JOHANNESBURG, June 1, 2010 (AFP) A South African artistes union Tuesday said it was mobilising a boycott of the FIFA World Cup kick-off concert to protest the large number of international artistes in the line up.

"This is not an African event, we are telling the masses to stay away from this event," said Oupa Lebogo, general secretary of the Creative Workers of South Africa.

"We are not calling for violence or protests outside the concert venue, we just want people to stay away from it," he said.

Tickets for the much anticipated concert have been sold out, with prices ranging from 450 rand (58 dollars/ 47 euros) to 1,400 rand.

Since the March announcement of the star-studded line up, including American performers such as Alicia Keys and John Legend, local musicians have been demanding greater participation.

FIFA has since increased the local acts to seven from three in the initial list.

The unions also feels that the 450 rand price for the cheapest ticket is too steep for the ordinary South Africans.

"That amount is more than a weekly wage for many workers in this country. This is an elitist event which is not intended for the people," said Leboga.

Legendary trumpeter, Hugh Masekela and the Grammy Award winning Soweto Gospel Choir are some of the local headliners.

The concert takes place at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg's historic Soweto township on June 10 and will be broadcast live worldwide.

LEOGANE, Haiti (AP) Bill Clinton has returned to Haiti on a new mission to boost its recovery from January's devastating earthquake.

The former US president is making his first visit to the Caribbean nation since he was named co-chair of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Committee overseeing billions in aid.

He proposed credit programmes for small businesses at a meeting of community leaders yesterday in the coastal town of Leogane and pledged to negotiate with landowners to secure more space for housing.

Clinton was scheduled to fly to the neighbouring Dominican Republic later yesterday for the first meeting of the reconstruction panel he leads with Haiti's prime minister. The committee will oversee more than US$5.3 billion in donor pledges for the next 18 months.

THE Government last night defeated a no-confidence motion tabled in the House by the parliamentary Opposition against Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

The motion was defeated 30-28, even without the vote of House Speaker Delroy Chuck and that of Shahine Robinson, who learnt earlier in the day that her North East St Ann seat was declared vacant Monday by the Supreme Court in a default judgement.

Robinson had been the subject of an election petition filed by the People's National Party's Manley Bowen that claimed she was a United States citizen at the time of her election in 2007.

Yesterday's motion, which denounced the prime minister's leadership based on his handling of the extradition matter involving former West Kingston don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, had called for, among other things, the condemnation of Golding for suppressing the truth, that he be censured, and the rejection of his leadership as prime minister.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller categorised as "barefaced contempt", the prime minister's statements to Parliament on the issue.

"We have a devalued prime minister in a devalued nation. There is only one remedy. It must be met by the sanction of removal by a vote," she said.

Meanwhile, Opposition spokesman on national security Peter Bunting said the "long-running pantomime" and loss of lives last week in West Kingston could have been avoided if Golding and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne had allowed the law to take its course.

He said the Government, by announcing its intention to sign the authorisation to proceed on the Coke extradition case, gave the then Tivoli Gardens don a "heads up", leading to barricades mounted at the entrances to Tivoli and the eventual gun battles between members of the security forces and thugs in the community.

He said the prime minister's "spin doctors were desperately trying to reinvent him, presenting him as the man to now lead the fight against crime".

Opposition member Dr Peter Phillips said every "contortion" was now being used to prevent Golding from paying the political price he said he'd gladly pay over his handling of the extradition matter.

Golding, in his response, said his directives for the matter to be kept separate from the Government were not adhered to. In apologising to the Parliament, he described as careless, arguments that he caused the deaths last week by indicating in a national broadcast that an arrest warrant for Coke was on the way.

According to Golding, each time the security forces went into the community unannounced it resulted in the deaths of women and children.

This time, he said, no children were killed.

Following the vote, there were loud cheers from the Government benches.

SCOTIABANK is to pump more than $4.5 million into a raft of initiatives geared at protecting and/or revitalising Jamaica's environment.

"Just over $4,658,010 will be invested in projects that are focussed on recycling plastic bottles, reusing or the repurposing of newspaper and other paper products, the replanting of green areas in schools and coastal clean-ups across the island," the bank said in a release to Environment Watch.

The investment in the environmentally friendly initiatives forms a part of Scotiabank's "Going Green" campaign, which will see the bank forging partnerships with entities, including the Protect the Environment Trust (PET), the University of the West Indies Centre for Environmental Management and the National Youth Help Project.

On Labour Day 2010, more than 600 Scotia volunteers undertook tree planting, the establishment of vegetable and flower gardens and other environment re-generative activities in schools, hospitals, children's homes, and at community roundabouts across the island.

"The tree planting element of the Scotiabank's "Going Green" initiative is being supported by the Forestry Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, which will be providing seedlings that the bank will be distributing to environment clubs in primary schools," the bank said in the release.

At the launch of the campaign on May 18, several school environmental clubs received seedlings from the bank to be planted on Labour Day Monday.

"The Scotia volunteers will be partnering with the different environment clubs to maintain the green areas through periodic visits and work days. They will also be hosting "green" seminars and making presentations to the students on understanding and caring for the plants under their watch. Following their Labour Day activities Scotia Volunteers will also be undertaking coastal clean-up projects, along with the management of public green spaces in town centres," the bank said.

The second phase of the campaign will be carried at the UWI Mona campus, where the bank has funded the construction of five large skips which store plastic bottles collected for recycling from the various residential halls and other food areas on the institution. Since the plastic bottle recycling project began at the UWI, more than 20,000 pounds of bottles have been collected and shipped.

The plastic bottles collected at the Mona campus are then sorted, cleaned and packaged by PET for export to the United States. Scotiabank has also partnered with PET in the acquisition of a garbage collection truck that aids in the collection of plastic from residential communities in Kingston and St Andrew.

"Scotiabank is already known as a responsible corporate citizen and we have been involved in several green initiatives before. However, our decision to conceptualise and organise a structured going green initiative is a natural step in the right direction," said Joylene Griffiths Irving, director of public, corporate and government affairs at Scotiabank.

"We are aware of the daily damage that we all inflict as humans on our environment through our everyday activities. We want to play an active part in helping to limit these effects and, in some cases, try to reverse what has already happened. We also want to take it further by educating and encouraging our customers, neighbours and the larger community to get active in this regard," she added.

The third element of the campaign, which is being executed in partnership with the National Youth Help Project, will see the bank supporting unattached youth from various communities in the development of a new environmental income-generating enterprise.

"This will see them collecting newspaper, used office paper and other paper products to be sold to a local cottage industry which will export them. The project, which will be introduced in phases, will begin in Kingston and St Andrew with the main focus on businesses in the New Kingston and downtown areas, after which a campaign will be launched for residential collection. Young men from various communities will be trained and employed to work as collection assistants and liaison officers," the release said.

SCHOOLS in the embattled communities of West Kingston have been instructed by the Ministry of Education to reopen next Monday, as efforts to normalise life in the area continue.

Education Minister Andrew Holness took the decision yesterday after a tour of schools in the communities subdued by the security forces following almost a week of gun battles which left more than 70 people dead and several others injured.

Holness, along with senior ministry officials and journalists, visited several schools which appeared to be physically unaffected by the fierce conflict between members of the security forces and criminal elements, as a result of efforts to apprehend alleged Tivoli Gardens drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

The party was unable to tour Tivoli Gardens on the advice of the security forces, but walked through sections of Denham Town where battle-weary residents and their children greeted them with queries about when schools would reopen as grim-faced soldiers kept close watch.

Holness announced after the tour that all schools would reopen fully on Monday, and that counselling sessions with teachers would begin today. He asked teachers to report to school tomorrow to prepare schools for reopening.

"The community is coming back to its normal way of life. I am heartened that people are saying that they want the schools to reopen, they want to send their children back to school," he told journalists after viewing St Anne's High in Hannah Town.

Other closed schools visited yesterday included Tivoli Gardens High, Denham Town High, Denham Town Primary, St Alban's Basic and Charles Chin Loy Basic.

REVEREND Al Miller says Christopher 'Dudus' Coke maintains he is misunderstood by those who failed to see the many initiatives implemented by him in West Kingston to make the crime rate in that police division the lowest.

Miller, who last met with Coke now a fugitive two days before the security forces took control of his Tivoli Gardens stronghold, said Coke spoke openly about, among other things, the role he played in helping the elderly and providing a start to many youth who would otherwise have turned to a life of crime.

Miller said Coke spoke of the perception that the public had of him which caused them to view him differently from who he really is.

"He voiced his concern that his side of the story was not being told," Miller told the Observer on Monday.

Miller said Coke insisted that were it not for his input, violence would be a constant feature of Downtown Kingston. Instead, he said that he tried to do the positives which no one spoke about.

"He felt he took the initiative and called together the men from other communities and encouraged the peace and unity for those areas as well," Miller said.

According to the pastor, Coke not only maintained that crime was the lowest in that police division but he was able to quote exact statistics.

Coke attributed this to his influence in West Kingston.

"He asked why people thought he is trying to create mayhem and war when he has done everything to ensure peace," Miller told the Observer in an interview Monday night.

Coke, Miller said, also spoke of encouraging other communities to examine the development model being used for Tivoli Gardens where many persons were encouraged to start their own small businesses and to stay away from crime and violence.

"He said he tried to get into the heads of youths the need to develop themselves and work and to cease from their violent ways," said Miller, adding that Coke also spoke of helping the elderly, organising after-school programmes within West Kingston while insisting that young children must attend school and be off the streets by a certain time nightly.

According to Miller, he took the initiative to visit Coke in his Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens on Wednesday, May 19 and Saturday, May 22, to arrive at a peaceful solution to the stand-off between the community and the security forces.

Residents and gunmen loyal to Coke had barricaded the community in an effort to prevent the police from executing an arrest warrant on Coke who is wanted by the US Government on drug- and arms-trafficking charges.

On Thursday, May 20, hundreds of Tivoli residents, mostly women, staged a peaceful street protest and march in support of Coke, urging the authorities to leave him alone.

As the head of the National Transformation Programme (NTP), which falls under the Office of the Prime Minister, Miller maintained he did not go in there wearing that hat and neither was he sent.

"I decided I would take the bull by the horns and so I just went there by myself," he said.

While not outlining how he made contact with Coke, Miller said he had met with him for several hours in January as the NTP and Peace Management Initiative (PMI) teams journeyed around Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and sections of Montego Bay to meet with area leaders and dons to bring the message of a fresh start for Jamaica.

As such, Miller said he did his homework and made connection with Coke.

When he arrived at Tivoli he was immediately granted access to the community and taken to Coke.

Anxiety, he explained, was evident among some residents, fearful that

the police would be barging in with brute force.

Miller said he questioned Coke and those around him on the reasons for the barricades and was told they were mounted because of fear of excessive force from the security forces.

On that day, Miller said there was no talk by anyone of leaving Tivoli, as although there was a stillness to the perimeters of the community, life was abuzz beyond the barricades.

Adults, he said, went to and from work.

The pastor said he and Coke spoke for close to three hours.

"He was very open and he talked about the situation, his concerns and what were his options," Miller said.

"He asked why he should be treated any differently from another citizen as the police would not come with such brute force for somebody else," Miller told the Observer.

Miller said Coke's big issue was the approach of the security forces as he repeatedly voiced concerns about the manner in which they would carry out their duties.

The pastor said that although Coke contemplated the idea of turning himself in, he expressed grave reservations about being extradited to the United States.

"He did not like that option because of its implication," Miller said. He, however, declined to disclose to the Observer what were some of the reservations Coke had.

"He had some reasons which I understood and appreciated but he was prepared to go through the Jamaican court system," Miller recalled.

But Coke did not want to be held in custody as he feared a similar fate to that of his father, who was burnt to death in his cell at the then General Penitentiary, shortly before he was to be extradited to the US.

"That memory was very strong in his mind," Miller said. "So we talked about how to allay that fear and to build his confidence in the system which I told him was different from what it was then."

But Miller said while Coke was contemplating his options for surrender from as early as Wednesday (May 19) Coke wanted more time to be better briefed on the court process by his lawyers and to explore the best option.

When the talks ended on Wednesday, Miller said Coke promised to think about the option of turning himself in. "He gave me his word that he would think about it," Miller said.

The pastor said he informed Coke that if he was serious about turning himself in, he would speak with the police high command, which he later did.

Miller said he later spoke with Coke via telephone, and informed him that the police, too, were interested in an amicable solution and an arrangement was made for the talks to continue on Saturday, May 22.

On Saturday when he returned to Tivoli Gardens, Miller said there was a visible tension hovering throughout the community, although life appeared normal beyond the barricades.

"There was still no restriction of movement as people went to work," Miller said.

Asked if there was an unusually high number of men seen in the community then, Miller said there was nothing unusual about those he saw.

Coke was said to be maintaining his same "cool" composure.

Miller said he informed him then that the police were not interested in using brute force but needed an early resolution to the situation.

But, according to Miller, the "media hype", as he described it, was only heightening the tension and resulted in even greater reinforcement of the barricades.

"I told him that it didn't look good to be increasing the barricade when we are talking to the police, that the matter could soon be resolved and he agreed but the fear was there because of what the media was saying," Miller said.

"Imagine at that time the media begins to recount how his father died and that

was killing the dialogue," Miller said.

"Here I was telling him the police were not going to barge in but they are hearing all these things through the media and so I told him to trust the word of the police," he said.

At the end of Saturday's meeting, Miller said he and Coke reached an agreement to remove the barricades on Labour Day. Coke also arranged to speak with his lawyers in Tuesday to get their views on the options proposed by Miller, and which he would not disclose and for the final decision to be made on Wednesday.

Miller said he communicated this to the police high command and the decision was taken then to hold off entering Tivoli Gardens.

"He spoke with his lawyers after I left and we were making excellent strides," he said.

On Sunday when thugs launched an attack against the security forces, Miller said he still maintained a dialogue with Coke who was disappointed about the turn of events.

As the mayhem intensified into Monday, Miller again contacted Coke.

"I was told (by him) to come now and deal with it and I was heading there when my intelligence indicated the security forces operation had begun," he said.

Unable to locate the relevant police authority to inform them that he was going in, Miller said he was forced to abandon the mission.

Miller said he is still willing to help Coke surrender to the police. "I understand the fear, but I would appeal to him to go in to the police and allow the courts to deal with the matter," Miller said.

ALLEGED drug and arms dealer Christopher Dudus Coke believes that the best way of getting illegal guns off the streets is to dry up the supply of bullets.

According to Reverend Al Miller, the former Tivoli Gardens strongman made the suggestion during a meeting between both men inside the heavily fortified community two days before the security forces entered and crushed a militia assembled to prevent Cokes capture by the police.

Miller, who heads the National Transformation Programme, told Chat! on Monday that he first met with Coke in January when he and members of the Peace Management Initiative met with various area leaders and dons across the Corporate Area, St Catherine and sections of Montego Bay.

According to Miller, he spoke with Coke at that time about the way forward for many of these communities which have been stifled by criminal activities and lack of developmental opportunities for young people.

Among the issues discussed then and again on May 22 when they met, was how the guns could be removed from the streets.

Miller said that Coke, who the United States is trying to have extradited to that country to answer major gun- and drug-trafficking charges, told him that this could not be done overnight.

He suggested that the first move would be to dry up the supply of bullets because if there were no bullets then the guns would be useless, Miller said.

The suggestion was made even as residents and gunmen loyal to Coke erected barricades at the entrances to Tivoli in preparation for a stand-off with the security forces.

Miller said Coke also maintained that he was pushing for more education, training and employment for the youths while being adamant that the incessant *lo**letting benefited no one.

Despite intermittent and at times heavy rainfall, patrons came out in their numbers for the second international night of Reggae Sumfest, a night which proved to be the most explosive of the three-day event.

None of the artistes scheduled to make appearances failed to deliver, but it was the King of Lovers Rock, Beres Hammond who stole the show. Delivering a stellar performance which had patrons of all ages, rocking, jiving and grooving, Beres could do no wrong.

Every song he crooned was a hit, as songs like, Standing In My Way, No Disturb Sign and Putting Up A Resistance, rendered a wave of screams from patrons who were clearly delighted to be entertained by the soul singer.

After almost one hour of thrilling the crowd, Beres took patrons on a trip down memory lane with Rockaway, ending his set perfectly.

Taking the large crowd at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex by storm, United States rapper Lil' Wayne, had the crowd in a frenzy. Lil' Wayne had patrons eating out of his hand as even a flash of his 'grilled' smile drew deafening screams from lwomen and every verse he belted out received acclaim from the men.

From the moment he entered the stage the crowd sang along to every song he performed. Drawing from his catalogue, the young rapper sang songs such as Duffel bag boy, Fireman, A milli, Get high and many others which had the crowd enthralled.

Before he performed his hit Stuntin Like My Daddy, rapper Baby, co-founder of Cash Money Millionaires, a rap group to which they both belonged, entered the stage to the delight of the patrons, and together, he and Lil' Wayne continued to entertain the crowd.

Wayne ended his performance by singing Lollipop, a song the crowd had been anticipating all night. Before he left the stage, he played Whitney Houston's I will always love you, a reminder (to patrons) of a statement he had made earlier when he said, "without you, I aint sh."

Etana gave a memorable performance. Her powerful voice coupled with equally powerful expression, seemed to envelope members of the audience, who clearly enjoyed her performance.

Similarly, Tarrus Riley did an excellent job of wowing the crowd, inviting his father, veteran singer Jimmy Riley on stage for a duet as well as Queen Ifrica with whom he sang Stay With You. He was also joined on stage by a choir dressed in black for the song Lion Paw.

While United States rapper, T-Pain lip-synched his performance, he provided a set which was entertaining, delighting the crowd with all his popular hits such as Low (a collaboration with Flo' Rida), Bartender, Good Life, Buy You A Drink (collaboration with Kanye West) and others.

The crowd seemed to be intrigued by the fact that he incorporated much theatrics and dancing into his set.

Rootz Underground and Andy Vernon were earlier acts which did a fantastic job with their brand of roots reggae music. Brick and Lace were also well received and even though Bonafide, is not a well known group, the Los Angeles group which originally hails from Mt Salem, too did a decent job.

And when the crowd thought things could not get better, foundation singer John Holt graced the stage, singing multiple hits which included, Number one, Wear you to the ball, Don't want to see you cry, Stick by me and many others which provided the perfect end to a night of good music, and was well received by the crowd.

In numbers

2.84m Number of inhabitants

30 per cent Population under the age of 14

1,660 Homicides in 2009

1962 Year of full independence from Britain

2m Tourists who visit the country annually

$8,200 Average income per head

14.5 per cent Unemployment rate

14.8 per cent Population living below the poverty line

Full story

London, England (CNN) -- Police in England said Wednesday they were searching for a man in connection with "a number" of fatal shootings across Cumbria, near the border with Scotland.

Derrick Bird, 52, was believed to have fired shots in three towns near the coast of the Irish Sea on Wednesday, Cumbria police said.

Members of the public were advised to stay indoors until further notice.

Bird was initially driving a dark gray or silver Citroen Picasso, but police later said he had abandoned his car in the area of Boot, England, and was traveling on foot.

The area is in the Lake District, which is popular with walkers, hikers, and tourists.

The first shots were fired at 10:35 a.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) in Whitehaven, and further shots were fired in the areas of Seascale and Egremont, police said. A number of people were killed and wounded, they said.

"There are a number of fatalities and police are working to identify the individuals and inform relatives," Cumbria police said. "Ambulance crews are in attendance across the area."

Taxi drivers in the area told CNN that Bird is an independent taxi driver.

Sorce: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/02/uk.england.shootings/index.html

Jarrod Wyatt, a 26-year-old mixed martial arts fighter, is accused of brutally murdering his 21-year-old friend, Adam Powell. According to theTimes-Standard, prosecutors claim the pair took mushrooms along with two other friends in late March. The paper reports that witnesses say Powell and Wyatt "became preoccupied with the idea that a tidal wave was coming, that the end of the world was upon them and that a struggle between God and the devil was taking place."

When police arrived, they found Wyatt naked and covered in dried *lo**. According to an officer at the scene, Wyatt admitted to cutting out his victim's tongue and heart. Powell's corpse included an 18-inch incision on his chest, and Wyatt allegedly said he cooked the 21-year-old's heart in a wood stove to "stop the devil."

The accused killer faces murder charges in Del Norte County (Calif.) Superior Court. The Times-Standard has additional details on the charges.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/01/jarrod-wyatt-murder-detai_n_596263.html

( l - r ) Tarrus Riley, Konshens Busy - file photos

Since the unrest in the Corporate Area and Spanish Town, many songs which speak to the situation have hit the airwaves.

Having done No Guns To Town years ago, Natty King recorded Country Under Siege last Saturday, only days after intense shooting in sections of Kingston and Spanish Town, which left many dead or injured.

In the song, Natty King says: "Country under siege, bad bwoy soldier and police inna shoot-out/ Hear corn a beat and baby inna house, grandma can't peep out/ Guns and bombs, do you see those signs/ It wussa than Judas time/ So much people dead and just a few guns find/ Mi nuh love how dem a use mankind."

He said he was not planning to do a song about the incidents but was pressured to do so.

social commentary

"Social commentary a Natty King thing. Mi know the whole vibe seh most artistes a guh come sing 'bout it and mi neva really plan fi do no song 'bout it. But people a come to me and a ask if mi nuh do no song yet," said Natty King, while noting that he arrived in the island on Monday in the heart of the intense battle between the security forces and thugs.

He also said he would be doing a monthlong promotional tour in Europe for his new album Born To Be Free.

Tarrus Riley has also penned songs about the issues facing the country in recent times. He did Sweet Jamaica for Jon Jon, Mi Homeland for Shane Brown and Wildfire for Don Corleon, which was done a day before the security forces entered West Kingston. In Wildfire, he sings: "Protect di people Jah/ Nuh mek dem get caught inna di crossfire."

When THE STAR spoke with Riley in a previous interview, he said: "Jamaica nuh need no song right yah now, we need some solutions. We have nuff songs long time from Marley dem days. We need a collective effort from everybody - the singers, di taxi man, di Government, everybody."

Upcoming artiste, Smokie Benz, also recorded a song about the state of emergency last Saturday called Tell Me Why. "Mi decide fi the whole world hear it. It's not a song weh mi write, mi just go inna the studio and it come natural. It full of pain and everything," he said.

Another song that is appropriate for the times is Busy Signal's Peace Reigns. His manager, Shane Brown, explained that the song will be appearing on the artiste's album, D.O.B, which will be released on July 13 through VP Records. However, a decision was made to send the song out to a few disc jocks last week after the unrest.

"I just think seh with what's going on now people need something soothing. It's just acoustic guitar," Brown told THE STAR.

"It's been great. People like it, even the Broadcasting Commission called and say they were moved and surprised at the same time."

He also said Busy Signal did not do the song for any hype, he was speaking his mind.

Though not a recent track, Konshens also released the fitting No More Tears. Producer Russian has also released Kurupt and GD Up's What A Gwaan as a tribute to Tivoli Gardens.

Thieves apparently seeking human skulls for use in evil rituals, robbed at least two graves in the Commodore Cemetery in St Catherine over the weekend.

The robbers are reported to have dug up the vaults and made off with their contents, leaving authorities puzzled.

''I do not know what they were looking for. It is, however, suspected that persons involved in witchcraft have removed skulls for evil purposes,'' said Ferdinand Page, commercial services manager at the St Catherine Parish Council.

Page told THE STAR the theft was discovered on Sunday by a caretaker at the facility who was shocked when he found out the dead were being disturbed.

He said the council has completed its checks in the incident and a formal report will be made to the St Catherine North police.

When contacted, a senior police personnel from the St Catherine North division told THE STAR it is a criminal act for persons to dig up burial spots.

''They can be charged under the Public Health and Parish Council Act. Persons can be fined and even imprisoned," the officer said.

Meanwhile, Dr Raymoth Notice said the practice can cause serious problems for residents living close to the cemetery.

PRESIDENT of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), Joseph M Matalon has placed in the hands of his attorneys, what he claims are damaging remarks made abut him by former prime minister Edward Seaga.

In a news release yesterday from the PSOJ, Matalon alleged that remarks by Seaga about statements he made on the operation in West Kingston had damaged his reputation and endangered his personal security.

"Mr Matalon categorically denies making any comment that would suggest that the loss of life or alleged human rights abuses was a small price to pay," the news release said.

A total of 76 persons, including two policeman and a soldier, died during last week's joint police/military operation in Tivoli Gardens. Members of the security forces had gone into the area to serve an arrest warrant on West Kingston don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke and to restore order to the community, which was heavily barricaded by gunmen loyal to Coke. However, Coke managed to evade them and is now on the run.

OVER 100 social workers from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Social Development Commission (SDC) will be sent into Tivoli Gardens, Hannah Town, Denham Town, Fletchers Land and surrounding communities to conduct a social survey following recent operations by the security forces in West Kingston.

The objectives of their investigation will be to assess the level of dislocation to families, damage to houses, businesses and property and loss of income arising from the military exercise. The situation relating to children will also be a major focus of the survey.

The social workers will gather information over the next three days and a report will be submitted to Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Friday.

Following these assessments, appropriate support will be provided by the Government to enable early restoration of normalcy in affected communities.

Following the fatal shooting of five men and seizure of nine guns in the garrison community of Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston on Sunday, police islandwide are now on high alert and say they will be ready if cronies of the dead men seek to avenge their deaths.

The police say they recovered an Intratech submachine gun, an M16 assault rifle, an AK47 assault rifle, a Mack 11 submachine gun, a shotgun, two Taurus 9mm pistols, a .44 Magnum revolver, a .38 revolver and 481 assorted rounds of ammunition.

The guns and ammunition that police said they seized in Sunday's raid in Tivoli Gardens during which five men were shot dead in what the cops said was a firefight.

A police constable and a Jamaica Defence Force soldier were shot and injured during what the police said was a shoot-out with gunmen.

Two of the dead men have been identified as Kwesi Cunningham, 24 and Roland Wellington, 20, while a third has only been identified as 'Andre'. At press time the other two men remained unidentified.

Last night, the police said that the 53 persons, including two women, who were taken into custody, were released.
Head of Operation Kingfish, Assistant Commissioner Glenmore Hinds said the police were aware of the possibility of reprisal attacks and were prepared to take on all comers.

"We always encourage police to be on extra alert, especially after incidents like these," said Hinds. "Vigilance is what we encourage, and at this time we need to be more vigilant."

In May 2005, days after police had cut down Tivoli Gardens residents, Christopher 'Chris Royal' Coke and a man identified only as 'Jello', their cronies led an assault against the cops which ended with three cops and a security guard dead and another cop shot and injured.

Coke and Jello had attacked and killed Corporal Hewitt Chandler at the intersection of West King's House and Waterloo roads when they were cut down by cops who were travelling in an unmarked vehicle. The two men were allegedly carrying out the attack on Chandler in reprisal for the death of former Tivoli Gardens 'community leader', Donovan Griffiths also called 'Zion Train', who was killed by the security forces a month earlier.

Angered that two of their own had been cut down, the following morning their cronies shot up the Cross Roads Police Station and murdered District Constable Canute Brown. Minutes later the same car load of gunmen shot dead Inspector Lascelles Walsh as he sat on his service motorcycle at Barry Street in downtown Kingston.

The men also killed Marksman security guard Richard Adams as he drove along East Avenue in Greenwich Town. Another cop who worked at the Hunts Bay Police Station was also shot and injured by men who drove up beside him.

"We will not sit back and wait like sitting ducks," one homicide detective said. "What happened in 2005 must not happen again. I personally am taking every precaution to stave off any attacks and I urge all police officers to be on red alert."

Yesterday, tension filled the atmosphere in Tivoli Gardens as police and soldiers patrolled the community. Some residents hit out at the action of the security forces, claiming that the killings were carried out in cold b*o**d.

"Dem kill the youth dem unjust and we know say the police don't like nobody in this community," one woman said.
The residents also said they were abused by the police and soldiers.

"Dem fire a barrage a shot and tear gas from the helicopter, kick off whole heap a people door and damage dem things. Dem beat up a lot of people too," another woman said.

But the police are adamant that they acted professionally and say they had gotten wind of the presence of men on their most wanted list in the community. The police say none of the men killed were among those being hunted.

"It seems they (the dead men) were acting as decoys and started shooting at us to give the wanted men time to escape," one cop said.

Yesterday Hinds, like his colleague, Inspector Steve Brown, on Sunday, declined to confirm reports that the wanted men were members of the feared Stone Crusher Gang based in St James.
"We are not going to make anyone who is wanted any wiser," said Hinds. "I can tell you that we were after people out of
St James."

In a story carried in the Observer last December, it was revealed that the Stone Crusher Gang had compiled a list of police who were marked for death. Police sources say the gang has ties to a criminal organisation based in Tivoli Gardens.

At the same time, the police reported that they seized nine illegal guns from the community, triggering comments from crime watchers last night that this was probably the biggest ever gun find in Tivoli, an area normally perceived as being heavily armed.

Heavily armed police and Jamaica Defence Force soldiers patrol a section of McKenzie Drive in Tivoli Gardens as they search for wanted men during yesterday's joint police/military raid in the area. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Up to press time last night, the police had not released the identities of the five men killed. Neither did they name the injured cop and soldier, offering only that they were receiving treatment in hospital. It was not immediately clear what condition they were in.

"The operation started just before midday today, we came into the area in search of wanted men, including some of those on the police most wanted list," said police spokesman Inspector Steve Brown. "And upon approaching one of the communities we came under gunfire from a group of men. That triggered a gun battle between the security forces and the gunmen.

Two members of the security forces have been shot and wounded .five gunmen were also shot and killed. We also seized illegal firearms and a quantity of ammunition."

Several armed members of the Jamaica Defence Force take up strategic positions along a section of Industrial Terrace in Tivoli Gardens during the joint military/police operation in the area yesterday. Photos: Bryan Cummings

The operation, he said, was ongoing "as we intend to get the men who we came for".

Brown said he could not say whether the men the police went in search of were among the five killed. He also said a number of men were detained, although he could not give an exact number.

"I cannot give you the quantity now because of processing, but as soon as they are processed they will be released, I am almost certain about that," he added.

Brown also declined to divulge the names of the men the police were looking for.

Asked to address a rumour that the raid was conducted specifically to flush out members of the Montego Bay-based Stone Crusher Gang, Brown was very evasive in his response.

"If you get the rumour on the ground, then the rumour on the ground must come from the people," he said. "If they told you we are searching for members of the Stone Crusher Gang, then it could well mean that members of that gang are here, but what we are telling you is that we are searching for wanted men in the community."

Tivoli Gardens, a community that is fiercely loyal to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has been the focus of a number of police raids over the past 10 years, with the most memorable being that of July 7, 2001 when 27 people, including a policeman and a soldier, were shot dead.

At the time, its political representative, Edward Seaga, claimed that the violence was orchestrated by the then ruling People's National Party (PNP) to rekindle the perception of Tivoli as a violence-riddled community, thereby painting Seaga as a man of violence and not fit to lead Jamaica.

Yesterday, however, there were no shrill protests of political motivation from the JLP, as Desmond McKenzie, the mayor of Kingston and the JLP councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, said the raid was carried out in a professional manner.

"I would say that the security forces in part conducted themselves in a professional way," McKenzie said. "It is unfortunate that persons have lost their lives, but we support the work of the security forces as long as it is done in a professional manner and the rights of the residents are respected. And in this case there were one and two isolated incidents of abuse by some members but I can't say they acted unprofessionally."

He said, too, that some residents complained that their homes were vandalised by members of the security forces. "Persons have lost personal belongings. We have in fact made contact with the police high command and have learned that an effort is being made to investigate the circumstances under which the things were removed from the homes in question," McKenzie said.

He also told the Observer that despite the loss of five lives, the presence of Bruce Golding, the prime minister and member of parliament for West Kingston - in which Tivoli Gardens is located - was not yet necessary.

"I don't think this would necessitate the prime minister coming down here," McKenzie said. "As the councillor for the area I think I am probably capable enough to deal with what is happening on the ground."

Last night, Opposition spokesman on national security Dr Peter Phillips voiced his support for the security forces involved in yesterday's operation, while expressing sympathy to the policeman and soldier who were injured.

Phillips also urged the citizens of West Kingston to support the security forces in their attempt to restore order in the communities affected by the operation.

Last night on Fox News, during a conversation about sending military forces to the U.S.-Mexico border, host Bill OReilly suggested that a larger show of soldiers would intimidate drugs dealers from entering the country. But as he made his point about cocaine dealers, OReilly asserted that Fox News contributor Marc Lamont Hill, an African American Studies professor from Columbia, kinda look[s] like one a little bit. Hill, who was dressed in a suit and tie, laughed off the awkward moment, retorting as do you, and joked that to be even, OReilly looks like a cocaine user:

OREILLY: I dont need IEDs. If I have 10,000 guard down there, thats an intimidating force. That intimidates. Say you are a cocaine dealer, and you kinda look like one a little bit

HILL: As do you, you, in fact, look like a cocaine user. So were even.

OREILLY: I know, Im too thin. Im twitchy. [...]

Watch the video:

 

OReilly is no stranger to racial stereotypes and inflammatory racial rhetoric. In 2007, OReilly declared his surprise that there was no difference between Sylvias, an upscale Harlem restaraunt, and other New York restaurants. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though its run by blacks, primarily black patronship, said OReilly before adding, there wasnt one person in Sylvias who was screaming, M-Fer, I want more iced tea. In another instance during his unsuccessful radio program, OReilly warned listeners that proponents of inclusive immigration reform wanted to change the complexion of America.

Currently on the Billboard Charts with his hit single Hold Yuh, Windel Edwards more popularly known as Gyptian, is set for a busy summer.

Now getting heavy rotation on radio stations both home and abroad, the song -- written two years ago, has even been unofficially remixed by Young Money protégé Nicki Minaj, which added to its popularity.

But what influences his music?

Gyptian explained that music has been a part of him since he was a child. He not only sings about life, but also about things that people of various ages can relate to. Referring to what may be perceived as a change from cultural music to a more pop genre; he assured his fans that it isn't a change and that he is simply showing off his versatility.

He continued by stating that the Gyptian we know now is just the tip of the iceberg and there is much more to come in time but the humble person will not change. Expected at Best of the Best, a few charity shows and a myriad of tours this summer, he expects to be living out of his suitcase for a good while as he moves from place to place, spreading the music and passion.

Since his inception into the music industry, Gyptian has been to Africa, Europe the United States and Canada and hopes to move anywhere that the music takes him because music is life itself. His other main projects include getting his protégé Ras Schino out to the public, and completing his yet to be titled album that is expected to be out mostly for international markets in July.

Although he did not want to give away too much about the album, he did state that we can expect a hit collaboration from himself and Cobra and of course a few new videos. Gyptian reminded TEENs to "read more, because it will be better for you in the future."

He also sent his respects for the fans and reminded all Jamaicans that in these times we need to stay alert and be more careful.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) The World Cup faces no terror threat at the moment, according to South Africa's police minister, who dismissed speculation less than two weeks before the tournament opens about plots by groups ranging from al-Qaida to homegrown white militants.

Police minister Nathi Mthethwa said yestyerday that if a threat were to emerge, his forces would be ready. He said preparations since 2004, when South Africa won the bid to be the first African country to host soccer's premier event, have included working closely with security and intelligence agents from the United States, Britain and the 29 other countries sending teams to South Africa. The monthlong tournament begins June 11.

Mthethwa dismissed concerns that while South African security forces were prepared to respond, its intelligence agencies would be stretched to prevent an attack.

"I don't think that South African intelligence is weak," said Mthethwa, adding that if so, it would have been pointed out by the foreign governments with whom it has been working to prepare for the World Cup.

South African investigators went to Iraq after security forces there announced they had arrested an alleged al-Qaida militant who had talked to friends about attacking the Denmark and Netherlands squads at the World Cup. Mthethwa said investigators dismissed that threat.

STRATFOR, a private security think tank based in Austin, Texas, said in a pre-World Cup review of South Africa that it was unlikely that groups like al-Qaida had the capacity to carry out a major attack here.

Mthethwa also said there was nothing to substantiate a report in a South African newspaper Sunday of terror cells and training camps in the region, and at least one arrest in South Africa linked to the World Cup.

Mthethwa added that white South African extremists arrested in recent weeks for stockpiling weapons are a "lunatic fringe" and no threat to the tournament.

"It would be folly for any country to grandstand and proclaim that it is immune to terror attacks," Mthethwa told reporters in Johannesburg. But "there is no threat to South Africa as we speak now".

The US State Department made a similar point last week when it issued a warning to Americans living in South Africa or travelling here for the World Cup.

AN Achilles tendon injury has forced double world record holder Usain Bolt to withdraw from next weekend's Adidas Grand Prix at New York's Icahn Stadium.

A release from the meet organisers yesterday said they had been notified by Bolt's management team earlier in the day that the 23-year-old was suffering from an inflammation of his tendon.

Bolt, who is still in Europe, and is due back home later this week after meets in Daegu, South Korea, Ostrava and Czech Republic, is quoted as saying: "I developed a stiffness in my Achilles tendon last week and sought medical attention. After careful consultation with Dr Hans Müller-Wohlfahrt at his clinic in Munich, I have been advised to take a 2-3-week break as a precautionary measure to avoid risking further damage. Regrettably, I will have to miss the IAAF Diamond League meeting in New York on Saturday, June 12. I am well aware of the disappointment for the fans in New York and around the world, but I hope to return to New York as soon as possible."

Bolt was to have made his first appearance at the stadium where he broke his first world record, running 9.72 seconds there in 2008 when the meet was then the Reebok Classic.

The announcement that Bolt was taking part in the meet where he was due to meet American rival Tyson Gay over the 100m distance, had seen a run on the tickets, and up to yesterday the organisers were announcing that only a handful of tickets was available for the meet.

Gay was second to Bolt in the 2008 race that was delayed by nearly three hours due to a storm.

The New York meet is the fifth stop on the 14-meet schedule that was introduced for the first time this season by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Bolt, who has lowered the world record in the 100m to 9.58 seconds, has the second fastest legal time in the world this year, 9.86 seconds set in South Korea; trailing only compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell's 9.83 seconds set two days later in Ostrava.

Bolt also ran 30.97 seconds in the seldom-run 300m in rainy and cool conditions in Ostrava, chasing Michael Johnson's world best 30.85 seconds.

Bolt missed a number of meets last year after he was involved in a car accident when his vehicle overturned on Highway 2000, but he had escaped with only minor injuries when he stepped on thorns while exiting the overturned vehicle.

In the release yesterday, meet director Mark Wetmore expressed regret at Bolt's withdrawal: "I know I echo the wishes of all New York area track fans when I say that we wish Usain a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back next year."

Meanwhile, Bolt will be out of action for more than a month as his next meet in the Diamond League series will be in early July in Lausanne, Switzerland.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad Lawyers for two businessmen, described as financiers of the United National Congress (UNC), have asked newly appointed Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to block their extradition to the United States where they are wanted on criminal charges.

In a letter sent to Ramlogan, the lawyers for Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson said the extradition proceedings were unjust and oppressive.

The letter by attorney Nyree Alfonso is the fifth addressed to the Attorney Generals office, but the first addressed to Ramlogan since the election victory of the Peoples Partnership, an amalgam of five political parties and trade unions, including the UNC. The other letters had been sent to the former attorney general John Jeremie.

Ramlogan said he would not comment on matters he was not briefed on and Alfonso said that while she did not expect an early response from him the final decision on the extradition according to Section 16 of the Extradition Act is up to the Attorney Generals discretion.

She argued that extraditing Galbaransingh and Ferguson did not make sense, as their appeal was still before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, the countrys highest court.

If they were extradited to the United States, they may be incarcerated and unable to return to Trinidad when the case is eventually called before the Privy Council, she told the Express newspaper.

Both Ferguson and Galbaransingh are wanted in Florida on a total of 95 criminal charges related to the Piarco Airport Development Project.

A number of government ministers in the then Basdeo Panday government, including Panday himself, are facing criminal charges related to the airport project.

In the letter to the Attorney General, Alfonso said the extradition proceedings were unjust and oppressive because they are already being prosecuted in Trinidad and Tobago in relation to substantially the same matters.

JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) Israeli commandos rappelled down to an aid flotilla sailing to thwart a Gaza blockade yesterday, clashing with pro-Palestinian activists on the lead ship in a botched raid that left at least nine passengers dead.

*lo**ied passengers sprawled on the deck and troops dived into the sea to save themselves during several hours of hand-to-hand fighting that injured dozens of activists and six soldiers. Hundreds of activists were towed from the international waters to Israeli detention centres and hospitals.

International condemnation was swift and harsh as Israel scrambled to explain how what was meant to be a simple take-over of a civilian vessel went so badly awry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly cancelled a planned meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington to rush home.

The global reaction appeared likely to increase pressure to end the embargo that has plunged Gaza's 1.5 million residents deeper into poverty.

Most of the information about what happened on the single ship where violence broke out came from Israel, which cut off all communication to and from the activists and provided testimony and video evidence that its soldiers came under attack by activists armed with metal rods, knives, slingshots and two pistols snatched from the troops.

Yesterday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

THE trial of dancehall deejay, Rodney Bounty Killer Pryce on ganja-related charges, has been postponed to July 7 in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Allegations are that the Alliance leader was reportedly seen smoking along Grenada Way in New Kingston last October. He was accosted and searched and a small quantity of the drug was reportedly found in his possession.

The artiste was subsequently charged with possession of and smoking ganja, but has since denied the charges.

When he appeared before Resident Magistrate Maxine Ellis, the trial was rescheduled and his bail was extended.

However, the artiste, who has been appearing before the court on a rather frequent basis, is also scheduled to return to court on June 29 on a charge of assault stemming from allegations that he attacked his girlfriend in March of this year, after she decided to end their three-year relationship.

Pryce is also now before the Gun Court on a charge of unlawful wounding and illegal possession of a firearm following a September 2007 altercation with an off-duty policeman in New Kingston.

POLICE Commissioner Owen Ellington has asked for patience as members of the security forces continue their search for illegal weapons in the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens.

Seventy-three civilians were killed in and around the community as police and soldiers engaged armed thugs who were trying to prevent the arrest of alleged drug don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. Two policemen and a soldier were also killed in the operation.

Initial police reports that only four guns were seized during the operation sparked concern among Jamaicans, including Public Defender Earl Witter, about the disparity between the number of deaths and illegal firearms seized.

"First we did the primary search, which was to clear the environment and to detain people... and then we are now doing the secondary searches, which are a bit more detailed, for weapons and evidence," said Ellington, during yesterday's special Monday Exchange at his office on Old Hope Road in Kingston.

"The secondary searches are turning out the weapons; two days ago we had over 12 weapons being found and yesterday I think we found an additional seven. We will find more as we move along," he said.

Up to yesterday afternoon, the police said they had recovered a total of 40 firearms and more than 9,200 rounds of assorted ammunition. The latest discovery, Ellington said, was made among debris in garbage trucks leaving the Tivoli Gardens community.

In addition, he said many of the thugs who were shooting at members of the security forces were hit from "distances of over 300 yards".

"If a man is firing a rifle and he is taken out by snipers there is no way that the sniper can go and retrieve his firearm. It would be unwise, unsafe and downright irresponsible for him to attempt to do that," Ellington said.

In such cases, he said, residents would have had ample time to retrieve weapons from slain gunmen.

"With time, we can find the weapons, we can find the individuals and we can disarm the community. We can't assure security and stability unless we are able to remove the killing capacity from it," he said.

Meanwhile, Ellington said he was doubtful whether or not all the bodies recovered in West Kingston were of persons killed during the security forces' operation.

"Because of the advanced state of decomposition of some bodies, we suspect that they may have been killed prior to [the operation]," he said.

"We have intelligence that some people were killed when they attempted to leave the community, and we also have information that some people were killed because they refused to allow criminals to occupy their homes. But that is to be determined," he said.

Preparations are now being made to test if two crocodiles which were found in Tivoli Gardens were fed humans, THE STAR has learnt.

Police sources told THE STAR that the two reptiles were found caged in a section of the community.

Sources say the crocodiles were not fully grown but were at least four feet long. Officials responsible for animals were reportedly contacted and tests of the stomach contents are being planned.

This as Tivoli Gardens is known to have men who administer punishment which they deem appropriate upon those who disobey orders. It is believed that the crocodiles were used in instances where death was the penalty.

"Well there is to be a test on the animals' stomach contents so we will have to wait on those results. But these people have their own justice system so to speak so the possibility exists that the crocodiles were used for this purpose," a high-ranking member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, told THE STAR.

punishment

One resident from the community told THE STAR that the reptiles were being held at a section of the community called 'Queensbridge'. Asked if people were ever fed to them as punishment, residents said they have heard tales of such acts, but could not confirm.

"Mi know di crocodile dem deh yah but mi nuh know if dem eat people fi true. Mi hear argument like dat yes but yu cyaa work off a hear say," a resident said.

The security forces are continuing their operations in Tivoli Gardens and surrounding areas.

The operation began last Monday and hundreds of people were detained, all of whom, except 10, have been released. A number of weapons and ammunition have also been seized.

BRUGES, Belgium (AP) FIFA medical chief Michel D'Hooghe has a message for players at the World Cup in South Africa: You'll pay for those bone-crunching tackles.

D'Hooghe said yesterday that he plans to give referees plenty of instruction and warning, adding that a big event like the World Cup offers a chance to send the message that these kinds of tackles are unacceptable.

"We will specifically tell our referees and let everyone know" to use the red card as soon as a career-threatening foul is committed at the World Cup, D'Hooghe said.

Early this season, D'Hooghe produced a DVD of some of the worst fouls committed in recent years to convince national federations to curb violent play. Nevertheless, it has continued and D'Hooghe doesn't want it to spill over into the World Cup.

"I took action after four or five serious incidents in a row," he told The Associated Press at his medical office in western Belgium.

One of the fouls was from the Belgian league when Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel snapped both bones in the right leg of Poland international defender Marcin Wasilewski in a grudge match against Anderlecht.

D'Hooghe is hoping his campaign will match the success he had combatting facial injuries ahead of the last World Cup in Germany.

The 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan saw no less than a dozen serious facial injuries from elbows, often flying in anger and with callous determination. When Germany came around in 2006, the medical staff at FIFA campaigned to make the elbow to the face an automatic red card.

CHURCH leaders have assured that they will continue to help West Kingston residents who were this past week confined to their communities as gunmen and the security forces traded bullets during an operation to apprehend alleged drug lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

The residents, who were unable to venture far from their homes due to the imposition of a State of Emergency since last Sunday, complained about not having food to eat. And from as early as Tuesday, food was distributed by church groups who had heard their plight.

General secretary for the Jamaica Baptist Union Karl Johnson said despite the barricades in the area and the sound of gunshots, the group was able to get someone in Tivoli Gardens to distribute food to residents on Tuesday. They intend to continue the distribution of food as well as medication in the coming days.

In addition to the work to be undertaken by the Union, the group plans to work along with umbrella church groups in the island to assist with the restoration of the affected communities. In a joint press release last week, five of the six umbrella church groups -- the Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, the Church of God in Jamaica, The Jamaica Council of Churches, The Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches and the Jamaica Pentecostal Union -- oulined a series of interventions they have planned for the area.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the members of the security forces and to the innocent members of the community for whom this experience is extremely grave and traumatic. We are especially mindful of the families which have lost loved ones and we trust that they will sense the comforting and sustaining presence of God during this period," the release said.

One of the initiatives to be undertaken by the group is the establishment of a hotline that people can call for prayer and counselling.

"We are setting up a counselling line. It is a straight hotline for persons who are affected in one way or another -- not only residents, but the police, the soldiers (and) family members," executive chairman of the Church of God in Jamaica Lenworth Anglin told the Sunday Observer.

Meanwhile, members of the groups helped political ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair to package and distribute 2,000 food packages to residents of Tivoli Gardens early last week. Blair, who visited the community on Wednesday, along with Public Defender Earl Witter -- at the request of Prime Minister Bruce Golding -- said sourcing food was a grave challenge for the residents.

The West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said they, too, will assist with the restoration of West Kingston through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) whose representatives visited Denham Town on Thursday to hand out relief items.

"We gave out nearly 500 or so food items, such as rice, meat and tin stuff like mackerel (along with) baby items like pampers and sanitary kits. We also gave out soap and toothpaste and that sort of a thing," said ADRA director Wenford Henry.

The Catholic church has been offering counselling services for the residents in West Kingston where two of its churches are located.

"The priest (at St Anne's), along with his assistant, have been relating to the people and counselling. We just hope that we can put in other things too, as the smoke clears away, because naturally the people are probably traumatised down that area, and we are ready to help in whatever way we can," said Archbishop of Kingston Donald Reece.

Parachurch groups such as Food for the Poor, the Salvation Army and Missionaries of the Poor have also rallied to help the residents. Chief executive officer for Food for the Poor Ryan Peralto Jnr said they have been supplying the Jamaica Red Cross and churches in West Kingston with food, medicine and other supplies for distribution in affected communities.

More than 70 persons were confirmed dead and 500 detained at the National Arena in Kingston during the operation which halted activities in sections of the Corporate Area. Peralto said that in an effort to restore dignity and empower residents, more jobs needed to be created for the residents. He believes both the church and the private sector have a role to play in this regard.

"Over time, the church has been very benevolent at helping people out. Some people have taken that and built themselves. Some have sat back and done nothing. What we have, as church-based organisations, to do is to make sure that we can get them to make something of their lives," he said.

Father Richard Ho Lung of Missionaries of the Poor said his group has been busy attending to the needs of West Kingston residents who have come in for help. Some went there for medication after the nearby Kingston Public Hospital announced it was only seeing emergency cases owing to the violence. Ho Lung said the brothers remained at the centres in West Kingston throughout the entire operation to comfort residents. The group spent most of Friday preparing and distributing food and soup to residents in the affected areas.

CONTROVERSIAL and verbose former Senior Police Superintendent Reneto Adams last week strongly recommended silence for former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who has come out swinging against the government and military operations into Tivoli Gardens, a community that he built in the 1960s and which became the centrepiece of his and the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP's) political support for more than four decades.

Adams, who crossed path with Seaga on several occasions during his 41 years as a police officer, and who had either led or was apart of security operations in the community, called Seaga a hypocrite.

ADAMS... Seaga has only himself to blame

"For Mr Seaga to have come out and speak as strongly as he did, about the disruption and dislocation in Tivoli Gardens, I want to say that it is highly hypocritical...", the outspoken retired crime fighter said, minutes after he concluded the keynote address at the Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last week.

In a stinging broadside against the JLP, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding, his former protégé, Seaga again defended the residents of Tivoli Gardens and said that a massacre had taken place in the community.

He put the death toll at 125, instead of the 73 given by security officials, based on information he claimed to have received from the community. Charging, too, that bodies had been buried as part of a cover-up, based on information he received, Seaga accused Prime Minister Golding of ineptitude.

Adams in 2001 led a police and military team in the community, to ward off a planned attack on Wilton Gardens (Rema) which had suffered more than 100 casualties at the hands of Tivoli Gardens gunmen over the years, with some last week, showing the scars of what they say was Tivoli brutality.

After the four-day standoff in 2001, 27 persons were killed, including security personnel, and Adams crypitically warned then that "Jamaica would pay dearly, dearly, dearly" for the fortification of the community, which has used strong-arm tactics to maintain political support for the JLP in the Corporate Area.

The community is currently under occupation by members of the security forces led by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) who are in search of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who was indicted last August by the United States on drug and gun-running charges.

The 80-year-old Seaga, who relinquished the helm of the JLP in 2005 to Golding, emerged from political hibernation after retirement to academia, in a combative mood which belied his advanced years.

According to Adams, Seaga "nurtured this location, this environment and these people, to the extent that the security forces under a JLP government could not bear the onslaught anymore, that they had to put the police and the army to deal with it in a most effective and efficient way."

"Dare I say, Seaga has only himself to blame..." said Adams.

"I would recommend that instead of criticising, he goes in and try to reorient the people, on a line of decent and civil living. That is the recommendation I would give him," he said.

For its part the JLP has offered no official response to the former leader's charge that the party was split down the middle. However, the party has been distributing an audio of Seaga, responding to a question about "Jim Brown" (real name, Lester Lloyd Coke) the father of Christopher Coke, and who was the leader of the criminal Shower Posse, which was inherited by his son, Dudus.

The audio received on Saturday from a JLP operative quotes Seaga saying that Jim Brown was a protector of the community.

"Look at the man in terms of how the community respect and treats him as a protector of the community," Seaga's voice was heard saying, to loud roars in the background.

But Jim Brown's notoriety spread way beyond Jamaica's shores and the Shower Posse, which he led, and to which more than 1,400 deaths in the United States has been attributed.

The elder Coke died in a mysterious fire while in custody awaiting extradition to the United States.

Not known for tact, South West St Catherine Member of Parliament Everald Warmington has recommended that Seaga go quietly, somewhere, even as he described him as "a bitter old man".

Seaga, who is now a distinguished fellow at the University of the West Indies, has been consistent in his criticisms of Golding's leadership capabilities, describing his departure to the NDM as not a problem.

"It is mischievous for Seaga to be saying that Bruce should have gone in there and defended the people. The prime minister of the land with all of the advisors came to the conclusion that it was necessary to go in there and get criminal gunmen. I want to say to Mr Seaga that it is unwise and unprofessional for him to be criticisng the prime minister in such a fashion," Adams said.

He said it was uncharacteristic for governing parties to have this kind of offensive into communities that are their political strongholds, but it was apparent that their backs were now against the wall.

MILITARY and police personnel Friday said that copies of the extradition documents filed by the United States Government against Christopher Dudus Coke were found in his Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens after the community was secured by the authorities.

At the same time, they painted Coke as a coward who, after importing at least 400 gunmen from outside Tivoli to fight in his defence, fled the community shortly after the security forces began their operation last Monday to arrest him and restore order to the area.

On Friday, two attorneys with whom the Sunday Observer shared the information about the documents expressed surprise, as they said it was not the practice for the subject of an extradition to be in possession of the papers supporting that request.

It would be very unusual, said one of the attorneys, whom the Sunday Observer will not name.

My antennae would go up on getting that information, said the other lawyer who explained that extradition documents would only be shared with the subjects attorney after the subject was arrested.

The first attorney also questioned the Judicial Review filed by Cokes lawyers in relation to Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbournes decision to sign the extradition request, a move that would put Coke before a Resident Magistrate to determine whether he has a case to answer in the US.

The US Government indicted Coke on arms and drugtrafficking charges last August but the Jamaican Government had refused to sign the document to begin the extradition process.

The Judicial Review is scheduled to come before the High Court tomorrow. Cokes lawyers are arguing that the minister had contended for the past nine months that the US had illegally obtained wire-tap information against their client.

The reason given for the challenge at this stage is highly unusual, said the attorney.

According to members of the security forces, they also found other sensitive documents relating to the extradition in Cokes office, from which he ran his entertainment company.

They declined to reveal more but were obviously peeved at the discovery which suggested that Coke was the beneficiary of assistance from influential circles.

On Friday, the security officials confirmed an Observer report last week that Coke was paying gunmen from outside Tivoli to help fight the security forces who were intent on executing an arrest warrant on the man for whom hundreds of Tivoli residents mostly women staged a peaceful street protest two weeks ago, urging the authorities to leave him alone and declaring that they were willing to die for him.

Last Tuesday, the Observer had reported that Coke a supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party was said to be paying members of criminal gangs aligned to the Opposition Peoples National Party up to $100,000 per day to wreak havoc in sections of Kingston as gunmen loyal to the Tivoli Gardens don sought to prevent his arrest.

On Friday, police and military officials said that the information they received was that 400 gunmen were imported into Tivoli ahead of the security forces operation.

As confirmation of the accuracy of that information, the authorities on Friday pointed to the fact that many of the 500 men detained during the operation were unable to give an address in Tivoli.

Of the 500, only eight are still in detention, Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

According to Scarlett, the remaining detainees have been identified as being wanted for a number of crimes, including murder and larceny.

Scarlett also rubbished a claim being made on the streets that Coke was escorted by cops out of Tivoli during the police/military operation.

Thats just a part of the propaganda machinery designed to affect the credibility of the security forces, he told the Sunday Observer.

On Friday, military personnel said they suspected that Coke fled Tivoli Gardens as early as 4:00 pm on Monday, a few hours after the operation began.

I got the feeling, based on the level of resistance, that he had left somewhere about that time, said one army spokesman. He said that by the following day he was convinced that Coke had abandoned his fighters as the resistance had reduced significantly.

MONTEGO BAY, St James Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett estimates that the loss incurred by the tourism sector, resulting from last week's civil unrest in which the security forces and gunmen from Western Kingston, loyal to Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, were locked in fierce firefights for two days, to be up to US$350 million.

"That (fallout) could be in the region of US$300 million to US$350 million. That's the fallout we could have if we don't go out there and do this restoration job that has to be done," Bartlett told the Observer yesterday.

Noting that the six per cent projected growth in arrivals is now being threatened, the tourism minister announced the launch of a massive "promotional and advertising campaign" to begin during the first week of June, estimated to cost Government an additional US$10 million, to counter the negative image portrayed globally and woo visitors to the destination once again.

The tourism minister was speaking to the Observer shortly after the end of a two-day meeting involving highly-placed officials of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and other stakeholders held at the Secrets Resort and Spa here in the city of Montego Bay over the weekend.

The meeting was held to assess the damage that the Jamaican brand had suffered from the damning international reports of the atrocities in West Kingston during efforts by the security forces to nab Coke who is wanted in the United States on arms trafficking and narcotics charges.

Bartlett insisted that with Government's budgetary support and support from key stakeholders, the industry will rebound.

"We think that a partnership which will involve resource support from the trade, as well as resource support from the industry, along with the Government's additional budgetary allocations which we have to get, we should see a very strong campaign that we need to see the recovery that we want and the growth that we projected".

But the tourism minister surmised that a full recovery of the sector could take up to nine months of rigorous promotional and advertising campaigns, due to the extent of the destruction of the image of the destination.

"It is not going to be a quick fix, it is not something that is going to happen within the next two, three months. We think that we need at least nine hard months out there to bring it back because the nature of the damage that has been done out there to the brand is very extensive. It covers all the key market places as well as the market we were about to go into such as the Russian market that we had plans for, the Brazilian market and also the Canadian which has been so strong".

Over the weekend, JHTA president Wayne Cummings, who also attended te emergency summit, reported that "arrivals are now picking up", after reports of large-scale cancellations in the wake of reports of the stand-off in West Kingston.

He attributed the curbing of the cancellations to a quick response by the tourism sector to get the word out in the market that the violence was restricted to the urban area; and not to the traditional resort areas such as Montego Bay.

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THE universities of Technology and the West Indies (UTech and UWI) must be cringing with shame in the aftermath of last weeks analysis of Jamaicas crisis by Mr Edward Seaga, one of their brightest academic stars.

If theyre not, they ought to be.

According to Mr Seaga, who serves as a honorary distinguished fellow at the professorial level in UWIs School for Graduate Studies and Research and Pro-Chancellor of UTech, Prime Minister Bruce Golding should resign.

Frankly that is my view because he is showing day by day that he cannot cope, said Mr Seaga in an interview on TVJ.

While there are many people who would not argue with that view, were willing to bet that even fewer can really tolerate Mr Seagas exposition of it.

For anyone who has the slightest inkling about Jamaicas political history over the last five decades could not fail to miss the downright immorality of Mr Seagas position.

Coming as it did in the aftermath of the tragic but thoroughly necessary reaction by our security forces to the brazen assault that criminal gunmen in Tivoli Gardens perpetuated on the State in their misguided attempt to show solidarity for alleged drug lord Mr Christopher Dudus Coke, Mr Seagas argument is highly hypocritical.

Where has he been over the past nine months while Mr Golding fought the US extradition request for Mr Coke to answer charges of drug- and gun-running?

Why didnt he, in his capacity as conceptualiser of the garrison capital of West Kingston that is Tivoli Gardens, seek to sway Mr Golding away from the eventual confrontation with Washington.

Was it not patently obvious to him then, that the only outcome could be epic tragedy?

Many others who are nowhere near as experienced and lettered as he, saw it coming.

Had Mr Seaga thrown the intellectual and political clout, of which our universities are so proud, behind the effort to convince Mr Golding to settle the issue before Mr Coke and his lieutenants had time to gear up is it not at least arguable that some of the Tivoli casualties might have been averted?

And why, when the barricades were being mounted at the entrances to Tivoli, did he not use his influence to convince the residents to heed the authorities appeal to dismantle the blockades?

Did 73 lives have to be wasted in order to elicit the scholarly analysis which Mr Seaga offers so freely now?

Mr Seaga tells us, without shame, that Ms Olivia Babsy Grange, the current minister of youth, sport and culture, was his pick for a successor, as she was better able to cope than Mr Golding.

Better able to cope with what and whom?

Whoever succeeded Mr Seaga would have eventually come to the same crossroads as Mr Golding.

Indeed, had Mr Seaga overstayed his welcome as West Kingstons member of parliament any longer, he would have come to it himself.

What would he, Ms Grange or any of the current crop of politicians who helped birth the culture of garrison constituencies to secure political supremacy, have done?

The cold, hard fact is that Mr Golding has inherited from Mr Seaga a constituency whose reputation for violence overshadows its positive achievements. Adding to that dilemma is a culture ingrained in Tivoli that it is a state within a state.

Mr Goldings task now if he intends to reclaim some amount of respect and authority is to change that culture.

With the material clinging tightly to her famous curves, this black dress looks as if it was made for Beyoncé. And indeed it was as it features in the singer's new fashion line Deréon, which is being launched just in time for Brazil's Valentine's Day, on June 12.

The range includes bandage dresses and tailored blazers with embroidered detail, and is intended to make women look powerful.

The 28-year-old said: "The collection was inspired by the theme of the warrior goddess, a sexy, yet empowered woman.

"There are form-fitting silhouettes, sexy dresses and a lot of metal details to give the pieces a strong, but glamorous feel." The line, which follows House of Deréon, is for sale exclusively at C&A stores in Brazil this week.

House of Deréon was launched by the Knowles family in 2006 as a prêt-á-porter fashion line, and followed soon after by the Deréon line, for younger women.

The gowns range in price from US$300-$500 and are on sale in US department stores, including *la*hmingdale's, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

Deréon was the maiden name of Beyoncé's grandmother Agnèz Deréon, whose married name Agnèz Beyincé inspired the singer's first name.

The collection is sold with the tagline 'Couture. Kick. Soul' as it represents the spirits of three generations of Knowles women.

Beyoncé's mother Tina is the 'couture' thanks to her design talents, the singer brings the 'kick', while late Agnez had the 'soul'.

Along with House of Deréon and the Deréon fashion line, the Knowles family recently announced plans to expand their business to include home furnishings.

Tina said: "Both Beyonce and I are huge fans of home furnishings and try to stay on top of this ever-changing market. "As someone who has also realised many interior-design projects, I am so excited to expand our House of Deréon and Deréon brands in this category.

"The thought that we would have something to do in brightening up someone's home, especially bedrooms, is truly wonderful."

Delz - Hip-Hop & RnB Heat 5

Tracklist
1.Cassie,Day26,Diddy,Red Cafe & Busta Rhymes - Must Be Love Remix
2.Beyonce ft. Cassidy - Ego Remix
3.Ryan Leslie - Something That I Like
4.T6 Featuring Dame Grease - Get It Off
5.London Featuring Lil Wayne - B4 You Go
6.Neyo & Brandy - Decisions
7.Trey Songz - Girlfriend Can Come Too
8.T-Pain,Jack Splash & R.Kelly - Ringtone
9.Drake & R.Kelly - Best I Ever Had
10.Nina Sky - On Some B.S
11.Ryan Leslie - My Gift To The Game
12.Letoya Luckett - She Aint Got Ish On Me
13.Jerimiah & R.Kelly - Birthday Sex Remix
Hip Hop
14.Max B - Never Wanna Go Back
15.Gucci Mane & Oj The Juiceman - Trappin
16.Young Jeezy,Drake & Lil Wayne - Im Goin In
17.Lil Wayne,Playaz Circle & Young Jeezy - Stupid
18.Birdman,Lil Wayne,Young Jeezy,Rick Ross - Always Strapped Remix
19.Dblock & Beanie Sigel - So Much Trouble
20.T.I - Hell Of A Life
21.Q Da Kid & Ron Browz - I Talk Money
22.Max B & Cap City - Obstacle Course
23.Lok - Ice Grill Em
24.Oj The Juiceman & Valed - Let My Money Talk

The tour begins on Wednesday June 2, in Paris, at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy. The following day he performs at Le Zenith in Toulouse, and on Friday June 4, St Herbalin at the Zenith. Saturday June 5 will see Sean Paul's entourage move to Marseille at Le Dome and the final performance takes place on Sunday June 6 at Mauguio at Le Seven Club.

Sean Paul has been touring in support of his album Imperial Blaze, which made its debut at number one in Japan and sold over 50,000 copies in its first week of release. Tracks such as Press It Up and Hold My Hand continue to enjoy steady rotation on local and overseas stations.

And while Sean digs into his French support this June, producer Bob Sinclair is this summer set to release a track he produced with the deejay back in October titled Made in Jamaica, with input from the Reggae giants Sly and Robbie.

Multi-platinum selling deejay, Sean Paul, has performed in more than 80 countries in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

IT WILL cost the Government at least $68 million to reconstruct and repair two police stations that were attacked by gunmen loyal to Christopher 'Dudus' Coke during last week's unrest in Kingston.

The gunmen were resisting the attempt by the security forces to arrest Coke who is wanted to face extradition proceeding in the Jamaican court for gun and drug charges filed against him in the United States.

The Hannah Town Police Station in west Kingston, which was burnt to the ground, is to be reconstructed at a cost of $60 million, while it will cost at least $8 million to repair the Darling Street Police Station which was also damaged in a fire.

Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson says by later today he should have the complete repair bill for all the affected stations.

Last Thursday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington reported that 14 police facilities were attacked by thugs during the unrest.

Yesterday, Nelson told The Gleaner that the government team carrying out the assessment of the police stations was facing challenges getting into some of the communities where police facilities were attacked.

"They said they have been working on it (the assessment) but have not completed it as yet, so I should have it by tomorrow (today)," Nelson said.

Last Sunday, police personnel manning the Hannah Town Police Station in west Kingston had to make a hasty retreat after coming under sustained gunfire from thugs.

The police personnel were later evacuated and no sooner had they moved than the station was set ablaze.

One policeman was shot and injured in the incident.

POLICE Commissioner owen Ellington has revealed that members of the West Kingston militia which engaged the security forces in battle wore dresses.

Ellington, who was speaking at a press briefing at Jamaica Defence Force headquarters of Up Park Camp today, said some of the male corpses are dressed in female attire.

"There were two women among the civilians killed. The rest are all males and some were dressed like females at the time they were killed," Ellington said.

The security forces launched a major offensive against an armed militia loyal to wanted fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke on Sunday.

Police today released a photograph of Coke (see above) which they found in his Presidential Click office in Tivoli Gardens. Coke is believed to have changed his appearance by shaving his head and beard.

Seventy three persons were killed while three members of the security forces were killed and 58, (30 soldiers and 28 cops), injured. The joint police/military team has also seized 22 illegal weapons, 7,000 rounds of assorted ammunition, explosive devices, police and military uniforms and paraphernalia.