Jennifer Bolt, mother of World and Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, has been chosen as the first recipient of the International Mothers of Distinction (IMOD) award, media reports have stated.


The announcement was made recently at a press conference held at the offices of the Jamaican consul general in Toronto, Canada. It was attended by Jamaica's Consul General to Toronto, Seth George Ramocan, and Usain's father, Wellesley Bolt.


The IMOD award is the brainchild of a Jamaican-Canadian businessman, Delford Blythe, who said the award was created to "recognise the important and significant role that mothers play in the lives of their families and the development of society in general".


He explained that each year, one mother would be chosen by the IMOD committee for the Founders award, while another four mothers would be chosen from a field of nominations received from around the world.


Mrs Bolt was chosen as the first recipient of the Founders award because of the significant impact she has had on the life of her son.

Blythe praised her for the significant achievements of her son, noting: "Usain has brought back a certain excitement to international athletics that was not there in recent times, and has elevated the Jamaica 'brand' to a level never seen before.

"
The IMOD award will be an annual event open to all mothers from around the world and from all walks of life. The inaugural awards ceremony will take place on May 7, 2011, in Toronto when all five mothers will receive their awards.

A hostage drama unfolded inside the Juice Patty outlet at the corner of Beckford and West Streets in downtown Kingston last night, but at the end of it all, no-one was injured.


According to reports, shortly before dusk, gunmen entered the store and took control, ordering staff to the back and pulling down shutters.

Early reports had said that customers, including a number of children, were inside the facility at the time, however, police have since refuted those reports.


The police have confirmed that the gunmen entered the patty shop shortly after 6 o’clock Saturday evening, but it is unclear how long they remained in the establishment, as, unknown to the staff, the gunmen made their escape through a side door.


However, the staff members who were locked away had remained inside, thinking that the gunmen were still the store.


Members of the Jamaica Defence Force and police officers were on the scene early and police with high-powered weapons hurriedly removed vendors from the area, many of whom were peddling back-to-school wares.


All the persons were released without harm and have since been counseled.

The diary of slain Stone Crusher Gang leader Cedric Murray is creating a buzz as excepts from his entries are read on air. Below are some of the entries he made in his diary.

Cedric 'Doggie' Murray
"I say if I am ever cornered I shall fight until the end," Murray wrote in one entry.

"But if death should befall me just remember while you murder me go home and look at your kids and wonder how perfect they are in a imperfect world.

Will your child one day become what I have been accused of. Run along Mr and Miss perfect because you are just a vampire. You are worst than me."

"Nothing has improved much. I am still living but my life feel wasted, this is no life for anyone but this is the real truth of a gangster in my condition, lonely and don't know who to trust."

"Days of the first sign of chaos in the West. Day of war (24) all hell broke loose more than we expect but yet still again babylon prove how they are even worst than the gunman."

"Invasion of Tivoli Garden by babylon the enemy, gun shots rang out from every conner of West Kingston and other places of KGN to protect the man Don of all Dons. Christopher Coke, AKA Dudus...

The man they came after is till free and safe, my Don and friend alway. It was a raging gun battle a day I won't forget and such tragedy for Jamaica more than 75 people dies by babylon, man, baby and woman...

Because their motive was all wrong I escape one of the last from where I was under crazy gun fire, but God grace, mercy brought me out untouched and my Don is free. I will always say Jim Brown, I am loyal to the Coke family and my guns will always be ready."

"I fired my AK until my finger was numb. I eat gun powder until my throat soar."

"Today I felt a touch of envy in a positive way. I saw a man and his woman going out on a date. I just wish I could just go out with the love of my life."

Telecommunications giant, Digicel, has won a major victory in its ongoing telecoms war with LIME.

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ingrid Mangatal, on Thursday dismissed an application by LIME for an interlocutory injunction barring Digicel from offering cheaper rates to its landline customers.

Digicel began offering landline services to its customers, more than a year ago.

However, LIME filed a lawsuit in October last year, accusing Digicel of abusing its dominant position.

LIME also accused Digicel of breaching the Fair Competition and Telecommunications Act.

Calls from Digicel's landline to mobile numbers is cheaper than calls from LIME's landline to Digicel's mobile numbers.

LIME claims the rates offered should be on par and that Digicel was in breach of the law.

Following the ruling, Digicel's attorney, Michael Hylton, said this is a victory for consumers, because it preserves their right to free competition and lower rates.

LIME is appealing the ruling.

The body of a policeman, Corporal Vincent Bent, of the Mobile Reserve, was yesterday pulled from the Rio Cobre river several hours after he fell in and disappeared while chasing gunmen.


Reports from the Police High Command are that Bent was part of an operations team when in the course of chasing gunmen along the western bank of the Rio Cobre, near Gordon Pen in St Catherine. It is alleged that the police had searched a house and had found two guns.

They subsequently held on to two men, one of whom is said to have made a run for it. Bent and another colleague were running down the hoodlum when the ground beneath him sank and he disappeared.


A major search involving police personnel, members of the Jamaica Defence Force and civilians was launched and the policeman's body was found.

A colleague who tried to rescue him is now in hospital after he fell unconscious in a bid to save Corporal Bent.
Police investigators have taken into custody a man they claim was among those who engaged them.

The United States Embassy in Kingston is advising that its offices will close on Monday.


The embassy says the closure is due to the observance of the US federal holiday, Labour Day.


It says the Consular Section, the Information Resource Centre, the United States Agency for International Development, the United States Peace Corp offices and the US Consular Agency in Montego Bay will also be closed on Monday.


The embassy and its affiliate offices will re-open for the business on Tuesday, September 7.

Almost one week after Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice said he expected the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to be rid of corruption in three years, the Commissioner of Police Commissioner Owen Ellington says the JCF can be cleansed within five years .


Ellington made the statement while addressing the 67th joint central conferences of the Jamaica Police Federation in Ocho Rios, St Ann, yesterday.


"We can't continue with the kind of indiscipline which is in this police force, we cannot continue," Ellington told the gathering of rank-and-file members of the police force.


So far this year, some 149 bad cops have been booted from the force as the anti-corruption arm of the JCF has increased its efforts at cleansing the police force.

Tropical Storm Gaston

AT 4:00 am the centre of Tropical Storm Gaston was located near latitude 13.5 degrees north and longitude 38.2 degrees west or about 2,495 kilometres east of the Lesser Antilles.

Gaston is moving toward the west at 15 kilometres per hour. This general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 km/h, with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Fiona

AT 4:00 am the centre of Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 22.6 degrees north and longitude 65.4 degrees west or about 1080 kilometres south of Bermuda.

Fiona is moving toward the northwest near 28 km/h. This general motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected today.

Maximum sustained winds are near 85 km/h, with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Hurricane Earl

At 4:00 am the centre of Hurricane Earl was located near latitude 29.3 degrees north and longitude 74.7 degrees west or 660 kilometres south of Cape Hatteras North Carolina.

Earl is moving toward the north northwest near 30 km/h. A turn toward the north is expected later today.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 230 km/h with higher gusts. Earl is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale.

Tropical Storms Gaston and Fiona as well as Hurricane Earl are not threats to Jamaica.

Several of the nation's hospitals reported a moderate level of absenteeism on Wednesday as the nurses stepped up pressure on the Government, to pay over millions of dollars, in outstanding allowances.

Our sources revealed that public health facilities in the North East Regional Health Zone were worst affected.

It is understood that the Port Maria and Annotto Bay hospitals had to send some patients home as nurses failed to turn up for their regular shifts.

Senior members of staff including doctors were forced to step in to keep operations at the hospital going.

There was also a high level of absenteeism reported at the Victoria Jubilee hospital in Kingston, the Linstead Hospital and the Mandeville Public Hospital.

There was no significant level of absenteeism at the Cornwall regional hospital as the nurses' stepped up what they call a "public education campaign" intended to push for the money owed to be paid.

Di nurse dem want dem money…pay up or else!

Wi nah lie yuh still from dme pull di plug on Raga show yesterday a whole heap a people a ask a which station him a guh suface pon inna October and from what Yardflex can gather from the streets they already speculating and calling names.

Yes, some a say that because him do a column in the Star, him might just pop up on Power 106 fm; others a sey him used to be at Hot 102 and dem could well do wid di push from di popularity of him programme, so him very well coulda go back there and g idem a boost.

But wherever him end up a one thing we know fi sure is that him followers a guh deh cluck cluck backa him wid dem tambourine.

Tamborine! A wha di backside a gwaan. Wi inna di middle a listen Ragashanti Live and di nex' ting wi know is dat braps dem pull di plug pon di show!


No sah a bad manna ting dat. Dem neva know sey today woulda be di las' day a di show? No sah, di ongle ting we can sey is dat dem cold like ice.


A wonda a which station a guh rush fi pick him up yah no?

You can imagine that you have a police post across from the Bijoux jewellery store in New Kingston and di gunman dem never watch any face, them just go in the people dem store, hold dem up wid gun and rob dem blind.

Yardflex still don’t know the value of what they got away with, but from what we understand, they took a “portion’ of jewellery, cell phones and cash.

Thank heaves no one was injured in the incident.

From what Yardflex can glean according to one employee "Is about three of them come in, the man them all a look on jewellery and were smelling cologne before they starte,” he said.

"I was doing something out here and I went in there for a scissors and saw them, but I thought that they were customers," he said.

"Is after the man them do them thing and leave out that I realise what was happening. Is a lucky thing I leave 'cause maybe I would have been the one they shot," added the man.

Big and serious, government need to ban this cash for gold trade cause it a incur too much tief.

Former Grace Kennedy executive, James Moss-Solomon resigned the positions he holds on several state-appointed boards, saying that there were too many credibility issues afflicting both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party and the opposition People’s National Party.


He announced his decision on RJR's Hotline yesterday, causing quite a stir as civil society has reacted to the power broker’s sudden decision to quit..


The political controversies ranging from the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips Affair to the recently resurfaced Trafigura bribery scandal has stirred concerns about integrity among the country's leadership.


Speaking on RJR's Hotline on Tuesday morning Mr. Moss Solomon said he has lost faith in the credibility of the persons elected to serve the nation.

Reports are that a significant number of inmates at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in downtown Kingston have been suffering from flu-like symptoms in recent weeks.

However, acting commissioner of corrections, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Prendergast said his medical team was aware of the situation and has insisted that there was no outbreak of any kind at the facility.


Despite Prendergast’s assurances, there are concerns that it is a flu outbreak at the high-security prison.


The acting commissioner of corrections described the symptoms gripping inmates as flu-like, but maintained that it is not the dreaded dengue virus.

Two men, twenty-five-year-old businessman Hipen Patel of Washer’s Crescent in Kingston 11 and 24 year-old used car dealer, Chirag Patel of the same address have been arrested and charged with dealing in second hand jewellery without a licence.



According to police reports the men have significant links to the growing cash for gold trade.


On the weekend, officers from the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew report carried out an operation on a premises at Chelsea Avenue where a quantity of rings, chains, pendants and cash were found.


The police say they also seized two scales which were used to weigh the jewellery.


The men who were on the premises at the time were taken into custody and later charged.


They were each granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and are booked to appear in the Half Way Tree Resident Magistrates Court on September 8.

Samantha Minott, wife of alleged high-ranking One Order member, Everton Minott also called 'Rado', is still wanted by the police for questioning, following the release two weeks ago of the names of 20 women the cops need to see.


The other 19 women who are either mothers or spouses of members of the One Order and Klansman gangs have all been interviewed and released, the police say.


Police report that the women were questioned about their association with criminals, money laundering, harbouring and hiding known fugitives and hiding ill-gotten gains such as motor cars and real estate.


Rado, who also has connections to music, is the CEO of the Armz House Records label, and the producer of dancehall deejay Mavado's popular anti-gun song, Gal Over Gun. He was shot and injured on May 14 and was a patient a the Spanish Town hospital.

A storm moving through the eastern Caribbean has strengthened to a Category Three hurricane, prompting warnings for several islands.

Hurricane Earl is generating sustained winds of 195km/h (120mph).

Forecasters say Earl is now a major hurricane, as it approaches the Leeward Islands, which include the British Virgin Islands.

Strong winds and heavy rains are already lashing the islands, east of Puerto Rico in the northern Caribbean.

A new hurricane warning has now been issued for the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques, said the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Hurricane warnings are already in effect in Anguilla, St Martin and St Barthelemy, St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

Hurricane warnings are in place for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, St Maarten, Saba, St Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is also on hurricane alert.

The hurricane warning for Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis has been downgraded to a tropical storm warning. The Turks and Caicos islands are on alert.

People in the area are making preparations ahead of the storm, stocking up on food, water and other essential supplies, as well as trying to protect property.

Assistant police commissioner in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Justin Felice, has given himself a timeline of three years in which to clean up the force.


Felice is reported as saying that the process of cleaning up the force has been intensified with the decision not to re-enlist scores of rogue cops.


A shocking 149 police personnel have been kicked out of the force since the start of the year.


An Anti-Corruption Court, a Special Prosecutor and a state agency to deal specifically with corruption, are among the recommendations to help fight the issue.


On January 6, a Special Court started hearing corruption-related cases from the Corporate Area.


ACP Felice is encouraging citizens to report acts of corruption involving members of the force by calling 1-800-CORRUPT, that’s 1-800-267-7878.

A police constable who allegedly discharged his weapon yesterday while at a party on a boat in Ocho Rios, was last night killed by his colleagues during a shoot-out which started at the Ocho Rios Police Station in St Ann.


Reports are that Sheldon Williams, a policeman attached to the police armory in Kingston, was warned that he would be prosecuted after he did a gun salute aboard a vessel.

He was picked up by the police as he disembarked and taken to the station for processing. It is alleged that Williams’ weapon was taken from him and placed on the table, but he somehow managed to pick it up and ran from the station, firing.


Further reports are that the police fired back.

During the shootout, which ended near the Ocho Rios bypass where Williams collapsed, another officer was injured. They were both taken to the hospital where Williams was pronounced dead.


Williams’ father and a politician in the area, who is related to the dead cop have condemned the killing. “They must have known he was a policeman, so why did they treat him that way?” his father is reported as saying.


The police have yet to put out an official statement on the incident.

It seems there is no end in sight with this Manatt, Phelps and Phillips dramas.

The latest now is that the Prime Minister Bruce Golding seem to be accusing Phillips ‘selling out’.According to the PM Phillips signed pact with US without Cabinet approval.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding addresses yesterday’s Area Council One meeting of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at the Papine High School in St Andrew. (Photo: Karl McLarty)


Giving an outline of the discussion between Kingston and Washington on the extradition issue, Golding said: "When the request came in we said to the US Government the request is in contravention of the law. The US said to us, that law is not the only means by which we can get information and use it as evidence.

"We said to the US Government, what are you telling us, which agreement are you referring to? They showed us a document, signed by the minister of national security, in 2004 I believe it was.

At that point I called the commissioner of police and I said, do you know anything at all about this agreement that was signed? and he said I know nothing at all about it," Golding stated.

He said that if such an agreement existed it must have had Cabinet approval, which prompted him to call the Cabinet Office for information on the agreement.

"I directed them to go and search the secret submissions, because there are some submissions that come to Cabinet that are considered highly confidential and are classified... because a matter as serious as this could not have been done without the approval of the Cabinet," Golding continued.

"They searched the secret submissions; they can find no record of any such agreement.

After considerable search I got hold of a copy of the agreement, an agreement that was entered into, without as far as we can establish, the approval of the Cabinet, entered into by the former minister of national security," Golding said to loud shouts of "Peter Phillips a sell-out"

Wow, what will it be next?

The community of Clay Ground in Bamboo, St Ann is mourning the passing of 17-year-old Moya Brown and her six-year-old twin sisters Taneisha and Teneisha Calder who all died in a fire at their home on Saturday night.

Another sister, 10-years-old Jodean Griffiths, escaped the blaze and has been admitted to the St Ann’s Bay hospital.


Reports are that Moya was preparing a meal on the gas stove and then left to put her sister to bed.

They all fell asleep and apparently a kitchen towel left near to the stove caught fire, which quickly spread to the curtains and subsequently engulfed the wooden structure.


Residents say there was absolutely nothing they could do, as by the time the 10-year-old alerted them and they ran to the house, the fire was raging and they couldn’t get near. The fire brigade was summoned, but they too had dicfficulties accessing the house and had to end up asking neighbours for water for the cooling down process. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.


According to media reports, Angella Newman, the mother of the girls was on her way home from St Ann’s Bay when she got the call that three of her daughters had died in a fire at home. She, too, had to be hospitalized.


Moya, a honour roll student at Ferncourt High School, reportedly passed eight subjects the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination.

My faith is deep and abiding. I am forever one with God.
Faith is the foundation on which I stand.

I nurture my faith with consistent prayer time and study of Scripture and other sources of inspiration. I remain open and receptive to the Christ spirit within.

If, momentarily, my faith feels shaky, I look back to a time when my faith felt strongest. I recapture the feelings of joy and peace in knowing my oneness with God.

It may help to visit a special place where I find inspiration or call a friend who will help me stand firm. I may spend more time in meditation and prayer to renew my faith.

I am grateful for every experience that strengthens my faith and for the times that I trust God in all that I do. I am strong, and my faith is unshakable.

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.--1 Corinthians 16:13

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier Leslie Moodie, who was convicted on June 28 of the murders of Ejon Peart, 20; Davian Kerr, 19; Lynchmore Forbes, 24; and William Wilberforce, 28, has been sentenced to hanging.

The four were killed at the Diamond Lounge Gaming Club at Washington Boulevard in St Andrew.
If the thirty-three-year-old Moodie -- who was a corporal attached to the Coast Guard of the JDF -- goes to the gallows, this will be the first hanging in Jamaica in 22 years.


Despite a plea for life imprisonment by Moodie’s lawyers, the judge, Justice Horace Marsh stated that the murders were “extreme” and that Moodie had shown no remorse.


Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Lisa Palmer Hamilton and Crown Counsel Paula Archer Hall called for the death penalty.

They argued that the crime was premeditated and heinous. They asked the judge to send a message that when a member of the security forces commits such a cold, calculated and callous act, his action should be met with the most serious punishment.

Forty year old Rodney Joseph, from Top Hill in St Elizabeth who was accused of physically and sexually abusing his 80-year-old mother was shot and killed at his home by the police.


Reports are that Josephs was known to have repeatedly forced himself on his octogenarian mother and had been wanted by the police.

Early Thursday morning, the cops went to the house in search of Joseph. Police reports are that the lawmen informed Joseph that he needed to accompany them to the station, but the man, the police say, threatened them.


The cops further report that Joseph rushed from inside the house wielding a knife and attempted to stab one of the officers, who had to quickly move out of the way. One of the policemen allegedly fired three shots at Joseph, after which the injured man was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.


The matter is being investigated.

The St Catherine North Police say they could wrap up their interviews today with the mothers and girlfriends of alleged gangsters in the division.


On Monday, the police appealed to 20 of the women to turn in themselves for questioning.


Fourteen of them did so, and have since been facing intense questioning as the St Catherine North police move to deal with the problem of crime in the division.


The women were sent home last night and the commanding officer for the St Catherine North Police Division, Superintendent Assan Thompson, said about seven of them are to return today to be further questioned.


The Organised Crime Investigation Division, the Financial Crimes Unit and detectives from other police divisions are carrying out questioning.

The Ministry of Health(MOH) has issued a warning that dengue fever type 2 is currently in circulation in Jamaica. With the volume of cases increasing islandwide, persons with symptoms are advised to visit their nearest health centre.


There are four types of the illness – 1, 2 3 and 4 – all of which present with the same symptoms. Persons can however develop immunity for each type of dengue contracted.

This means that individuals can get dengue fever up to four times.


“Symptoms of dengue fever include severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pains, joint or bone pains, skin rash and nausea. Persons may also get the severe form, dengue haemorrhagic fever and this can lead to death.

Those most susceptible to having dengue haemorrhagic fever are persons who have contracted dengue fever at least once before,” said Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, Director, Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services in the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry continues to appeal to persons to follow the guidelines to eliminate the breeding sites for mosquitoes. Look for anything in which water can settle and either cover it, keep the area dry, clean it regularly, fill it with soil or sand, punch holes into it or recycle or dispose of it.


As much as possible, persons should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, mosquito nets, mosquito destroyers or putting screens on windows and doors.


Individuals who wish to obtain more information on dengue may call the Ministry’s Emergency Operations Centre at 1888-663-5683 (1888 ONE LOVE).

Another promise of another confession has come from the ruling Jamaica Labour Party on the vexing Manatt Phelps and Phillips issue.


Following widespread criticism and condemnation from interest groups and civil society since the Sunday Gleaner’s email expose, the Bruce Golding administration says it will come clean and answer all questions in the coming days.

The church has so far met with the prime minister and a response to six questions from private sector leaders is being prepared.


At the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, Information Minister, Daryl Vaz stated, "I read the papers yesterday (Tuesday) and I saw several different groupings, including groupings in the countryside, who still feel that there is more to the Manatt issue, and I feel it is going to be important that we separate the politics from the actual concerns and try and address it because it is a deep concern which relates to the issue of governance.”


According to Vaz, "The Government, through the prime minister, has already indicated very loudly and very clearly that this matter, from the start, was a mistake for which we take full responsibility.


"Coupled with that, there was misrepresentation as it relates to the Government ... which has made a bad situation worse," Vaz added, while noting that there would be nothing criminal or illegal if the Government had engaged Manatt.


The Government says its position that it never engaged the US law firm has not changed despite the emails revealed on Sunday.

More political pressure is mounting on Attorney at Law, Harold Brady, for the role he played in the messy dealings, with Washington-based law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips.

Information Minister Daryl Vaz declared on Wednesday morning, that the Corporate Area lawyer, who he pegs as the power-broker behind the Manatt extradition matt, will be referred to the governing party's disciplinary committee, for sanction.

Stung by public outcry over the government's handling of the controversy surrounding the Manatt dealings, Information Minister Daryl Vaz pulled no punches on Wednesday morning.

Speaking at the Post Cabinet press briefing Vaz declared that the evidence was clear that it was Harold Brady who misrepresented the government of Jamaica in the behind the scenes negotiations with Manatt Phelps and Phillips.

The Information Minister says Mr. Brady will be referred to the JLP's Disciplinary Committee but did not say if a formal complaint will be made to the General Legal Council for misconduct.

Vaz says the Golding government has acknowledged that the handling of the affair was flawed from the outset and that the Prime Minister has been open to full dialogue with civil society groups on the matter.

He maintains that the Prime Minister was not complicit in the Manatt dealings.

“The Government, through the Prime Minister, has already indicated very loudly and very clearly that this matter from the start was a mistake for which we take full responsibility. Coupled with that there was misrepresentation as it relates to the Government and who was working on behalf of the Government which has made a bad situation worse,”

”That matter has been discussed and I would expect that that matter would have been referred to the disciplinary committee. I don’t have a recent update on it but I know that it has been raised on several occasions on the party level,” Vaz said.

The sentencing hearing against convicted, former JDF soldier, Leslie Moodie, began on Wednesday before the Home Circuit Court.

Mr. Justice Horace Marsh is to decide whether the death penalty should be imposed on Corporal Moodie for the 2008 murder of four persons at the Double Diamond nightclub, in St. Andrew.

In a desperate bid to save the JDF soldier from the gallows, Moodie's lawyers urged Justice Marsh not to yield to the prosecutor's call for the death sentence.

Defence Attorney Pierre Rogers argued that his client had a right to life.

Mr. Rogers also argued that the law is clear that the death penalty should only be imposed in exceptional circumstances with no possibility for reform of the guilty individual.

Mr. Rogers conceded that the killings were horrific and extreme.

However, he urged the judge to take into consideration the fact that Moodie was drinking heavily and was not in control of himself.

He added that the shooting was not premeditated based on the evidence.

Mr. Rogers argued that there was a confrontation prior to the shooting.

He pointed to the Crown's evidence which showed that a knife was found near the body of one of the deceased, suggesting he was armed.

He described the entire incident as a tragic loss of self control.

However, he submitted that Justice Marsh should also consider whether Corporal Moodie is entirely evil and incapable of rehabilitation.

He said the JDF soldier had served his country well and had a unblemished record prior to the incident.

He said the JDF Corporal should be sentenced to life.

However, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Lisa Palmer argued that Moodie was convicted for killing four people and should face the ultimate punishment.

She noted that the UK based Privy Council has not taken away judges' discretion to impose the death penalty, due to the high numbers of murders on the island.

Corporal Moodie was convicted in June for the quadruple murder which shocked the country.

Prosecutors say Moodie pulled his gun and sprayed bullets on patrons at the Double Diamond nightclub at the Washington Boulevard Plaza on October 19, 2008.

He fired 38 bullets in the crowded nightclub.

Nine other patrons were injured in the attack.

The prosecutors say one of the victims begged for his life before Moodie executed him.

The JDF soldier reportedly shot the victims after they spoke to him about his unruly behavior in the club.

The hearing continues Today.

All we have to add to this is that…what about the victims right to life? Didn’t they count too?

Yardflex was in the house at Stars R Us held at Mas Camp on Saturday and we have to say big up to artistes like Ken Boothe, George Nooks, Errol Dunkley, Derrick Harriot, Karen Smith and the rest of crew who really represented.

Our major issue was with the veteran group Mighty Diamonds. You would think that after almost 40 years in the biz they would know how to read a crowd by this, right?

Think again, the group go on stage and lame out the thing, by the time dem drag out the singing of Manhattan’s There No Me Without You fi show people sey dem all can sing, di crowd was just ready to boo them off.

Then them go ask the crowd if dem want more and you could hear the no dem way a Half Way Tree, and dem claim dem a hear, yes and no.

Den when di crowd start to clap now, dem get the message.

Fi real, dem flop big time, cause usually oldies crowd doan clap off people, dem generally go fi enjoy demself. No sah, wi really lose off them this time.

Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore has a reputation of being one of the hardest venues in Jamaica to fill. Just ask Supreme Promotions’ Isaiah Laing, promoter of Sting, he should know.

However, last Saturday and Sunday, a bumper crowd of parents and ‘pickney’ descended on the complex, the likes of which Jamworld has never seen.

It was telecoms company LIME back-to-school fair, wittily entitled, Skool Aid. And, just like the popular drink, Kool Aid, the fair was full of flavour and oh so refreshing.

Well advertised throughout the Portmore community – and with the magic word ‘FREE’ attached – Skool Aid proved an instant hit for all involved. It was one of those events that had one wondering why it took so long to happen.

LIME provided a balanced mixture of entertainment and sobriety by transforming Jamworld into an amusement park chockful of all the rides a kid could enjoy while focusing squarely on the realities of back-to-school.

The Ministry of Healt was on spot to provide kids with immunizations; Upper Cut Barbers must be commended for responding to the call and giving free hair cuts for boys under 14 and book stores such as Sangsters, along with Carlong and Pearsons Publishers turned out with discounted supplies for purchase;

With Jamworld almost bursting it at the seams with excited kids who get hungry quickly, food concessionaires licked their fingers and the winding lines told their own story.

But for many – both parents and children – it was the reports of free backpacks from LIME which was one of the main attractions.

On Saturday, many made mental notes to be present on Sunday as they witnessed the exodus of kids from Jamworld walking proudly with their LIME bags on their backs, ready for school. SO it was not surprising that Sunday’s event was even bigger and better.

All the kinks of day one were ironed out and the organizers were better prepared to handle the throngs of persons which streamed endlessly into Jamworld throughout the day and into the night.

Kudos to LIME for a wonderful effort, and in particular for considering the needs of the 300 kids from Tivoli who were carried by bus to Jamworld and given cherished moments to remember.

Empress Mennen organization is calling all Jamaican families that have been affected by violence to come out on Sunday 29 August to Emancipation Park and support this day which is designed to get some answers to their burning issues.


“This is the way how see it fitting to help to find ways to answer some of the questions asked.


Please make a date and make it a unified movement asking for justice for our families,” Sister Minnie, a representative from the organization stated.


According to the itinerary, social Issues will be discussed from : 11 a.m. til 3 p.m. while Law and Order takes centrestage from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.


Among the speakers will be Susan Goffe, Betty Ann Blain, Carol Narcisse, Elaine Wint, Rose Robinson -Hall, Yvonne Sobers, Prof. Rupert Lewis, Granville Gause, representative from the office of the Commissioner of Police and others.


There will be closing performance by Reggae icons pKen Boothe, Judy Mowatt and Gem Myers with also Cherry Natural and Ricardo Suave with more to be announced.


Admission is free and sponsors are the Bob Marley Foundation, RJR Group, the Women's Bureau, Island Sign, Children’s Advocacy and Junior Lincoln

Roger Clarke, who served as Minister of Agriculture during the PNP regime, could be charged for manslaughter following a motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of a 23-year-old man in Old Harbour on Monday afternoon.


The man, Deron Nicholson, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle being driven by Clarke.

Clarke who was questioned by the Old Harbour police and also given a breathalyser test, has been released with no formal charges pressed against him.


Following further investigations into the matter, the former agriculture minister will be contacted and informed whether or not he is to be charged.

Jamaica’s Yendi Philips placed second in the 59th Miss Universe pageant Monday night in Las Vegas.

Yendi competed against 82 women from across the world.

She was first runner up to Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete.

Yendi was crowned Miss Jamaica World in 2007.

She is the third woman to win both the Miss Jamaica Universe and Miss Jamaica World titles.

The 24-year-old was on the list of crowd favourites vying for the title of Miss Universes 2010.

The St Catherine North police have released the names of 20 girlfriends or mothers of persons of interest who are being sought for questioning by them.

The persons of interest are members of the Spanish Town-based One Order and Klansman Gangs.

The women are:
Sharon James, mother of Tesha Miller;
Peta Gaye Bunda, otherwise called ‘Qunnie’, girlfriend of Jermaine Morrision, who is also called ‘Speedy’;
Natalie Fergurson, girlfriend of Renard Harrison, otherwise called ‘Rodrick’;
Tiffany Thomas, girlfriend of Nevardo Hodges;
Sophia King, otherwise called ‘Caren’, mother of Jowell or Rowell Jennings, also known as ‘J J’;
Nava Lee Branford, girlfriend of Vaughn Wint, otherwise called ‘Vagga’;
Patricia Williams, girlfriend of Wayne Douglas, otherwise called ‘Toney’;
Sherleen Green, girlfriend of Christopher Johnson, otherwise called ‘Pepper’;
Vivia Clarke, mother of Myron Hawkins, otherwise called ‘Ice’;
Millicent Brown, mother of Andrae Bryan, otherwise called ‘Blackman’;
Andrea Gayle, otherwise called ‘Joy’, girlfriend of Simeon Helwig;
Pauline Rodney, mother of Marlon McLeary, otherwise called ‘Ritchie Blacks’;
Charmaine Johnson, mother of Rohan Hope, otherwise called ‘Placka’;
Samantha Minott, wife of Everton Minott, otherwise called ‘Rado’;
Carla Deacon, girlfriend of Dalton Thomas, otherwise called ‘Jassman’;
Norma Hamilton, mother of Winston Sewell, otherwise called ‘Ice Man’;
Diana Morris, girlfriend of Courtney Vassell, otherwise called ‘Terro Blacks’;
Venisha Campbell, girlfriend of Lucien Simpson, otherwise called ‘Kevin’;
Monica Bright, mother of Fitzroy Matthias, otherwise called ‘Scuffler’; and
Nickeisha McIntosh, girlfriend of Anthony Barrett, who is also called ‘Saddle Head’

AT 4:00 am the centre of Hurricane Danielle was located near latitude 15.9 degrees north and longitude 44.6 degrees west or about 1790 kilometres east of Lesser Antilles.

Danielle is moving toward the west near 32 km/h. A turn toward the west northwest and then northwest is expected by early tomorrow.

Maximum sustained winds are near 160 km/h with higher gusts. Danielle is a category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Additional strengthening is forecast and Danielle could become a major hurricane by early tomorrow.

Hurricane Danielle is not a threat to Jamaica.

Former agriculture minister Roger Clarke was this evening questioned by the Old Harbour Police after his vehicle struck and killed a motorcyclist near Gutters in St Catherine.

Police said the accident occurred around 2:00 pm, Tuseday August 24th

The former minister was unhurt, but the cyclist died on the spot.

The identity of the man has not been confirmed.

Clarke is PNP Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central.

After languishing in jail for close to two years while being repeatedly denied bail, dancehall deejay Ninjaman may soon touch road. And just in time for the big showdown, Sting 2010.
The lawyer representing the deejay has finally filed an application seeking leave to go to the judicial review court to quash a judge’s decision to refuse bail for Ninjaman, who is on a murder charge..
An affidavit filed by lawyer Hannah Harris-Barrington Montague says Ninja is involved in community activities and is in process of building a classroom at the Jacks River Primary School in St. Mary.
Reports are that a character witness Donald Clementson says he overheard the witness in the case saying she was seeking revenge as her brother was killed over a peace initiative in which Ninja Man was involved.
Ninja Man alongside his two co-accused, his son Janile and Clayton Dennis, are to be tried for the murder of 20-year-old Ricardo 'Ricky Trooper' Johnson.

The senseless killings continue. Yesterday morning, gunmen shot dead an eight-year-old at her home in Kingston.
She has been identified as Jodian Bignal, a student of the Seaward Primary and Junior High School.
The Olympic Gardens Police report that about 2:40 am, Jodian was at her Mahogony Road home when four men armed with guns broke open a window to the house and opened fire hitting her.
She was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where she was treated and later transferred to the Bustamante Hospital for Children where she died.
The Hunts Bay police are investigating.

The police in St Catherine say the girlfriends and mothers of members of the Spanish Town-based One Order and Klansman gangs are wanted for questioning.

They have released the names of 20 girlfriends or mothers of persons of interest who are being sought for questioning by them.

The 20 women are:
Sharon James, mother of Tesha Miller;
Peta Gaye Bunda, otherwise called ‘Qunnie’, girlfriend of Jermaine Morrision, who is also called ‘Speedy’;
Natalie Fergurson, girlfriend of Renard Harrison, otherwise called ‘Rodrick’;
Tiffany Thomas, girlfriend of Nevardo Hodges;
Sophia King, otherwise called ‘Caren’, mother of Jowell or Rowell Jennings, also known as ‘J J’;
Nava Lee Branford, girlfriend of Vaughn Wint, otherwise called ‘Vagga’;
Patricia Williams, girlfriend of Wayne Douglas, otherwise called ‘Toney’
Sherleen Green, girlfriend of Christopher Johnson, otherwise called ‘Pepper’;
Vivia Clarke, mother of Myron Hawkins, otherwise called ‘Ice’;
Millicent Brown, mother of Andrae Bryan, otherwise called ‘Blackman’;
Andrea Gayle, otherwise called ‘Joy’, girlfriend of Simeon Helwig;
Pauline Rodney, mother of Marlon McLeary, otherwise called ‘Ritchie Blacks’;
Charmaine Johnson, mother of Rohan Hope, otherwise called ‘Placka’;
Samantha Minott, wife of Everton Minott, otherwise called ‘Rado’;
Carla Deacon, girlfriend of Dalton Thomas, otherwise called ‘Jassman’;
Norma Hamilton, mother of Winston Sewell, otherwise called ‘Ice Man’;
Diana Morris, girlfriend of Courtney Vassell, otherwise called ‘Terro Blacks’;
Venisha Campbell, girlfriend of Lucien Simpson, otherwise called ‘Kevin’;
Monica Bright, mother of Fitzroy Matthias, otherwise called ‘Scuffler’; and
Nickeisha McIntosh, girlfriend of Anthony Barrett, who is also called ‘Saddle Head’

Congrats to Yendi Phillippswho placed second in the Miss Universe finals last night. Yendi was a favourite all the way through and gained the second highest marks in the swimsuit and the evening wear sections.
The competition was won by 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete
The 24-year-old Phillipps advanced from a field of 83 contestants.
In third place is 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, fourth place: 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska, and fifth place: 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 22.

Emmy-nominated film maker Jenny Ash is developing a biopic of reggae legend Bob Marley.

Ash has made films of different genres across the world and recently announced plans to develop her first biopic on the late reggae legend.

Her feature will concentrate on the time Marley spent living in London in 1977 which was a crucial year for the artiste.

During this period, Marley was battling cancer while having an affair with Jamaican beauty queen Cindy Breakspeare, who had just been crowned Miss World.

Ash believes that there has never been a fiction film about Marley and no one has a sense of him as a real man, as opposed to the legend.

She has not decided who will be playing the role of Marley and has not been given the rights to the songs yet, however; she says it is something she is looking forward to.

Digicel Jamaica says their recently launched 4G WiMax services will be 10 times faster that the competition, which delivers 3G technology.


The network, built by ZTE Corporation at a cost of J$2 billion, is the first WiMax network in Jamaica. It now covers 60 per cent of the population, or 100 per cent of the urbanised areas, with plans to roll out additional sites, based on consumer demand.


On signing up, the prepaid customer will pay a one-off cost of J$3,950, plus GCT, and will have the choice of a seven- 14- or 30-day pricing plan, at a cost of $1,200, J$2,000 and J$3,000, respectively.


Postpaid users will pay a J$2500 deposit on a 30-day package. The deposit is non-refundable for a year.


Bundled packages are also available - laptop and modem - at a cost of $54,850 plus GCT for postpaid, and $58,950 plus GCT for prepaid.


Customers will use the same top-up cards that are used for mobile phones for adding broadband, but the USB modem, or dongle - for those on the go - is not yet on offer.

It seems as if the Mannat Phelps and Phillips drama is not going to die down anytime soon. Another report was published in the Sunday Gleaner and this could be a whopper.

New revelations unearthed from email correspondence that the Bruce Golding administration did in fact engage the US law firm.

Using the Access to Information Act, The Sunday Gleaner acquired copies of the emails which span a seven-month period from September 2009 to March 2010.

The correspondence involving Solicitor General Douglas Leys, local attorney Harold Brady and officials of the US law firm confirms that Manatt, Phelps and Phillips was working on behalf of the Government, even if it had been engaged by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Twenty-year-old Special Constable Mickhail Hogarth, who was assigned to Harman Barracks, was shot dead at his home at Braham Road in Ewarton, St. Catherine Saturday morning.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the lawman may have shot himself accidentally in the neck.

According to reports from the Ewarton Police about 11:50 am, Hogarth and a female companion were at home when explosions were heard.

Investigations later reveal that the policeman was sleeping with a gun under his pillow.

He was reportedly awoken from his sleep by his girlfriend, and the frightened lawman pulled the gun and opened fire which caught him in the neck.

He was taken to the Linstead Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment.

His female companion has since been taken into custody for questioning in relation to the incident.

Her identity is withheld pending further investigation

Gleaner senior reporter Arthur Hall, must be lauded for his investigative piece on Sunday showing the email trail among the solicitor general, Douglas Leyes, the attorney general Dorothy Lightbourne, lawyer Harold Brady and Prime Minister Bruce Golding on the troublesome issue that just will not go away – the Manatt Affair.


According to the article, which shows emails covering a seven-month span the emails are proof that the law firm Manatt, Phelps and Philips was working for the Jamaican government ans not the Jamaica Labour Party, as had been declared by PM Golding.


The emails also “indicate that the prime minister and the attorney general were updated at intervals on the discussions and were apparently involved in the next-steps decisions as the Government sought to lobby the US on the Coke issue.


"We have to talk on Monday after we have had a chance to brief the PM and the AG (Dorothy Lightbourne)," said Brady in an email to Manatt, which was copied to Leys,” the Sunday Gleaner articles states.


Meanwhile the opposition People’s National Party has called on the prime minister to resign, amidst these latest revelations. As one online reader commented: “Bruce, Ley and Dorrothy need to resign now. Not next week or next month but immediately. There are others in the party that can lead. Andrew Holness can take up the mantle.


They are quick to fire commissioners of police, director of bank of Jamaica, SLB director and PSC board for ``misconduct`` or shortcomings; yet they have done far worst and refuse to step as side. Its time that the people of Jamaica fire these people of double standards.”

Yardflex would like to congratulate international deejay Shaggy and his girlfriend Rebecca Packer who are the proud parents of twin sons born recently. Big up Shaggy, we hope to see photos of the cuties real soon.

In spite of the negative publicity the country has been receiving there is still a ray of hope on the horizon as according to Newsweek Magazine Jamaica is the top Caribbean country to live in terms of education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and political environment.

According to the magazine's first-ever Best Countries special issue, Jamaica ranked 47th of 100 countries while Cuba and the Dominican Republic — the only other Caribbean countries on the list — were ranked 50th and 55th respectively.

"We set out to answer a question that is at once simple and incredibly complex — if you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous, and upwardly mobile life?" Newsweek said in its latest issue.

Newsweek said it compiled metrics within the five categories and used a weighted formula to arrive at an overall list of the world's top 100 countries.

According to Newsweek, the effort took several months, during which it received copious aid from an advisory board that included Nobel laureate and Columbia University professor Joseph

the most recent data available for each metric), rather than a historic or predictive view."

The top 10 countries are Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Luxembourg, Norway, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, and Denmark.

The USA is ranked 11th and Germany, which is Europe's largest economy and which has experienced a recovery from the global financial crisis, is ranked 12th.

Two members of Vybz Kartel's Portmore Empire on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a brawl at Lynden Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas on Monday.

Ainsley Morris, 24, and Lenburgh McDondald, 26, of Portmore, St. Catherine, pleaded guilty before a Bahamian magistrate to causing harm to a spirit airlines pilot.

The men pleaded guilty to damaging the pilot's US$600 laptop computer, his US$400 Ipod and his US$250 sun glasses.

While Morris and McDondald pleaded guilty to the charges; the prosecution dropped the charges against "Popcorn", another member of the Portmore Empire, whose given name is Andre Sutherland.

According to the Bahamian media, an altercation developed between the pilot and the three Portmore Empire members when the pilot went to use the restroom at the airport.

The Spirit Airlines pilot reportedly inquired who the men were, and asked if they could leave so that he could use the restroom. It is said that as the pilot left the restroom, one of the men pushed the door, hitting him.

A verbal argument reportedly followed resulting in an altercation during which the pilot's laptop, Ipod and sunglasses got damaged.

And a curfew imposed in sections of the Clarendon Police Division since 5 o'clock Thursday morning will end at 5 o'clock Saturday morning.

The boundaries of the curfew are north along the Twin Palm Estate, from the Water Pump to the NWC Pumping Station; south along Sandy Bay main road, from the intersection of Palmetto Pen main road to the New Testament Church; east along an imaginary line, from Berbie Commons to the National Water Commission Pumping Station at Berbie and west along the Twin Palm Estate, from the Water Pump to Board Villa, Palmetto Pen.

During the hours of the curfew, persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorized in writing by a member of the security forces, who is in charge of enforcing the curfew.

Two suspects, who were being sought in connection with last week's shocking killing of eight people in Tredegar Park, St. Catherine, were arrested on Thursday.

The suspects were nabbed during a police operation in Central Kingston.

Police sources told RJR News that one of the suspects whose alias is "Bigs" had a wound to his leg.

It is believed that he sustained the wound during a gunfight with members of a police team, who were quick on the scene of the armed invasion, which left eight people dead.

Sources say that the suspect told the cops that he sustained the wound while working on a construction site.

However, he was unable to take the policemen to the construction site.

This brings to seven the number of suspects arrested in connection with the killings.

Many of the perpetrators, who are linked to the Klansman Gang, have fled the area and have since migrated to several communities across the country.

Two of them were held in Westmoreland on Monday.

All we want to say is – if they are so bad, why are they running?

Amidst calls for the government to pay up all outstanding monies owed to public school teachers, newly installed JTA president Nadine Molloy has declared 'no retreat or surrender' on the vexing wage issue.


The teachers have accused the government of gross dishonesty claiming they are being robbed by “old pirates”.


The teachers are pressuring education minister Andrew Holness, to use his influence to get government to settle the long delayed wage issue.


Speaking at the Jamaica Teacher's Association conference at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios on Tuesday, Holness said he was sorry that the wage issue was still a sore point.


Holness, in trying to calm their anger, said the non-payment of the outstanding monies was not a malicious act on the part of government.
"While there might be dissatisfaction in the ranks ...

I want you to know that the government is not malicious in not responding to your claims and your calls with the alacrity that it deserves."

David Smith, head of failed investment scheme, Olint, who is now on bail in the Turks and Caicos Islands, has been indicted on 23 charges in the United States. It is anticipated that there will be an extradition request for Smith to go to the US to face the charges.



In the indictment released on Wednesday, US authorities claim Smith's fraudulent transactions started no later than February 2005 and continued through July 2008. The indictment was handed down in the US District Court in the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division.



Some US$128 million which the US authorities claim David Smith gained through wire fraud is up for seizure, in addition to which, he is charged for four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 18 counts of money laundering to conceal specified unlawful activity.



There is also a request that the court allow them to seize premises in Florida which Smith purchased allegedly with criminal proceeds, as well as precious gemstones and metals, jewellery and other property which are owned by him.




According to the indictment, Smith "broke the law by soliciting and obtaining more than US$200 million in funds under false pretences, failing to invest investors funds as promised and misappropriating and converting investors funds to (his) benefit and the benefit of others without the knowledge or authorization of the investors ... ."



The US prosecutors allege that Smith solicited or caused others to solicit prospective clients to open trading accounts with Olint, Olint Corporation, Olint TIC and TIC VEX based on his promise to use their money in foreign-exchange trading with a high return on their investment and with only 20 per cent at risk, "even though (the defendant) well knew that these representations were false".


The indictment claims Smith transferred millions of dollars of his clients money into his private bank accounts, "which he used to finance a lavish and expensive lifestyle and from which he and others received millions of dollars in goods, services and other benefits".

Wi cuss dem when dem do bad but wi haffi big dem up when dem highlight something fi meck people know what a gwaan. Check out da one ya inna di Star.


Vendors in the Half-Way Tree area of St Andrew say that they are concerned about the increased presence of homosexuals in the Mandela Park.


The vendors say that homosexuals have been using the park as a regular meeting spot and are converging there in numbers nightly. There are also reports that some of these men have been using the Emancipation Park as a regular meeting spot on weeknights as well.


A group of vendors who were gathered discussing the matter at the park explained to the paper that nightly after 9 p.m., the men are "in deh like sand". One angry vendor said "them tek over, a fi dem park".

Another vendor pointed out that on week nights, other suspected homosexuals hang around close to the Half-Way Tree clock waiting for the arrival of luxurious vehicles which come by to pick them up.


A wha really a gwaan?

Two District Constables assigned to the Kingston Central Division were arrested on Friday by members of the Anti Corruption Branch.

With a tally of 183 murders since the start of the year, the old capital, Spanish Town is officially the most dangerous place to live in Jamaica.


Spanish Town and its environs also rank high on the list in terms of the numbers of robberies, break-ins and other major crimes.


According to the latest official figures, the St Catherine North Police Division has overtaken St James and St Andrew South, which have traditionally been the areas with the most murders in the island.


Following closely are St James, where the official figures show that 129 persons have been murdered so far this year, while 115 homicides were committed in St Andrew South, which includes Waterhouse, Drewsland, Seaview Gardens and sections of Maxfield Avenue and several others.


Clarendon is also among the killing fields of Jamaica with 103 murders so far this year.


The safest parish, using the murder numbers, is Portland, where six persons have been killed so far this year.


This represents a 60 per cent drop when compared with the corresponding period last year.


Also relatively safe is St Elizabeth with 11 murders, and Hanover, with 14 killings.

Two District Constables assigned to the Kingston Central Division were arrested on Friday by members of the Anti Corruption Branch.


Reports are that the lawmen were travelling behind a motorist who broke a red light and subsequently flagged him down and “taxed” him some $3000.00.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Old Hope Road and Oxford Road in St Andrew.


Members of the Anti-Corruption Branch who were on surveillance duties reportedly intervened and arrested the two District Constables.


The High Command says a file is being prepared and will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a ruling.

The Jamaica Customs Department is looking into the operations of all bonded warehouses operated by motorcar dealers, following Monday afternoon’s arrest of managing director of Key Motors, Desmond Panton for reportedly evading customs duty totally $45 million.


Reports are that Commissioner of Customs, Danville Walker, has declared that the department will begin the probe with the bonded warehouses which it considers more risky.

He explained that the concept of the bonded warehouse is to ease some of the financial burdens faced by car dealers, by allowing them to pay customs duties on the cars at the time of sale, instead of at the point of importation.


According to the Customs Commissioner, some dealers are exploiting the loopholes in the system.


Meanwhile, Desmond Panton’s charges include customs duty evasion of some 51 vehicles and taking steps to defraud the government of duties and taxes. The charges carry fines of around $100 million.


Investigations into the operations at Key Motors are ongoing, as there are several important questions that remain unanswered. TheCustoms Department has already been repossessing some of these 51 vehicles.

The security forces were still combing sections of the St. Catherine North Police Division in pursuit of the remaining suspects in the shooting of eight persons in Tredegar Park, St. Catherine.

The nation was plunged into shock after news emerged that heavily armed men went on a rampage in a section of Tredegar Park known as Monkey Town early Friday morning.

They invaded several houses and killed the occupants.

Checks with the police have revealed that of the 15 alleged attackers, three have either killed or arrested.

Two of them were shot dead by the police during an alleged shoot-out in Brooklyn, Thompson Pen, a community neighbouring Tredegar Park, while the other was captured when he turned up at the Kingston Public Hospital on Saturday with gunshot wounds.

He remains in hospital under police guard.

The other persons wanted for questioning are Howard Jackson also called “Thirty”, Novado Hodges, Simeon Elwig, Joel Jenning also called “JJ” and Glenton Anderson known by his cronies as “Brown Man”.

Well, when you are being attacked, you don’t need anyone to tell you that you should defend yourself, do you? Just in case Former Senior Superintendent of Police Reneto Adams on Friday told the residents of Tredegar Park to protect themselves from the gunmen who continue to wreak havoc in their community.

The controversial cop was at the crime scene where gunmen murdered eight people in the St Catherine community in the wee hours of Friday morning. Adams who visited the community declared he was not afraid of the gunmen before advising residents to protect themselves.

"I drove in this community. I know that criminal elements are here, gunmen are here. I passed some of them sitting there also, but I'm not afraid of them, and I'm imploring you all to form a guard against these people to protect yourselves," Adams said.

He added; "My policy is that where criminals are concerned, we are to identify them and treat them like the ferocious crocodiles and alligators, having them killed in the eggs before the are hatched," Adams said.

"Anywhere you see the alligators and crocodiles, have them killed before they devour you."

But Adams was clear that he was not supporting lawlessness on the part of the residents.

"I'm not saying you are to go and do anything outside of the law, but as long as you are attacked, you must repel it by taking the necessary action," said Adams.

We like Renato Adams style, if more victims were fighting back, we wouldn’t have this kind of brazen attacks.

Declaring that Bar-bee had lots of fun on the set of the Sean Kingston Nicky Minaj video which was shot on location in Ocho Rios, in St Ann, Jamaica, Bar-bee’s publicist told YardFlex that the singer had nothing but love for the two artistes.


In fact, according to sources, Bootylicious Bar-bee, who was the lead girl in the video, but has been cut out, says she totally understood why it happened.


“The truth is that after the first and second edits I was all over the people dem video and if it looks like I am upstaging anybody then the marketing people are going to take a decision to cut me out. It’s not about me, it’s all about marketing the product,” she is reported as saying.


“Let’s get it straight: What is Bar-bee’s signature feature? Her booty. What is Nicky Minaj’s signature feature? Her booty. It’s Nicky’s video, so she has to be the star.

This sort of thing happens everyday.

As an artiste the spotlight is everything; some singers don’t allow even their back-up singers or band members to share the spotlight, while others will introduce them and even give them a solo.

It just depends on your confidence and comfort level,” one prominent artiste manager who requested anonymity stated.


According to the publicist, it was Sean Kingston and his mother who got in contact with Bar-bee and asked her to come to Florida and then to travel with them to Jamaica for the video shoot.


“We had other things doing but we re-arranged our itinerary and pushed back Bar-bee’s video shoot with Trina to accommodate this. Of course we are a bit disappointed that it turned out this way, but the publicity has been positive and the experience invaluable,” the publicist said.


And, as for Bootylicious Bar-bee, she is kicking back and looking forward to the premier of her video with Trina, And, she also sent a shout out to Sean Kingston’s mom, who she calls ‘Mama Kingston’.

A fire of unknown origin which spread quickly through the community of Hamilton Gardens in Gregory Park, Portmore yesterday morning has left 20 persons without a home.


A community of adjoining townhouses, the wind made it easy for the fire to sweep through Begonia Avenue once it started, In the aftermath, it was discovered that five houses had been damaged.
Reports are that there were no injuries and no one was home at the building where the fire started.


Total loss is estimated at $30 million. Most of the damage was to the upstairs section of the houses, all of which are covered under one stretch of roofing.

The fire fighters say the poor design of the houses facilitated the spread of the fire and the extent of the damage.

The writer and director of "Avatar" says he'll celebrate his 56th birthday Monday deep beneath Russia's Lake Baikal. Cameron will be in a submersible about 5,200 feet (1,600 meters) from the surface of the world's oldest and largest lake — "unless it's bad weather, in which case I'll be getting drunk with the Russian crew in the port."



A longtime ocean enthusiast, Cameron has other underwater projects in the works. He says he is building a submarine in Australia that will take him 36,000 feet underwater — twice as deep as anyone has gone before.

He is also developing an upgraded 3-D underwater camera and has plans for an underwater feature film that he said he might make before taking on an "Avatar" sequel.

(Source: AP)

Six months after his United States visa was revoked, Wayne Chen, head of the state-run Urban Development Corporation and the Jamaica Employers Federation, had it reissued.


It was in February this year, while at the airport preparing to go on a business trip overseas, that Chen was told that he was unable to travel to the States as his visa had been revoked.


The businessman and lawyer told reporters at the time that he had not been informed prior to that and that he had visited the US embassy in Kingston on February 4 at which time he had presented his passport with his valid United States visa. He said that embassy officials at that time did not indicate their decision to revoke his visa.


Amidst growing speculation, Chen declared that he was totally ignorant as to the reason for the revocation. He subsequently met with the prime minister and spoke with the head of mission at the US Embassy on the issue.

A curfew has been imposed in several communities in St Catherine following the brutal slaying of eight persons, including an 11-year-old girl in Tredegar Park Thursday night.

The communities of Tredegar Park and Shelter Rock in St Catherine have been under curfew as of 6:00 pm yesterday.The curfew will remain in effect until 6:00 pm tomorrow.



The boundaries of the curfew in Tredegar Park are as follows: North along an imaginary line from the cell towers between Tredegar Park main road and Rio Cobre River;
South along Erving Drive between Tredegar Park main road, Jason Avenue and Rio Cobre River;
East along Tredegar Park main road between the cell towers and Carlisle Avenue; and
West along the eastern bank of Rio Cobre River between the cell towers and Carlisle Avenue.
The boundaries of the curfew in Shelter Rock are as follows:
North along Greendale main road between the Rio Cobre River and Jones Avenue;
South along Spanish Town bypass between the Rio Cobre River and an imaginary line moving from Jones Avenue;
East along Jones Avenue running from Greendale main road to Spanish Town bypass; and
West along the bank of the Rio Cobre River from Greendale main road to Spanish Town bypass.
During the hours of the curfew persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorized in writing by the ground commander.

United States federal authorities have indicted three illegal migrants from Jamaica with murder.


The Rochester District Attorney said Wednesday that the men were previously charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics.


The indictments accuse 45-year-old Richard Emanuel Anderson, 41-year-old Aston Johnson and 40-year-old Andrew Wright of being part of a marijuana trafficking ring along with the three victims.


Court documents said the defendants targeted and killed their compatriots inside an apartment in the town of Greece, a suburb of this up-state New York city.


Federal prosecutors said that the defendants travelled to Greece from after “substantial planning and premeditation” to kill Christopher Green, 40, Robert Moncriffe, 29, and Mark Wisdom, 38.
Prosecutors said the defendants targeted the victims after they failed to return the full cash for marijuana dispatched through the mail from California for sale in New York.


Arizona police said they arrested Wright, Johnson and Anderson during a raid in Phoenix on March 18.


Prosecutors said all three could face the death penalty for the federal charges. Five other defendants were also charged with drug conspiracy.

(Source: CMC)

The Kingston Western Police have seized over 200 rounds of assorted ammunition at Bread Lane, Denham Town, Kingston 14 last night.
No one was arrested in connection with the seizure.


Reports from the Denham Town Police are that between 6:00 p.m. and 7:20 p.m., an operation was carried out in sections of the Kingston Western police area. During the exercise, a premises was searched and rounds of assorted ammunition were found.

Jamaica has so far recorded a total number to 104 cases of dengue fever, with 27 cases confirmed last week.


In recent weeks, cases of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever the more severe form of the disease, have been rising in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.



Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer had announced during a press conference at Jamaica House last Tuesday that 77 laboratory confirmed cases had been detected, including seven confirmed cases of the severe type.


But despite the rapid increase in the number of cases, Lewis-Fuller said the number of persons confirmed with the virus was far less than the actual number of persons who have been infected.


She said the ministry suspected that the larger number of infected persons were not reported to the ministry.


Kingston and St Andrew, Manchester, Clarendon and St Catherine are reported to be the most active dengue areas.

Dengue fever is caused by a virus transmitted from the Aedes aegypti mosquito to humans.


Lewis-Fuller urged persons to assist in ridding their areas of breeding grounds for the vectors.
The symptoms of the virus include a high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, a rash and back pain.


Persons who are experiencing such symptoms are advised to visit their health-care provider so that they can be accurately diagnosed.

Sections of Spanish Town in St. Catherine came under heavy security surveillance Thursday afternoon as police and military personnel stepped up the search for wanted men and contraband in the old capital.

Several suspects, who investigators say may be linked to an extortion racket, were taken into custody during cordon and search operations.

Superintendent Assan Thompson, head of the St. Catherine North Police Division, told RJR News that the operations focused on netting wanted men and removing illegal contraband from the streets.

“The bus terminus which continues to be a problem to the Division, a massive cordon and search operation was carried out there, where some eleven persons were arrested on suspicion for various crimes including extortion.

They are in custody and are being processed and we are looking among them to see if they are persons of interest or persons wanted in the Division,” Superintendent Thompson said.

The Divisional Commander added that another cordon and search operation was carried out in the Cumberland area.

“Out of that operation, 14 persons were arrested on suspicion 15 pounds of ganja was found inside the area close to the market and we are concerned about that because we recognize the proceeds from that ganja is being used to purchase firearms and to buy ammunition. So we are serious about that type of offence and we are searching for ganja and removing it from the street.

“A large amount of DVD’s and CD’s, illegal and pirated DVD’s and CD’s would have been seized in that operation.” Superintendent Thompson said.

The man said to have topped the country's most wanted list has been killed.

Dead is Cedric Murray, also known as 'Doggie', of Norwood in St James who reportedly headed the feared, 'Stone Crusher Gang', and was on the police most-wanted list, for several years.

He was killed by the St. James police in Clarendon Thursday, during a pre-dawn operation.

For more than five years Murray managed to elude several dragnets set up for him by the St. James police.

They say about seven thirty Thursday morning the police, who were on a special operation along the Clarendon/Manchester border were confronted by criminals traveling in a car.

Following an exchange of gunfire Murray was found dead in the car, reportedly clutching a nine millimeter pistol.

The driver of the vehicle, who is believed to have also been shot, managed to elude the lawmen.

According to commanding officer for St. James, Superintendent Merrick Watson, a diary containing volumes of information regarding the recent incursion of the Security Forces into Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston, was taken from him.

The Superintendent read excerpts from it, some of which professed his loyalty to Christopher “Dudus” Coke’s family and his involvement in the shooting during that event.

It details events before, during and after the incursion into Tivoli Gardens and speaks about, “…the invasion of Tivoli Gardens by Babylon, enemy. Gunshot rang out for hours from every corner of Kingston…” The diary read.

Murray, who was killed on his birthday, was fingered in a large number of killings in St. James, including the recent triple killing of two men and a woman on Felicity Road in the capital.

The Bureau of Special Investigations has started a probe into the matter.

Residents of Tredegar Park in Spanish Town awoke to the tragic news that seven of their own were killed in the community.

Security forces are now in the area carrying out a major operation. The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) – the police information arm – confirmed the incident, which occurred about 1:00 am, but gave few details.

According to their statement given in the Observer: "The murders did occur, and police are currently in the area carrying out an operation. There's no confirmed information about how the killings occurred as yet because the officers are still on the ground”.

Tredegar Park has been under siege in recent years as a bloody feud between warring factions in the community, and in neighbouring Gravel Heights escalates.

Dozens of residents have had to flee their homes because of the conflict.

Yardflex will keep you up to date on this one.

Responding to an appeal from the police to turn herself in, Stephanie Gayle, the girlfriend former Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, reported to the police yesterday evening.


Gayle also known as “Sue Gayle or “First Lady”, was placed on a list of persons of interest, which was made public. Three other people from West Kingston were also on the same list..


The Head of the Major Investigation Taskforce, Assistant Commissioner Les Green says Miss Gayle is now in police custody.


Assistant Commissioner Green says Gayle is being questioned in connection with threats against the security forces.


Reports are that Gayle is also being questioned in connection with crimes committed by Coke’s Presidential Click gang.


The appeal remains for Omar Damian Miller, otherwise called “Andy Fowl”; Andrew Emmanuel Brown, otherwise called “Presi Face” and Horace Hope Lee-Sue, also known as “Monk” or “Shoe” to report to the police.

It has been reported that following a chemical spill earlier today, the Kingston Wharves is now closed.


A representative at the company said they were still trying to collate information about the incident, but out of an abundance of caution sent everyone home".


The chemical is reported to be chlorine. In addition to Kingston Wharves being closed, the Harbour Cold Stores have also been closed with everyone sent home.

A jail break attempt has been foiled by the Denham Town Police station in West Kingston after prisoners there destroyed a section of a cell wall there. No prisoner escaped.


The attempt was thwarted when police discovered the damaged wall during a routine check about 4:00 am, Deputy Superintendent Arthur Brown said.


According to reports, the officers on patrol saw some disturbances and that was when they realised what was happening and responded.


Representatives from the Ministry of Security visited the facility, and that they made arrangements to have the damaged wall repaired.

The Tourism Minister is steering wide from comments made about him on Tuesday by Gordon "Butch" Stewart, hotelier and Chairman of JAMPRO.

The Sandals chain of hotels owner, lambasted Edmund Bartlett, saying that the minister was "yapping", and did not understand the factors that drive up the cost of tourism in Jamaica.

When asked if he will be responding to Mr. Stewart, Mr. Bartlett was coy.

“Maybe on Mr. Stewart’s score card, I don’t score too well (but) I’ve taken a position based on what the rest of the industry and everyone else who has observed my operation has given me … say nothing on the matter,” Mr. Bartlett said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Justin Felice, has described as alarming, the 149 members booted from the force as a result of unprofessional conduct.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), the JCF has embarked on a three-year aggressive campaign to cleanse the organisation of corruption, and it is time for the "good officers" within the force to start curbing the unethical behaviour of others among them.

Since the campaign began in January 2010, 105 members have not been permitted to re-enlist in the JCF. In addition, 26 members have been retired in the public's interest, while 18 were dismissed as a result of corruption. Ten civilians have so far been charged with corrupting members of the JCF.

The ACP also told JIS News that over the same period, 55 persons have been arrested by the anti-corruption branch of the JCF for breaches, of which 31 have been charged.

"Police personnel accounted for 36, with 21 being charged. There were 19 civilians, with 10 being charged," ACP Felice informed, adding that those not yet charged are currently undergoing investigation.

He said that for the rest of the campaign, all available measures within the legislation and the rules of the JCF will be used to purge the force of corrupt members.

A 14-page report by the Public Accountability Inspectorate has uncovered the messy state of affairs which led to the immediate firing of the former Executive Director of the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) by Finance Minister, Audley Shaw.

The audit report highlighted problems with Lenice Barnett's personal financial benefits, loan scheme participation, and use of company vehicles as well as wider problems of administration.

The audit zeroed in on the remuneration and personal finances of the former Executive Director.

It found that her gratuity and travel allowances were rolled into her basic salary resulting in an inflation of the 9% incentive paid.

This resulted in a near $115,000 overpayment.

The report further states that Mrs. Barnett and the Finance Manager of the SLB were receiving gratuities even while contributing to the Pension Scheme.

This contravened their employment contracts which provided for gratuity in lieu of pensions.

The audit also found that for the period 2005 to 2009 salary advances to Mrs. Barnett amounted to nearly $5 million.

An internal audit raised concerns about the Management Accountant approving gratuity and salary advances to her without the Board's approval.

The accountant wrote to Mrs. Barnett in June 2009 expressing his concerns that a subordinate was approving payments to her and recommended that the Student’s Loan Council review the requests.

$1.8M for car upkeep despite getting company vehicles

There were also reports of misuse of the Bureau's motor vehicles.

The SLB purchased a 2006 Mercedes Benz and assigned it to Mrs. Barnett as part of her employment contract.

That vehicle was used up to June 2009, when it was parked at the Bureau and has not now being driven.

The report stated that the Executive Director requested approval from the Finance Ministry to purchase a 2009 Land Cruiser for field visits.

It was revealed that the vehicle was never used for its intended purpose and a Board member instead assigned the vehicle to Mrs. Barnett.

Despite having been assigned these vehicles, the investigation revealed that the Board approved Mrs. Barnett's use of her personal vehicle and allowed her to claim upkeep which amounted to $1.8 million over three years.

It was also reported that a home ownership plan was set up with VMBS in 2004 to help staff members with housing needs.

However, only the Executive Director was reported to have accessed that facility and that was said to be without the knowledge of the Bureau.

Another disturbing state of affairs was also uncovered.

In 76 cases, loans were made to educational institutions on behalf of borrowers and were not accounted for by the Bureau on the individuals' account.

Some loans were for persons who already closed their accounts, some were in repayment and some were in arrears.

Forty of the accounts amounted to nearly $1.2 million.

Other significant findings pointed to what the Inspectorate described as the lack of a reliable system to adequately and accurately track loan balances.

Yesterday's sacking of the Students Loan Bureau (SLB) head, Lenice Barnett, will be explained today, government sources have confirmed.

This, amidst charges by oppostion spokesman on education, Senator Basil Waite, that Barnett's firing was an attempt to muzzle her in light of her recent utterance that tertiary fees could be doubled within the next two years.

Senator Waite further claimed that her dismissal is an attempt by the government to sanitise the SLB in order to quietly implement new policies.

However,the state minister for finance, Senator Arthur Williams, has dismissed the suggestion as careless and reckless.

According to Senator Williams, Barnett was fired as the SLB head because of the findings of a report which was submitted at the end of July and not because of he rstatement.

A temporary manager will take over the operations of the SLB today and more information will be given on the details on the findings of the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) audit.

There have been suggestions that Barnett was sacked because the audit found serious, systemic and governance problems.

According to Senator Williams, the audit report also raised grave concerns about the rate of staff turnover at the SLB.

He says in two-and-a-half years, of the 76 people employed at the SLB, 46 have been separated from their jobs.

In six years, the head of the accounts department has been changed six times.

The killers of a 27-year-old man who was gunned down yesterday while at a bar at the Naggo Head Transportation Centre in St Catherine remain at large.

The man, Kenroy Brown popularly called 'Ruggu' was reportedly shot several times and died on the spot. According to the Catherine South Police, sometime after 11 a.m., a car drove into the park and its occupants got out and fired shots, after which they fled the scene.



Police investigations continue, but no motive has yet been established for the killing.

The search is on for a replacement for Executive Director of the Student's Loan Bureau (SLB).

This follows Dr. Lenice Barnett’s sudden firing by Finance Minister, Audley Shaw.

In a terse statement on Tuesday, the Finance Minister announced that the services of Dr. Barnett have been terminated, with immediate effect.

The statement did not divulge the circumstances which led to Dr. Barnett's dismissal, however, Mr. Shaw says it follows a meeting with Andrew Cocking, Chairman of the SLB's Board of Directors.

The Finance Minister has scheduled a meeting with the board for Wednesday morning.

It is expected that a temporary Manager will be in Dr. Barnett's seat as of Wednesday.

Mr. Shaw says this process of transition is being undertaken to ensure that the work of the Bureau proceeds smoothly, until a new Executive Director is appointed.

Sources have it that her firing could be coming from statements made to telling the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAC) that tertiary-level students could face a staggering 100% increase in tuition fees in the 2011-2012 academic year.

This it is said reportedly rattled senior members of the Golding administration.

She told members of the Committee that the average tuition could double by 2011-2012, which means that fees would soar close to $500,000 per annum in less than two years.

The revelation reportedly did not go down well in the Bruce Golding administration.

A day after the Parliamentary revelations, Education Minister, Andrew Holness, hastily called a press conference in what appeared to be a rejection of the SLB head's claims.

Mr. Holness tried to allay fears that tuition fees at tertiary institutions would spike next year, arguing that while an increase is expected, the Government did not intend to slash its subsidy overnight.

Can you imagine your job is to pick up dead and take back to your funeral home and now the workers of one funeral home in Clarendon are now fearing the worst where two of their colleagues are concerned.


Workers at the Phillips and Son Funeral Home in Denbigh are fast losing hope that two of their co-workers who went missing on Monday night after receiving a call to pick up a corpse in Old Harbour, St Catherine, will be found alive.


The workers' hopes were dampened after news broke late yesterday evening that two bodies were found in a section of St Catherine with hands and feet bound and gunshot wounds to their heads. The bodies were reportedly clad in the uniforms of the funeral home.


Pearnel Watson (left) and Damion Watson... both missing
The police were last evening unable to confirm that the bodies were those of the two funeral home workers.

"We know of the bodies but we cannot confirm their identities," a cop at the Guanabovale Police Station told the Observer last night.

The St. James police are still searching for two of five men who they say engaged them in a shootout in Westmoreland, Jamaica last night.

The other three men, one of them identified as Ricardo Murray were shot dead during the encounter.

The police say Murray was wanted for a number of major crimes but was not on the most-wanted list.

Deputy Superintendent in charge of crime, Michael Garrick, says a police team was on patrol in Anchovy when it received information about armed men travelling in a motorcar.

He says the police team followed the motorcar to Haddock in Westmoreland before signalling the driver of the vehicle to stop.

DSP Garrick says the occupants of the vehicle shot at them and they fired back.

Two of the men then ran from the vehicle and escaped.

A check was made and the three other men were found in the motorcar suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were later declared dead at the Sav-La-Mar hospital.

DSP Garrick says a shotgun with 2 rounds of ammunition and a 9 millimetre pistol were found in the vehicle.

Lenice Barnett's position as executive director of the Student's Loan Bureau(SLB) has been terminated with immediate effect.

This announcement was made by Minister of Finance Audley Shaw in a press release.

A temporary manager will be appointed tomorrow after Shaw meets with the chairman of the board of the SLB today and the entire board tomorrow morning.

The teenager who was held in connection with a robbery at the Spanish Town Hospital in St Catherine has now been formally charged, following his arrest one month ago.

According to the St Catherine North police, the 16-year-old boy has been charged with robbery with aggravation.

The boy, whose name has been withheld, is scheduled to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court today.

The police report that on July 16, three gunmen invaded the hospital, and robbed staff members on a corridor near the King of Spain Wing.

The men stole cash, cell phones and other personal items.

They later attempted to escape from the institution into a nearby community.

However the teen was held near the scene of the robbery and taken in custody on suspicion of robbery with aggravation.

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Recording artiste Tami Chynn-Marshall is the new host of Heineken Green Synergy 2010 competition.

Heineken Green Synergy has changed its format, becoming more of a reality show set to premier on Television Jamaica on August 20.

This year the disc jockeys are vying for more than $1 million in cash and prizes courtesy of Heineken as well as an internship on RJR’s Fame 95FM.

The 27-year old singer, who has grown in the music industry, says she has been a fan of Heineken Green Synergy and is elated to be given this opportunity.

Well known Spelling Bee and Schools' Challenge Quiz coach, Reverend Glen Archer, has been admitted to hospital.

Reverend Archer was rushed to hospital early Monday morning, after complaining of chest pains.

He was first taken to the St. Joseph's Hospital and then transferred to the University Hospital of the West Indies.

A family source told RJR News that Reverend Archer is being closely monitored by doctors.

Reverend Archer has gained national fame for recruiting several youngsters to the World Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Championships.

The St. Ann crime investigator who was captured on a cell phone video clip shooting Buckfield, St Ann resident, Ian Lloyd, is to be charged with murder.

Paula Llewellyn, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ruled that Detective Sergeant Lloyd Kelly be criminally charged for the July 29 fatal shooting.

Sergeant Kelly is to be charged by Investigators attached to the Major Investigation Taskforce, MIT.

The Ocho Rios-based cop is expected to be brought before the Home Circuit Court in Kingston on Tuesday.

The DPP has also ruled that strong departmental action be taken against Constable Vick-Roy Mowatt who was captured in the same video using a baton to hit Mr. Lloyd several times prior to his demise.

Llewellyn has also ruled that a Disciplinary Enquiry be conducted into the roles of the other police officers present and any action they should have taken during and after the incident.

Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington has directed the Inspector General to lead this internal investigation.

Meanwhile, Oswest Senior-Smith, the attorney who is representing Detective Sergeant Kelly, is expressing confidence that his client will be acquitted of the murder charge.

According to Senior-Smith,his client is unperturbed by the ruling of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

People, we ah wonder like how September soon come if dem a go change Buju court date again.

A four times now dem change the date and a nearly nine months now di deejay lock dung inna prison inna Florida.

Him trial suppose to start September 13 and him new album, Before Di Dawn scheduled fi come out September 28. It look like it's goona be a September to remember fi di Gargamel.

149 cops were kicked out from its ranks of the Jamaica Constabulary Force between January and July this year in what it admitted was an aggressive and ongoing campaign to rid the police force of cops who continued to operate unprofessionally.

Head of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Assistant Commissioner Justin Felice yesterday said the number of cops dismissed in the first seven months of the year was close to the number given marching orders for the entire 2009.

A police news release yesterday said that 34 of the dismissals were effected last month.

According to the news release, between January and July, 105 cops were not permitted to re-enlist, 26 were retired in the public interest, and 18 were cashiered as a result of corruption.

Another 21 cops have been charged with breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act and are now before the courts.

One gazetted officer, four sergeants and one special sergeant were listed among 36 cops arrested for corruption breaches. Also arrested were three corporals, 19 constables, one special corporal, six special constables, and one district constable.

The message is clear, cops behave yourselves or else…

$10 m is what it will be costing tw men charged with possession of, dealing in, taking steps to export ganja and conspiracy to export ganja to receive bail with one or two sureties. This was thrown at them when they appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last Tuesday.

Sixty-two-year-old businessmen Leopold Bromley and Donald Davis were offered bail by Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey on condition that they report to the Narcotics Police on Mondays between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Both men are charged along with 32-year-old Oneil Seabourne, 35-year-old Nigel Seabourne, 38-year-old Mark Dobney, 34-year-old Michael Rodney, and 43-year-old Errol Tyrell, all of Red Hills addresses in St Andrew. The men, who were previously released on $500,000 bail, are facing similar charges and their bails were extended.

The men were arrested during a police operation on June 23 at a factory on Ken Hill Drive, Pembroke Hall, in Kingston where police said they found the drugs during a search.

The police reported that on their arrival they saw the accused men loading bottles of cranberry water, which was destined for South Africa, on to a 40-foot container.

For all those who used to maintain their ‘healthy habit’ at Mandela Park, they will have to find other alternatives as the park will be closed to the public for a month as of today for refurbishing.


The public park, which up to two years ago was a haven for numerous homeless persons and drug addicts, is to receive a facelift by the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Parks and Gardens Division.

The facelift will include the planting of new flowers, painting of the facility, as well as infrastructural work to the bathrooms and the perimeter walls to prevent persons from scaling them to vandalise the park.

She dresses to shock so often that Lady Gaga's outrageous outfits are almost becoming boring.

But the singer outdid herself last night - wearing nothing more than shorts and T-shirt made of fishnet stockings.

Taking a leaf out of Janet Jackson's book, she preserved her modesty with a simple star as she arrived for the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago.

But even Gaga didn't risk a stage performance in the risque ensemble.

Instead the Alejandro singer changed into a hard-wearing leather jacket and leopard print pants for her stage show - on top of the fishnet.

Gaga is one of the headliners of the annual show, along with Soundgarden and Green Day.

The 24-year-old surprised fans when she made an early appearance on stage with her friends Semi Precious Weapons, the support act on her recent Monster Ball tour.

Frontman Justin Tranter told MTV: 'She stood on the side of the stage, and then during the song Magnetic Baby, she started playing drums with Dan.

'Then she started singing backup vocals, then her and I made out, and then she stagedove and then I joined her while she stage-dove.

'And then we made out while stagediving. And then she left. It was pretty amazing. (Source: Mail online)

The shooting death of Ian 'Ching Sing' Lloyd by the police in Old Buckfield, Ocho Rios, St Ann on July 29 remains topical.

On Thursday, a police constable, whose identity is still being protected, was been released from police lock-up. No charges have been laid against him.

The commissioner had ordered last week that the two policemen involved in the beating and shooting of Lloyd should be arrested.

The constable’s attorney on Thursday filed a writ of habeas corpus in the St Ann's Bay Resident Magistrate's Court to have him released or charged. The cop was released shortly after.

The constable was caught on an amateur video using what resembled a baton to strike the hands of Lloyd who was lying on the ground. Another cop in the video-taped beating/shooting incident is still in police custody.

Lloyd, the murder suspect in the stabbing death of Loveta 'Cherry' Wilson who was killed earlier that day, died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, the post-mortem report showed.

Ian “Chen-Singh” Lloyd, the 27 year-old man from Buckfield, St. Ann whose controversial police killing was videotaped and sent to the television, died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

That was the findings of a post-mortem performed by government pathologist Dr. Rao.

Lloyd was killed last week after a confrontation with the members of the constabulary force. A video tape aired on television showed Lloyd being beaten and shot in full view of residents.

The policemen involved in the incident were ordered arrested and have since been in custody.

A post mortem conducted on a little boy who was believed ot have drowned has revealed that the child was actually buggered nad murdered.

Eight-year-old Kevin Limonth of Little Bay in Westmoreland went missing on Saturday morning.

His mother reportedly that she got word that he was last spotted with a family friend in the vicinity of the nearby beach.

When they went there they found his body.

The police in their preliminary investigations concluded that Kevin had drowned.

His body was taken to the morgue where a post mortem revealed that he had been buggered and his neck broken.

He died as a result of the neck injuries and not from drowning.

Reports are that a close family friend had been taken into custody for his murder on Thursday in connection with his death.

The police say the man is to be charged soon.

Sexy Paul and 'Gummy Bear', both of whom are reportedly linked to Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke’s Presidential Clik organisation, are to be charged with murder and gun-related offences, the police confirm.

The duo was pointed out in and identification parade in connection with the murder of a district constable whose body was found in a shallow grave in Tivoli during the recent incursion in June.

‘Gummy Bear’, whose real name is Colin Man of Christopher Road, Denham Town and Derrick Pathway in Tivoli Gardens, and Paul Ignatius Williams, otherwise called ‘Sexy Paul’, 51-year-old bus operator of Levy Pathway, Tivoli Gardens, were pointed out on an identification parade at the Major Investigation Taskforce yesterday.

,

They will be formally charged later today for murder and gun-related charges, said police in a statement this morning.

Man and Williams were persons of interest since the discovery of the body of district constable Kevin Paul Bartley, 32. Bartley was attached to the Half-Way-Tree Police station since 2005.

His body was found by Jamaica Defence Force soldiers who were patrolling an area in Tivoli Gardens known as ‘Rasta City'.

A post mortem revealed that death was caused by gunshot injuries. The MIT launched a probe into the circumstances and the suspects were taken into custody.

The following roads will be closed to ensure the easy flow of traffic for the staging of the Independence Grand Gala 48th Anniversary celebration on Friday, August 6.


Before the event the following roads will be operated as one-way:



Arthur Wint Drive from Tom Redcam Drive to the National Stadium.



Upper section of Arthur Wint Drive from Mountain View Avenue to access the general car park located along Arthur Wint Drive.

Roosevelt Avenue will be operated as a two-way



Stanton Terrace to Arthur Wint Drive will be used for VIP's to access Gate E2.

Arthur Wint Drive to Stanton Terrace through Mountain View Avenue for access by the JUTC buses and other vehicles using the general car park.

Arthur Wint Drive - there will be no through way along Arthur Wint Drive from Roosevelt Avenue to Mountain View Avenue.

Arthur Wint Drive will be barricaded at the junction with Roosevelt Avenue and below Gate E4 above the main entrance leading to the National Stadium.

Mountain View Avenue/Arthur Wint Drive will be used as a police checkpoint. Only vehicles transporting patrons will be allowed to turn from Mountain View Avenue onto Arthur Wint Drive. All other vehicles, including JUTC buses will continue along Mountain View Avenue.

Stanton Terrace/Roosevelt Avenue will be used as a police checkpoint, only VIP's with stickers to access Gate E2 will be allowed beyond this point by way of Roosevelt Avenue, JUTC buses and other vehicles will be diverted onto Stanton Terrace through Mountain View Avenue.

ENTRY POINTS

Media personnel will enter through Gate E10 from Nannyville.
General Public will travel along Mountain View Avenue to access Arthur Wint Drive to enter the car park at Gates E4-E8 respectively.


Statute Road front of the swimming pool and the front section of the National Stadium will be used as parking areas for VIPS and OFFICIALS.

Designated areas adjacent to the swimming pool and the

General car park.
NO PARKING

No parking will be allowed along the following roads:

Arthur Wint Drive

Roosevelt Avenue

Stanton Terrace

Mountain View Avenue between Nannyville to Old Hope Road

Lathan Avenue

North Avenue

EMERGENCY EXIT

Statue Road will be operated as the emergency exit.
AFTER THE EVENT

The following roads will be used a one-way after the event:

Arthur Wint Drive from the Stadium to Tom Redcam Drive.

Roosevelt Avenue from the Stadium to Stanton Terrace

Lathan Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to Old Hope Road

Vehicles occupying the upper section of the car park will use the upper section of Arthur Wint Drive to exit.
N.B. All persons attending the event should park at the designated areas. Motorists are prohibited from parking on sidewalks, to allow free passage to pedestrians.
Motorists are advised to obey the directives of the police, to facilitate smooth traffic flow.

We love how Reneto never mince words when him a chat bout the policeman dem who kill the man inna Ochi just so.

Adams tell the people dem at the Lions Club lunch Wednesday that the shooting incident was di most heinous, barbaric, despicable and reprehensible police action him ever see inna recent and modern history.

All now people cyan stop talk bout the incident and a wonder how often the police dem go to work like dat and just kill off people so-so so.

We hope the man who have di videotap-e nuh badda ketch him fraid now that police a look fi him. My yute, mek sure you keep a copy and watch yuh back!

The third party, National Democratic Movement (NDM) formerly led by now prime minister, Bruce Golding, received support form 1% of those polled.

The poll was conducted from July 17 and 21 involving a nationally representative sample.

The person who used his cellular phone to videotape the recent shooting of a man in Buckfield, St Ann by members of the constabulary force is wanted by the police for questioning.



The controversial incident occurred last week and the video of the shooting was aired on local television. The video showed St Ann resident, Ian Lloyd, alias 'Ching Sing', as he was shot by the police in full view of a group of cheering residents.


The man who handed the video footage to the TV station was subsequently hailed as a hero by police commissioner Owen Ellington, and the cops arrested.



Detectives attached to the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT) reported yesterday that they have recorded at least 15 statements in relation to the killing.


An autopsy has been scheduled for today to establish the cause of death.



Lloyd was accused of killing his common-law wife, Loveta Wilson, otherwise called 'Cherry', both of Buckfield, Ocho Rios.


Video footage of the policemen beating and shooting Lloyd was later circulated to the media. The cops say they also need the cellular phone he used to capture the footage.

With all the attention that has been given to the man that was slain on video the children of the woman the man killed are crying out.

In a story in the Observer the children of the late Odella Lovida 'Cherry' Wilson, the woman who was allegedly stabbed to death by the man at the centre of the video-taped beating and alleged shooting by the police in Buckfield, say their mother's death is being treated like her life had no worth.


Wilson's children made the charge against the background of the national focus on the death of their mother's ex-lover, Ian Lloyd, alias 'Ching Sing'; the condemnation of the policemen accused of his death, and the little attention being paid to their mom's death.

They said all the focus is being placed on the death of the man who had committed a horrible crime.

Wilson was allegedly stabbed several times in the neck and chest by Lloyd at about 1:30 pm on July 29 in Buckfield in Ocho Rios.

At the same time, Wilson's children believe the police's action was justified as Lloyd had taken someone's life.

They also believe the public outcry caused by the police's action would have been different if their mother's murder was also videotaped and aired on national television.

"Everyone is saying that the policeman wicked, and him shouldn't shoot the man like that but, at the same time, him no have no right to take my mother life; him have no right to get up hot-headed and just say him feel to kill somebody and kill my mother," said Wilson's child, Makeba Rodney, who is also the daughter of reggae legend, Burning Spear.

"The bible says an eye for an eye; whatever you live by is it you're going to die by, so that's the outcome of him, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; justice prevailed and I am sorry that cameraman did not take it from start to finish," said Rodney.

Her brother, Marcus Rodney, said he was also deeply hurt and saddened by the tragic and brutal manner in which his mother was killed. He said no matter the life she was living, she was human and didn't deserve to die in that manner.

"...I was trying to make it into the music so that I could help my mother. She was my mother and I loved her, no matter what she was doing, I really loved her so much," Marcus said; adding "I just glad that the man that killed my mother is dead."

"I don't like the vibes against the police [as] they are saying they killed an unarmed man; he [Ching Sing] was armed and was doing a lot of wrongs," added Marcus.

The woman's children said they were upset because no one has come out and condemned the wrong which was reportedly done that caused 'Ching Sing's death.

In the meantime, the Rodneys are appealing for financial assistance to bury their mother. They want other family members, including her other four children, with whom they have no contact, to help with her burial.

Wilson, who grew up in Trench Town, Kingston lived in several other parts of the island before settling in Buckfield.

Wait, it look like sey Bolt love TV star. First wi hear sey him did a date reality star, him meck di news pon mediatakeout.com bout one nex TV star.


Track star Usain Bolt made overseas headlines again with yet another reality star. Pictures of Bolt and his supposed new 'love interest' was posted on popular celebrity gossip site media takeout.com yesterday.

The website called 21-year-old reality star Lesa-Gayle 'Milan' Wee Tom Bolt's latest girlfriend as the site stated, "track superstar Usain Bolt is the most eligible bachelor on the island of Jamaica, and he's been spotted around with a number of beauties.

But a lil birdie tells MediaTakeOut.com that Usain may be ready to settle down - with a beauty queen/reality star named Milan. They make a cute couple."

The Jamaica-born Milan is no stranger to the limelight when she appeared as a cast member on BET's College Hill, a reality show that follows the lives of students at historical colleges.

She has also secured several titles in pageantry including: first runner-up - Miss Hollywood Teen USA, second runner-up Miss Jamaica Florida, second runner-up Miss Miami Tropic, queen Miss Florida Caribbean, queen Miss Jamaica Caribbean World and she also participated in Miss Caribbean World 2010 pageant and is also pursuing a modelling career.

The model was recently in Jamaica for the just concluded Dream/ATI weekend, where the pictures of her and Bolt, that are on media takeout.com, were taken.

Simpson, 24, was named Lava on the show and is originally from Portland, but now lives in Florida. Various Internet sources list her occupations as a model and make-up artist.

The thousands expected to flock the National Stadium for the Jamaica Independence Festival Grand Gala tomorrow, are asked to wear the Jamaican colours, take a flag and transform the National Stadium into a sea of bright, bold, tropical colours in celebration of Jamaica's 48th anniversary of Independence.

Culture minister, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, last week appealed to business enterprises and Government offices nationwide to fly the National Flag and include the national colours in their decorations and displays.

According to Minister Grange the colours, the flag, and other national symbols will heighten visual impact and strengthen the national spirit.

Miss Grange is also encouraging everyone to make creative use of the national colours -- black, gold and green -- in dress and fashion accessories over the seven-days of celebrations known as Jamaica Festival.

On Independence Day there will be islandwide celebrations for the entire day including street dances, the western gala in Montego Bay, the festival street parade leaving from the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre and culminating with the Grand Gala at the National Stadium.

The national Independence celebrations are being staged under the theme I Believe

It seems as if JLP and PNP will be getting some competition…well actually we not sure bout that yet. Another political party has been launched and this time it’s coming from child advocate Betty Ann Blaine.

The party was launched yesterday. It is the New Nation Coalition (NNC) led by Betty Ann Blaine, Convenor of children’s lobby group Hear the Children's Cry and former talk show host.

The movement was launched at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston, Wednesday morning, as its leader and 10 founding members, gathered to tell the country its mandate.

The New Nation Coalition presents itself as a nationalist, political movement with its motto “Justice, peace and prosperity” and its message “The dawn of a new day, time to start over”.

The movement is a partnership between members of the Jamaican Diaspora as well Jamaicans here at home.

In an early declaration to all detractors, Mrs. Blaine said the NNC will survive in the political wilderness as it has as its mandate, the interest of the citizens of Jamaica.

She stressed that the movement is grounded in Christian principles and will not indulge in political mind games.

According to her, the NNC will instead focus on the social ills affecting the country such as poor family structures.

“Our movement has no intention of indulging in the blame game or in playing politics with the lives and future of the Jamaican people. Our mission and mandate is to seek solutions that are better the quality of live for all our citizens and restore the dignity and respect that is commensurate with our national and international achievements.

“We understand that if you fix family life, you fix crime and along the way, you fix almost all the other problems that beset the country,” Mrs. Blaine said.

All we can say is good luck, these voters are either for one or the other they won’t even try something new.

The Ras a cry foul! Beres Brown who was disqualified from the Digicel Rising Star competition is saying that he wasn’t liked by the powers that be.
According to the Brown in a Star interview “they didn’t like me”. He said he is not a fool to have a prime chance like that to push his career and throw it all away.

The show producer claims that he was rude and disrespectful, using expletives and all that.
But Beres has another story. He said someone said something feisty and him and he responded in kind and now he is getting the blame.

He explained that there was another instance when one of the contestants "belch inna mi face and when mi ask har why she do dat, she seh 'so what' and mi tell har fi go ...."

Brown continued: "Dem waan diss people and when yuh diss dem back, dem run go complain."

According to the statement that was sent in by the producer of the DRS "Over the four weeks, since Mr Beres Brown has been a contestant in the Digicel Rising Stars competition, he has displayed behaviour that, in any context, would be considered intolerable.
Mr Brown has been rude, disrespectful, abusive, intolerant and confrontational. The contestants and members of the DRS team felt continuously intimidated by Mr Brown due to his verbal abuse and threatening behaviour towards fellow contestants, crew members and the producers.”

"Mi hurt. Right now mi a talk to you and water inna mi eyes. Mi feel down. Mi feel like dem nuh love mi and dem nuh want mi come shine fi Jamaica see.
Mi nuh hurt nobody, mi nuh fight. Dem seh dem nah tek mi 'pologise. Dem mek everybody a pree dem. If a fight mi fight dem coulda put mi out," Brown was quoted as saying in the Star interview.

Outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the CVM Group, Dr. David McBean, is heading to telecommunications company LIME.

He has been appointed as the company's Managing Director Customer Solutions, effective September 8.

Dr. McBean will lead LIME’s Product Management team and will be accountable for Product Strategy, Product Planning and Management as well as Regional delivery of Customer/Product Solutions.

He will be based in Barbados.

Minister of Health Minister Rudyard Spencer, is urging the public to co-operate with Ministry’s health workers involved in vector control and other activities associated with the elimination of Dengue Fever.


He said that particularly important was that, during fogging exercises, residents open doors and windows so that mosquitoes in the homes can be eliminated.


As a precautionary measure, he is also encouraged persons to ensure that water storage containers are covered, as they are found to be major breeding sites for mosquitoes.

He asked persons to cover other containers in which water can settle, to keep them dry, clean them regularly, fill them with soil or sand, punch holes them or dispose of them.


“Persons should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, mosquito nets, mosquito destroyers or putting screens on windows and doors. Make sure that children wear protective clothing, such as socks, long sleeved shirts, or blouses and long pants,” Mr. Spencer said.


He was speaking at a press conference at Jamaica House Tuesday (August 3), to discuss the Ministry’s Dengue Fever preparedness and vector control activities.


Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester, encouraged the public to seek medical attention, once they have identified symptoms, or think they have been infected with Dengue, particularly in its more severe forms - Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome.


“We are appealing to members of the public, not to wait until your symptoms become severe. If you...have any reason to believe you, or a family member, may have Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome, you...need to go to your nearest hospital,” the CMO said.


Dr. Campbell-Forrester said that persons have been complaining of Dengue-like illnesses islandwide, but assured that the Ministry’s health team was equipped to manage cases and was on the alert for signs and symptoms of the illness.


She pointed out that Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. There are four types of the virus – of which types one, two and four are currently in circulation in the Caribbean region.


As of July 24, there have been 77 laboratory cases of Dengue in Jamaica, while there have been seven confirmed cases of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever.

Bounty Killer and Beenie Man shared a rare moment of unity on stage together at the Guinness Summer Eclipse at The Jungle in Negril on Sunday night.

Just before ending his set, Bounty Killer called up his musical foe and the Doctor obliged.

Screams erupted from thousands of fans in the venue when Beenie approached the stage and briefly embraced Bounty. The two then went tune-for-tune dating back to Beenie’s Memories and Bounty’s War.

“This was a truly great moment,” said Guinness brand manager Gary Dixon. “Two of dancehall’s most enduring and significant artistes sharing a rare moment together onstage.

“Expect a similar celebration of greatness in the coming months,” added Dixon.

Also performing were Wayne Marshall, Agent Sasco, Ikaya, Chi Ching Ching and the Big Ship family of Chino, Laden, Bramma and Di Genius.

The Guinness Summer Eclipse was a twonight event of superb performances featuring dancehall’s hottest artistes. On Saturday night, IOctane, Aidonia, Konshens, G-Whizz and Elephant Man performed.

Scheduled to start at 10 am, the funeral service for late dancehall trailblazer Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott, did not get underway until a couple minutes to 12 noon on Emancipation Day, August 1.

The mood outside the National Arena in Kingston, the venue for the service, was a mixture of frustration and embarrassment as mourners stood idly by, wondering why nothing was happening.

It was subsequently revealed in hushed whispers that apparently the funeral home was waiting for further deposits prior to releasing the body, causing even further pain to the grieving family of the late singer.

Reports are that the funeral home charged the family over two million dollars and, up to Sunday, they had received a little less than half of the total.

Sighs of relief greeted the arrival of the casket, painted in the colours of the Jamaican flag, with pictures of the reggae icon.

However, this was also the start of confusion as all the mourners pressed up front hoping for a glimpse of Mr Minott, even as his baby mothers, his children and his mother took their last, tearful glance.

Programmes was few and only the most aggressive were able to grab a copy and, in true dancehall fashion, the musical tributes were greeted with loud cheers, similar to the sounds one hears at a stage show.

Among those paying tribute were the Silverstone, Phillip Frazer, Triston Palmer, George Nooks, Little John, Bongo Herman, Derrick Jarriott and others.

The official closing tribute came from Sugar’s daughter Fire Pashon and her siblings, after which the graffiti don LA Lewis, dressed in his trademark white with his foot soldiers at his side, took the microphone. At that point, the persons insdie the Arena drifted out.

Reports surfacing is that Gyptian is now the most popular artiste in North America. Yeah man that means he has surpassed the likes of Vybz Kartel, Shaggy and Sean Paul.

According to a story in the Jamaica Observer he has become the most popular dancehall artiste in North America and third popular globally based on online searches, amidst the prerelease of his charting album.

He is more popular than rivals in the US and Canada (the world’s largest music market) according to data from search engine Google analysed by the Observer. Over the last 30 days, every 100 searches for Gyptian saw a corresponding 67 for Shaggy and five for Sean Paul, zero for Kartel in the US

Globally, however, Gyptian has half the online popularity of Sean Paul and Shaggy who are still the most popular deejays.

That is not bad for Gyptian, as last June he did not even register on Google Trends.

Gyptian’s global rise to third place occurred in May and June when he beat Kartel and Matisyahu respectively. It indicates that more persons worldwide are searching for news and music from Gyptian than ever.

His hit single Hold Yuh is currently topping five territories including US, UK, France, Canada and Belgium based on iTunes Reggae Songs chart up to Saturday.

His single is also charting at number four on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s singles chart. Whilst his new album on VP Records debuted at number two on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart this week (despite his album’s official release in August).

In a new jailhouse interview, convicted DC sniper Lee Boyd Malvo said he and his partner attempted to recruit fellow shooters for their 2002 spree and that his accomplice killed one man for backing out.

Malvo was interviewed for the one-hour TV special “Confessions of the DC Sniper with William Shatner: An Aftermath Special,” which aired Thursday on A&E.

In a telephone call from a southwest Virginia prison, Malvo told Shatner two men planned to join in the attacks to make them more deadly but reneged.

Malvo said his fellow shooter, John Allen Muhammad, killed one of the men in retaliation. Malvo did not identify them.

Malvo’s revelations came in response to questions about claims by a psychiatrist that the duo had co-conspirators.

The psychiatrist, Neil Blumberg, who worked with Malvo before his trial, also said Malvo had confessed to more shootings in addition to the spree that terrorized the Washington region in 2002, when 13 people were hit and 10 of them died.

In the TV interview, Malvo initially denies his psychiatrist’s claims that he and Muhammad had co-conspirators.

Once pressured, he says someone in Arizona helped them get weapons and explosives, and a man in New York was supposed to help them get out of the country “when it’s all said and done.” He said both later backed out of plans to help with the shootings.

“There was supposed to be three to four snipers with silenced weapons,” said Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the shootings. “In this way we could do a lot more damage along the entire Eastern Seaboard.”

Blumberg said Malvo told him Muhammad made him shoot two of the co-conspirators once they backed out of the plan.

Malvo told Shatner only one of the men was killed, and that Muhammad did it. Blumberg also said Malvo told him there was a third co-conspirator who was supposed to have joined them in Washington but did not. Malvo does not mention that person during the interview with Shatner.

Previously, Malvo and Muhammad had been linked to as many as 27 shootings resulting in 17 deaths in 10 states and Washington DC.

Blumberg told the show Malvo had confessed to him to at least 42 shootings.

When Shatner asked about the number of shootings, Malvo rattles off states where he claims he and Muhammad shot people but doesn’t give an exact number.

Malvo’s statements have been inconsistent in the past, and authorities have cast doubt on some of his reported confessions since he was sentenced to life in prison. Muhammad was executed in Virginia last year.

The sniper-style attacks all but paralyzed the nation’s capital, as people were shot at random while going about their everyday life — pumping gas, buying groceries, and for one young boy, as he went to school.

The shooters used a high-powered rifle, firing from the trunk of a modified Chevy Caprice until they were tracked down at a Maryland rest stop.

In an interview with a Canadian reporter Nardwuar, Drake shared his thoughts about his preference of women.

“I put like the biggest breast bras on my mic stand,” he admitted. “I try to showcase the fact that a full chest is nothing to be ashamed of… You shouldn’t go get them reduced. Breasts are a beautiful thing.”

A bizarre revelation Drake revealed in the interview was that he has a large collection of large sized bras.

“I actually have an entire trunk, I think there’s about 4[00] or 500 bras in this trunk,” Drake said. “It’s a black trunk and I carry it with me on the road. It’s pretty much every bra I’ve ever received.”

In the interview, Nardwuar handed over a vinyl soundtrack from the blaxploitation film ‘Coffy,’ starring Drake’s favorite big breasted woman, Pam Grier. Drake, visibly surprised, held the collector’s item.

“This woman… Oh man, this is gonna sound so weird,” he continued, “When I first discovered what masturbation was, I used to jerk-off to Pam Grier. I think Pam Grier is really responsible for shaping my taste in women if you really look at her.”

Umm, that would be waaay too much information there, Mr. Drake, but duly noted.

The Police High Command has raised the threat level for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

A statement from Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington on Sunday afternoon says the level has been adjusted to very high.

It followed Sunday morning's fatal shooting of a special corporal at home on Langston Road in St. Andrew.

The slain cop, who was attached to Harmon Barracks, has been identified as 32-year-old Special Corporal Germaine Cummings.

Commissioner Ellington says the manner in which Corporal Cummings was murdered suggests a well planned attack against the police.

He says the fact that two police officers have been killed in a week is a sign that criminals have not desisted from their activities.

In raising the threat level, the Police Chief alerted members of the Force to be extremely careful at all times.

Commissioner Ellington described the murder of the Special Corporal as a despicable act of cowardice which must be condemned by all Jamaicans.

About 4 o'clock, the policeman was entering his house when he was approached by a group of men.

One of them pulled a firearm and opened fire hitting the corporal.

A struggle ensued and he managed to shoot one of the gunmen who died on spot.

The other gunmen escaped.

The cop was pronounced dead at Kingston Public Hospital.

His firearm was recovered by Scene of Crime investigators.

Corporal Cummings is the eighth policeman to be killed since the start of the year.

Meanwhile, the Island Special Constabulary Force Association has reacted with outrage at the killing of Corporal Cummings.

The Association's Chairman, St. George Jackson, says the incident marks another dark day in Jamaican law enforcement.

Special Sergeant Jackson says Mr. Cummings is to be lauded for bravery in challenging the gunmen.

The police were called in to investigate a bizarre find on Sunday afternoon at the Riverton Landfill on Spanish Town Road in Kingston.

The body of a child was found among commercial waste which was taken to the Landfill in a garbage truck.

The vehicle is said to be owned and operated by a private company involved in hauling solid waste.

This was confirmed by Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) Joan Gordon-Webley.

The driver of the truck is currently being interviewed.

She says the child's body was discovered while the garbage truck was being unloaded.

The three policemen who were ordered arrested last evening by Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington following a shooting incident in Buckfield, St. Ann on Thursday have been arrested.

Investigators from the Bureau of Special Investigations, the JCF Branch which has responsibility for investigating controversial police shootings have interviewed one of the arrested policemen. The other arrested policemen will be interviewed during the course of this weekend.

The Police are also asking members of the public who witnessed the incident in Buckfield to assist the process by providing information.
Persons with information can call Crime Stop at 311, Operation Kingfish at 811 and Police Control at 119.

Video footage which was shown on local television Friday evening revealed that a man, Ian ‘Ching Sing’ Lloyd, who had reportedly attacked and fatally stabbed a woman Thursday was beaten and shot to death by police in Buckfield, St. Ann.

Lloyd appeared subdued and unarmed.

Viewers saw a policeman using his baton to beat Lloyd, after which he was shot and killed by a policeman wearing civilian clothing.

Early reports from the constabulary are that Lloyd haqd used bottles and stones attacked lawmen who had gone to apprehend him, injuring four of them.

The video footage was shot by an amateur.

For real, we thought we were watching an episode of the wild, wild west on television Friday night.

Did you see the video, there the police has the man subdued and they were beating him still. Then this cop walk around to face the man lying on the ground and calm as you please, he fired a shot and killed him.

Then you should see the release they sent out, how in the ensuing battle they were forced to shoot him. But justice is served this time as the video tape surfaced showing that they were lying. Such a pity there weren’t any video in the Kentucky Kid shooting incident. We are still awaiting justice for him.

Below is the Commissioner’s response to the incident.

Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington last night ordered the immediate arrest of the policemen involved in the beating and shooting death of a man in Buckfield, St Ann yesterday.

The police chief ordered the arrest of the men following the viewing of an amateur video which showed the man lying on the ground, appearing to be unarmed and subdued.

Commissioner Ellington has also instructed that stop orders be placed on the policemen involved at all ports of entry.

Ellington, according to a release from the constabulary, applauded the bravery of the citizen who brought this incident to public notice and has encouraged others who witness any act of police misconduct to do likewise, "as this provides the best opportunity for the police to rid the force of those members who would want to act outside of the law".

"The entire JCF family deeply regrets this incident, and we want to apologise to the family of the person involved and all decent citizens of Jamaica. I will take every action necessary to prevent any future occurrence and I am asking citizens to be courageous, strong, and alert," Ellington said.

Jamaica has given birth to another great musical treasure- the organic and soulful singer/songwriter Ishmael Turner.

"One of Jamaica's next great exports" hails from the water house area of kingston that gave us Junior Reid, Mykal Rose, Don Carlos, Beenie Man, Half Pint and Garth Dennis.

A shining star, Ishmael Turner first international release "No More" is an engaging, heartfelt debut single with impressive vocals and strong lyrical content. His cutting edge style but classic form creates a sensational sound in the roots reggae genre.

Seeing Ishmael Turner perform is to experience a champion showman with a great voice and powerful stage presence.

The new reggae explosion is promised to create waves throughout the music scene with his hot new single “No More”. Ishmael musical testimonies captivate the listener, reflecting his intense passion and love for music.

"Jamaica's Golden Son is more than just good looks and charm he is a great talent with a lot to offer and the world will come to know and love Ishmael Turner. Download the new hit "No more" on www.ishmaelturner.com view pics, videos, tour dates and more.

www.ishmaelturner.com

No more - Ishmeal Turner by yardflexinc

Former OLINT boss, David Smith, and a young wealthy businessman, are among 15 Jamaicans under investigation by the United States government, for alleged money-laundering, following the collapse of the multi-billion dollar foreign exchange trading scheme.


A judge has given the local authorities, the green light to investigate the Jamaican accounts of Mr. Smith and other persons named on a list submitted by the U.S. government.


Just days after a high ranking US official made it clear that they would be coming after locals involved in money laundering, there is word that the US is going after David Smith and persons who were closely connected to his collapsed OLINT empire.


Just two weeks ago, the Director of Public Prosecutions, acting on behalf of the United States government, obtained a court order giving local investigators the power to dig into the accounts of Mr. Smith and a long list of individuals and companies.


The application which was made under the Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act, requested the sharing of all documents, records and articles relating to the accounts of the individuals named and their companies.
The Bank of Jamaica has been instructed to disclose the information.
The BOJ, which regulates the financial sector, is in turn expected to instruct one of the country's major financial institutions to turn over the documents and information on the accounts.


Among those also under investigation are Mr. Smith's wife, Tracy Ann Simone Smith; his brother Gilbert; OLINT; OLINT Foundation and OLINT Corporation.


The son of a major figure within the governing Jamaica Labour Party is also on the list submitted by the US authorities.


The US government says it also wants to look into the account of a petroleum company and a major figure in the football fraternity as well as several well known Jamaican business persons.


Mr. Smith was arrested and charged last year with fraud and money laundering in the Turks and Caicos Islands following the collapse of OLINT.


All his assets and those of OLINT have since been frozen.

Usain Bolt thinks about winning the gold medal more than setting another world record.


He worries about entertaining the fans as much as establishing a legacy.


Track's fun-loving Jamaican star told The Associated Press he still believes 100 metres can be run in the 9.4-second range, but that his biggest goal at the London Olympics in two years will be simply to win the gold medal again.


"I'm always just happy with a gold medal," he said. "If we go there and nobody breaks a record, I'll always have the record and there's no worries for me."


At Beijing in 2008, he smashed the world record in both the 100 and 200 and celebrated in style -- shooting that fake bow and arrow into the sky before the race, dancing after the finish line and turning the Bird's Nest into his own private playground. He improved on his 100-metre record last year at the World Championships. It currently stands at 9.58 seconds and he thinks he can go lower.


"I always say that probably 9.4 is possible," Bolt said. "I hope I can be the one to get there because I work very hard and I want nothing but to be the best."


To be a "legend," though, he doesn't believe he'll have to set another record in London. He'll merely have to win.


"I don't think I'm a legend now," he said. "A lot of people have done it one time. If I can double, few people in the world can say they're double Olympic gold medallists. I want to be one of those few people."


Carl Lewis is the only male runner to repeat in the 100 at the Olympics.
Bolt is also looking beyond 2012, when he would consider competing in the long jump for a change of pace. Earlier this year, he said he might have to do something else "because people are probably tired of seeing me."
People getting tired of Usain Bolt? Hardly seems possible.
"I think definitely they can if you win all the time," he said. "The reason people enjoy seeing me is because I'm different from other athletes. It's fun to watch me. If I keep that up, they probably won't get bored. If I just win, win, win like a normal athlete and don't make it fun, they probably will."


One way Bolt is keeping things fresh is by changing his racewear for each of this year's Diamond League meets in Europe. An artist in each city is designing a new singlet for him to wear.


"People really enjoy it and it's something to look forward to," he said. "It's something new. I think people like it. I'm the one who does things like this that no one else will do."


Bolt is scheduled to face Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in the 100 for the first time this year at a meet next week in Stockholm.
Meanwhile, Bolt and Gay will race when Jamaica and the United States field teams in the 4x100 metre relay at the Diamond League meet in Zurich.


Organisers of the August 19 Weltklasse meet said yesterday that Olympic and world champion Bolt will anchor a Jamaica team including Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, and Marvin Anderson.


Gay, the second-fastest man in history behind Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds, heads a US lineup featuring Walter Dix, Wallace Spearmon and Trell Kimmons.


Bolt and Gay are skipping the individual 200 at Zurich, which splits the Diamond League finals with Brussels the following week.


Bolt, Gay and former world record-holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica will race the 100 at Stockholm's Diamond League meet next week.

A wonder how Elephant Man can get back him Benz whey di tax people dem teck whey sah? Fi real di DJ a gi out sound sey him want back him car.

Yeah man di lawyer weh a represent him sey di DJ angry and vex and him want him car back.


A tax collection team, supported by the St. Andrew Police, seized the DJ's red Mercedes Benz.

The car was seized because he failed to pay the tax collectors millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.


Mr. Gordon says Elephant Man feels he is being abused by the authorities.


In March, the tax department had placed Elephant Man on a list of 50 high profile delinquent taxpayers.


Mr. Gordon assumes that the tax department wants to give the public a bad impression of his client.


In this case, Elephant Man may have to pay off his arrears within a specific period or his vehicle could be sold.


And if the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle do not cover the debt, the artiste could face criminal or civil charges.

The months are flying fast and it seems as if by the time the Christmas season rolls around some public sector workers could find it not being a merry one.

Word has emerged that come this year, heads may begin to roll.

Head of the Public Sector Transformation Team, Patricia Sinclair-McCalla, says the numbers are being worked and could not give a time line on when the cuts will commence.

The update came on Wednesday at the weekly post-cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House

It is expected that by October public sectors workers will know how many of them will be sent packing.

Head of the Public Sector Transformation Unit Patricia Sinclair-McCalla told journalists that a recent audit of government workers revealed that there are approximately 113,000 of them.

However when asked how many jobs will be cut or realigned Mrs. Sinclair-Mccalla could not provide any figures.

“We honestly don’t know because it is being worked out. We have one finance specialist working with an organizational officer and they are now crunching the numbers. We don’t want to spew out figures because unless we have something substantive in terms of the analysis to provide you with a ball park figure we don’t want to do that,” Mrs. Sinclair-Mccalla said.

Head of the Public Sector Transformation Unit Patricia Sinclair-McCalla

Speculation is rife that the job cuts could be anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000. Mrs. Sinclair-McCalla said that within the next two to three months all the figures will be crunched, and stressed that the loss of jobs are not the only issues that will have to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Daryl Vaz says debate on the matter is expected to commence when parliament returns from its current break.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Kingston, Jamaica: Ann Marie Laing, a music teacher at the Balaclava High School demonstrated her trust to win top honours, $500,000 and a recording contract for a single for her entry entitled “I Can Trust God” at the Grace Tropical Rhythms Jamaica Gospel Song finals on Sunday (July 25) at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.

Before being announced as winner Laing swept sectional prizes for being the “Best Performer” and tied with 2nd place contestant Leroy ‘Ancient Priest’ Johnson for having the “Best Arranged Song”. Laing was also selected by the group of finalists to win the “Spirit of Praise Award” for being the most congenial finalist.

Johnson, who copped $200,000 for his reggae entry “My Prayer”, won the sectional prize for the “Best Lyrics” and took home an additional $50,000 and a trophy courtesy of the Jamaica Cooperative Credit Union League (JCCUL).

19 year old Tiffany Hall, the youngest contestant, took third place for her entry “Lost Without You”, winning $100,000.

The “Popular Vote” prize of $25,000 and a trophy from competition sponsor CLARO went to Raylene Lindo for her entry “I Just Cant Give Up” who also collected a recording contract for a single.

An elated Laing said singing is her passion and thanked the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) for the experience, which she described as refreshing and rewarding. The other finalists included: Jason ‘God Son” Lunan, Miriam Levy, Omar Douglas, Terrence Myers, Murron Lindo and Micah Ministry.


The competition which was hosted under the theme “One Voice, One Heart” saw the finalists engaged in outreach ministry at children’s homes across the island; a new element added to the programme.

The leader of the feared Maxfield Avenue gang Stinger Gang Ricardo Wynter aka Government was yesterday fatally shot after he engaged the police in a gun fight at Hellshire, St Catherine.

Investigators from the St Andrew South Police Division are also reporting that three other members of the Stinger gang were yesterday arrested.

According to the investigators these three persons are part of the main leadership structure of the gang.


Wynter, who was listed by the police as a major person of interest following the May 24 operation in Western Kingston and others members of the Stinger gang are responsible for a number of murders in and around Maxfield Avenue. He did not turn himself in to the police.

Wynter was a close associate of former Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and regularly visited a section of Tivoli Gardens known as 'Java'.

Wynter was wanted by the police for various crimes including several murders committed on May 24, 2010 on Whitfield Ave when Wynter and his cronies ordered residents of the area to block roads in support of criminals in Tivoli Gardens and they refused.

Police also said Wynter and his cronies were responsible for searching cellular phones of residents from Maxfield Avenue as they hunted for ‘police informers’.

The Stinger gang is based in the Raphael Avenue/Ramsey Road area of the Kingston Western Police Division. Police say the gang is involved in contract killings and drug running.

Dr. David McBean, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CVM Group, is leaving the company. Dr. McBean will be leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Details surrounding his departure are not yet available.

Dr. McBean has been CEO of CVM since September 2003.

What the hell!Bwoy di hottest news pon di internet now is di gay list that blogger 876grapevine released.Yes man seems like  Kizzy a talk up di tings dem. Yeah she sey she wouldn't post it unless it was confirmed and some nam whey wi a si nuh pretty at all. Because wi fraida lawsuit, we just a paste di link fi unno check it out.www.876grapevine.blogspot.com

A PNP North TrelawnyMP, Dr EV Patrick Harris is now facing an immediate prison term if he does not pay up the $1.6M he owes in back property taxes.


According to a story in Jamaica Observer a local court issued a 'forthwith order' yesterday, meaning that Dr Harris, 54, must pay the money immediately, or face the prospect of making prison his temporary home for the next 30 days.


The court ruling means that Dr Harris can be taken into police custody at any time, but the politician can in the meantime go into any tax office and make arrangements for the money to be paid.


Resident Magistrate for Trelawny Sheron Barnes made the order yesterday in the Falmouth RM Court.


Neither Dr Harris nor his legal representative appeared in court and the order was made in the medical practitioner's absence.
In a statement to the paper the MP said "I am a taxpayer, a proud taxpayer. I can't run and go anywhere, I will deal with the matter.”.


"Money is tough and it is not that we don't want to pay taxes, but we are all facing hardships," he said.

The police in St James have issued a reminder to performers and patrons attending the Reggae Sumfest Festival this weekend to obey the rules of the land.


The festival continues with Dancehall Night tonight, followed by International Nights One and Two on Friday and Saturday. The St James police are cautioning the artistes about their language and behaviour on stage.


Commanding Officer for the Division, Superintendent Merrick Brown, says the no profanity rule will be strictly enforced.
"Sometimes when we have these events the artistes tend to go on stage and use profanity. We want to communicate it to them, it's in their contract not to do it, but we want to let them know if they do so, then police officers are going to take action," he cautioned.


"We're not backing down where that is concerned. It's zero tolerance where the use of profanity is concerned at this event."
The show's production team says it acknowledges the artistic creativity that comes with being on stage, but urges some sensitivity towards the use of profanity.


Executive producer of Reggae Sumfest Johnny Gourzong, also noted that there is a contractual obligation for them to avoid the use of profanity and to refrain from singling out certain groups in their lyrics.


"In the contracts we have already set out what they should not be doing, and in addition, we sent them a letter which reinforced it, providing information about the show, length of performance, and other requirements," he explained.


"We just urge them to understand these conditions and focus on putting out good quality music," Gourzong continued.
Superintendent Brown extended the caution towards patrons attending the event as well.


Firearms will not be allowed in the venue unless carried by the police or by private security personnel.


"We asking those persons who have licensed firearms to leave the firearms at home, but if they come to the venue with it, it will be taken and stored until after the event," he explained.


The Superintendent added that the Police will be out in large numbers to tackle any breaches of the law from the sale of drugs, to traffic infringements in and around the venue.


"The police will be out there in numbers, so we are just sending out the warning from now," he stated.
Reggae Sumfest, scheduled for Catherine Hall Montego Bay July 22-24, remains the most celebrated and supported reggae festival in Jamaica, and attracts the world's leading musicians and performers. In its near 20-year history, the show has boasted a superb entertainment package, loaded with the best performances, food, music, and culture.

POLICE have charged Leighton ‘Livity’ Coke, brother of former Tivoli strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, for various crimes.


Coke is charged with shooting with intent, illegal possession of a firearm and wearing a Jamaica Defence Force uniform, said a release from the Constabulary Communication Network this evening.
His court date is tentatively set for July 30.

Defence attorneys representing Tesha Miller, the reputed head of the Klansman Gang, are now pondering their next move, after criminal charges were laid against him on Monday.


Miller, who surrendered to the police under the State of Emergency, was expected to be released Thursday, when the State of Emergency ends.


However, he was charged with assaulting a policeman while in custody, and was refused bail on Tuesday when he appeared before the Corporate Area Criminal Court.
Miller is charged jointly with 24-year-old Keifa Ogilvie, son of Justin Ogilvie, a close confidant of former Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher "Dudus" Coke.


The police alleged that on July 14, a policeman at the Kingston Central Police lock-up attempted to confiscate a cellular phone found in the possession of Mr. Ogilivie.


It is alleged that the prisoner punched the policeman in the face.


During the fracas, Tesha Miller, who was also in the cell, joined in the attack on the policeman.


Both were later charged with assault.
However, the attorneys for the men disputed the allegations and claim that this was a ploy the keep them in custody.
Miller and Ogilvie were remanded until September 2, when they are to stand trial.


Lawyers for Miller have consistently accused the authorities of targeting their client, although they have no evidence against him.


They have applied to the court release him, but failed on each occasion

Yardflex have to weigh in on this one for real.

Yesterday was chaos in the house as the votes that the PM needed to extend the State of Emergency for another month was not forthcoming as it wasn’t supported by the JLP.

Now from what we observed of the PM needed this to continue so bad, why didn’t he take the 15 day olive branch offered by the JLP with the option of exploring another 15 days. Isn’t half a loaf of bread better than none?


He instead stick out for the 30 days or not at all?

We are confused. We are not really into taking sides, we are just looking at the facts and what it is saying is that the PM wasn’t too enthusiastic in maintain the State of Emergency at all cost.

He now has gotten a way out and can blame the PNP while he is at it.

Yardflex touched a piece of this saga yesterday, here are some more details.


Staying true to their word to go after tax dodgers, officials from the Tax Administration Department on Tuesday raided the Upper St. Andrew apartment of popular dancehall artiste, Elephant Man.
Members of the Special Enforcement Team seized a convertible Mercedes Benz motor car owned by the international artiste, whose real name is O'Neil Bryan. Elephant Man declined to comment when our news team arrived on the scene on Hope Road.


It is understood that Elephant Man owes the Tax Department more than $10 million, in outstanding taxes.


In March, the DJ was barred from leaving the island after the Tax Department took out a stop order on him.


It is understand that the artiste paid over $3 million in March however; he reportedly failed to pay over the balance of the tax debt which led to Tuesday's operation.


Elephant Man's attorneys rushed to the scene on Tuesday morning, and are now negotiating with tax officials.
Meanwhile, Director of Communications at the Tax Administration Department, Meris Haughton, says the raid on Elephant Man's apartment, is a clear warning to those who continue to evade the tax net.


She said assets seized by the tax department are normally liquidated to recover the debt.


She said since the crackdown on delinquent tax payers began, this year, the government has seen a steady stream of revenue into its coffers.


“For the first quarter of the year we actually met the revenue target that was given to us, we are at 100.1% of the target so we are actually over the target.

A number of methods and strategies have been used in the operations of the special enforcement team that allow us to meet our targets,” Ms. Haughton said.

Bwoy wi caan believe sey afta dem dis stop Ele a airport because him neva pay him taxes dat him meck di same situation reach him again.


Wi did tink sey afta him meck deal wid dem dat him a guh sort out tings him did meck sure dat was him first priority.


No sah, police and tax people dem swoop dung a him yard and seize him Benz sey him owe 8 million dollar.


Wi hope Ele set him business straight, cause it nuh look good at all. Even if him haffi stop buy up di hennessy and save more.

A curfew has been imposed in sections of the East Kingston under the State of Emergency.


The curfew began at 4:00 am today and will remain in effect until 4:00 am Thursday.


The boundaries of the curfew are:
North along Langston Road between the foot of Long Mountain and Mountain View Avenue;


South along Windward Road and Commission Road between Portland Avenue and the foot of Long Mountain;
East along the western foot of Long Mountain between Longsford Road and Commission Road; and
West along Deanery Road, Langston Road, St James Avenue and Portland Road, between Windward Road and Mountain View Avenue.


During the hours of the curfew persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorised in writing by the ground commander.

The other day some of the down town business operators claimed they were still coming under pressure from those trying to extort money from them. Well the appeal is now out for them to come forward and report it.


We are totally in support of this as the only way to stop it is to face it head on. Without money, these hoodlums can’t buy guns and bullets, if they want to bring back the country to the beautiful place it was then they have to stop giving criminals the means of setting up back their empires.


The police want persons who have had to fork over money to extortionists or who have been approached by them, to call the secure Operation Kingfish telephone line, 811 and report it.
Persons using 811 to report any act of extortion are not required to give their names.


All they need to do is give enough information for the Police to start investigating.


The Police have also established an e-mail address for persons who want to share information with the Police.


Two Chinese businessmen whose stores were robbed in downtown Kingston, last week, have reportedly refused to come forward with information to assist the police.


A police source assigned to the West Kingston Police Division, confirmed the robberies of the two wholesales in close proximity to the Coronation Market on Spanish Town Road.


Further investigations have been hampered by the lack of information being provided.


Do we want this thing to stop or not.

See, no wonder fighting crime is so darned hard. How can we move on when the people charged with getting rid of it are the problems.


Check out this story.
A police sergeant from the Portland Division was arrested Friday at St Mar-garet's Bay, Port Antonio, for breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act following a sting operation carried out by the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB).


It is alleged that about 5:40 p.m., the sergeant, who was investigating a case, approached the accused and offered to dispose of the case for $50,000.


The ACB was then informed and arrangements were made for the money to be paid to the sergeant. During a sting operation which was set up, the sergeant was caught collecting the money. He was consequently arrested.


The sergeant is presently in custody and a case file is being prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a ruling.

Newly crowned Miss Jamaica Festival Queen,Johnnel Smith poses with Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Olivia Grange at the grand coronation show hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission ( JCDC) at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday, July 17, 2010.

Smith who hails from Manchester also copped sectional prizes for being the "Most Culturally Aware" and the "Most Involved in her Community".





Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2010, Johnnel Smith( centre) is flanked by 1st Runner up, Miss Kingston & St. Andrew, Tyesha Turner (left) and 2nd Runner up, Miss Trelawny, Chloe Trowers (right).

The Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2010 grand coronation show was hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission ( JCDC) on Saturday,July 17, 2010 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.

A wonder if anybody memba sey Thursday gone was Buju Banton’s birthday. Yeah man man him tun 37, and what a way fi spend yuh birthday… inna lock up.

Bwoy tings really look sticky fi di DJ, imagine him inna jail from December 10 and now a July and him case nah call up till way a September…and den there is no telling what the outcome will be.

A status conference hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4.

It come een like sey Buju did a prophecy when him chant the song Not an Easy Road, and Til I’m Laid To Rest.

The National Meteorological Service has issued a warning to fishers and marine interests due to rainfall from the tropical wave now affecting sections of the island.


The office, in an early morning release, said increased showers were expected to affect various parishes resulting from a Tropical wave, currently east of Jamaica.


It said satellite imagery indicated showers and thunderstorms across sections of most parishes from the system as it moved across the island Saturday.


The office which said it would continue to monitor the situation also warned that widespread showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, along with gusty winds, are also expected as the tropical wave moves across the island.


It said fishers and other marine interests are advised to exercise caution as strong, gusty winds are likely in showers and thunderstorms over inshore and offshore areas.


In the three-day forecast, starting tomorrow, it is expected that there will be mostly cloudy conditions with scattered showers and thunderstorms especially during the afternoon over into Monday with partly cloudy conditions expected for Tuesday and scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms over central and western parishes.


Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Ronald Jackson, said there had been no reports of flooding so far.

The Police are listing the following five persons as Major Persons of Interest. They are –

1. Dwight Turner o/c Nose
2. Ian Tyrell o/c Bulla Head
3. Lawrence Stewart o/c Ritchie; o/c O’Neil
4. Ernestico Campbell o/c Marlon Brando
5. Wayne Martin o/c Houdini

These five persons of interest to the Police are asked to make contact with the Police by handing themselves over to the nearest Police Station.

Since the imposition of a curfew in the Western Kingston area early Sunday morning (mainly Rema) 191 persons (all males) have been taken into custody.

One of those taken into custody is on the Most Wanted List for the Kingston Western Police Division.

He was arrested and is expected to be charged tomorrow. Of the 191, so far taken into custody, 35 have been processed, interviewed and released.

Should make it to Sumfest after all

DJ Vybz Kartel was released last night after spending 14 days at the Portmore lock-up.



The deejay's release came one day after his legal team got the minister of national security, Dwight Nelson, to sign his detention release form.


Kartel release puts an end to the many speculations about his being able to perform on Sumfest’s Dancehall Night.
Kartel turned himself over to the police on July 2 after he was identified among other individuals as'persons of interest' by the police.


In reports in the media the DJ stated that he had been puzzled about the fact that he was wanted as a person of interest.


The Dj eventually turned himself on the third day.
The police say that they have completed their investigations involving the artiste.

Prosperity

I have all the time, energy and money needed to do what is mine to do.


True prosperity is not found in the outer world, nor is it determined by the amount of money we possess. True prosperity comes from the wisdom that God is blessing us at all times and in all ways.

Prosperity is not something I have to seek; it is already here, waiting to be discovered. I find prosperity by having faith that God provides for me in every needed way.

Prosperity must be cultivated on the inside. As I begin to understand the power of God within me, it is as if I have inherited millions.

I am rich in all ways and enjoy lasting abundance in all areas of my life--my health, wealth and relationships. Mere possessions can never replace the joy I feel when I am filled with the presence of God.

Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

One hundred and thirty persons were detained by the security forces yesterday during a curfew imposed on the Eastern St Andrew communities of Papine, Kintyre and August Town.

The curfew, which began at four o'clock yesterday morning, will remain in effect until 4:00 am tomorrow.

Soldiers on patrol in August Town, St Andrew, yesterday. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)
Mostly males, were arrested following several searches carried out by police and members of the military.

The boundaries of the curfew are north along an imaginary line from Papine Square to the Kintyre community; south along an imaginary line along the foot of Long Hill Mountain, between the August Town Quarry and Princess Alice Drive; east along the Bedward Gardens main road between Kintyre and August Town Quarry and west along Hermitage main road, University Drive and Golding Avenue.

It also runs between Papine Square and Princess Alice Drive.

During the curfew, persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorised in writing by a member of the security forces, police said in a statement.

Yesterday, several men were seen at the August Town Police Station waiting to be processed. Those who were left in the community had worried looks on their faces.

Meanwhile, all motorists entering and leaving the community were stopped and their vehicles searched by police and soldiers.

August Town, known for its frequent gang fights, has always been on the police radar.

The Kingston Central Police have embarked on an anti-crime initiative to crack down on criminal elements involved in extortion, drug peddling and robberies in the downtown Kingston.

Over the past three weeks, six men believed to be major players in criminal activity in the Kingston Central Police Division were taken into custody.

Members of the Kingston Central Special squad conducted an operation in Maiden Lane on Tuesday which led to the arrest of a 40-year-old woman who was found in possession of 60 pieces of crack cocaine and a quantity of ganja.

The whole drama with Ian Lyn and Shaw has taken a new twist. Check out this interview that was posted on
Source link.
There you will see photos of all the players involved.
Wow, can we say it’s hot!!!

Kizzy Clarke July 13 at 5:04pm
Roshan why did u put out the video?

Roshan Shaw July 13 at 5:15pm
cause ian needs to be stopped in his tracks as he messes with underaged boys

Kizzy Clarke July 13 at 5:18pm
giv me ure side cuz a video with no explanation wont get the truth out. sen mi ure side n i will post it

Kizzy Clarke July 13 at 7:15pm
whr u disappear 2...????? u ok...

Roshan Shaw July 13 at 7:19pm
was inna meetin with my dad hun

Roshan Shaw
just dove in my house with secuirty, can u believe it

Kizzy Clarke
r u serious? why?

Roshan Shaw
death threats im gettin from Ians cronies

Kizzy Clarke
wat did ure dad say?

Roshan Shaw
he is on top of it, im stressed right now

Roshan Shaw
please post this and get my word out for me princess

Roshan Shaw July 13 at 7:29pm

1. How long were u together?

4yrs

2. How did u meet him?

he worked with my mother at motor sales before they fired him for embezzlement

3. How old r u?

College Grad, 28

4. Wat hapened 2 btwn u both that caused u 2 release this tape?

i got tired of his foolishness and him manipulating folks expecially young and underaged boys with hiss so called influence and then hide behind his false religions, louis farakhan has denounced him today.

5. Has he hurt u in the past?

when he attepted to get my mom fired, robbed me discreetly and continually tried to deficate on my character

6 How does he feel about the release of the tape?
he is Ian Lyn and he can turn around any circumstances and make it work for him and make him more poerful and popular

7 Hav u spoken 2 him since?

yes on sunday last

8 What caused u 2 tape him n was this ure 1st time taping him?

i just senced him going to betray me as he have done so in the past, yes it was the first time

9 Hav u had sexual relations with him n how long its been going on?

yes for 4 yrs but he was cheatin on me woith SLoane Jackson and Steven Ellis

10 Did ure dad know about ure relationship with him? '

Heavens no, he would have killed me as he depises Ian ErrolLyn!

AMEN SO LET IT BE.......HE GAVE ME HIS SIDE I POSTED IT

See it there now, just when you think there might be some justice for slain deejay, Kentucky Kid, we hear that his file has been sent to Coroner’s Court.


From what we understand Coroner’s Court is where get killed.

Police claimed Hill was killed at his home at Ivy Green Mews near Cross Roads during a shoot-out, but human rights groups and his relatives have challenged the police, saying Hill was murdered in cold blood.

The entertainer and the police had been at loggerheads since a speeding vehicle owned by the constabulary smashed his car in July 2009. Hill claimed that he was badly beaten by the cops involved and said they had threatened to kill him.

He also that the same set of officers visited his home and mauled him and his pregnant wife.

He made a video recording of the beating and handed it over to the police high command, pleading with them to rein in the officers. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Hill also penned a letter naming the officers who had threatened his life and asked that it be handed over to the JFJ in the event of his death.

Robert Hill is one of 224 persons who were cut down by the security forces last year.

His case drew international attention and prompted international news network Al Jazeera to dub Jamaica as one of the most violent societies on earth in a documentary.

Controversial deejay Rodney Price, more popularly known as Bounty Killer will have to face the courtson October 20 when his trial on gun-related charges officially begins.

The deejay and a former policeman are jointly charged with illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful wounding and assault.

The charges stem from an alleged attack on a police constable in New Kingston in 2007.


According to reports Bounty and the former cop were travelling in a convoy along St Lucia Avenue in New Kingston on September 27, 2007, when the constable requested that he be allowed the cross.


This reportedly led to an altercation between the cop and Bounty Killer’s party. It is alleged the Bounty pulled a gun, and then members of the group including the ex-police proceeded to beat the policeman.


The matter was reported to the Police High Command and an internal investigation conducted which ruled that Calis Brown be dismissed from the police force, This took effect in January of 2008.


Investigations and a file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled that the deejay and the ex-cop face charges.

Residents who were reportedly searching for ackees in bushes in the New River district, St Elizabeth, on Sunday, reportedly stumbled upon the skeletal remains of a human body, hanging from a tree.


According to the Lacovia Police, due to the advanced state of decomposition, the sex of the body could not be determined.

The pathologist who was summoned was also unable to determine a cause of death. Samples were therefore collected and sent to the Government Forensic Lab for a detailed examination.


Detectives attached to the Savanna-la-mar CIB are investigating.

Usain Bolt will not compete at next month's London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace because of Britain's tax laws.


That would put pay to organisers' hopes of setting up a three-way clash between Bolt and his chief 100metre rivals Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay.


"I am definitely not going to run," Bolt told a news conference ahead of Friday's Diamond League meeting in Paris.


Ricky Simms, the world 100 and 200m record holder's agent, confirmed to Press Association Sport that the reason was "the tax situation".


Bolt could lose money by competing at the Diamond League meeting which takes place on August 13 and 14 as British tax law stipulates that foreign sports stars have to pay taxes on their worldwide endorsements.


Bolt will go head to head with fellow Jamaican Powell at Friday's Diamond League meeting in Paris.


The 23-year-old equalled Powell's fastest time of the year by clocking 9.82 seconds last week in Lausanne on his return to competition following an Achilles' tendon injury.

Her tour promoters Live Nation announced today that 3 major city dates have been canceled due to ’scheduling conflicts’ (of course):


Due to a change in Rihanna’s schedule, she can no longer appear in Englewood, CO (July 15), Atlanta, GA (July 28) and Noblesville, IN (August 3). Fans who purchased tickets will receive a refund. Rihanna apologizes to her fans and hopes to make it up to them on the next tour.


She’s also canceled her Denver stop.
Including the cancellation of 1 date in Phoenix, AZ, 1 in Dallas, TX, and 1 in Auburn, WA, these l

atest additions bring the total tally up to SEVEN!

Oh wow, isn’t the timing for this great?


Right after Dudus has been extradited Jamaica is now getting a new Ambassador.

Yup they denied that it had nothing to do with the case, but how coincidental that this kind of talk has resumed now.

Check out the story:


After almost two years the appointment of a new US Ambassador to Jamaica appears imminent.


US President Barack Obama announced on Saturday his intention to nominate Pamela E. Bridgewater to the post.


The development comes several weeks after former West Kingston strongman Christopher "Dudus" Coke was extradited to the United States.


Speculation was rife that the two year hold-up to appoint a new Ambassador was linked to the extradition request of Mr. Coke.
Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Anthony Hylton said the extradition issue had been an obstacle to greater cooperation between the US and Jamaica.


That aside, Mr. Hylton welcomed Ambassador Bridgewater's impending appointment.


Ambassador Bridgewater had on a previous occasion served as Deputy Chief of Mission to Jamaica.


She currently works with the Department of State and is a career member of the Foreign Service with the rank of Minister.
She has also served as Ambassador to Benin and Ghana.


Ambassador Bridgewater holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours from Virginia State University and a Master of Arts from the University of Cincinnati.

Even dough police extend Kattel’s detention to 30 more days, the Sumfest people dem still hopeful that something can be worked out and Kartel will be able to make it to perform.

Needless to say, we will be looking out to see how it all unfolds.

Unconfirmed reports are that Lincoln “Sugar” Minott is dead.

Yardflex sources reported that the veteran reggae singer died from a heart attack in Jamaica late Saturday night.

Sugar Minott, who has contributed significantly to the development of reggae music through his Youthman Promotions, had earlier this year confirmed that he had been experiencing heart problems.

Yardflex sends out condolences to the family of Mr Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott. May his soul rest in peace.

Several employees of Jamaica's largest beer company will join the ranks of the unemployed on July 23.

Red Stripe's Head of Corporate Relations, Margaret Cremin says 60 people will lose their jobs in the latest redundancy exercise to be undertaken at the company.

Red Stripe's management also revealed that a number of vacant positions will not be filled, and have been cancelled.

Ms. Cremin says line staff and management personnel are among those to lose their jobs.

According to Mrs. Cremin Red Stripe's business performance had declined progressively over the last two years.

This, despite numerous initiatives implemented to mitigate against the severe economic challenges worldwide and taxation inequities in the Jamaican market.

At the same time the company's management was forced to revise its business model to maintain viability and prepare for future growth.

Ms. Cremin says the redundancies came as no surprise to the employees, as the company undertook a thorough assessment exercise, in an effort to minimise the impact.

She says employees were also alerted through a town hall meeting, on the state of business and the different initiatives implemented to turn around the company's fortunes.

All impacted employees also had one-on-one discussions with line managers and were provided with one month's notice.

They received out-placement support and counselling, including extension of benefits and offers for vocational training.

Red Stripe declined to share details on the cost of the redundancy exercise, noting that it is a last resort and follows on the heels of cost reduction efforts implemented since the start of 2010.

In an effort to reposition itself for future growth, Ms. Cremin says the company is reviewing its business performance, and will be taking the necessary and appropriate actions to maintain viability and facilitate growth.

A curfew has been imposed in sections of the Corporate Area as of 4:00 am today. The curfew will remain in effect until 4:00 am Sunday.

The boundaries of the curfew are as follows:

North along Bay Farm Road between Penwood Road and Waltham Park Road.

South along Spanish Town Road between Penwood Road and Hagley Park Road.

East along Waltham Park Road into Hagley Park Road between Bay Farm Road and Spanish Town Road and;

West along Penwood Road between Spanish Town Road and Bay Farm Road.

During the hours of the curfew persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorised in writing by a member of the security forces, who is in charge of enforcing the curfew.

Dancehall entertainer Rodney Pryce popularly known as "Bounty Killa" is to stand trial on September 27 on drug possession charges.

The trial date was set Wednesday when Bounti Killa appeared before the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court.

Bounti was charged earlier this year with possession of ganja and smoking ganja following an incident in New Kingston.

The DJ was reportedly standing outside a night club in New Kingston when he was spotted by a policeman smoking a ganja spliff.

He was arrested and charged.

However, the artiste has pleaded not guilty to the charges which attract a small fine.

In the meantime, another entertainer who has run afoul of the law also appeared in court Wednesday.

Andre "Popcaan" Sutherland whose collaboration with Vybz Kartal called "Clarks" has been climbing the charts, pleaded not guilty to drug possession charges.

He was also caught smoking ganja.

The police reported that on May 9, they were on patrol duty in the St. Andrew North Police Division when a car with four men was seen at a service station on Mannings Hill Road.

The cops approached the vehicle and "Popcaan" who was the driver, was seen with a ganja spliff in his mouth.

He was arrested and taken to the Constant Spring Police Station where he was charged.

He is to return to court on August 17.

A mek Yendi did a bawl and carry on so when she win di beauty contest Saturday night.

Everybody did dun know seh a she did a go tek di title so we nuh know why she did a galang so dramatic. But we haffi ask why people so bad mind?

Why dem a seh dat the contest did rig? But then again, maybe dem know sitten dat dem nah tell di rest a we. Anyway, Yendi, di people dem seh dem want to see how you look without di hair extension, cause some people a run we dung say a you owna long hair you have a wear and we a tell dem say is weave.

So, just fi one night just tek off di weave and show di world seh you a still pretty girl inna you owna hair.

Anyway Yendi, congratulations and we hope fi hear soon seh you and ‘Safa a go married. Cause we know seh ‘Safa mommy who is a big church woman don’t like di concubinage lifestyle.

After all, she never did even like it when ‘Safa did a dance uppa Olympics, so you can imagine how she feel bout oonu a sleep inna house together!

Seet deh now, this story only goes to prove that when you hear bout some woman death unno mussi jump up and sey how dem a kill off di poor woman dem. Look how dis ya one yah challenge di police inna shoot out.

Dem woman yah a gi all woman bad name.

Check out dah story yah.

A woman, who was accused of armed robbery in Harbour View, St. Andrew and later engaged the police in a shoot out, has pleaded guilty. Terry-Ann Brown, who also goes by the name Tracy-Ann Miller, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of illegal possession of a firearm and robbery.

Prosecutors then withdrew the other count of illegal possession of a firearm and one count of shooting with intent after she was accused of engaging the police in a shoot out.

The Crown conceded that it did not have enough evidence to prove that she fired on the cops during their bid to capture her. Miller's bail was restored by the presiding judge following an application by her attorney Christopher Townsend. She is to be sentenced on July 23 after the court receives a social enquiry report.

Prosecutors led evidence that on February 27, 2008, at about two in the morning, Ms Miller and her boyfriend went to the Total Service Station in Harbour View. Miller then pulled a gun at pointed it at an attendant on duty. Her boyfriend who was unarmed then robbed the attendant of $4,000. The couple also robbed several phone cards and snacks before escaping in a car. An alarm was made and the Elletson Road Police gave chase. The vehicle with the two was intercepted in Rema, St. Andrew.

Ms Miller reportedly jumped from the vehicle with gun blazing. She challenged the police in a shoot-out while her boyfriend made his escape.

Miller, a resident of Buck Town in Rema, also made a successful escape after exchanging gunfire with the cops. However, two hours later she turned up at the Kingston Public Hospital with a gunshot wound to her back. She was subsequently arrested and charged. The boyfriend remains at large.

What can we say about Missy Elliot … hmm… she’s a bad mutha – shut yo mouth, she’s a creative genius, and she’s a showstopper … literally.

This past weekend at the London Wireless Music Festival, the rapper got booted off the stage after exceeding her allotted time to perform, according to aceshowbiz.com.

She appeared 20 minutes late on stage and figured she’d make up the time by going over time. Psssh … sorry Missy, but that’s not what festival organizers were thinking. In fact, they pulled the plug shortly after her segment was scheduled to end and stopped the music.

She was joined by a friendly round of boos as she walked off the stage. Her lovely response to the crowd, “(I’m the) flyest s**t in the house.”

We just love Missy.

Her next album “Block Party” is scheduled to release some time this year.

A Senior Director in the Ministry of Finance has been charged with fraud.

Cherry Gordon, Senior Director for Tax policy at the Ministry of Finance, was charged on the weekend following investigations into a tax waiver racket at the Finance Ministry.

Ms Gordon, who was reportedly sent on leave in April, pending the outcome of a probe into the alleged waiver scam, was arrested last Thursday by fraud squad detectives.

She was charged on Friday and later released on $300,000 station bail.

It is alleged that in February, Ms Gordon in her capacity in the Finance Ministry, prepared or caused to be prepared, a fraudulent waiver letter which she later signed on behalf of the Financial Secretary in the Ministry.

The letter was used to waive duty to the tune of $1.2 million on a 2005 Nissan Titan Pick-up.

The alleged irregularity was unearthed by the Revenue Protection Division in the Ministry and the fraud squad called in.

Ms Gordon has been charged with six counts of breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act; six counts of breaches of the Customs Act; forgery and conspiracy.

She is booked to appear before the Corporate Area Criminal Court on July 19.

No matter what’s happening the former commissioner of police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin will not allow them to ‘draw him out’ into any tracing match.

Yeah man we love how him talking up the things them. It’s getting so bad that they are now looking at some secret clause to implement to shut him up.

Yes, we just love it.

Lewin, who was speaking at a Rotary Club of Port Royal dinner at the Morgan's Harbour Hotel, said that he was not into "anything controversial" while apologising to media representatives present for not giving them what they had expected to hear from him.

"I am in no tracing match with anybody. I said what I've said, what I've said, done. Besides that, it's not me, I don't know how to trace," he said.

Lewin was apparently making reference to last week's broadside against him by National Security Minister Dwight Nelson. Nelson had described Lewin as an abject failure, following the former commissioner's suggestion on a television programme that Coke was tipped off about the United States extradition request, minutes after he informed Nelson.

Yesterday we ran a story with the cops who were involved in the botched kidnapping attempt today cops are still in the crime thing.

It’s amazing how many bullets they were prepared to let get into the wrong hands. Lord deliver us from the people are in charge of securing this country.

There was a major development Monday in the highly publicised case involving four men accused of stealing a cache of weapons and ammunition from the Police Armoury at Elletson Road in St. Andrew.

Three of the four men threw in the towel and pleaded guilty to multiple counts of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The three; Garnett Pennington, David Blagrove and Charles Anthony Morris pleaded guilty when they appeared before the Gun Court.

But the man said to be the mastermind behind the theft, Sergeant Russell Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charges.

When the matter came up for trial Monday, Blagrove and Morris, who worked as grounds-men at the Elletson Road Police Station, pleaded guilty to possession of 18 guns seized in a police operation on Munster Road in the East Kingston Police Division in February.

Pennington, who used his premises to store the weapons and ammunition, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm and possession of 660 rounds of ammunition.

The three, through their attorneys then declared their willingness to become Crown witnesses against Sergeant Robinson.

As part of an apparent plea deal, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Dirk Harrison withdrew charges of store-house breaking and illegal possession of 9,000 rounds of ammunition against Blagrove, Morris and Pennington.

The men are to return to court on Friday for a trial date to be set.

They were charged in February after the police raided premises on Munster Road and seized 18 guns and 11,000 rounds of ammunition.

Investigators alleged that Sergeant Robinson, who had full access to the police armoury, used his influence to move the guns and ammunition out of the building under the cover of night.

The weapons and ammunition were later sold to elements in the criminal underworld.

Dancehall entertainer Adeejah Palmer popularly known as 'Vybz Kartel' was still being questioned by detectives assigned to the Greater Portmore Police Station on Monday afternoon.

A member of the artiste's legal team, Christian Tavares Finson says the question and answer session got underway about two Monday afternoon and is expected to end shortly.

Mr. Finson says all is going well and that the exercise is expected to be completed shortly.

However Mr. Finson said there is no guarantee that his client will be released or be charged by the police.

Kartel, who was among six persons being sought by the St. Catherine Police surrendered to the police last week.

The police had named those being sought as major persons of interest.

The entertainer says he has no idea why he is wanted by the police.

The Village Voice recently reported on the capture of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who was found wearing a wig and a pair of women’s glasses.

​You could be the baddest-assed, meanest, most gun-and-drug toting/smuggling monster of a dude around. Your nickname might literally even be "Dudus," and your last name "Coke".

You might have been responsible for riots and gunplay and fires set in your own country; you might even be responsible for people dying.

But you put on a wig and a pair of granny glasses in an attempt to evade the agents who want to extradite and punish you, and suddenly you become a made-for-the-big-screen character that folks might actually kinda root for once they settle in and figure out whether you're a man or a lady.

Jamaican Christopher Coke, who a month ago set off a deadly siege in Kingston by failing to deliver himself to the authorities and then went missing altogether, used a tried-and-true yet deceptively simple method of escape. Disguise!

Now, let's just acknowledge that this is a bad man who did bad things. However, the fact that he resorted to something as old-world clever as donning various wigs to conceal his identity, well, it kind of brings out just a little bit of the adorable in him!

We know it's wrong, but frantically running from the cops while wearing a pink wig and woman's glasses (both found in his car), well, it shows a kind of Mrs.

Doubtfire creativity sadly lacking in today's modern criminal.

We can all rest easy, at any rate, because Mr. Coke was stopped by the police on Tuesday afternoon and arrested as peaceably as those things go. He arrived in New York on Thursday and will face trial in federal district court in Manhattan. What do we have to do to get him to wear the wig at trial?

Coke's rather hilarious obsession with costuming (something that apparently is not exclusive to him; other Jamaican gangsters have been found dead in women's clothing, the Times reports) brings up an interesting theory:

If all baddies wore hilarious gender-altering wigs -- imagine Osama with long, luxuriant Barbie hair, or Hitler with an Orphan Annie 'do -- wouldn't the world somehow be just a little bit better? Not better than not having any bad people at all, of course, but at least more amusing.

Until girly wigs became the criminal norm and the rest of us have to resort to buzz cuts and shiv tats to proclaim our innocence.

It may be, at any rate, that this particular eccentricity of criminality is confined to the Caribbean.

As Annie Paul, a Jamaican critic and blogger observed, "In Jamaica farce, intrigue, and tragedy remain inextricably intertwined."

Understanding

My understanding of Truth deepens and directs my life.


My understanding of the truth has changed over time. I now see that there is ultimate Truth--the Truth of God--and there is my understanding of this Truth.

Since "my truth" is subject to my perception at any moment, it changes as I grow in spiritual awareness.

Daily I am given opportunities to grow. Often, deeper understanding comes from simply listening--listening without judgment, without feeling a need to defend a position or change another's point of view.

As I listen to others share their thoughts and feelings and as I attune to God in prayer and meditation, I find greater truth to guide my life.

Through my spiritual unfolding, I move closer to discerning the Truth of God.

For the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought.--1 Chronicles 28:9

(The Associated Press published the following headline story on Friday.)

Jamaican rapper Vybz Kartel has surrendered to island police three days after they announced he was wanted for questioning.


The popular entertainer is reportedly suspected of violating the state of emergency imposed during May street battles between police and gang members.


The 33-year-old rapper whose real name is Adijah Palmer was accompanied Friday by his lawyer to a police station outside Kingston.


Defense attorney Tom Tavares-Finson said his client would be held overnight for questioning but declined to say why he is being held.


Authorities say a rivalry between Vybz Kartel and another Jamaican artiste, David “Mavado” Brooks, for promoting violence between their followers on the Caribbean island.

Celebrity pastor Rev Al Miller, who has been making front page headlines since he was caught with fugitive Christoper “Dudus’ Coke and subsequently charged with harbouring a fugitive, has taken a leave of absence as National Director of the Transformation Programme, amidst calls for his resignation from the post.

In a release, Miller satated, “I am taking a leave of absence for the following reasons:


1. To ensure that there is no distraction or prejudice to this critical programme of National Transformation, while the legal process is being engaged over the next few weeks.


2. To give full attention to the preparation of my defence but more importantly, the defense of the principles of trust, truth, responsibility and justice!

These matters speak to some of the fundamental issues facing our nation that will enable us to make a quantum leap toward the transformation of Jamaica land we love.


3. To spend more time with my family to ensure we are strengthened by this experience.



I want to thank all those who through their prayers, encouraging emails, calls and letters have shown overwhelming support to us during this time.



I am also happy and thankful to God for the resolution of this issue, which has cost the country dearly in image, resources and lives. It was a resolution without any further loss, while serving the process of justice.



The National Transformation Programme (NTP), known as "Fresh Start Jamaica", is a Civil Society led, value based, socioeconomic programme with the State as a major partner along with Church and the Private Sector. It's intent is to trigger a process of positive transformation for all Jamaicans.

The St. Catherine Police have launched a major manhunt for armed thugs who invaded the home of Karl Samuda, Industry, Commerce and Investment Minister and Jamaica Labour Party General Secretary.

Gunmen reportedly terrorised workers and Mr. Samuda’s sister-in-law, who were at the St. Catherine property at the time.

They made off with a 12 gauge shotgun and an undetermined amount of ammunition.

Mr. Samuda has expressed outrage at the invasion of his home.

“I got a call at about 2 o’clock to say that two gunmen invaded my home, held up my helper and forced her to take them throughout the house. One of them held up my sister-in-law who was at a cottage next door.

“The gunmen forced workers who were there to cut open a safe and they stole a 12 gauge shot gun and about four packs of 12 gauge cartridges and generally ransacked the entire house and left,” Mr. Samuda said.

The senior ranking member of the Bruce Golding Cabinet was unable to say whether the attack may have been triggered by the government's crack-down on organised criminal networks across the country.

“It's just a serious assault on me and my home, my relatives and staff. We have to drive the fear of God into every gunman who carries a gun so that they will understand that to hold an illegal gun is to subject themselves to the most severe punishment that this country can render,” Mr. Samuda heard telling RJR News in an interview.

Hmm, maybe now the strong measure will continue in fighting crime as it’s closer to home. Ordinary Jamaicans have been dealing with this kind of home invasion for ever.

According to police reports since January 2007 more than $700 million (J$92m and almost US$7m) under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).


The constabulary, in a release yesterday, said the money was confiscated by different arms of the force — Fraud Squad, Organised Crime Investigation Division, Trans-National Crime and Narcotics Division — as well as the Customs Department.

"Other monetary seizures under POCA for the same period include Can$165,000 and £90,000," the constabulary said.
0

The Proceeds of Crime Act, which was enacted on January 23, 2007, allows the police — through the courts — to freeze, seize and forfeit the assets of persons involved in criminal enterprises.

And that’s not all the Police Commissioner has announced that the court would be moving to freeze the assets of former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who was last Thursday extradited to the United States to answer to charges related to gun and drug-trafficking.

Ellington also announced that as part of efforts to clamp down on criminal gangs, the police would be looking to use similar legislation to go after assets of at least 20 other 'dons' who have been taken into custody in the past month.

The police commissioner, who was speaking at a Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica breakfast at the Hilton Hotel, said that efforts would be made to trace, locate and strip the influential persons of their assets.

He said papers have already been served on one of the 'dons'.

According to Hello Beautiful website Trey Songz is rumored to have had sex in the bathroom at a after party at the BET Awards over the weekend.

A couple of party goers saw Trey and a female by the name of Charity walk into the restroom together. When they returned she was looking clearly disheveled.

It is also reported that this Charity chick has been making the rounds with different athletes and celebrities including Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks Brandon Jennings.

Hmm wonder if Lauren London knows about this little rendezvous?

The DJ who has been dubbed as cross, angry and miserable now has a reason to smile as he can put the assault court case behind him.

Yesterday, Rodney Pryce aka Bounty Killer who was charged after allegedly beating his girlfriend during a domestic dispute, walked free from the Corporate Area Criminal Court

Prosecutors were forced to drop the charges after the complainant, Kadene Baker, told the court that she did not wish to pursue the matter against Bounty Killa, whose real name is Rodney Pryce.

Bounty, the self-described "Warlord", was arrested and charged in April with assault occasioning bodily harm stemming from a dispute with Ms Baker.

Bounty, who has had several run-ins with the police, has more cases pending before the courts.

In one of these cases, he is accused of pulling a gun on a policeman during an altercation in New Kingston.

That matter is now before the Gun Court.

Controversial dancehall deejay Adidja Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, is anxious to know why he is listed as a ‘major person of interest’ by the police and as such will turn himself in to them this morning.

The artiste will be accompanied by his lawyer, Valrie Neita-Robinson.

Kartel, the president of the what some now describe now crumbling Gaza and the man in charge of the Portmore Empire, has always been an interesting personality within the dancehall.

“I’m a person of interest ... what’s new? People find me interesting,” the deejay said with a hint of sarcasm

Vybz Kartel is one of six persons from the parish of St Catherine named last evening as major persons of interest:

1. Adija Palmer, o/c ‘Vybz Kartel’ from Waterford, Portmore.

2. Omar Lawrence, o/c ‘Hommie’ from Anglin Lane, Newlands, Portmore.

3) Seymour Johnson, o/c ‘Bulb Eye’ from Braeton- Phase One, Portmore.

4) Paul Smith, o/c ‘Kerone’ or ‘Biggs’ from Big Lane, Central Village.

5) Oneil Myurrie, o/c ‘Neily’ from Little Lane, Central Village.

6) Damion Perry o/c ‘Tillyman’ from Old Harbour Bay.

They are asked to turn themselves in at any Police Station in Portmore or any Police Station across the island.

Fifty two men were taken into custody by the Clarendon Police on the second day of a curfew imposed in sections of the parish.

The 52 are still being processed and interviewed.

The Constabulary Communication Network says one of the men who was wanted by the Clarendon Police, has been identified and is being interviewed before charges are laid against him.

During the curfew, members of the security forces also seized more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

They include 203 nine millimeter rounds of ammunition, two 12 gauge rounds and two .38 rounds.

Following the discovery of the ammunition, a 16 year-old girl was arrested and charged for illegal possession of ammunition.

Deejay Adija Palmer, otherwise called Vybz Kartel, has been named together with five other men as, 'major persons of interest', by St Catherine South Police.

The six are all from the parish of St Catherine:

1. Adija Palmer, o/c 'Vybz Kartel' from Waterford, Portmore.

2. Omar Lawrence, o/c 'Hommie' from Anglin Lane, Newlands, Portmore.

3) Seymour Johnson, o/c 'Bulb Eye' from Braeton- Phase One, Portmore.

4) Paul Smith, o/c 'Kerone' or 'Biggs' from Big Lane, Central Village.

5) Oneil Myurrie, o/c 'Neily' from Little Lane, Central Village.

6) Damion Perry o/c 'Tillyman' from Old Harbour Bay.

They are asked to turn themselves in at any Police Station in Portmore or any Police Station across the island.

A former Jamaica Defence Force soldier, who was placed on trial for the 2008 fatal shooting of four persons at the Double Diamond nightclub off Washington Boulevard, has been found guilty.

Corporal Leslie Moodie was found guilty of four counts of murder before the Home Circuit Court Monday afternoon.

A 12-member mixed jury retired for nearly three hours before arriving at the guilty verdict.

The ex-soldier who is now facing the death penalty will be sentenced on August 16.

However, his attorneys are expected to appeal the conviction.

At the trial which began six weeks ago, prosecutors led evidence that on the night of October 20, 2008, the soldier was involved in a confrontation with a group of men in the nightclub.

They argued that the JDF soldier, who was drinking heavily and harassing women at the club, took offence when he was confronted about his behaviour.

Prosecutors say he pulled his nine millimeter automatic pistol and began firing at patrons.

Prosecutors say he fired 38 rounds in the club, forcing patrons to scamper for their lives.

Two of the victims, Lynchmore Forbes and Winston Wilberforce felt the brunt of the soldier's anger.

Forbes was shot seven times and Wilberforce nine times.

Witnesses testified that Wilberforce who was trying to escape slipped and fell.

They say Moodie went over him and shot him multiple times while he begged for his life.

The prosecutors say the other victims, Ejon Peart and Davian Carr were DJs at the club.

They say Moodie, who was shouting "Who next, who next!"...during his mad rage, walked over to the DJ booth and began shooting the men.

Peart was shot six times and Carr three times.

The brother of Carr who was also in the booth was shot seven times, but he survived to give testimony of his nightmare in the club.

The bloody rage ended when policemen came on the scene and shot Moodie.

However, in his defense....Mr. Moodie told the trial that he was acting in self-defense.

He claimed that he was attacked in the club by men who were armed with guns and knives.

His attorneys called four witnesses to back up his claim.

One of the witnesses, a forensic scientist at the government laboratory, testified that gun powder residue was found on the hands of three of the victims...suggesting that they fired weapons.

28 witnesses testified at the trial.

A curfew was imposed on sections of the Clarendon Police Division.

The curfew, which began at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, will remain in place until 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.

The boundaries of the curfew are NORTH, along a dirt track on the bank of the Rio Minho in the vicinity of the Salvation Army Church, to the top section of Overline Farm district using an imaginary line.

It also extends SOUTH along Oliver Drive from the car wash to a dirt track in Long Gully.

The curfew boundaries also run EAST along Sevens Road from the telephone booth to the intersection of Sevens Estate Road in the vicinity of John Crow Lane, and WEST along a dirt track from Long Gully using an imaginary line to the top section of Buzz Rock.

David Smith, former head of the failed investment club, Olint, on Monday had his case adjourned in the Supreme Court in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He will return to court on September 23.

Neither his legal team nor the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police was willing to divulge the details of the proceedings in court.

When the case against the former Olint boss was heard on May 11, a preliminary hearing was held in a Magistrate's Court.

David Smith is on a total of 30 fraud-related charges.

He’s alleged to have lost billions of dollars in investments by club members in his unregulated scheme.

Former Jamaican track star Raymond Stewart, who went on to coach banished American sprinter Jerome Young and other Olympic medalists, has been kicked out of the sport for life for obtaining performance-enhancing drugs for his athletes.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced the ban Monday, after an arbitration panel determined Stewart bought drugs from Angel Memo Heredia, whose cooperation has been used in investigations of banned coach Trevor Graham and others.

Stewart was a 100-meter specialist who appeared in four Olympics for Jamaica and won a silver medal in the 400 relay at the 1984 Games.

He joins Graham and Remi Korchemny as the third coach USADA has had kicked out of track for a role in helping athletes obtain and take drugs.

"Violating the sacred responsibility and standards of a coach by aiding athletes with doping is truly reprehensible," USADA CEO Travis Tygart said.

Heredia was a whistle blower in the case against Graham and others who were found to have used drugs purchased from Heredia's lab in Mexico City.

The arbitrators relied on evidence stating Stewart met Heredia in 1997 and the two maintained a relationship through 2006.

The evidence lists Young among those who Stewart coached. Young was on the 1,600-meter, gold-medal relay team at the 2000 Olympics but has since been banned for life for doping.

Young did not run in the finals and his U.S. teammates were originally allowed to keep the gold medal, but the medal was later stripped after one of Young's teammates, Antonio Pettigrew, admitted he doped during the Sydney Games.

Others Stewart coached, according to the evidence, included J.J. Johnson, a member of the U.S. 2003 world champion 400 relay team;

Kenny Brokenburr, a member of America's gold-medal, 400 team from the 2000 Games; and three-time Olympic medalist Beverly McDonald of Jamaica, who later married Stewart.

(Source: AP)

The curfew became effective at 2 pm Monday and will remain in place until 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

The boundaries are north along a dirt track on the bank of the Rio Minho in the vicinity of the Salvation Army Church, to the top section of Overline Farm district.

South along Oliver Drive from the car wash to a dirt track in Long Gully.

East along Sevens Road from the telephone booth to the intersection of

Sevens Estate Road in the vicinity of John Crow Lane and west along a dirt track from Long Gully using an imaginary line to the top section of Buzz Rock.

During the hours of the curfew persons within its boundaries are required to remain within their premises unless otherwise authorised in writing by a member of the security forces who is in charge of enforcing the curfew.

A US judge on Monday did not grant bail to former Tivoli strongman, Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

However, Coke has been given 30 days to conclude the details his legal representation and to prove that the money he will use to retain his lawyers is not from the proceeds of any alleged criminal activities.

Coke, who has a court appointed lawyer, appeared in court Monday with Judge Robert Patterson giving the defence 30 days to prepare a case and for him to finalize his legal representation.

He did not speak during the brief hearing which lasted for 15 minutes. The conditions of his solitary confinement were also discussed in the hearing.

His court appointed lawyer Russel Newfeld as well as government prosecutors also surveyed documents relating to the case.

Coke has the right to retain up to three lawyers.

Coke had last appeared in the Manhattan federal court in New York on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to charges that he ran a massive international drug and gun ring.

Coke, who was extradited to the US last Thursday on drug and weapons charges, will make his second appearance in a Manhattan courtroom at 4:00 pm, where a bail application is one of the items likely to be dealt with by the court.

Accused Christopher 'Dudus' Coke could find out today if his extremely slim chance of obtaining bail will materialise.

Yardflex will keep you posted.

Former Tivoli Gardens strongman, Christopher "Dudus" Coke, who was extradited to the United States from Jamaica, pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges in a New York courtroom Friday.

Dudus, or Prezie, as he is affectionately called, entered a full courtroom at 2:03 p.m. and acknowledged his few family members present with a nod. The judge greeted him with "Good afternoon, Mr. Coke," to which the seemingly calm Coke didn't respond. After entering his plea, Coke stood and answered "yes sir" to every question regarding understanding his indictments.

The court-assigned attorney told the judge he has not been permanently assigned to case because the Coke family hired attorneys Frank Doddato and Steven Rosen. Doddato is the lead attorney.

Coke was extradited Thursday, two days after he was taken into custody in Jamaica and several hours after he had waived his right to an extradition hearing there. Coke arrived at White Plains-Westchester County Airport outside New York City around 7 p.m.

Armed Drug Enforcement Administration agents and U.S. marshals escorted him to a waiting SUV. Coke was dressed in a blue shirt and black pants with his hands cuffed behind his back. He appeared subdued, a smirk on his face.

"I love the people of Jamaica," he said in response to a question from a Jamaican reporter.

Coke, 40, said in a statement that he decided to waive his right to an extradition hearing of his own free will, and did so "even though I am of the belief that my case would have been successfully argued in the courts of Jamaica."

According to a superseding indictment filed in Manhattan federal court, Coke has led a criminal organization known as the "Shower Posse" since the early 1990s, with members in the United States, Jamaica and other countries.

"At Coke's direction and under his protection, members of his criminal organization sold marijuana and crack cocaine in the New York area and elsewhere, and sent the narcotics proceeds back to Coke and his co-conspirators," the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a news release.

"Coke and his co-conspirators also armed their organization with illegally trafficked firearms," the release said.

Coke is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to illegally traffic in firearms. If convicted on the narcotics charge, he would face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $4 million.

He would face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on the firearms trafficking charge and a fine of up to $250,000.

Coke was arrested on Tuesday when Jamaican police recognized him at a checkpoint. He was wearing a woman's wig when he was caught, a federal law enforcement source told CNN.

Last month's failed attempt to arrest Coke sparked four days of gun battles between security forces and his supporters in Kingston that left 76 people dead.

Coke, who is also known as "President," "Shortman" and "General," said he was "deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives" and said the deaths "could have been avoided."

"Everyone, the whole country, has been adversely affected by the process that has surrounded my extradition and I hope that my action today will go some way towards healing all who have suffered and will be of benefit to the community of Tivoli Gardens," a neighborhood where violence erupted, he said Thursday.

(Source:CNN)

source AP

Exactly one year ago to today’s date the shocking news came that the King of Pop Michael Jackson died.
Today, Yardflex remembers the pop icon through one of the classic songs he has delivered



Man In The Mirror
Ooh ooh ooh aah
Gotta make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right

As I turned up the collar on
A favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind
Pretending not to see their needs

A summer's disregard
A broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other
On the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change, yey
Na na na, na na na, na na na na oh ho

I've been a victim of
A selfish kinda love
It's time that I realize
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really pretending that they're not alone

A willow deeply scarred
Somebody's broken heart
And a washed out dream
(Washed out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that change

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah)
I'm asking him to change his ways, yeah
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
'Cause when you close your heart
(You can't close your, your mind)
Then you close your mind

(That man, that man, that man)
(That man, that man, that man)
(With the man in the mirror, oh yeah)
(That man you know, that man you know)
(That man you know, that man you know)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Change)
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself then make that change

(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)
Ooh
Oh yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)

Oh no
Oh no, I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good
Sure mon
(Change)
Just lift yourself
You know, you got to stop it yourself
(Yeah)
Oh
Make that change
(I gotta make that change today, oh)
(Man in the mirror)
You got to, you got to not let yourself, brother oh
Yeah
You know that
(Make that change)
(I gotta make that make me then make)
You got, you got to move
Sure mon, sure mon
You got to
(Stand up, stand up, stand up)
Make that change
Stand up and lift yourself, now
(Man in the mirror)
Make that change
(Gonna make that change, sure mon)
(Man in the mirror)
You know it, you know it, you know it, you know
(Change)
Make that change