha Morrison, who finished second at the National Senior Championships in a personal best 11.03 seconds last week and will want to make her name on the big stage.
U.S. Adds 223,000 Jobs In June; Unemployment Rate Falls To 5.3%
WASHINGTON (AP) — US unemployment rate falls to 5.3 percent as employers add 223,000 jobs in June.
WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA (BRUTAL KILLINGS) : Father, son murdered in SAVANNA-LA-MAR....19 y-o Jahboukie Wynter was found lying in a pool of blood on the street and 62 y-o Trevor ‘Pepper Rock’ Wynter was found shot in his bed
BY HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com Thursday, July 02, 2015
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — The Westmoreland football fraternity was yesterday plunged into mourning after the bullet-riddled body of Reno FC's most charismatic supporter, 62-year-old Trevor Wynter, was found in his bed, shortly after his son was discovered murdered a short distance away.
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| Nineteen-year-old Jahboukie Wynter was found lying in a pool of blood on the street. At right: Trevor ‘Pepper Rock’ Wynter |
Wynter, who is affectionately known as 'Pepper Rock', lived at 45 Seaton Street with his 19-year-old son Jahboukie Wynter.
Reports are that about 3:45 yesterday morning residents of the section of Savanna-la-Mar called Grotto heard a barrage of gunshots in their community.
Shortly after, the body of the son was discovered lying along a section of the roadway in a pool of blood with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
Residents who went to the father's house to deliver the tragic news, became suspicious on realising that the front door was wide open. When they entered the house, they saw the body of the popular football fanatic slumped in his bed, also drenched in blood.
The police who were summoned are yet to establish a motive for the double murder.
When news broke of the two murders, a large crowd converged on the street outside the deceased's house, as crime scene investigators combed inside for clues.
"Me can't believe say Pepper Rock dead," bemoaned a man of Indian descent. "Them kill him inna him bed."
Another member of the gathering who also expressed shock at the tragedies, described the elder Wynter as a peaceful individual.
"Pepper naw trouble nobody," he said.
There was great outpouring of affection for the Reno fan when the news team arrived at the Westmoreland Football Association headquarters where several mourners were gathered.
He was mostly remembered for his large Reno flags which he eagerly waved as he drummed up support for the team.
"Pepper was a man always with his big flag. He did not support Reno in an ordinary way, but an extraordinary way, especially with his big flag, which at times appears bigger than the field," said another Reno supporter who goes by the name Tanker.
"Even when the team went down, he was the only one who had the flags. He's a household name in the parish."
Meanwhile, President of the Westmoreland Football Association Everton Tomlinson recalled the "undying love and dedication" Wynter has shown for Reno Football Club".
"He always dressed in the Reno colours. It is very sad when we lose someone who dedicate his life to the spirit of the game. He was most valuable in the 1980s and 1990s in the glory days of Reno, inspiring the crowd. Those memories keep popping up this morning," Tomlinson said. more
Gregory Park fire leaves 25 homeless including eight children, the fire allegedly set by arsonists, destroyed an eight-room house in Gregory Park, St Catherine.
Thursday, July 02, 2015 -- Kimmo Matthews
TWENTY-FIVE people, including eight children, were left homeless Tuesday night when fire, allegedly set by arsonists, destroyed an eight-room house in Gregory Park, St Catherine.
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| Fire victims |
Police reported that about 7:30 fire was seen coming from the house, located in a tenement yard, shortly after a heated argument among a group of people in the community.
The Jamaica Fire Brigade said a team of firefighters worked hard in trying to contain the blaze but despite their attempts the house was destroyed.
The loss was particularly painful for Anita Wallace, a pregnant 20-year-old woman, who was left contemplating where she would stay with her three-year-old daughter.
"I don't know what is going to happen now; I lost everything for both my daughter and my unborn child," said Wallace, tears rolling down her cheeks.
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| The remains of the eight-bedroom Gregory Park house that was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY) |
Her relative, Cassandra Wallace, a mother of two, shared similar sentiments.
"Right now we lost everything; the children don't have anything to wear and no food to eat. I just don't know what we will do," said the distraught woman.
"It really hard to see that I come lose everything; when the fire started I was sitting on the outside [but] I am just thankful that just before the fire my daughter, who was sleeping, woke up and came outside," said Wallace.
Residents said a few minutes after the fire started they were trying to put out the blaze but had to make a hasty retreat when a gas cylinder exploded. more
Hanover, Jamaica (GETTING FROM BAD TO WORSE) : Spike in murders rocks Hanover....an alarming 11 murders last month catapulting the tally of persons killed in the parish to 24 since the start of the year....a mother who lost 2 sons grieved, "Two one time? Two one time? Oh God! Jesus! Mama! Lawd. Mama! Oh God! Whey mi pickney dem gone? Mi two pickney gone," she wailed before collapsing.
BY HORACE HINES Observer West reporter Thursday, July 02, 2015
LAGOON, Hanover — THE Hanover Police Division recorded an alarming 11 murders last month catapulting the tally of persons killed in the parish to 24 since the start of the year -- four more than the corresponding period in 2014.
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| Mother of the murdered men Michelle James (right) with family members. (PHOTO: PHILP LEMONTE) |
"This is the worst June I have ever seen in the parish," a veteran lawman lamented. The latest murder in the parish was Monday night's killing of 47-year-old businessman Leslie Clarke, also called Big Ras, who was shot dead at the restaurant he operated across the road from the Green Island Police Station.
A police source close to the investigations told the Jamaica Observer West that Clarke's killing may have been a reprisal for Sunday morning's shooting of two brothers, 20-year-old Orane Pringle and 23-year-old Richard Hamilton, also called Blacks, at their home in the Lagoon community, near to Green Island.
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| (L) HAMILTON... bullet-riddled body found outside house. (R) PRINGLE... one of two brothers shot dead. (PHOTOS: PHILP LEMONTE) |
"Word on the streets is that the businessman is related to one of the persons suspected to be involved in the killing of the brothers," a cop close to the investigations revealed. Reports are that about 3:30 am the two siblings were at home -- one in the company of a female friend -- when a group of men with 9mm pistols swooped down on the two-apartment building.
The gunmen proceeded to kick open the front door then opened a barrage of gunfire on the three occupants. When the police arrived at the scene Pringle was discovered in the house lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds, while the blood-soaked, bullet-riddled body of his older brother was on the ground outside the wooden dwelling.
The female, who ran from the house during the shooting, was rushed to a medical facility where she is being treated for bullet wounds to one of her feet and a section of her upper body.
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| A distressed Michelle James (on ground) is being assisted by family members after she collapsed during an interview with the Observer West on Tuesday. |
Investigators removed a number of 9mm spent shells from the scene of the incident.
When Observer West visited the Lagoon community this week, Michelle James, the distressed mother of Pringle and Hamilton -- two of her six children — fainted while being interviewed.
"Two one time? Two one time? Oh God! Jesus! Mama! Lawd. Mama! Oh God! Whey mi pickney dem gone? Mi two pickney gone," she wailed before collapsing. more
IN JAMAICA: UWI student injured in attack still serious in hospital....The victim is a resident of AZ Preston Hall
Thursday, July 02, 2015 — Candiece Knight
A male student of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, who was stabbed and injured by an attacker on the university's campus Monday night was still in hospital in serious condition yesterday.
The student reportedly lost a lot of blood in the incident which occurred close to the Confucius Institute. The victim is a resident of AZ Preston Hall.
Yesterday, concerned students and friends rushed to give blood in his aid after an appeal was made for blood.
The police said were still investigating the incident, which was said to be a robbery attempt.
"I am extremely disappointed with the fact that this took place, and even worse, on campus," said President of the Guild of Students Davianne Tucker. "The Guild Council finds violence of any kind intolerable and will not simply allow it to fall through the cracks.
"In the short term, we will ensure that students across the campus are educated about their own safety because they also have a responsibility to secure themselves," Tucker said in a statement. "We will also be engaging the administration to find more effective ways of protecting our students through the posting of solid, actionable ideas for persons entering the campus, especially at night," he added.
ACTION: OVERTIME PAY FOR 5 MILLION ....'A Hard Day's Work Deserves A Fair Day's Pay'...Earnings less than $50,400 per year would now be eligible for overtime pay if they work 40-hr week
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama this week will propose a plan to extend overtime pay to 5 million American workers who are currently excluded under federal law, according to sources.
The president will recommend updating overtime rules so that salaried workers who earn less than roughly $50,400 per year would be guaranteed time-and-a-half pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week. Under the current rules implemented by former President George W. Bush, salaried workers must earn less than $23,660 per year in order to be automatically eligible for overtime pay.
The president announced his intention to make overtime reforms last year, but the details of the plan have been kept secret until this week. The president is expected to discuss the proposal later this week during a visit to Wisconsin. Details of the proposal were first reported by Bloomberg.
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| Prez. Obama |
"That’s how America should do business," the president wrote. "In this country, a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. That’s at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America." more
CONGRATS in JAMAICA: THE Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) awards $1.8 million in cash, prizes to school energy competition winners
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
THE Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) last Friday presented cash and prizes valued at more than $1.8 million to primary and high school students who submitted winning entries in the 2014-15 Schools Energy Competition.
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| Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell (centre) and Senior Corporate Relations Manager at Digicel Trisha Williams-Singh (right) present students from Anchovy High School with the trophy for winning the 16-18 Age Group Category of the PCJ’s Schools Energy Programme Science Competition. The four team members each received a tablet and data service subscription from Digicel for one month. |
The competition, which is the highlight of the Schools Energy Programme which the PCJ carries out annually as a means of promoting energy education among Jamaica's youth, gave students a first-hand look at the production side of the energy industry through tours of local generating plants including the Petrojam Refinery in Kingston, the Wigton Windfarm in Manchester and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Hydro Plant in St Ann. Participants also got exposure to some of the social and economic issues surrounding energy production and distribution through the programme's energy seminar series. The seminars, said the PCJ, also taught the youngsters about responsible energy usage and the importance of conservation and efficiency.
For the 2014/15 academic year, more than 1,000 students from 75 schools participated in the tours and seminars and participants had the opportunity to put the knowledge garnered to the test in the programme's essay, science and poster competitions.
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| Group Internal Auditor at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica Ashlyn Malcolm (left) shares a moment with Jhaivaughn Cooper of the Duhaney Park Primary School as he accepts his trophy after being declared the winner of the 6-9 Age Group Category of the PCJ’s Schools Energy Programme Poster Competition. Cooper also received $50,000.00 cash for his winning entry. |
Participants in the essay competition were challenged to express how they would address various energy-related issues, including the economic benefits of renewable energy to Jamaica, the impact of climate change and meeting the energy goals outlined in the National Development Plan -- Vision 2030.
The poster competition required students to utilise their creativity and artistic talents to design a poster to reflect themes such as "Energy at Home", "Save Energy Today for a Brighter Tomorrow", and "Electricity in the 21st Century".
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| Anchovy High School students, winners of the 13-15 Age Group category of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s (PCJ) Schools Energy Programme Science Competition, accept their trophy from the PCJ Group General Manager Winston Watson (centre) during Friday’s awards ceremony at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. The winning team members are (from left) Fayan Smith, Tatyana Harvey, Samusha Haughton and Kacy-Ann Watkins. Each member of the team was awarded $50,000 courtesy of the PCJ’s subsidiary PETCOM. |
Entrants in the science competition were required to work in teams to design and build a "green" model of their own school facility which met international standards for energy conservation and efficiency.
More than 260 students submitted entries in this year's competition and the winners were announced at an award ceremony which was held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Friday.
"As the agency mandated to drive public education on energy matters, the PCJ has always placed particular focus on the youth who we believe, if groomed, can help to create a more secure energy future," PCJ Group General Manager Winston Watson told the awards ceremony. more
Javon 'Donkeyman' Francis gives God the glory running his lifetime best 44.50 seconds at the JAAA National Senior Championships.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 -- Paul Reid
AFTER running his lifetime best 44.50 seconds, just a tenth off the national record 44.40 seconds held by Jermaine Gonzales, Javon 'Donkeyman' Francis was expected to claim the record for himself at last weekend's JAAA National Senior Championships.
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| FRANCIS... I feel good about my performance today. |
Rusheen McDonald who had run 44.60 seconds, Francis, who was injured in last season's National Senior Championships, was expected to win the one-lap race and he delivered for his first senior title.
His 44.70 seconds, just dipping at the line to beat the late-charging McDonald, was slower than expected, but the ebullient Francis was not concerned with times on Sunday.
"I feel good about my performance today," he said. "I just give God thanks that I came out here and enjoyed my day in front of my home crowd."
He reminded members of the media that not too long ago he was running 59.00 seconds for the quarter mile, so he was grateful for where he is today.
"I remember when I just started running 400m I was running 59.00 seconds so I am thankful that I got it down to 44 seconds in the same range as (American World Champion) Leshawn Merrit and (Olympic champion and world leader) Kirani James."
He said that he would leave it to his Coach Michael Clarke to get him ready to run fast and lower his times even further when the time was right.
"Michael Clarke is a good coach and I will leave it to him," he said.
Tragedy in JAMAICA! Fire destroys Wortley Home for girls leaving 21 young female wards of the State, ages 7-18, and the home's administrators in distress.
KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter mattthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, June 30, 2015
FIRE yesterday destroyed a large section of the 97-year-old Wortley Home on Constant Spring Road in Kingston, leaving 21 young female wards of the State, ages 7-18, and the home's administrators in distress.
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| Firemen extinguish fire |
Police report that about 11:30 am persons passing the area saw smoke coming from one of the dormitories and raised an alarm.
Firefighters said seven units responded to the blaze, which took them more than two hours to control.
The units, according to the firefighters, came from the nearby Half-Way-Tree Fire Station, as well as from Rollington Town, York Park, and Trench Town -- all located more than 20 minutes drive away.
"We got the call a few minutes after 11:30 am and we reached at the location as quickly as possible," one firefighter told the Jamaica Observer.
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| Tragedy |
Help also came from people living in nearby communities, but despite their efforts the majority of the building was gutted.
One female ward, who had just returned from school to find the place on fire, was distraught.
"When I was at school I saw the smoke and joked to my friend: 'Yuh nuh si seh a wi house a burn down'," she told the Observer with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Manager at the home, Dolores Bailey, was equally distraught, saying that it was a sad day for the institution, which was founded in 1918 by the Rev Canon Wortley, who was then rector of St Andrew Parish Church, and his wife Bertha. It caters to needy girls, regardless of socio-economic or religious backgrounds, and is one of three children's homes operated by the Anglican Church in Jamaica. more
At the century-old Ward Theatre in JA: When opera met ‘binghi....the first public presentation of guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith's 'Bingestra' in a programme entitled 'Opera meets Nyahbinghi',
BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, June 30, 2015
THE century-old Ward Theatre, in the heart of downtown Kingston, resonated with the sound of music Sunday afternoon.
For the second year, life came to the landmark theatre -- which is in a state of disrepair -- thanks to the studio and performing arts festival Kingston On the Edge (KOTE).
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| Chilean-born Maria Cecilia Toledo (left) and guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith performing at the Ward Theatre in downtown Kingston on Sunday. (Photo: Kingston On The Edge) |
This year's event capped the festival and saw the first public presentation of guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith's 'Bingestra' in a programme entitled 'Opera meets Nyahbinghi', which featured the vocals of Chilean opera singer Maria Cecilia Toledo.
A cross-section of Jamaicans filled the lower level of the historic theatre, which had been specially prepared and seats repaired for the event.
For openers, actor and broadcaster Alwyn Scott's monologue personified the iconic theatre, recounting its importance to the political and cultural life of the country. He concluded by expressing the wish that the Ward should not be allowed to fade away.
This segued perfectly into the first of the fusion pieces, Toledo's interpretation of Junior Byles' Fade Away. Her classically trained mezzo voice, the potent and timeless lyrics and grounded, rootsy sound of drum and bass came together for a magical sound and set the tone for the evening.
Toledo showcased her range and dexterity as she delivered two Spanish tunes, the popular Habanera from Bizet's Carmen and an endearing rendition of the folk classic Evening Time.
However, the second half of the show went to another level. more
CONGRATS JA (Manchester) : Christiana Leased wins infant school quiz champs
Monday, June 29, 2015
MANDEVILLE, Manchester -- Christiana Leased Primary and Infant School students, in late May, walked away as champions in an Infant School Quiz Competition organised by the Manchester Parish Library.
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| Christiana Leased Infant school teacher and coach Claudette McKenzie with the team members. |
They took the title from Mandeville Infant School who were the winners in the inaugural event last year.
Regional director for the library services in Manchester and St Elizabeth, Lorraine McLean, said that the competition is endorsed by the Ministry of Education Region 5 Early Childhood Unit.
She said that the event was conceptualised to expose the children to quiz competitions at an early age, and enable them to reap the benefits gained from participation.
"[The] setting [will] prepare their young minds for active mental exercise, which [will] improve their memories, stimulate alertness, encourage teamwork and self expression. The competition [will] also engender a love for reading, as it provided a means of revision and also heightened cultural awareness from an early age," McLean said in a news release.
Other participants in the competition this year were Bethabara Infant, Mandeville Infant and Porus Infant.
The major sponsors of the event were Sagicor Life Jamaica, Burger King, Golf View Hotel, and Three Angels Pharmacy. more
IN JAMAICA: Estimates of $250 million for Andrew Holness's newly built house. Fence alone valued approximately $50 million fuels unease... JLP worried: donors reportedly want explanation
Sunday, June 28, 2015
OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness's defence of the house that he and his wife Juliet are building in Beverly Hills, St Andrew has created more unease inside the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and appears to have placed the political organisation on a collision course with some of its more affluent donors.
According to JLP insiders, questions about Holness's judgement for building the massive house at this time have re-emerged in the party, which is bracing itself for the property being used by the governing People's National Party (PNP) in the campaign for general elections due for 2016, but widely expected later this year.
"The party knows that it will be one of the biggest advertising tools against us in the next election," one JLP insider told the Jamaica Observer.
"It has been a major concern for the party over the last two years. It hasn't been dealt with openly until last week in the Sunday Observer," added the insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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| Andrew Holness |
From as far back as mid-2014 PNP insiders had admitted to the Sunday Observer that Holness's house would be considered fair game in their election campaign.
Last week, Holness, in response to critics on both sides of the divide, pointed out that he and his wife -- who is a real estate developer -- have been building the house for the past three years and that they have been frugal in their spending. more
CONGRATS Top of the Hill : Mannings Hill Primary in rural St Andrew would have not one, but six perfect Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scores this year.... If ????? Read more
BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate Editor -- Features thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, June 28, 2015
IF you round up by 1.8 percentage points at the most, Mannings Hill Primary in rural St Andrew would have not one, but six perfect Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scores this year.
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| The six students of Mannings Hill Primary School in rural St Andrew who recorded exceptionally high scores in the Grade Six Achievement Test this year. From left, they are Dainalissa Saddler, Crystal Francis, Tahjay McKenson, Britney Gayle, Ackera Bogle and in the back, Pahjay Plunkett. (PHOTO: KIMONE THOMPSON) |
That's because, in addition to the 100 per cent average of head girl Dainalissa Saddler, there is the 99.4 per cent scored by Ackera Bogle, the 98.8 per cent bagged by both Pahjay Plunkett and Tahjay McKenson, the 98.6 per cent copped by Britney Gayle, and the 98.2 per cent recorded by Crystal Francis.
Saddler, Plunkett and McKenson have been placed at Campion College; Gayle and Francis are headed to Immaculate Conception; and Bogle will attend Wolmer's Girls' School.
"It's quite an accomplishment, especially for our geographic location," Principal Matthew Sinclair told the Jamaica Observer. "I've never heard of a school in QEC 10 [Quality Education Circle] with a perfect score," he continued, making reference to the 18 or so primary level schools in one of the 11 administrative subdivisions of the Ministry of Education's Region One.
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| Dainalissa Saddler received a perfect GSAT score (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) |
Sinclair said Mannings Hill, which he has headed since 2012, has "consistently performed above the national average" in GSAT over the years, averaging in the 70s across the board.
"We normally have one or two students getting 100 in different subject areas. Now, we have 15 in science, eight in maths, five for language arts, and five for social studies. [What's more], in the GSAT class of 82, 20 averaged 90 and over," he said, the glow of pride obvious on his face.
Asked to what he attributed the quantum leap in grades, as he described it, the principal said he couldn't put his finger on any single factor.
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| Some members of the GSAT cohort of Mannings Hill Primary School (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) |
"I did not see the actual exam paper, but it could be a case of the paper being easier, it could be a case of the students working harder, it could be a case of the teachers' methodologies improving," he said.
On the latter point, Sterling singled out the grade six teachers, who he said arrived at school between 6:00 and 6:30 in the mornings and stayed until the same hour at night. They also used their lunchtime and weekends to coach students. more
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