Post by Jamaica IS Nice.
NINJAMAN MURDER CASE: The Court Monday morning refused an application by entertainer Desmond ‘Ninja Man’ Ballentine to have his murder case thrown out....Ninja Man returns to court in November
Monday, April 07, 2014 | 11:38 AM
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- The Court Monday morning refused an application by entertainer Desmond ‘Ninja Man’ Ballentine to have his murder case thrown out.
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| Ninja Man leaving court Monday morning. (Photo:Paul Henry) |
Attorney KD Knight representing Ninja Man asked the court Monday to dismiss the case against his client and his two co accused on the grounds that their Constitutional Rights have been breached because of the length of time it's taken to have the case tried.
The matter has been on the trial list since 2009.
Ninja Man will have to return to court on November 10, 2014 for trial.
The entertainer is accused of the March 16, 2009 gun murder of Richard Johnson.
He is jointly charged with his son Janiel, and another man, Dennis Clayton.....
IN JAMAICA: Rage in Tivoli Gardens....Residents burn Desmond McKenzie T-shirts, say they want him out of community.....According to the residents, McKenzie was taking sides in the feud which claimed its latest victims Friday night — 12-year-old Kawayne ‘Timo’ McNuff and 28-year-old Ricardo Lowe — in Denham Town.
BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, April 07, 2014
THE ongoing deadly conflict in West Kingston triggered an angry protest yesterday by Tivoli Gardens residents who burnt T-shirts bearing the image of their member of parliament Desmond McKenzie and demanded that he leave the constituency.
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| Residents burn a green T-shirt with the image of Desmond McKenzie in Tivoli Gardens yesterday as they accuse the member of parliament of taking sides in an ongoing feud in West Kingston. (PHOTOS: MICHAEL GORDON) |
According to the residents, McKenzie was taking sides in the feud which claimed its latest victims Friday night — 12-year-old Kawayne ‘Timo’ McNuff and 28-year-old Ricardo Lowe — in Denham Town.
Ten other persons, including Kawayne’s nineyear- old brother, were injured in Friday night’s incident which saw gunmen spraying a group of persons standing at the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Charles Street.
“Desmond McKenzie must go. We are giving him 48 hours to leave the constituency,” shouted one woman.
She was among a group of men, women and children — some wearing orangecoloured clothing in an apparent show of their disfavour with the MP whose Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) uses the colour green.
The ruling People’s National Party’s colour is orange. In addition to torching green T-shirts with McKenzie’s image, the protesters also spray-painted walls in the JLP-controlled community in orange.
“People are dying but the member of parliament is taking sides and that is not fair,” said one man who accused McKenzie of only identifying suspects from Tivoli Gardens and not those from other areas. more
IN JAMAICA : Transport Authority assists Chisholm Basic School with JA$100,000.00 to develop a play area and other facilities for the over 40 children there.
Sunday, April 06, 2014
CHISHOLM Basic School has received $100,000 from the Transport Authority to develop a play area and other facilities for the over 40 children there.
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| CHISHOLM Basic School |
Foster noted that the money will help to make the school compliant with standards set by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).
"The students of the Chisholm Basic School will also benefit from the success of the authority's employees, as the school was selected because it has shown determination in pursuing the vision to foster the mental, physical and all-round development of the children for greater outcomes," Foster said.
Stressing that the authority has invested heavily in ensuring standards in the public transportation system, Foster said its long association with the school is similarly aimed at ensuring adherence to the standards of the early childhood sector, to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
The institution has been the beneficiary of several projects from the authority, including repairs to its roof for Labour Day 2013.
The Transport Authority has, since 1994, assisted other schools in the Maxfield Park community as part of "the goal of fostering and supporting the development of the community's children," Foster stated.
Meanwhile, teacher at the school Beverly McCain said the generosity of the Transport Authority has demonstrated "commitment and belief in the education of our youth for the future of Jamaica".
Flight 370 'MOST PROMISING LEAD' : Malaysia Plane Search, Official Says Ship Detects Possible Transmission
An Australian official overseeing the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane says underwater sounds picked up by equipment on an Australian navy ship are consistent with transmissions from black box recorders on a plane.
Angus Houston, the head of a joint agency coordinating the search in the southern Indian Ocean, calls it "very encouraging." But he said Monday that it may take days to confirm whether signals picked up by the ship Ocean Shield are indeed from the flight recorders on Flight 370.
He says the position of the noise needs to be further refined, and then an underwater autonomous vehicle can be sent in to investigate.
"Clearly, this is a most promising lead. And probably in the search so far, it's probably the best information that we have had," Houston said. "Again, I would ask all of you to treat this information cautiously and responsibly until such time as we can provide an unequivocal determination. We haven't found the aircraft yet; we need the confirmation. And I really stress this; it's very important." The plane vanished on March 8 during a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing. more
Legendary Actor Mickey Rooney Dead At 93 (VIDEO/PHOTOS)......Born Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, N.Y appeared in more than 300 films and TV programs,died on April 6, Variety reported. Cause of death was not released.
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| Mikey Rooney |
Mickey Rooney, an award-winning actor and Hollywood legend who appeared in more than 300 films and TV programs,died on April 6, Variety reported. Cause of death was not released. He was 93.
Born Joe Yule Jr. in Brooklyn, N.Y.,Rooney was only 17 months old when he took the stage in his parents' vaudeville act. After adopting the stage name of Mickey Rooney at the age of 7, he appeared in his first film, launching a career that would span nearly his entire life.
Rooney was still a teenager when he played Andy Hardy in the 1937 film "A Family Affair." The popular character, as played by Rooney, would appear in 14 more films and make him a top star at the box office. During Hollywood's golden years, the five-foot-three cherubic-faced actor worked with many of the silver screen's greatest leading ladies, including Elizabeth Taylor in "National Velvet," Judy Garland in "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" and "Babes In Arms" and Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast At Tiffany's." more
PM Portia Simpson-Miller : 'We can't afford to miss the boat!'....Jamaica would be able to declare that we had the fastest man in the world — Asafa Powell, and then yet another even faster, Usain Bolt. We would enjoy the rocket runs of Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
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| Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is intrigued by the packaging of Buzz Honey Wine while visiting the EcoFarms booth — which included a beehive |
Monday, April 07, 2014
WE saw Jamaican excellence on show at our National Stadium and National Arena over the past two weeks. It was probably about 2002 that the late Teddy McCook was discussing his favourite topic: The promise of young Jamaican athletes. "If you could see the times these youngsters are doing now, you would get a headache," he told us. In quick succession after that, Jamaica would be able to declare that we had the fastest man in the world — Asafa Powell, and then yet another even faster, Usain Bolt. We would enjoy the rocket runs of Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
As we consider some of the records broken at the recent ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships, we see that Jamaica continues to hold her own. Our high school relay teams are the fastest in their age cohort in the world. After Calabar's Javon Francis broke the Class One 400-metre record, set by Usain Bolt 11 years ago, subtracting .35 seconds to take it to 45 seconds, the legendary Bolt himself tweeted: "Jamaica's track future is in good hands... Congrats #JavonFrancis breaking class one 400m record #champs2014 #future #45sec."
The packed stands, the professional execution of the event, and the obvious dedication of the coaches showed us where the country can achieve if only we would decide to take the option of professionalism and diligence over cunning short-cuts. Special congratulations to Calabar's Michael Clarke, regarded as the most successful Champs coach. I suggest the JAAA and the JTB join to start a "Run with a Jamaican" summer promotion; high school children from all over the world would flock here! more
Garnet Silk remembered......Aaron Silk was mesmerising with original songs, as well as renditions of his famous sibling's hits. Zion In a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing and Bless I Oh Jah were some of the songs he performed from Silk's catalogue.
BY BASIL WALTERS Observer writer Monday, April 07, 2014
THE legacy of reggae messenger Garnet Silk is growing. This was evident throughout the latest Conscious Reggae Party show, held at Redbones Blues Café in St Andrew on Friday night.
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| Silk |
Dubbed 'Tribute to Garnet Silk', the show was held two days after his 48th birthday. It was an amazing commemoration for the singer who died tragically 20 years ago.
Among the artistes who gave invigorating performances for the full house were Natural Black, Nature and Ziggy Soul. The Livyn Kulcha and Kurfew band shared backing duties.
Silk's son Garnet Jr, and his brother Aaron Silk also stood out. Upcoming acts Papa D, Hefla Nyah, Dann I, Minouri, Timmy Talib and Thorpedo were also well received.
Papa D set the pace with a high-energy performance with the songs Jamaica Jamaicans, Walking on The Rainbow, Earth Rightful Ruler, The 23rd Psalm and Girl Like You.
Aaron Silk was mesmerising with original songs, as well as renditions of his famous sibling's hits. Zion In a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing and Bless I Oh Jah were some of the songs he performed from Silk's catalogue.
Then came tracks from his forthcoming album Herb Tree, such as I Rise, Empress and Family Stable.
Silk Jr personified his father's enduring charisma and stage presence. more
Phylis Sues, dancer celebrated 91st birthday while appearing on Katie Couric's TV show.....Phyllis Sues' active lifestyle at 91 includes; Tango, jump rope, tennis, yoga, trapeze and hiking. Phyllis exercises daily and dances the tango with her partner Felix Chavez (79)
Celebrating a 91st birthday is not what I'm after. Celebrating being here is where it's at. Celebrating the air we breathe, the ground we walk on. I celebrate each day that I wake up and can see the puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky. I celebrate living in this amazing city of Los Angeles.
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| Posing for the camera at 89. |
I just returned from an overnight trip to New York to appear on Katie Couric's TV show "Katie." While driving from JFK to the city, I realized how lucky I am to live in L.A. Living in New York in the 40's and the 50's to me, was probably the epitome of living. For me there was nothing to compare to that great city. Now, New York is different or maybe I'm a different person. Both apply. I've lived in Los Angeles for more than 60 years and it's grown in a million ways. Intellectually, musically and architecturally, are just a few.
But I'm vacillating. What this April 4th birthday means to me is really, that I have grown mentally and physically and that I never stop loving what I do. Only one minor hitch at this moment. Someone has thrown me a curve and for the first time in my life, I am feeling real pain and I learned how to deal with it. It was an amazing experience. WATCH VIDEO of her workout.
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| Sues doing the Peacock Pose at City Yoga, West Hollywood, CA. |
I had a great opportunity, as I was asked to appear on Katie Couric's TV show (airing soon). Incidentally she is a truly great host and personality. A few days prior to flying to New York, I was feeling severe pain and I knew there was no way I could cancel this wonderful opportunity. So I made the flight to NYC and did the show, all the time feeling this agonizing pain. I had not a clue what the cause was. I stepped on stage with two other performers, a gentleman 100 years old and a beautiful lady 77 years old. So you get the picture of the premise of the show "how one deals with age." We were each interviewed, but in my case, plus the interview, Katie and I performed a headstand on the stage together and while in the headstand we talked and laughed and the audience went crazy! They love Katie and the show! more
Canadian Couple Faces Life Sentence For Killing 10-Y-O Jamaican Boy, Shakeil Boothewas beaten to death following months of abuse and neglect after he migrated to Canada to live with his father ....The boy was pulled from school and isolated from relatives and neighbours in order to hide his increasingly visible injuries.
The father and step-mother of a Jamaican boy living in Canada, who died after being beaten severely three years ago, have been found guilty of second-degree murder in an Ontario court.
According to the Toronto Star, both parents, Nichelle Rowe-Boothe and Garfield Boothe are facing mandatory life sentences. Ten-year-old Shakeil Boothe was beaten to death following months of abuse and neglect after he migrated to Canada to live with his father. The Toronto Star reports that Boothe-Rowe wept in a Brampton, Ontario court after the jury handed down its verdict on Saturday following roughly 14 hours of deliberation, while Garfield Boothe remained stoic.
Defence lawyers say the couple was “disappointed” by the verdict. None of Shakeil’s other relatives — including his mother, who lives the U.S. — were present for the verdict. Jurors heard gruesome evidence of how Shakeil — who came from Jamaica to live with his father in 2009 — was regularly beaten, deprived of food and chained to his bed in the months before he was found dead in his bed on May 27, 2011. The Toronto Star says they were also shown autopsy photos showing scars of varying ages across Shakeil’s bony shoulders, back and legs; swelling in his hands and thighs and open wounds on his shins, some of which were yellowed with infection.
The boy was pulled from school and isolated from relatives and neighbours in order to hide his increasingly visible injuries, according to testimony. He was never taken to a doctor despite his worsening condition, for fear it would reveal the abuse he endured.
The court was told that Shakeil died “minutes to hours” after a savage beating, which left him with a black eye, bruises in several places on his head and refractured a previously cracked but healing rib.
The attack caused widespread internal bleeding and overwhelmed his weakened body, precipitating what the pathologist called the boy’s “downward spiral” toward death.
Shakeil’s father and stepmother admitted they kept his death quiet for a full day before calling authorities as they planned Boothe-Rowe’s escape to the U.S. with the boy’s infant half-brother.
According to the Toronto Star, both parents, Nichelle Rowe-Boothe and Garfield Boothe are facing mandatory life sentences. Ten-year-old Shakeil Boothe was beaten to death following months of abuse and neglect after he migrated to Canada to live with his father. The Toronto Star reports that Boothe-Rowe wept in a Brampton, Ontario court after the jury handed down its verdict on Saturday following roughly 14 hours of deliberation, while Garfield Boothe remained stoic.
Defence lawyers say the couple was “disappointed” by the verdict. None of Shakeil’s other relatives — including his mother, who lives the U.S. — were present for the verdict. Jurors heard gruesome evidence of how Shakeil — who came from Jamaica to live with his father in 2009 — was regularly beaten, deprived of food and chained to his bed in the months before he was found dead in his bed on May 27, 2011. The Toronto Star says they were also shown autopsy photos showing scars of varying ages across Shakeil’s bony shoulders, back and legs; swelling in his hands and thighs and open wounds on his shins, some of which were yellowed with infection.
The boy was pulled from school and isolated from relatives and neighbours in order to hide his increasingly visible injuries, according to testimony. He was never taken to a doctor despite his worsening condition, for fear it would reveal the abuse he endured.
The court was told that Shakeil died “minutes to hours” after a savage beating, which left him with a black eye, bruises in several places on his head and refractured a previously cracked but healing rib.
The attack caused widespread internal bleeding and overwhelmed his weakened body, precipitating what the pathologist called the boy’s “downward spiral” toward death.
Shakeil’s father and stepmother admitted they kept his death quiet for a full day before calling authorities as they planned Boothe-Rowe’s escape to the U.S. with the boy’s infant half-brother.
IN JAMAICA (A GOOD STORY): Mother of 16, BEATRICE Nelson Byfield now 106, watches TV for hours despite lack of hearing....Her eldest living child is now 81 years old.....Today she has approximately 44 grandchildren and an uncountable amount of great grandchildren
BY DONNA HUSSEY-WHYTE Sunday Observer staff reporter husseyd@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, April 06, 2014
BEATRICE Nelson Byfield sat smiling on her verandah. Her small frame defied the fact that she had given birth to 16 children, including one set of triplets.
But with the exception of her pleasant demeanour, the only words spoken by the 106-year-old as she held out her hand in greeting, was "mine you bruk mi hand", followed by an even broader smile.
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| Centenarian Beatrice Byfield is surrounded by some of her grandchildren, (left to right) Jacqueline Byfield, Michael Lewis, Carmen Campbell and Yvonne Clarke. (PHOTOS: GARFIELD ROBINSON) |
This, the Jamaica Observer team soon learnt has become one of her favourite statements after she fell and broke her leg in 2007, just before her 100th birthday, and her arm two months later. This landed her in the hospital for five weeks, her first stay at the institution in 100 years.
"Now she is very afraid of hospital," the centenarian's son, 64-year-old Franklin 'Mass Joe' Byfield stated.
"These are people who were never sick. They might go doctor with any little minor things but they never sick. So when she went to the St Ann's Bay Hospital she was there for three weeks with the broken leg and she wanted to come home, so she got confused and restless," he said.
"They sent her from Bay to Kingston and she did another two weeks there. Two months after she pin the leg and came out of the hospital, she was sitting down on the verandah and a little baby was about to fall and she reached to grab the baby, lost her balance and broke her hand. So now she afraid of breaks.
"If you hold her hand to shake it, she will laugh and tell you to mind you break her hand, or that she going to break your hand. But both her arms and her leg are okay now," Franklin added. more
JAMAICA First In Visa Fraud - Kingston Among Leading Capitals For Visa Rackets And False Documents
First In Visa Fraud - Kingston Among Leading Capitals For Visa Rackets And False Documents
Faced with one of the highest rates of visa fraud in the world, the United States Embassy in Kingston is trying another tack to shut down the operations of con artists scamming millions of dollars from thousands of desperate Jamaicans. more
South African trumpeter and vocalist, Jazz great Hugh Masekela celebrates 75th birthday...... with a little help from some old friends -- Paul Simon and Harry Belafonte -- in the city where he began what turned out to be a 30-year exile from his homeland.
Saturday, April 05, 2014 | 9:43 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- South African trumpeter and vocalist Hugh Masekela celebrated his 75th birthday with a little help from some old friends -- Paul Simon and Harry Belafonte -- in the city where he began what turned out to be a 30-year exile from his homeland.
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Hugh 'Grazin in the Grass Masekela |
Introducing Simon near the end of Friday night's concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre, Masekela noted that millions of people "who had never heard of South Africa before were just charmed and turned around by the album he made" in 1986 – ‘Graceland’, which won Grammys for Album and Record of the Year.
Masekela did not perform on the singer-songwriter's groundbreaking world music album much of which was recorded in South Africa when he was still exiled because of his attacks on the apartheid regime. But he and his former wife, singer Miriam Makeba, joined Simon on his ‘Graceland’ world tour which gave South African musicians global exposure.
Masekela and Simon then sang two of the album's biggest hits – ‘The Boy In the Bubble’ and ‘You Can Call Me Al’ -- backed by his quintet of young musicians, all but one of them from South Africa.
Earlier, singer Sibongile Khumalo earned a standing ovation as she joined Masekela for one number, displaying the multi-octave range and powerful voice that has earned her the reputation as South Africa's ‘First Lady of Song’.
Masekela's son, Sal, opened the concert by noting that his father has been "sharing the gift and the joy of music to people all around the world for the last five decades. For some reason, he does not get old."
Masekela, who turned 75 on Friday, proved that by performing for more than two hours -- playing fluegelhorn, singing, engaging in call-and-response patterns with the audience, and even throwing in a few dance moves. more
MANCHESTER, JAMAICA: 46 y-o Errol Dwyer and 19 y-o Raheim Reid reported missing of Green Street, Knockpatrick, Manchester, have been reported missing.....public being asked to contact the Mandeville police at 625-3423, police 119 emergency number
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| 19 y-o Raheim Reid |
Dwyer has been missing since Sunday, and Reid since Monday.
Dwyer is of dark complexion, slim build and is about 168 centimetres (5 feet 6 inches) tall, while Reid is of dark complexion, medium build and is about 173 centimetres (5 feet 8 inches) tall.
routine check
Reports from the Mandeville police are that Dwyer was discovered missing during a routine check at the facility. At the time he went missing, he was dressed in a blue shirt, beige pants, a pair of black shoes and a red peak hat.
Reid left home about 11 p.m., for an undisclosed location dressed in a blue T-shirt, a black leather jacket and blue jeans pants. Both men have not been seen or heard from since.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Errol Dwyer and Raheim Reid is being asked to contact the Mandeville police at 625-3423, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. more
Shawn 'Storm' Campbell Rejected Vybz Kartel Deal.... Vybz's crony offered three-year sentence for guilty plea..."I was approached by the prosecutor who made the offer. I discussed it with my client and he said there was no fact. He was not part of any plan to kill anybody so he refused.
BY KARYL WALKER Editor - Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, April 06, 2014
ENTERTAINER Shawn Campbell reportedly refused an offer from the prosecution to plead guilty to accessory before or after the fact of murder.
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| Vybz Kartel (centre), Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell (second right) and Kahira Jones (right) leaving the Supreme Court building last Thursday. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) |
This was confirmed by his attorney Miguel Lorne and Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn.
Lorne said his client, known by the stage name 'Shawn Storm', was not asked to give any evidence against his co-accused but refused the deal because he was not part of any common design to kill Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
"I was approached by the prosecutor who made the offer. I discussed it with my client and he said there was no fact. He was not part of any plan to kill anybody so he refused. He said there was no fact. As an attorney I have to follow my client's instructions," Lorne told the Jamaica Observer.
Llewellyn confirmed the story. "I was told about it by the prosecutor, Jeremy Taylor. He said he approached his attorney with the offer," the DPP said. If he had accepted the offer Campbell would have served a three-year prison sentence.
Campbell, who is also called 'Sivva', was last Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Lennox Campbell for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. He must serve 25 years before he can be considered for early release. All the others were given life sentences, with Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer) being eligible for parole after he has served 35 years, while André St John and Kahira Jones will be eligible for parole after they have served 30 years and 25 years in prison, respectively. more
IN JAMAICA: 12-y-o and 28 y-o among two killed as gunmen attack residents in West Kgn A night of terror....."Dem kill me son! Why dem tek way me baby?" cried Claudette Matthews, mother of Kawayne 'Timo' McNuff, the 12-year-old victim who lived at Breadnut Lane. His nine-year-old brother was also injured by the gunmen's bullets.... "The man dem just come inna the area an' start fire shot at anybody dem see,".... "Dem even kick down a three-year-old baby as dem attack the people dem,"
BY KIMMO MATTTHEWS Sunday Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com Sunday, April 06, 2014
A 12-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man were shot dead late Friday by gunmen who subjected residents of a section of West Kingston to a night of terror.
Ten other persons were injured in the brutal attack on a group of persons standing at the intersection of Chestnut Lane and Charles Street about 8:30 pm.
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| Claudette Matthews cries yesterday as she tries to fathom why gunmen shot dead her 12-year-old son Friday night. |
The 28-year-old man who was killed was identified as Ricardo Lowe.
"The man dem just come inna the area an' start fire shot at anybody dem see," said one woman.
"Dem even kick down a three-year-old baby as dem attack the people dem," said another woman.
Yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, who visited the community, reacted with anger to the brutal attack.
"I am very angry for a number of reasons; one of them is that police and citizens have been working in recent times to restore peace in the area, but there are certain elements strongly opposed to the efforts," Ellington said, adding that the police would be resolute in their response to the attack.
Member of parliament Desmond McKenzie, who also visited the community, urged police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice.
McKenzie said the death of the child brought to eight the number of children shot dead by criminals since violence erupted between warring factions in 2012.
He also said the nine-year-old, who remains in hospital battling for his life, was the 31st child shot and injured by criminals over the period.
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| Claudette Matthews, whose 12-year-old son was killed by gunmen Friday night, is consoled by member of parliament Desmond McKenzie while Police Commissioner Owen Ellington (left), Assistant Commissioner of Police George Quallo (second left) and residents look on. |
"Dem come an' a ask you to support dem. If you don't support dem they will kill you," said one woman.
She was among a group of people who spoke in hushed tones as police and soldiers combed the community.
"The last man dem hold two weeks ago in the area and ask him which side him on, the man say Jesus and a shoot dem shoot him and kill him," another resident told the Jamaica Observer.
Yesterday, head of the division, Superintendent Steve McGregor, who accompanied the police commissioner on the visit, warned that the police would not leave the area until law and order was restored.
He also denied claims that the violence had derailed efforts being carried out by police and other groups to reach out to residents in communities in the division. more
BREAKING NEWS Report: Chinese ship hears pulse signal in south Indian Ocean....They may have located the area where Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went down in deep waters.
(CNN) -- A Chinese patrol ship looking for signs of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean discovered Saturday a pulse signal with a frequency of 37.5 kHz, state news agency Xinhua reported.
"That is the standard beacon frequency" for both so-called black boxes -- the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, said Anish Patel, president of pinger manufacturer Dukane Seacom. "They're identical."
But experts cautioned that no confirmation had been made that the signal was linked to the missing plane. "We are unable to verify any such information at this point in time," the media office of the Joint Agency Coordination Centre said in an e-mail. more
ST. THOMAS, JAMAICA: 7-Y-O SHOT AFTER THREATS TO DAD.....Anyone with information can contact the Morant Bay Criminal Investigation Branch at 982-1027 or 982-2233, police 119 emergency number
An unreported threat made against the father of the seven-year-old child who was shot and injured in Lyssons, St Thomas, on Monday, is being investigated as the cause of the shooting, THE STAR understands.
Information reaching our news team is that the St Thomas police on Tuesday detained the man believed to have made the threat three days before the shooting.
alleged threat
THE STAR was told that the father had a dispute with a man from the area, during which threats were made against his life. Our news team gathered that the alleged threat was not reported to the police. The seven-year-old remains hospitalised.
Deputy Superintendent Charmaine Shand of the St Thomas police confirmed that the police, since the shooting, have received reports of a threat.
Shand said: "The suspect is in custody and is to undergo question and answer in the presence of his lawyer. The police visited the child yesterday (Tuesday) at the hospital, he's not talking but appears to be in stable condition."
It is reported that the boy was asleep with relatives in a one-room board house when explosions were heard about 4 a.m. Shortly after, he was seen with gunshot wounds to his side.
The police are seeking the public's assistance in their investigation of the shooting. Anyone with information can contact the Morant Bay Criminal Investigation Branch at 982-1027 or 982-2233, police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. more
MIX-UP & BLEND UP: Pastor Tief Di Wifey Fram Huzzy......a prisoner turned pastor come build up a tent church and it happen that him like off a church sister
Pastor Tief Di Wifey Fram Huzzy
Raga, a prisoner turned pastor come build up a tent church and it happen that him like off a church sister. She short and sexy, but she married. Di pastor all a get nuff ppl to believe ina him and baptise, only fi hear somebody go look fi di lady at her house and ketch him a gi her a backas when har old husband gone a work! She end up lef har husband and de wid di pastor now. Even though him nav no money, she still choose him.
Well, it look like she rada di pastor blessings ova har husband support. Fram di position weh dem ketch dem inna it look like di pastor a shell out some props wok pon har an a dat she love.
Wife A Gi Bun An get Shot!
Raga, a quick mix-up.
One ooman leave har yard an tell har husband seh shi soon come.
Den she go pick up har bunna man. she an di bunna man pull up pan a ends and shot start fire and di ooman get shot. She a di bunna man run out.
Di mix-up is dat after she get shot, she go drop off back di bunna man first and den call har husband and seh "baby mi git shot!" di husband staat bawl an run go fi har an carry har go hospital.
Weh yu tink ... di bunna man should carry har, don't?
Actually, No, she do di smart ting. She nuh waan di bunna man go carry har go hospital an den di drama buss out an mash up har relationship. As long as di shot never connect har serious, she did di smart ting by first getting rid of di bunnaman first, den connecting wid har husband fi go hospital.
Of course, if she neva did a ketch man an a bun har husband she woulda neva did get shot.
Pastor Have Di 'Forget Me Not'
Back in the days I use to go to church regular and during that time I was going out with a church sister. We went out for a while and finally she decided to give me the juju. That night, I went to her house and we sort out. Just before we were finished she jumped up and started to cry then she ran into another room and locked the door. When I finally talked her into unlocking the door and she talked to me, she bust out and said 'you are not as heavy as the pastor'. I den reported the pastor and did not go back to that church. more
DELAWARE, USA: Bob Marley’s message inspires park name change....the city council voted on Thursday to rename the Tatnall Playground to One Love Park in recognition of Marley's message of peace and unity....Marley's mother, Cedella Booker lived in the Tatnall community in 1962.
Saturday, April 05, 2014
REGGAE legend Bob Marley's message of One Love has certainly struck a chord with Wilmington City Council in the American state of Delaware.
According to nbcphiladelphia.com, the city council voted on Thursday to rename the Tatnall Playground to One Love Park in recognition of Marley's message of peace and unity.
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| Bob Marley |
"The lyrics of One Love and what the song has come to mean to people in the years since Bob Marley composed it is what I hope to capture by renaming the park," said Theo Gregory, president of the Wilmington City Council, who first suggested the new name.
One Love (People Get Ready) is a reggae/rhythm and blues song by Bob Marley & The Wailers from their 1977 album Exodus.
"We all need a reminder from time to time about the importance of love in our hearts for our children and for each other. I want children who play in One Love Park to ask why it was given that name and accept their responsibility to make this a better city and world," Gregory was quoted as saying.
Marley's mother, Cedella Booker lived in the Tatnall community in 1962. It was there that a young Marley lived in 1966 while working at the nearby Chrysler plant and Dupont labs. The singer's son, Stephen was also born there in 1972.
This is not the first time that the city has paid tribute to Marley's legacy. An annual music tribute, the People's Festival, is hosted in Marley's honour for the last 20 years. The next staging is scheduled for July 26.
Marley died on May 11, 1981. He was 36. more
IN JAMAICA: Wayne 'Sleng Teng' Smith’s brother, 51-year-old Carl Williams, a dental technician killed.... "Williams was at home when gunmen reportedly gained entry to the premises and demanded that he hand over all his valuables, they then fired several shots and killed him.
Saturday, April 05, 2014
IT'S double grief for the family of singer Wayne 'Sleng Teng' Smith. One month after his death, they are mourning the loss of his older brother who was killed on Tuesday.
Police report that 51-year-old Carl Williams, a dental technician, was shot by gunmen at his home on Bay Farm Road in Kingston.
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| Carl Williams, brother of Wayne ‘Sleng Teng’ Smith. |
"Williams was at home when gunmen reportedly gained entry to the premises and demanded that he hand over all his valuables. When the demand was not met they opened fire, hitting him several times," the report stated.
The Jamaica Observer spoke with Williams' nephew Tidel Smith, who said the family is struggling to cope with the latest blow.
"We are still in shock. I really don't know what my grandmother is feeling, losing two sons within the same period," he said.
Wayne Smith earned a place in reggae history when he recorded Under Mi Sleng Teng in 1984. It was done on the Sleng Teng beat, which marked the beginning of dancehall music's digital age.
He died from a stomach-related illness on Monday, February 17.
ALL THESE REGGAE ARTISTS DIED AT AN EARLY AGE (36 and Younger). CAN YOU NAME THEM? See answers below.
March 8, 2014
The recent passing of legendary pop songstress,Whitney Houston truly shocked all walks of music life as her angelic voice captivated millions of fans worldwide and inspired many of today’s premiere artistes, including within the Dancehall/Reggae fraternity.....
Having died at a relatively young age (48), Houston’s death triggered memories of many other iconic artistes who passed while enjoying the fruits of their prime likeAmy Winehouse or adjusted to the latter stages of their careers like the ‘King of Pop,’ Michael Jackson. It also offered of similar instances within the Jamaican music industry where fans were left to wonder “What If?” when an artiste’s life was taken away while still perfecting their well-regarded craft.
As a measure of remembering the fallen who’ve made contributions, whether small or large, to the evolution of Jamaican music into a global phenomenon, he’s a list of 10 artistes whose impact on music forever resonates with those they’ve left behind. Answer: 1) Garnett Silk, 28 (2) Lil Joe aka J.O.E, 25 (3) Nitty Gritty, 34 (4) Dirtsman, 27 (5) Bob Marley, 36 (6) Simpleton, 33 (7) Copper Cat, 22 (8) Oneil Edwards, 36 of VOICEMAIL more
HEALTH : 5 Steps To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance by Mark Hyman, MD......Half of the 24 million people with diabetes don’t know they have it and nearly all the 60 million people with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it.
BREAKING NEWS! Some newly discovered compounds have just been found to turn off all of the genes that cause diabetes. Are these compounds found in a pill bottle? No! Instead, you’ll find them on your dinner plate — in rye bread and pasta.
As I wrote in another blog about diabetes, rye contains special phytonutrients that turn off all the genes responsible for diabetes — in just a few weeks. I explained how to find out if you are pre-diabetic or diabetic. Half of the 24 million people with diabetes don’t know they have it and nearly all the 60 million people with pre-diabetes don’t know they have it.
Today, I want to share with you more information about what you can do NOW to prevent and reverse diabetes and pre-diabetes. And rye bread isn’t the only answer – I’ve got a lot more good advice, too. But first I want to emphasize new research that should be headlines news but never saw the light of day. Do our current drugs treatments for diabetes actually work to prevent heart attacks and death?
Surely lowering blood sugar in diabetics is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of death and heart disease. It would seem obvious that if diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar, then reducing blood sugar would be beneficial.
However elevated sugar is only a symptom, not the cause of the problem. The real problem is elevated insulin unchecked over decades from a highly refined carbohydrate diet, a sedentary lifestyle and environmental toxins.
Most medications and insulin therapy are aimed at lowering blood sugar through increasing insulin. In the randomized ACCORD trial of over 10,000 patients, this turns out to be a bad idea.
In the intensive glucose-lowering group, there were no fewer heart attacks, and more patients died. Yet we continue to pay $174 billion annually for this type of care for diabetes, despite evidence that lifestyle works better than medications. We also pay for cardiac bypass and angioplasty in diabetics when evidence shows no reduction in death or heart attacks compared to medication.
So now that we know what doesn’t work, let me review what does work.
Dietary Recommendations to Reverse Diabetes
Eating in a way that balances your blood sugar, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and improves your liver detoxification is the key to preventing and reversing insulin resistance and diabetes. more
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17 y-o Jamaican student of IMMACULATE HIGH , Tchakamau Mahakoe offered 9 scholarships by US universities......Among the 11 institutions in the US that have accepted the teen's applications are Princeton, Duke, Yale, and Stanford universities and the University of Chicago....In 2012 Tchakamau was successful in a mind-boggling 16 subjects, with 15 at grade one...TCHAKAMAU advice for her peers: "Set goals, work towards them and surround yourself with good people."
BY PAUL HENRY henryp@jamaicaobserver.com Thursday, April 03, 2014
TCHAKAMAU, the ambitious and brilliant schoolgirl the Jamaica Observer featured two years ago along with her brother for their academic achievements, has been accepted into 11 American universities, nine of which have offered her scholarships.
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| Tchakamau Mahakoe is still not settled on which of the US universities she will attend. (OBSERVER FILE PHOTO) |
Her mother Kamau Mahakoe shared the news with the Observer yesterday, noting that she was proud of her daughter's achievement.
"Clearly, l'm ecstatic. I feel really good for her because she has been focused from the start," Kamau said of her 17-year-old daughter, who had been home-schooled before moving on to Immaculate Conception High School in St Andrew, and then the Hillel Academy on a scholarship.
"She has never lost sight of her goals... you don't have to push her... she uses her initiative," Kamau added. "I'm happy for her. Really happy."
Among the 11 institutions in the US that have accepted the teen's applications are Princeton, Duke, Yale, and Stanford universities and the University of Chicago.
The teen is still not clear on which she will be attending come August/September to pursue double majors in physics and biology. She wants to become an astronaut, her mother said.
Asked how she felt about being accepted by 11 universities, Tchakamau responded: "I was just thinking that it's a really good thing that I got accepted by so many. I'm pretty proud, because I got into my top choice, University of Chicago."
Meanwhile, Mahakoe and her husband Omari Ra — a senior lecturer and artist at the Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts -- have home-schooled their four children in the primary years.
Tchakamau and her brother Kuti have performed brilliantly in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and CXCs.
In 2012 Tchakamau was successful in a mind-boggling 16 subjects, with 15 at grade one and one at grade two.
Kuti entered Jamaica College at Grade 9 at the young age of 12 in 2011, with six CSECs.
Kuti is now in fifth form and is toying with the idea of entering politics or becoming a scientist.
"The persons who blaze the trail in the world never ask themselves why stop at [a certain point]; they always ask themselves why not step forward and see how much we can do. As a result, we benefit from so many inventions and ideas because they raise the bar; they never settle for what is considered enough," Kamau told the Observer in a 2012 interview, while responding to critics who said that children like hers didn't need to accumulate that many subjects to enter college. more
IN JAMAICA: Lawmakers To Be Kept Busy This Year....Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said the National Disabilities Bill will be tabled. This proposed law will provide for further protection and legal entrenchment of the rights of persons with disabilities.
Published: Friday | April 4, 2014
LAWMAKERS SHOULD be kept busy in the new legislative year with several pieces of legislation, some in gestation for extended periods, to be tabled for deliberation and passage.
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| Governor General Sir Patrick Allen inspects the Guard of Honour of the First Battalion of the Jamaica Regiment of the Jamaica Defence Force during the ceremonial opening of the 2014-2015 session of Parliament at Gordon House in Kingston yesterday - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer |
The Integrity Commission Bill to establish a single Anti-Corruption entity, which was tabled late in the just concluded 2013-2014 legislative year, will return to Parliament for debate and passage.
The bill will pave the way for a single body to assume the functions of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the Integrity Commission and the Office of the Contractor General.
The National Contracts Commission (NCC) will be placed within its own independent administrative structure.
Another critical proposed statute to be introduced in the current legislative year is the Evidence (Amendment) Bill. It will provide for a more efficient trial process, by facilitating a more straightforward introduction of computer records into evidence. It will allow for the uncontested reports of experts to be admitted into evidence without the need to call the expert.
In delivering the Throne Speech during the ceremonial opening of Parliament yesterday, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said the National Disabilities Bill will be tabled. This proposed law will provide for further protection and legal entrenchment of the rights of persons with disabilities. more
IN JAMAICA: DPP, prosecution team get death threats over Kartel verdict....Threats have also been issued against the life of the murder victim's sister, who gave evidence during the trial, as well as other relatives.
BY KARYL WALKER Editor — Crime/Court Desk walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com Friday, April 04, 2014
DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has confirmed that she and members of her prosecution team have received death threats after the guilty verdict of Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused for the murder of former associate Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
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| Dir. of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn speaks with journalists yesterday outside Gordon House on Duke Street, downtown Kingston. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON) |
The Jamaica Observer was reliably informed that Llewellyn had been threatened on the weekend and security around her had been beefed up.
"During the course of this trial we have had threats during the course of our jobs; we have to do our jobs, we have to do it without fear or favour. We suffered threats as well but we have had to ignore it. The police, at every turn, responded immediately. We have had to beef up security around the prosecution," Llewellyn said yesterday.
She said despite popular perception, prosecutors are not hell-bent on sending accused people to prison and begged for the public's understanding.
"I would appeal to the public to appreciate that we have a job to do as professionals. We don't take it personally. We have an obligation as ministers of justice to make sure that everything is fair to the defendant. We cannot be intimidated. We are salaried public servants doing a job that we are committed to doing. If we get a conviction or if someone is acquitted we get the same salary," she said.
Yesterday, the police issued a release outlining a number of threats that were levelled against prosecution witnesses during the trial.
The police said the main prosecution witness, Lamar Chow, is still in protective custody due to several threats against his life and promises that he would be rewarded if he refused to co-operate with the prosecution.
Threats have also been issued against the life of the murder victim's sister, who gave evidence during the trial, as well as other relatives. The police were not exempt. more
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