Archive for the ‘Jamaica News’ Category

Boosted by their own mandate in support of education, the Sandals Foundation will be undertaking multiple projects this Labour Day, Monday 24th May, guided by the national theme “Our Children…Show Them We Care”.

Already a ‘foster parent’ to several locally adopted schools in the St Ann, Westmoreland, St Mary and St. James communities, the Foundation will be leading major upgrade and ‘facelift’ initiatives at six (6) institutions estimated at around JA$650,000.

Among the six confirmed projects are the Great Pond Basic School in St Ann; the Whitehouse Early Childhood in Westmoreland and the Boscobel Primary School in St Mary.

In St James, efforts will focus on the installation of 8 fans for children attending the Happy Venture Basic School, while Parry Town Primary in St Ann will receive a fresh paint job as well as undergo general repairs. In Westmoreland, the West End Basic School will receive a new bathroom as well as see the installation of electricity in recently constructed classrooms as well as receive 4 new fans and fresh paint. Read the rest of this entry »

Jamaica Observer…THE governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is calling for calm and restraint amid what it says are incidents calculated to create fear and panic.

Among other incidents yesterday a threat was made to firebomb the police in Mountain View, East Kingston. A police armoured personnel carrier was also shot-up in Denham Town, West Kingston.

“The rule of law and the maintenance of public order in the interest of all citizens, the JLP said, is the fundamental priority of this Government,” said a statement from the party today.

The JLP was speaking amid the climate of fear arising from the arrest warrant issued for reputed Tivoli Gardens don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who is to be extradited to the United States on gun and drug trafficking charges.

Thugs in his West Kingston community have barricaded entrances into the community and are preventing residents from leaving, using them as human shields.

CSEC/CAPE exam centres have been moved from West Kingston because of the standoff.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has called for Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Member of Parliament for West Kingston, to intervene personally to help restore normality in his constituency.

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has called up the National Reserves.

Many individuals and organizations in Jamaica are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The calls have been made due to questions about the Prime Minister’s credibility and dishonesty among other things, especially with regards to the Christopher “Dudus” Coke’s extradition to the USA.

Should the Prime Minister Resign?

The Jamaica Observer published an article earlier today about Bruce (the Prime Minister) Under Fire … PNPYO calling for resignation of the PM. Read this article to get a clearer understanding of the situation:

Bruce Under Fire

PRIME Minister Bruce Golding faced stinging criticism and calls for his resignation throughout yesterday, in the wake of his confession that he had approved his ruling party’s engagement of US law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips in the ‘Dudus’ extradition saga.

In the meantime, Information Minister Daryl Vaz last night slapped down rumours that an emergency Cabinet meeting had been called last night, presumably related to the affair.

“It’s rubbish. The prime minister is right now at the opening of Secrets Hotel in Montego Bay,” Vaz told the Observer when contacted by cellphone.

In a press statement earlier in the day, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, declared she had lost confidence in Golding and the Government.

She stopped short of calling for him to step down, but cited the resignation of her information minister and general secretary, Colin Campbell in the blistering Trafigura scandal that erupted in the last months of her administration. Read the rest of this entry »

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Entertainment fraternity concerned — rumours of Oneil’s death, insensitivity reportedly adding to their pain

Oniel Edwards

Entertainers and others close to Voicemail singer, Oneil Edwards, say that while the show of solidarity from the music fraternity — especially from some artistes –has been comforting, rumours of his demise and an “insensitive cartoon” have been adding to their pain.

“One website reported that he was dead and then there was the cartoon this morning — when I saw them I couldn’t do anything but cry,” a popular artiste manager told the Observer.

Her cry was echoed by singjay Mr Vegas, who has been spearheading the vigils that have united artistes.

“The timing of the cartoon was bad. It leaves a bitter taste in our mouths,” he said. “We are trying to cope. We have come together to condemn violence and to pray for Oneil. Persons have been criticising us and saying that we are not real, but nobody can know another person’s heart,” Mr Vegas declared. Read the rest of this entry »

Paul Bogle Drawing and Statue

Jamaica Observer: Intense public resistance in Morant Bay, St Thomas, has forced the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) to call off remounting what many Jamaicans have always known as the Paul Bogle statue in that eastern Jamaica town.

The objection to the work of art is rooted in the residents’ claim, which has been corroborated by the JNHT, that the statue is not a true replica of the National Hero.

“When it was put up in 1965 no one said it was not a true image of Paul Bogle,” Dorette Abrahams, president of the African Heritage Development Association and public relations officer of the Parish Development Committee, told the Observer last Saturday. “In fact, the sign placed at the base of the statue said Paul Bogle. That really is a gross deception.”

Abrahams was among a large number of Morant Bay residents who, at a meeting with JNHT officials last November, voiced strong objection to the statue being remounted in the town. Read the rest of this entry »

Yea without sin cast the first stone. I am a heterosexual female in Jamaica who doesn’t believe in killing people because they are living a life that is against my beliefs. It is time for people to let the law of the land take its course. Why not report illegal activities to the police and let them do their jobs? Murder is just as sinful as homosexuality. I’m not condoning these immoral actions, but neither can I support taking another persons life.

According to Rasbert Turner, STAR Writer: A police station in St Catherine was the scene of hostility yesterday after residents demanded their own brand of justice for four men who they believe are lovers.

Police reports are that about 5 p.m. the men were at home when one went to a nearby shop and persons started to call him ‘fish’.

The man went and reported this to his friends who drove to the shop. They were attacked and their car damaged. They went to report the matter to the police, when a mob converged and demanded that they come out.

deal wid dem business

“We want them fi let out di bwoy dem mek wi deal wid dem business, in a cold cold time yah dem a wrap up in a de place,” an irate woman screamed.

“A long time mi a notice sey dem a fish and we want them bad fi gi dem a proper beating,” another woman said.

The men told THE STAR they were homosexuals.

“Yes, you can let the world know that although we a fish, we a pay mortgage for the house for two years and want to live in peace,” one who gave his name as Barbee said.

The men danced up a storm and declared that they would live their lives as they want.

Persons climbed trees and roof tops to get a glimpse of the men.

Up to late last night, the men could not be released as the angry residents remained resolute that they wanted to administer their own form of justice.

Yes, you can let the world know that although we a fish, we a pay mortgage for the house for two years and want to live in peace.

JAMAICA STAR: A pharmacist and owner of the Darliston Pharmacy in Westmoreland, has found himself in trouble with the law after being accused of scamming the National Health Fund (NHF) of over $27m.

Ainsworth Reynolds, of a Llandilo, Phase 4 address, is charged with forgery, obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy. He appeared before Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The allegations, as outlined in court are that between March 2006 and December 2009, the accused, was contracted by NHF to dispense drugs. It is alleged that he used the cards of some customers to make fraudulent claims on the NHF’s account.

expensive medications

It is alleged that the pharmacist also created fictitious prescriptions in the names of some customers and claimed that these had been done by doctors, and then claimed for the cost of these prescriptions. It is reported that he added expensive medications to these prescriptions in order to increase the amount of the claims. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Residents of Southboro in Portmore, St Catherine, have reacted with a mixture of bafflement and dismay to the disturbing spectacle of a policeman’s body found, shot execution style, in his Toyota Hiace minibus in their community yesterday morning.

Southboro, located near volatile Newlands and Naggo Head, has been hit by violence in recent months, but the mystery associated with the clearly well-planned attack on 29-year-old Corporal Miguel Cuffe has jolted the community.

“Oh my God,” breathed a female resident as Cuffe’s body was removed from the vehicle in which he was killed, his hands bound behind him.

“Jamaica nah nuh better fe get,” lamented another. “Dis ya country nah come back,” the obviously distressed woman added.

As the women spoke in hushed tones, the body of the policeman, clad in a red T-shirt and blue jeans pants, was taken out of the Toyota Hiace bus on Laurel Road in Southboro.

Cuffe became the third policeman murdered for the year. A fourth was killed in a friendly fire incident in Montego Bay, St James.

The Gleaner understands that well-armed men, whom he apparently knew, went to his home before dawn and called him out of the house located in neighbouring Naggo Head.

Having gained entry to the house, the men reportedly tied up his female companion before carting him off in his Toyota Hiace minibus.

The house was then set ablaze, but it is unclear how the woman, who was left behind, escaped. Read the rest of this entry »

Mi seh Jah a guh lick some a wi hard wid lightning and thunder if wi nuh cut out the nastiness what cause evil doings unnuh.

Everyday mi turn on mi television, turn on mi radio, pick up the newspaper, walk down the street, etc there is a pastor or wolf in sheep clothing inviting me to attend his place of worship, but the question is: Who the hell dem a worship? Dem think seh mi a guh fall inna dem lions den of immorality. Mek dem stay deh a form fools of demselves. Mek dem so-called pastor yah full a demons suh, mek dem nuh low the likkle pickney dem.

Here is the latest report from the Jamaica Star about immorality in the church: DEACON ADMITS SEEKING SEX FROM BOY

A deacon at a Seventh Day Adventist church in Kingston, who was taped trying to make sexual advances to a teenage boy recently, left the place of worship after he was disciplined.

Steven Benjamin*, a member of the church, told THE STAR that everyone was shocked when the tape was played for a pastor of the church. He said, however, that some persons had previously suspected the deacon was a homosexual.

Possibly gay

“I normally made comments that he was possibly gay; however, it was not taken seriously by many. Although I had my speculation, I was still shock at this discovery,” said the church member.

A man who attended the church and lives in the area, said that the deacon had approached the teen, admitted he was gay and that he wanted to be involved in a sexual activity with him. It is alleged that the teen then told his friends about the deacon’s proposal. Read the rest of this entry »

By: Gillian Scott

Transformation is the new buzzword in Bottom Pen in Montego Bay, St. James, where several hundred metres of old zinc fences are being torn down and replaced with concrete walls, courtesy of the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP). Now, citizens are talking about transforming the name of the community as well.

The residents have pledged to change the name of the community from Bottom Pen to the more upscale Guango Meadows, as the zinc fence transformation project is triggering a different view, hope and vision for the community.

According to Ruddy Lindo, one man who has lived in Bottom Pen for all his more than 40 years on earth, “the name Bottom Pen no longer fits the community because of the new walls which have been built by CSJP. Instead we are looking at urgently changing the name to Guango Meadows because of the sense of pride which we are now feeling”.

Mr. Lindo said “We selected Guango Meadows because the area is blessed with a number of these trees which provide fabulous shade for us and when people are cool, they generally are peaceful and we want peace to be the hallmark of our community”.

The process of obtaining the name change is not an easy one however as a number of approvals must be sought and obtained. The community members must first send a signed petition to the St. James Parish Council stating their intention to change the name of the community. In the interim, they must also get permission from the National Lands Agency as well as the Titles Offices, the Parish Council and then the Ministry of Works for final approval. Read the rest of this entry »