A Canadian importer of local produce has revealed that some retailers in that country are passing off ground provisions from other nations as Jamaican-grown, due to the uncompetitively high prices associated with stocking their shelves with the real Jamaican commodities.

"Sometimes they mix cheaper produce from other countries with the Jamaican stuff because the Jamaican stuff is more expensive ," importer Chris Williams told Sunday Finance.

This, he said, tends to taint some Jamaican produce in instances when the item being passed off is inferior.

Noting that while a box of coco from Jamaica can cost up to Cdn$32 before shipping cost and overheads are added, Canadian retailers may be able to buy a similar box from elsewhere for $Cdn30.

This, he argued, has resulted in some stores not being able to stock only Jamaican produce, as they did in the past, but to mix it with produce from other countries.

Williams, who imports and distributes Jamaican products in Toronto through Taste Buds Impex, said many Chinese and even West Indian store owners are switching to cheaper coco and sweet potatoes from Costa Rica and Honduras, and peppers, avocado and breadfruits from St Lucia and Guyana.

Vegetables are coming in from Costa Rica, China and Korea to name a few and the Chinese are now planting peppers and callaloo in green houses in the Oakville area of Canada," Williams said.

He explained further that Tarro is being used to replace the Jamaican dasheen while some form of yams are coming out of China in what seems to be a experimental project.

Ackees, he added, are predominantly being prepared on the Ivory Coast with some processing companies taking advantage of this.

"Unconfirmed reports from a colleague of mine in the UK is that Brazil is now exporting a lot of yellow yams to Europe some of which may be tagged as 'produce of Jamaica'," he said.

Meanwhile Williams said there is no lack of a market in Canada for a wide variation of Jamaican produce if only the local farmers can ensure consistency of price and quality.

"Jamaica produce will always sell because it is a bit tastier than other country's but pricing is a major challenge," he said, adding that a lot needs to be done in terms of consistency in the market place.

The inability to maintain consistency in price and quality, according to Williams, has resulted in a lot of the produce Jamaica would normally supply, now coming in cheaper from South Africa and China.

Williams believes if a Government strategy is not developed to ensure Jamaican farmers can produce goods more efficiently, then Jamaica will be left behind.

Williams, himself a Jamaican, said he imports a 24-foot container of ground produce monthly as well as weekly shipments of items like pepper escallion and thyme which is distributed to restaurants and supermarkets in the greater Toronto area.

Williams, who has established a farm in Jamaica and purchases produce from farmers in St Catherine, St Ann, Manchester and Clarendon, said he recognises that some of the farmers are not educated on what the export market is looking for. As such he said another of the challenge is to maintain consistency with quality.

"The farmers need to be educated on what is required of them in terms of the quality which is needed abroad because, for example, although there is a wide variety of sweet potatoes, there is only two types that are accepted in Canada," he said.

This, according to Williams, is where the Rural Agricultural Development Agency can play a part in sensitising farmers on what they must grow for the export market.

Canadian retailers selling knockoff Jamaican products, claims importer

"If we get the standard under control that would definitely help because each export market is different," he said.

Meanwhile, Williams said there is scope for growth for exporters to that country, if there can be a proper streamlining of what is required.

"There is more than adequate market...the market is really there...but when it comes to consistency the need to know their stuff is coming on time at a good quality and that the price won't change every other week," he said.

Although the majority of West Indians are in Toronto, Williams said he is looking to branch out in other non-West Indian territories as a lot of Jamaican produce are being sold in the Chinese stores, where the customer base extends beyond West Indians.

The clocks go forward on Sunday at 0100 GMT

Britons and most Europeans have lost an hour of sleep this weekend after clocks went forward by one hour, marking the official end of winter.

British Summer Time began at 0100 on Sunday, after which clocks had to be moved forward one hour to 0200.

The change will mean darker mornings but lighter evenings.

Daylight saving was suggested in 1784 by American inventor and politician Benjamin Franklin, to allow people to enjoy more light in the evenings.

Protests over whether or not clocks in Britain should keep time with the rest of Europe continue into the present day.

Today In History 


Today is Tuesday, April 6, the 96th day of 2010. There are 269 days left in the year.

On April 6, 1909, American explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson and four Inuits became the first men to reach the North Pole.

In 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette, N.Y.

In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee as Confederate forces launched a surprise attack against Union troops, who beat back the Confederates the next day.

In 1896, the first modern Olympic games formally opened in Athens, Greece.

In 1917, Congress approved a declaration of war against Germany.

In 1945, during World War II, the Japanese warship Yamato and nine other vessels sailed on a suicide mission to attack the U.S. fleet off Okinawa; the fleet was intercepted the next day.

In 1963, the United States signed an agreement to sell the Polaris missile system to Britain.

In 1965, the United States launched the Intelsat I, also known as the "Early Bird" communications satellite, into orbit.

In 1971, Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky died in New York City.

In 1985, William J. Schroeder (SHRAY'-dur) became the first artificial heart recipient to be discharged from the hospital as he moved into an apartment in Louisville, Ky.

In 1994, the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi were killed in a mysterious plane crash near Rwanda's capital; widespread violence and killings erupted in Rwanda over claims the plane had been shot down.

Ten years ago: The father of Elian Gonzalez, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, arrived in the United States to press for the return of his 6-year-old son to Cuba. A private company mapping the human genetic blueprint announced it had decoded all of the DNA pieces that make up the genetic pattern of a single human being.

Five years ago: Iraq's new government finally began to take shape as lawmakers elected as president Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader who promised to represent all ethnic and religious groups. Fifteen U.S. service members and three American civilians were killed when their Chinook helicopter crashed in Afghanistan. Prince Rainier III of Monaco died at age 81, leaving the throne to Prince Albert II.

One year ago: An earthquake in central Italy killed some 300 people in the country's deadliest quake in nearly three decades. President Barack Obama paid tribute to the memory of modern Turkey's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a visit to Ankara; delivering a speech to the Turkish Parliament, Obama declared the U.S. "is not and never will be at war with Islam." Michael Jordan, along former Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton, were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame; Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer were also part of a class. North Carolina won the NCAA championship, ending Michigan State's inspirational run with a 89-72 rout.

Today's Birthdays: Nobel Prize-winning scientist James D. Watson is 82. Composer-conductor Andre Previn is 81. Country singer Merle Haggard is 73. Actor Billy Dee Williams is 73. Actor Roy Thinnes is 72. Movie director Barry Levinson is 68. Actor John Ratzenberger is 63. Actress Marilu Henner is 58. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Janet Lynn is 57. Actor Michael Rooker is 55. Rock musician Warren Haynes is 50. Rock singer-musician Frank Black is 45. Author Vince Flynn is 44. Actress Ari Meyers is 41. Actor Paul Rudd is 41. Actor-producer Jason Hervey is 38. Rock musician Markku Lappalainen (mar-KOO' lap-uh-LAN'-en) is 37. Actor Zach Braff is 35. Actress Candace Cameron Bure is 34. Actor Bret Harrison is 28.

Thought for Today: "Men are not against you; they are merely for themselves." -- Gene Fowler, American journalist and author (1890-1960). (AP)

The new species of hominid, the evolutionary branch of primates that includes humans, is to be revealed when the two-million-year-old skeleton of a child is unveiled this week.

Scientists believe the almost-complete fossilised skeleton belonged to a previously-unknown type of early human ancestor that may have been a intermediate stage as ape-men evolved into the first species of advanced humans, Homo habilis.

Experts who have seen the skeleton say it shares characteristics with Homo habilis, whose emergence 2.5 million years ago is seen as a key stage in the evolution of our species.

The new discovery could help to rewrite the history of human evolution by filling in crucial gaps in the scientific knowledge.

Most fossilised hominid remains are little more than scattered fragments of bone, so the discovery of an almost-complete skeleton will allow scientists to answer key questions about what our early ancestors looked like and when they began walking upright on two legs.

Palaeontologists and human evolutionary experts behind the discovery have remained silent about the exact details of what they have uncovered, but the scientific community is already abuzz with anticipation of the announcement of the find when it is made on Thursday.

The skeleton was found by Professor Lee Berger, from the University of the Witwatersrand, while exploring cave systems in the Sterkfontein region of South Africa, near Johannesburg, an area known as "the Cradle of Humanity".

The find is deemed to be so significant that Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has visited the university to view the fossils and a major media campaign with television documentaries is planned.

Professor Phillip Tobias, an eminent human anatomist and anthropologist at the university who was one of three experts to first identify Homo habilis as a new species of human in 1964, described the latest discovery as "wonderful" and "exciting".

Although not directly involved in the excavation and subsequent research on the fossils, he is one of the select few scientists outside the research group who have been able to see the skeletons.

He said: "To find a skeleton as opposed to a couple of teeth or an arm bone is a rarity.

"It is one thing to find a lower jaw with a couple of teeth, but it is another thing to find the jaw joined onto the skull, and those in turn uniting further down with the spinal column, pelvis and the limb bones.

"It is not a single find, but several specimens representing several individuals. The remains now being brought to light by Dr Berger and his team are wonderful."

The new fossil skeleton was found along with a number of other partially-complete fossils, encased within breccia sedimentary rock inside a limestone cave known as Malapa cave.

The protection from the elements provided by the cave is thought to have played a large part in keeping the fossils so well preserved.

The fossil record of early humans is notoriously patchy and scientists now hope that the that the new remains will provide fresh clues about how our species evolved.

Scientists believe that a group of apelike hominids known as Australopithicus, which first emerged in Africa around 3.9 million years ago, gradually evolved into the first Homo species.

Over time the Australopithicus species lost their more apelike features as they started to stand upright and their brain capacity increased.

Around 2.5 million years ago Homo habilis, the first species to be described as distinctly human, began to appear, although only a handful of specimens have ever been found.

It is thought that the new fossil to be unveiled this week will be identified as a new species that fits somewhere between Australopithicus and Homo habilis.

If it is confirmed as a missing link between the two groups, it would be of immense scientific importance, helping to fill in a gap in the evolutionary history of modern man.

Dr Simon Underdown, an expert on human evolution at Oxford Brookes University, said the new find could help scientists gain a better understanding of our evolutionary tree.

He said: "A find like this could really increase our understanding of our early ancestors at a time when they first started to become recognisable as human."

The discovery is the most important find from Sterkfontein since an almost-complete fossil of a 3.3 million year old Australopithecus, nicknamed Little Foot, was found in 1994.

Another major discovery was the well-preserved skull of a 2.15 million year old Australopithecus africanus, nicknamed Mrs Ples, in 1947.

Finding almost complete fossilised skeletons of human ancestors is particularly prized by the scientific community.

The presence of a pelvis and complete limb bones would allow scientists to unravel the posture and method of walking used by the extinct species.

If the specimen also contains hand bones, it could provide clues about the species' dexterity and such evidence will prove crucial in determining when the ability of modern humans to handle stone tools first emerged.

Dr Kevin Kuykendall, a palaeoanthropologist at Sheffield University, said such finds were essential in helping to fill in the gaps in our knowledge about human ancestors.

He said: "The information we have right now is probably only based on a few hundred individuals through out the whole world, but some of these are single isolated teeth.

"If this new specimen is more complete and provides better information, all those models about locomotive behaviour will have a chance to really go under scrutiny and refined."

It is the site where Jesus told his disciples: "I will make you fishers of men." As the Bible tells us, four of the Apostles - James, Andrew, John and Peter - worked as fishermen on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Were they to ply their trade now, however, the Apostles would find themselves in court. Officials at the Ministry announced the fishing ban, claiming that stocks have fallen to a dangerously low level.

The decree ends a tradition which has continued virtually unchanged since Biblical times, and will dismay both local fishermen and Christian pilgrims who flock to the site each year.

The two-year ban comes into effect at the end of this month.

Chaim Anjioni, director of fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "We are just before a catastrophe, and that is why we have decided to stop fishing.

"We need to stop fishing to give the small fish a chance to grow, causing fish stocks to increase and the lake to recover."

The Sea - actually Israel's largest freshwater lake - is the site of several miracles from the Bible. It is here that Jesus is said to have walked on water, and it was close to the banks of the lake that He turned two fish and three loaves into the feeding of the five thousand.

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus joined Peter in his fishing boat after a night which yielded no catch. Told by Jesus to put out into deep water, "they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break".

The area has long been known for its plentiful stocks. The 19th century English clergyman, Henry Baker Tristram, recorded that "the density of the shoals of fish in the Sea of Galilee can scarcely be conceived by those who have not witnessed them".

The most common catch in these waters is known as St Peter's Fish, so named after a Bible passage in which Peter hooks a fish with a coin in its mouth.

Yet recent years have seen a dramatic decline in stocks. Before 2005, 295 tons of St Peter's Fish were caught annually. In 2009, the total was only eight tons.

The government blames fishermen for using nets with smaller holes than are permitted by law, using nets which exceed legal limits - resulting in huge hauls of very young fish which have not had a chance to breed.

Other factors include an influx of birds, which moved to the lake in search of food after steps were taken to scare them away from nearby fish farms. Falling water levels following years of drought have also played a part.

Menachem Lev, a Sea of Galilee fisherman for 31 years, blamed the authorities.

"The government is guilty because it did not maintain the lake properly," he said, arguing that the solution was to introduce more young fish to the lake.

Historians said fishing was intrinsic to the area's Biblical signifance.

Eyal Regev, professor of history and archaeology at Israel's Bar Ilan University, said: "New Testament traditions about the Sea of Galilee flourished because in this area fishing was what kept the economy running so these traditions spoke to the people.

"Several of his disciples were from around the Sea of Galilee and it is very important in their biographies."

Alexa Gonzalez was led out of her school in handcuffs by police

A 12-year-old US schoolgirl is suing the New York City authorities for $1m (£650,000) in damages after she was arrested for writing on her desk.

Alexa Gonzalez was led out of her school in handcuffs by police after she was caught scribbling a message to her friends with an erasable, green marker.

Miss Gonzalez and her mother are suing the police and education departments in New York City.

They are claiming for excessive use of force and violation of her rights.

Miss Gonzalez was caught scribbling "I love my friends Abby and Faith" on her desk during a Spanish class in February.

The 12-year-old said her Spanish teacher then "dragged" her to the dean's office where police were called.

'Better judgement'

Miss Gonzalez told the New York Daily News she broke down as she was led out of Junior High School 190 in Queens in handcuffs.

"I started crying, like, a lot," she said. "I made two little doodles... It could be easily erased. To put handcuffs on me is unnecessary."

We want to stop this from happening to other young children in the future Joseph Rosenthal, Gonzalez family lawyer

She said she was then held at a local school precinct for hours in what she calls a traumatising and excessive ordeal.

New York City officials have acknowledged the arrest was a mistake, saying better judgement should have been used by the arresting officers.

Miss Gonzalez was suspended from school and tried in a family court, where she was given eight hours of community service and ordered to write an essay about lessons to be learned from the incident.

Her family's lawyer said the school had overreacted by calling the police.

"We want to stop this from happening to other young children in the future," the lawyer, Joseph Rosenthal, told the New York Daily News.

ON the Easter weekend commemorating the death of Christ, gunmen shot at least five persons, killing four, in sections of the Corporate Area, St Catherine, and St James.

Police listed the dead persons as Dwayne Douglas, a taxi operator of Seaview Gardens in Kingston; Tyrone Hamilton, 22, of Waterford, St Catherine; Christopher Stewart, 35, of Mountain View Avenue; and an unidentified man.

The cops said a 68-year-old woman was also hospitalised after she was struck by gunmen's bullet in Waterford on Good Friday.

The incidents drew the ire of the police, who say they are left flat-footed by the unwillingness of members of the public to co-operate with investigations.

"Nobody ever see anything yet, that is the part I can't understand," lamented an officer from the Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT), after processing the bullet-riddled motor car in which Douglas and the unidentified man lay dead on Tavern Drive in Papine, St Andrew, Saturday evening.

"You can't tell me that every officer in the force is so corrupt that nobody don't want to call and say anything. Nothing can go like that. The country really gone," the policeman said.

On the plus side, police reported they had removed three illegal firearms and a quantity of marijuana from the nation's streets. Two alleged wanted men -- 32-year-old Richard Lawn, otherwise called 'Richie Blacks' and Anthony Christie, 26, otherwise called 'Bolo'-- were fatally shot, and a 48-year-old man was arrested by members of the Flying Squad for possession of an illegal weapon and the weed on Saturday.

Lawn and Christie were killed on Friday after they allegedly engaged officers in separate gunfights in Rosemount Meadows and Glendevon, St James, respectively, the police said.

Country not ready for expected boom, complains unionist

Mandeville, Manchester - President of the National Workers Union (NWU), Vincent Morrison says that based on global trends mothballed bauxite/alumina plants could reopen as early as "nine months to a year from now".

At the same time, he lashed the Government for its failure to establish the promised task force to properly prepare the country and maximise benefits from the predicted recovery.

We (NWU) are very concerned because early last year the Government indicated an intention to put in place a task force...We have not seen or heard anything further about that task force," Morrison said in a telephone interview.

His comment followed Wednesday's formal implementation of a redundancy programme for all 762 permanent employees in the West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) group, which has operated bauxite mining, refining and shipping operations in Manchester, St Catherine and Clarendon.

Mining and refining ceased at Windalco plants, Kirkvine in Manchester and Ewarton in St Catherine a year ago in response to the slump in the metals market and high energy costs. But permanent workers were kept on at 60 per cent pay and a three-day work week.

Windalco is owned by the world's largest aluminium producer, the heavily indebted Russian company, UC Rusal. Alpart at Nain in St Elizabeth, Jamaica's largest alumina refinery, majority owned by Rusal as well, also closed a year ago.

Yesterday, Morrison said that positive indicators in the world's metals market indicated to him that the country should be preparing for an earlier than previously anticipated reopening of the refineries, "possibly as early as nine months to a year from now". He conceded, however, that much would depend on the speed with which the United States economy recovered from recession.

He revealed that "as we speak" representatives of UC Rusal were doing due diligence checks on the Ewarton plant with a view to reopening. Word has been circulating for some time that the Ewarton plant could be reopened by the end of 2010. Morrison noted that Ewarton had a special advantage because of large quantities of "high quality" bauxite close to the plant.

Recently, Mining Minister James Robertson appeared to suggest that moves by Government to accelerate the introduction of liquefied natural gas, LNG as Jamaica's main source of electricity generation, replacing petroleum-based fossil fuels, could speed the recovery of bauxite/alumina. At its height bauxite/alumina is said to have netted in the region of US$500 million for the Jamaican economy.

In the meantime, Morrison pointing to what he called a "spike in crime" in bauxite communities, urged the Government to move quickly to implement socio/economic initiatives in areas close to closed plants.

"It's an urgent matter, something needs to be done quickly," said Morrison whose union has dominated the bauxite/alumina sector over several decades.

He told the Observer that the NWU was satisfied with the WINDALCO redundancy programme which ends in July with the final payment of four tranches.

"We have spent a lot of time in the consultation process, working through the issues as it relates to the workers' entitlements and we are satisfied," he said.

In an emailed response to questions, Windalco's Senior Communications Officer Kayon Wallace said an entity called Take Care Organisation comprising 257 contractors which was scheduled to come into effect the same day, "will be responsible for the continuation of WINDALCO's agricultural operations, Port Esquivel operations and asset preservation activities at the refineries".

Wallace said WINDALCO would continue crucial community projects, particularly the distribution of water.

"WINDALCO will continue providing water to the affected communities and institutions that have been receiving assistance. The company will also

continue providing water to the hospital in the event of an emergency.

She said that "A budget was submitted and once we get the approval,there are some key projects and programmes that we hope to continue in our host communities".

THE consumption of bun and cheese during Easter has been a long-held Jamaican tradition, but supermarkets in the Corporate Area yesterday reported as much as a 50 per cent reduction in the sale of these products as consumers chose to keep their cash rather than indulge.

A tour of supermarkets in Kingston saw few takers for stocks of bun and cheese lining the outskirts of these outlets. Instead, shoppers were more concerned with acquiring essential items.

Despite repackaging their cheese in smaller parcels for those who could not afford the larger tin, assistant manager for Empire Supermarket in Cross Roads, Sonia LaBeach, said they saw about a 50 per cent reduction in sales. She attributed this primarily to the high cost of living.

"People are shopping less and are becoming more health conscious now," she said, explaining that some shoppers felt the sugar content in some of the buns was too high.

Added to this, she said, was the fact that supermarkets had to compete with bakeries that were now selling their buns on location.

"You find that what the costumers are doing now is that they are going straight to the outlet instead of the supermarkets."

But when the Sunday Observer visited the National Baking Company Limited on Half-Way-Tree Road yesterday afternoon, only two lines of customers were seen making purchases.

Some consumers felt that the price of buns, which ranged from as low as $125 to $650, was far too high for their pockets, given their other financial commitments. A tin of Tastee Processed Cheddar Cheese is being sold for between $440 and $2,079 depending on the size and the supermarket.

"This is the first one I am going to buy this Easter and it's the last one, because it too expensive," said Osbourne Brown as he reached for a bun on the shelf of a local supermarket. "Last year, I bought about $7,000 worth of bun and cheese, but this year is only one alone I can buy."

Nearby, Basil Hunter was seen comparing the prices for a wide variety of buns on display. "Is just one bun a buying, so a choosing the best one," he said before explaining that he was only making the purchase to appease his wife and children.

This was pretty much the same story from other consumers as they vowed to buy one and no more due to limited funds.

Manager for the John R Wong supermarket in New Kingston, Pauline Lynch, believed the increase in job losses in the country coupled with the increase in the price for bun and cheese was the reason for the 10 per cent reduction in the number of persons purchasing these products there.

"The only thing that people can cut back on right now is food," she said, adding that her sales were nothing like what she had expected, given the demand in previous years.

But even as some supermarkets fared badly, others, particularly those in central locations like Half-Way-Tree, had a far better Easter weekend sale.

Manager for the Hi-Lo Food Store in Half-Way-Tree Natalee Douglas was busy trying to source more buns when we visited as the shelf was virtually left empty by customers who had been purchasing in bulk since Thursday evening.

"We are in a key location. A lot of banks are here and other businesses, so we had a lot of persons buying in bulk for their staff," she said.

Cynthia Martin, a manager for Brooklyn Supermarket in Half-Way-Tree, also had no complaints.

"Jamaicans are accustomed to tradition, so they are still buying bun and cheese regardless of what is happening," she said. "If you were here Thursday and saw the people here, you would have seen that people are still buying."

Basil Hunter chooses a bun from a supermarket shelf in Kingston yesterday. Hunter said he was only purchasing one bun because he knew his wife and children looked forward to it each year.

Dudus Grand Jury says officials blocking information

THREE unnamed senior government ministers are now under the microscope of the Grand Jury of the Southern District Court of New York which indicted Christopher 'Dudus' Coke last August on alleged gun and drug trafficking charges.

Well-informed Observer sources said the Americans are contending that the Jamaican Government officials had conspired to prevent information from reaching the Grand Jury in the Coke case the latest in the fallout from the Manatt Phelps and Phillips law firm controversy.

 

Investigators probing breaches of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) involving the Government of Jamaica, and the US law firm are piecing together evidence they say will expose the alleged link between the government officials, Manatt Phelps and Phillips, and Coke, the Tivoli Gardens strongman.

The Observer sources said the investigators were focusing on two areas: conspiracy to prevent information reaching the Grand Jury, and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The investigators believe that the firm's service was retained by officials connected to the Government, to lobby Washington not to pressure Jamaica to extradite Coke. In that regard, several influential Americans connected to the US administration were contacted by the law firm, including the administration's nominee as Ambassador to Niger.

"A file from the probe was sent to the Grand Jury, in which the finger was pointed directly at the law firm and the Jamaican Government and the continued delay in the extradition warrant being discharged," the source said.

Opposition spokesman, Dr Peter Phillips who first raised the Manatt, Phelps and Phillips issue in the Parliament, said Good Friday that the matter was still wide open, as information filed by the company to United States officials up to Holy Thursday and that provided by government officials here was at variance.

"No, it's not over. It can't be over when the disparity between the two positions, that of the Government, and that of the firm, leaves too many unanswered questions..." Phillips told the Observer.

The Government said it had no dealings with Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, while the firm is maintaining that it had represented the Government and was paid US$50,000 on its US$100,000 invoice.

Illegal practice drives fear into the hearts of many

THE loud crack of gunfire filled the air, startling mourners gathered at the wake for Johnny Morris, a respectable member of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, who died of natural causes.

The illegal but common practice triggered fear among the mourners at the vigil in Belfield, St Mary early last month.

The culprits?

Five sets of young men -- one of them a licensed firearm holder.

"Lick one ya now," one said to his colleague in crime who brandished a handgun.

Close to a dimly-lit section of the community, another group of young men was engaged in a robust conversation, punctuated by laughter. Suddenly four shots were fired from within the group, eliciting another bout of laughter.

People on their way to the wake stopped in their tracks, waiting to see if the young men would move from the shadows into the lit area.

"Wait, a wha a gwaan dung dey so? Me no like fe walk inna dark when man a fire shot," said one woman.

"But a wha do dem ya bwoy, eeh? How dem can just a have gun salute so?" a man remarked.

With broad chests and enlarged boasts, the offenders moved into the spotlight of public scrutiny with an air of impunity. Soon after, more shots followed, at other sections of the community, greeted with a mixture of cheers and fear from the crowd, who had different views about the purpose of the action.

"Hey, da one dey no sound like it a say nutten, man," a teenaged boy said to members of his crew, minutes after a barrage of shots went off at another location.

"A clean it want fe clean," another said in obvious reference to the firearm from which the shots were discharged.

Days after the gun salutes, the matter continued to be a talking point among people in the community.

"Bwoy, a hear say a just miss a shot Saturday night," one joked to another.

"Why you think you would get shot?" the other asked.

"Then you no see how me head big, this couldn't miss a shot," he replied.

The community of nine square miles in size is fast gaining a reputation as a repository for guns.

It was in the same community that a member of the Jamaica Defence Force was entangled in a gun salute at a party, mere weeks before, and the same community in which 11 men from Spanish Town live in one house. They are not believed to be patron saints.

"I heard about it (gun salute) and the police went there to investigate, but as usual the people were tight-lipped. Nobody saw a thing," said the police superintendent in charge of St Mary, Dudley Scott.

"That is not something that should be tolerated," said Scott, who has long served as the top policeman in the parish, which has a history of having the lowest crime rate in Jamaica.

The practice of gun salutes started centuries ago as a symbolic gesture to mark historic occasions. It has remained part of Jamaican tradition and is still used on special occasions, such as visits by foreign leaders and at State funerals of prominent Jamaicans, including prime ministers.

Jamaica's head of State, Queen Elizabeth II, was greeted with a 21-gun salute when she arrived in Jamaica on her sixth visit on February 18, 2002.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and first lady Salma Kikwete were received with a friendly, symbolic 21-gun salute by the Jamaica Defence Force last November 23 when they arrived here for a three-day State visit.

On July 18, 2004, late former Jamaica Prime Minister Hugh Lawson Shearer was honoured with a 19-gun salute, with one shot being fired at certain points during and at the end of his funeral procession to National Heroes' Park, where his body was interred.

Montego Bay's elevation to city status in 1981 was also marked by a gun salute.

However, over the past three decades, unauthorised gun salutes have slowly become commonplace in Jamaican society. And although police say they have little to go off statistically, to show that the practice is on the rise, Jamaicans often bemoan the wanton discharge of firearms which, many say, drives fear into the hearts of people, even as it gives others a rush.

Records show that police have made several arrests in the last year alone for unauthorised gun salutes, some of them done by cops who swore to protect, serve and reassure Jamaica's 2.7 million inhabitants. Others include licensed owners and users of firearms, while a few have been holders of illegal firearms.

The police high command interdicted three of their lower-ranked personnel, two constables and a corporal, following a gun salute at the elaborate funeral of a member of the Spanish Town-based One Order gang.

The three are awaiting a ruling from the director of public prosecutions after they allegedly discharged their guns toward the end of the funeral of Patrick 'Kingman' McDonald Jnr, in Bunker's Hill, Trelawny, late January.

McDonald was shot dead by a gunman while leaving the Black & White Affair party at the National Arena in Kingston on New Year's Day.

In another case, a 33-year-old businessman, who is a licensed firearm holder, has been charged with inappropriately discharging his firearm within 40 yards of a crowd, while a 20-year-old Spanish Town man was held with an illegal gun, arising from the same incident.

There have been times, too, when gun salutes have turned deadly or have resulted in people being wounded.

Last month, a gun salute for Flanker resident Jermaine Spence, who was killed by the police on January 14, left a woman with a badly injured leg after she was hit by a utility pole felled by bullets.

One Kingston resident, who opted not to be named, gave a chilling account of being caught in the middle of a gun salute at a stage show more than 15 years ago.

"I remember it very well," he said. "A friend and I were at Fort Clarence Beach at a stage show when some patrons started firing shots to demonstrate approval of the lyrics being chanted by a deejay.

"It was one of the scariest moments of my life because I couldn't run, and with each explosion I wondered whether the persons firing the shots were pulling the trigger when their guns were pointing up or while they were on their way up," he said, shuddering at the memory.

In addition to the possibility of people being shot, illegal gun salutes have, in the past, resulted in stampedes. At the funeral of well-known People's National Party activist Winston 'Burry Boy' Blake, attended by former Prime Minister Michael Manley in the 1970s, police were caught off guard and they, along with hundreds of mourners, had to scamper for cover when close associates of the slain man let loose a barrage of shots at the end of the proceedings.

'Burry Boy' was killed by a gunman along Darling Street in West Kingston on March 14, 1975.

On March 15, 1992, a day after the 17th anniversary of 'Burry Boy's death, Manley -- during a news conference in Kingston as he prepared to demit office for the second time as prime minister -- expressed regret for having attended the funeral.

Deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations Glenmore Hinds said that the police continue to be vigilant in respect of gun salutes, but the absence of statistical proof made him non-committal on whether there is an increase in the practice.

"It is difficult to say if there has been an increase in gun salutes in recent times or if this is a growing trend, because I don't have the statistics," said Hinds. "However, there have been instances when we have arrested offenders. Our systems are always in place and we sometimes are proactive at funerals in particular, based upon the profile of the person being buried."

Added Hinds: "We do not always get information about some persons being buried, but when we know, we act. We are concerned about the activity. It's just another criminal act that we intend to stamp out."

Under Jamaican law, a person caught firing a gun can be sentenced to a prison term of up to seven years and fined.

Section 23 of the Firearm Act states: "A person shall not discharge any firearm or ammunition on or within 40 yards of any public road or in any public place except:

(a) in the lawful protection of his person or property or of the person or property of some other person; or

(b) in the lawful shooting of a trespassing animal; or

(c) under the direction of some civil or military authority, authorised to give such direction; or

(d) with the permission of the minister.

Licensed firearm holders who discharge their firearms inappropriately could, according to Jamaican law, be charged with illegal possession of firearm, if the weapon was not used in a manner in keeping with the provisions of the law.

"A licensed firearm holder does not have a licence to use his firearm in any and every way," said attorney Delano Franklyn, a partner in the Kingston-based law firm Wilson Franklyn Barnes. "If that licensed firearm holder uses his gun illegally, he can be punished with a sentence of up to seven years in prison."

Today is Monday, April 5, the 95th day of 2010. There are 270 days left in the year.

On April 5, 1792, George Washington cast the first presidential veto, rejecting a congressional measure for apportioning representatives among the states.

In 1614, Pocahontas, daughter of the leader of the Powhatan tribe, married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. (A convert to Christianity, she went by the name Lady Rebecca.)

In 1621, the Mayflower sailed from Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts on a monthlong return trip to England.

In 1887, in Tuscumbia, Ala., teacher Anne Sullivan achieved a breakthrough as her blind and deaf pupil, Helen Keller, learned the meaning of the word "water" as spelled out in the Manual Alphabet. British historian Lord Acton wrote in a letter, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

In 1895, Oscar Wilde lost his criminal libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry, who'd accused the writer of homosexual practices.

In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death following their conviction in New York on charges of conspiring to commit espionage for the Soviet Union; co-defendant Morton Sobell was sentenced to 30 years in prison (he was released in 1969).

In 1964, Army General Douglas MacArthur died in Washington at age 84.

In 1975, nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek died at age 87.

In 1976, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes died in Houston at age 70.

In 1986, two American servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, an incident which prompted a U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later.

In 1988, a 15-day hijacking ordeal began as gunmen forced a Kuwait Airways jumbo jet to land in Iran.

Ten years ago: Ending a two-year investigation, an independent counsel cleared Labor Secretary Alexis Herman of allegations that she'd solicited $250,000 in illegal campaign contributions. Yoshiro Mori (yoh-shee-roh moh-ree) took over as Japan's new prime minister, succeeding Keizo Obuchi (kay-zoh oh-boo-chee), who'd been felled by a stroke.

Five years ago: ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings revealed he had lung cancer (he died in Aug. 2005 at age 67). Nobel Prize-winning author Saul Bellow died in Brookline, Mass., at age 89. Dale Messick, creator of the long-running comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter," died at age 98.

One year ago: North Korea fired a rocket over Japan, defying Washington, Tokyo and others who suspected the launch was a cover for a test of its long-range missile technology. President Barack Obama, visiting Prague, launched an effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons, calling them "the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War." The Pentagon quietly lifted an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen U.S. service members.

Today's Birthdays: Movie producer Roger Corman is 84. Country music producer Cowboy Jack Clement is 79. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is 73. Country singer Tommy Cash is 70. Actor Michael Moriarty is 69. Pop singer Allan Clarke (The Hollies) is 68. Writer-director Peter Greenaway is 68. Actor Max Gail is 67. Actress Jane Asher is 64. Singer Agnetha (ag-NEE'-tah) Faltskog (ABBA) is 60. Actor Mitch Pileggi is 58. Rock musician Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) is 44. Country singer Troy Gentry is 43. Singer Paula Cole is 42. Actress Krista Allen is 39. Country singer Pat Green is 38. Rapper-producer Pharrell (fa-REHL') Williams is 37.

Thought for Today: "A man is only as good as what he loves." -- Saul Bellow, Canadian-born American author (1915-2005). (AP)

-- Edited by *~*~Sweet Applezz*~*~ on Friday 2nd of April 2010 07:11:49 AM

THIS IS GROUND BREAKING NEWS...

THE PRESIDENT HAS CHECKED BLACK, NOT BLACK AND WHITE ON CENSUS FORM.

The White House confirmed Friday that Obama did not check multiple boxes on his U.S. Census form, or choose the option that allows him to elaborate on his racial heritage. He ticked the box that says "Black, African Am., or Negro."

Obama filled out the form on Monday, supplying information for himself, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, as well as for Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, who lives with the family in the White House.

Isiah Parnell, the United States chargé d'affaires to Jamaica, is expressing confidence that the ties that bind Kingston andWashington will remain strong despite the current impasse over the request for the extradition of west Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

In his first full-length interview since taking office in Jamaica seven months ago, Parnell stayed away from any direct comment on the extradition request and the imbroglio it has spawned.

But there was no getting away from a comment on the relationship between the two states, and Parnell agreed with Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Ken Baugh, who last week told Parliament's Standing Finance Committee that the relationship between Jamaica and the US remains firm.

"As far as I am concerned, the overall relationship with us and the US remains the same," Baugh had said.

That position was underscored by Parnell: "We have tried to encourage a big-picture approach to looking at US-Jamaica relations. We think that with such an approach, you will see a relationship that is strong, has a number of ongoing mutual programmes and, in the vast majority of issues with which we partner, there is a great deal of cooperation."

He added: "In 100 per cent of the things we do, there is mutual respect about the ways in which we deal with each other in both the easy and the difficult issues."

The difficult issues between the two states are headed by the Dudus affair with Washington arguing that the Jamaican Government has been provided with sufficient information to allow the justice minister, Dorothy Lightbourne, to sign the extradition request and allow the courts to decide if Coke is to be sent to the US to answer gun and drug charges.

Wiretap claim

However, Kingston has countered with claims that a wiretap - which is a key part of America's case - was obtained in breach of the laws and would not be admissible in court.

Against that background, Prime Minister Bruce Golding's administration has demanded that the US authorities provide better information before the extradition request can be considered.

Golding also announced last week that Lightbourne would be going to court to seek a declaration on her obligations before signing extradition orders.

That is unlikely to either settle the impasse or ease the tension between the traditionally close allies, but Parnell said he has high regard for the Jamaicans in the ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs.

"The fact is that both here and in other countries, you sometimes encounter difficult issues," said Parnell.

"As friends, we are working on ways to handle difficult issues in a way that both respects outstanding treaties that exist between our nations and a nation's right and ability to discuss openly how you move forward when dealing with issues when there is sometimes some contention," he added.

Parnell could provide no news on when the US would appoint a new ambassador to Jamaica.

That office has been vacant for more than a year since Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson ended her tour of duty.

See Sunday's Outlook Magazine for the full interview with the United States chargé d'affaires.

EXCLUSIVE!!! 50 CENT HAS A LONG LOST SISTER . . . WHO LOOKS A LOT LIKE HIM!!!

Did you know that rapper 50 Cent had a SISTER . . . well he didnt EITHER!!! MediaTakeOut.com just EXCLUSIVELY located a woman from New York, who is claiming to be his sister (on his father's side). The girl's mother is a Latina.

According to MediaTakeOut.com's insider, 50 also has two OTHER siblings that he knows nothing about.

You can see resemblance in the NOSE!!!

THERES ALOT OF BUMA.c**t REVIEWS HERE HYPELIFE.TV




-- Edited by Cobra93 on Monday 5th of April 2010 03:28:42 AM

-- Edited by Cobra93 on Monday 5th of April 2010 03:41:43 AM

The recent US visa revocations by the United States government are the reasons that pushed me to revisit the idea I will be presenting. Visas of Aidonia, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Mavado and Ricky Trooper were suspended by the USA government, no specific reasons were given for these actions, which leaves Jamaicans thinking, it is partially an act of economic sanctions due to disagreements between the Jamaica and U.S governments. This article is not about politics it is about economics. The main questions are why do Jamaicans have to depend almost completely on the U.S market for survival, does reggae only get play in North America? Why not try to expand into other markets in the East? Reggae/Dancheall Market: As a hardcore reggae fan I have noticed that Jamaican artist seem to be limited in there geographical boundaries. Some artist have blamed their stagnant careers on the lack of a United States visa, or inability to travel to Europe, it would seem the world of reggae and dancehall ends in the heart lands of our oppressors. How important is the North American market to reggae and dancehall? Why is it that Africa is not a target destination for reggae/dancehall artist? Nearly a half a century into reggae there have been three major North American success stories in Reggae Bob Marley, Shaggy and Sean Paul who have made it to definite stardom in North America. A Champion Lover (Shabba Ranks), Maxine(Chaka Demus and Pliers) here and a Flex(Mad Cobra) there to save face for hardcore dancehall, but in relation to the amount of reggae/dancehall artist and songs release, a hit reggae/dancehall song in North America is like a black pepper seed lost in a sea of salt. Not to mention for each blue moon hit there are twenty reggae/dancehall songs of the same quality and caliber, but these are not well received by the U.S market. Click Read more to continue Reliance on Stage Show Money: More reggae/dancehall artist rely on stage show bookings as their main source of income. These shows generally take place in areas along the east coast of the United States with heavy populations of Caribbean people. 15- 30 grand a show for certain artist can easily transform them from rags to riches. If stage show money is the main source of income for the artist, then demographics of fans have to be taken into account. The Black population in the USA is about 40 million; only a minority of this figure are reggae fans. From my observation European Americans like African Americans are limited in their intake of reggae and most are lost to dancehall. But since we are not using empirical data, let us assume that there are 40 million reggae/dancehall fans in North America. What if there was a place in the world with a population triple the size of that 40 million and where reggae/dancehall is loved. Shouldnt the Jamaican music industry stop lamenting on access to the U.S market and try to market reggae/dancehall elsewhere Africa to be specific. The Africa continent has 21 English speaking countries. In many of these nations Reggae/Ragga/Dancehall is not an outsiders music, they have accepted reggae as part of their culture and since Reggae is a creation of Afro-Jamaicans, Africas acceptance of the expression should be no puzzle to us. Carving out a market for Jamaican artist would be the task, because the vibrations of reggae and dancehall have already found a home in Africa. Demographics: Let us begin with Nigeria; the nation has a population of about 150 million people. Reggae has become a part of Nigerian national music, not an outsiders music still trying to cross over praying for a one hit like reggae in the United States. Other target markets can be, Kenya 39 million, Ghana 24 million, Cameroon 18 million, South Africa 49 Million, Zimbabwe 13 million, Zambia 13 million, Uganda 30, Million, Tanzania 40, Million this list goes on. The possible result: A report done by CNN in Nigeria stated the top rap artists receive up to $100,000 per show. If pulling in suck high figures is a possibility for the Jamaican music industry, dancehallreport.com believes that the business men of dancehall; the managers, the booking agents and record companies should seek out Africa as a market for earning. This would diversify their markets and provide a viable alternative to the fragile North American market and would not leave artist to be almost totally dependent on U.S shows to see returns from their musical careers. Other economic and cultural relationships can also arise if this musical repatriation takes place, but that is another story. Take few minutes to watch the CNN clip:

One876 has learned that Mavado crashed off his bike and sustained injuries a short while ago. He has been taken to the Medical Associates hospital, and is reportedly conscious and talking. Members of Mavado's Gully Squad, Serani, entertainment personality Ms. Kitty and several well-wishers were at the hospital to show support. The singjay reportedly did a few precautionary x-rays to ensure that there were no broken bones and the doctors were satisfied that there was no internal haemorrhaging. Mavado was released from the hospital a few hours ago. We will have more information as the story breaks.

CHRIS STOKES LOCKED IN BITTER DIVORCE BATTLE . . . EX THREATENS TO EXPOSE HIM!!! MediaTakeOut.com just received some BOMBSHELL news. According to a well placed snitch, producer Chris Stokes and his wife are GETTING DIVORCED!!!

Here's what we know thusfar. All the problems started a few years back when former B2K member Raz B started making allegations that Chris molested him (allegations he later revoked). The insider told MediaTakeOut.com that it was at THAT TIME that things started going SOUR in Chris' marriage.

The insider, who spoke to MediaTakeOut.com on the condition of anonymity, told us that after months of arguing - they finally decided to SPLIT.

But here's where things get even more interesting. The divorce started off CIVIL, but it has now gotten BITTER!!

How bitter?? Well MediaTakeOut.com's insider said, "[Chris' wife] wants to put everything out there . . . let the world REALLY KNOW what kind of a man Chris Stokes is."

WOOOOOOOOW!!! Girl . . . you need to stop playing and get on over to the MTO OFFICES . . . we need to know it all . . from the HORSES MOUTH!!!!

Two police officers who were charged after they went to the rescue of a colleague being beaten by undercover detectives were freed in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Those freed of charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice and assault at common-law are District Constable Georgia Nicholas and Constable Jhohano Walters of the Linstead Police Station in St Catherine.

When the matter came up before Resident Magistrate Simone Maddix, attorney-at-law Dale Staple told the court that for the last three years the case had been before the courts, but was yet to be tried.

Staple asked the resident magistrate that the matter either be tried or his clients set free.

He said that his clients had not earned any pay since charges were brought against them, while the investigators were dragging their feet.

Before dismissing the case, RM Maddix agreed that more than reasonable time had elapsed for the case to have been tried.

Allegation are about 4:30 p.m. on June 10, 2007, Walters and Nicholas were on duty at the Linstead Police Station when they received a report that Constable Andrez Johnson, who was dressed in uniform, was being beaten.

The court heard, that the accused beaters were detectives who had set up a sting operation and had held Johnson after it was alleged that he collected money from a motorist. It is said that Walters and Nicholas came to Johnson's rescue.

Johnson was freed of breaches of the Corruption Prevention Act two years ago.

Goule ... three gold medals - file

The island ended the 39th Carifta Games in George Town, Grand Cayman, last night with 72 medals - 37 gold, 22 silver and 13 bronze. Trinidad and Tobago were second with 40 (12-16-12) and The Bahamas 29 (6-10-13).

The Jamaican athletes outclassed their rivals on the track, winning three of the four 4x400m relays as the curtain came down on the 2010 renewal of the regional meet.

Saqukine Cameron, Olivia James, Marlene Eubanks and Sherika Jackson clocked 3:44.02 to take the girls' Under-17 4x400m before Danielle Dowie, Natoya Goule, Orenthia Bennett and Ristananna Tracey took the Under-20 event in 3:37.15.

 

Under-20 quartet

The boys' Under-20 quartet of Dwayne Extol, Jermaine Gayle, Donahue Williams and Demar Murray were pushed all the way by The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago and just held on in the end. Jamaica eventually took gold in 3:10.63 with The Bahamas just behind in 3:10.69 and Trinidad and Tobago third in 3:11.79.

The boys' Under-17 4x400m team disappointed their supporters and clocked 3:20.99 to emerge fourth and last in their event which was won in 3:16.30 by Trinidad and Tobago.

Goule, competing in her final Carifta Games, pocketed three gold medals. In addition to the relay gold she picked up as a member of the Under-20 4x400m quartet, Goule won the Under-20 girls' 1,500m in 4:36.34 and the 800m in 2:06.03.

Long-distance king Kemoy Campbell also ended his Carifta Games career by smashing his own 5,000 metres record by more than six seconds. Campbell clocked 14:34.34 to go well under the 14:40.67 he set last year. Matthew Wright of Barbados was well behind in second with a final time of 15:45.28. It was Campbell's second gold of the meet. He had earlier won the 1,500m in in 3:48.99.

 

blistering run

Also in record-breaking mood on the final day of the three-day meet was Under-17 sprinter Odean Skeen. He completed the Under-17 sprint double with a blistering run of 20.84 seconds to smash the 20.97 200-metre mark Jazeel Murphy set last year. Injury forced Murphy out of this year's meet. Bermuda's Jeneko Place was second in 21.27 and Skeen's teammate Odail Todd, third in 21.55. Skeen won the Under-17 100m on Saturday in 10.53.

Other Jamaica gold medallists yesterday included Shericka Jackson (24.64) in the Under-17 girls' 200m; Fedrick Dacres with a record throw of 52.99m in the the Under-17 boys' discus; Samantha Elliott who clocked a record 13.42 seconds to take the Under-20 girls' 100m; Davian Dennis (13.28) in the Under-17 boys' 100m hurdles; Megan Simmonds (13.64) in Under-17 girls' 100m; Marlene Eubanks who took the Under-17 girls' 800m in 2:11.86; Clive Pullen (6.72m) in Under-17 boys' long jump and Sanice Hall (1.80m) in the girls' Under-20 high jump.
-

 

Left: Kemoy Campbell ... smashed 5000-metre record. Right: Samantha Elliott ... record in Under-20 100m hurdles

The man who reportedly used his motor vehicle to mow down a policeman on March 18 was remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Dwayne McKenzie of a Corporate Area address is charged with manslaughter arising from the incident.

Court files indicate that on March 18, the deceased and his colleagues were conducting a routine spot check on Mannings Hill Road when they signalled the accused to stop.

Allegations are that the accused stopped his vehicle and the officers approached him requesting his documents. Their check reportedly revealed that McKenzie did not possess a driver's licence.

It is further alleged that the deceased was standing in front of the motor car when this information was uncovered. It is reported that the accused gunned his vehicle, hitting the officer with such force that he fell on top of the vehicle and rolled off. The policeman was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

After hearing the allegations, McKenzie was remanded and his fingerprints taken. He is booked to reappear in court on April 27.

The police in Spanish Town, St Catherine, are now investigating a case where two men recently reported being robbed of some $90,000, allegedly by a woman who they met at a dance and brought home with them.

Information reaching THE STAR is that last Friday, the two men went to a dance which was being held in a Spanish Town community.

The men, who are both in their forties and also claim to be cousins, told the police that they met the woman there and she was with them for most of the night.

They eventually brought the woman home with them where she slept.

 

money from pockets

The police further say they were told that upon waking up on Saturday morning, they realised the woman was gone and so too was money from their pockets.

"They say they had some $90,000 between them both and it was missing when they woke up, and the girl was missing too," a constable at the Spanish Town Police Station told THE STAR Friday.

"Neighbours of the men claim to have seen the girl around parts of Spanish Town, so we are trying to see if we can get a hold of her and do our investigations," the corporal also told THE STAR.

Workers employed to the St James Parish Council armed themselves with sticks and machetes on Sunday, as they waited anxiously to kill scores of rats and c**kroaches in Sam Sharpe Square.

The workers staged an all-out attack against the rodents and insects which ran and flew frantically across the square in a desperate bid to save themselves, with the workers in hot pursuit.

It started out as a normal day last Sunday, when the workers went to prune some 20 trees in the square, which had been home to hundreds of blackbirds for years. The birds had become a nuisance, frequently defecating on passersby and on the cutstone walkway.

The exercise continued this Sunday, when the workers returned to cut down the trees and uproot them, as they had grown out of control.

One workman, Simon, used a power saw to cut down the trees, and it soon became clear he was disturbing nests of rats, c**kroaches and centipedes inside the tree trunks.

c**kroaches flew wildly in the air. In one trunk, 13 rats were slaughtered, while in another, seven newborn rodents were killed while their mother hid deep inside the tree trunk, peeping through a tiny hole, as the offsprings were being killed.

"Well, you are charged for breeding and littering the town and for that we must hang unoo," Simon uttered, as he used a machete to kill the rats.

Meanwhile, the workmen said new trees are to be replanted in the square which will be regularly maintained.

Horticulturist Anika Atkinson said uncleanliness have resulted in the rodents making the trees their homes.

And with so many food establishments in and around Sam Sharpe Square, concerns have been echoed that an intensive eradication programme needs to be undertaken immediately to rid the town of rats and c**kroaches before the situation becomes unmanageable.

Name changed on request.

A man who was charged almost two years after it is alleged that he raped his 12-year-old g*o*dchild is now before the court trying to prove his innocence.

The accused, who through his lawyer indicated that he has only shown the love of a parent towards the child, is of a Kingston 11 address. He is charged with rape.

Allegations are that the now 12-year-old child was raped in August 2008 and the matter reported in February of this year. The allegations also indicated that the child was threatened by the accused who said he would kill her if she mentioned the incident.

In the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last week, the accused's lawyer told the court that his client denied the charges and was also ignorant to the allegations.

The lawyer also mentioned that he found it strange that the child would report the matter almost two years after the incident. The lawyer speculated that the allegations were connected to the fact that the complainant's mother and the accused man once had a short-lived relationship.

Resident Magistrate Georgianna Fraser scoffed at the lawyer's speculation indicating that the mother's relationship with the accused had nothing to do with the allegations.

RM Fraser added that the child could have been frightened by the accused man's threat.

The accused was granted $500,000 bail with one or two sureties. He is to report to the Hunts Bay Police Station everyday. He was sternly warned not to communicate with the complainant. He is to return to court on May 24.

Bishop DaCosta (left) and a church member watch as a policeman dust for fingerprints. - George Henry

For the third time in less than a year, the Sanguinetti New Testament Church of God in Clarendon has been the scene of sacrilege. The latest case took place on Good Friday.

The thieves broke into the church and removed equipment including amplifiers, a cross-over and a number of cables for speaker boxes. They also broke off the door to the tuck shop and removed several items of food and beverage, as well as breaking into the pastor's office and ransacking it.

 

costly attack

Although not being able to put a cost on the stolen property, officer at the church, Glendon McDonald, told THE STAR that theft has been costing the Sanguinetti Church a lot of money over the past year.

He stated that on the three occasions that the church has been broken into, costly items have been removed which has deprived the church of well-needed funds, even as the membership tries to grapple with their costly refurbishing programme hampered by a shortage of funds.

As for the latest case of sacrilege, McDonald said it was discovered by a member of the church who was on her way to work on Saturday morning.

"When I reached the premises, I saw the main door to the church which we locked after Good Friday service, opened. When I went to the tuck shop I also saw where the door was forced open, and all the drinks and other items from the well-stocked fridge after our annual rally were all gone," said officer McDonald.

 

not daunted

Pastor for the church, Bishop Barrington DaCosta, told THE STAR that his church will not be daunted by the thefts. He said the work of God must continue and he will be leaving all judgements to the Lord who already knows how to deal with the thieves, who have been preying on the house of worship.

When members of the church turned up for worship on Sunday, they had to wait for a while until the crime scene was processed.

The breaking in of the Sanguinetti New Testament Church follows a string of break-ins which have been affecting New Testament churches in central Jamaica over the past two weeks.

The Kellits New Testament Church in northern Clarendon was also broken into on Good Friday and several items removed. The Chantilly New Testament Church in north east Manchester was broken into last Wednesday and all its windows removed; and two weeks ago, the Bible Baptist Church also in north east Manchester had all itswindows removed by thieves.

David Brooks, pka Mavado, was involved in a vehicular accident on Sunday evening, in the Manor Park area of Kingston.

Mavado was travelling on his motorcycle in a convoy of other vehicles at around 5pm when a female driver decided to turn into her driveway, cutting across his lane. Mavado did what he could to take evasive action but could not avoid the collision with the oncoming car. Mavado was immediately taken to the Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston where he underwent treatment for some minor cuts and bruises. Doctors also did several X-rays which thankfully all came back as showing everything normal.

He left hospital a little sore around 8.45 Sunday night to return home and get some rest. Mavado will be a little sore for a couple of days but it could've been a lot worse. He would like to thank all the well-wishers who called, text and twitted, as well as Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg, Serani, Adonia, Daseca, Kip Rich, Stacious, Boom Boom, Kibaki, Miss Kitty and many other industry folk who arrived at the hospital to check that the Gully God was fine.

As our priority was to ensure Mavado had medical assistance, we are unsure ,as of now, if a report was made to the police regarding the accident and what is to become of the driver.

Mavado is expected to be up on his feet and four (4) wheels and in the vocal booth within the coming days.....

Host Empress (right) announces the fate of the male contestants during the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall show last Saturday. - Colin Hamilton photos

The contestants of the Magnum Kings and Queens competition brought their game harder last Saturday night, as some of the contestants showed a more versatile side to their talent.

As the show gets closer to choosing its new king and queen, the contestants showed off their different sides through their song choices.

Kicking off the show with sexy designs from Yardy Conscious, the three ladies vying to be Professor Nuts' 'wild card': (Riddim Queen, Queen Doll and Chin Hype), battled it out, with Queen Doll getting another chance to struther stuff.

 

soca-ish vibe

Gibralta explored a soca-ish vibe with Whine Fi Mi to which Scatta commended, "nice fi know sey yuh mix up di ting, past weeks it's been really ruff and yuh come wid a girls song."

Reggae Queen followed, dazzling audiences with her lyrical content as she hit out at grudgeful women. Guest judge I-Octane liked Reggae Queen's lyrics but thought she could work on her stage performance, while Professor Nuts loved the deejay's story-telling abilities.

Black Tallant's Hot Like Dem had persons comparing him to the gravelly voiced, incarcerated deejay Buju Banton, saying if he honed his unique voice he could make it far in the business.

While Mysterious did well last week, this week the deejay wasn't as energetic as usual, with Miss Kitty telling her, "with competition like Reggae Queen yuh need to come better, it wata down bad."

Press Fyah's reggae song had the crowd giving him forwards throughout his performance, as Nuts praised the singer for always delivering week after week.

 

war mode

Gallawas was feisty on stage as she went into war mode for her song Nuh Gal Cyaan War Mi. Scatta said he loved the youngster's determination while Kitty liked her improvement but still wanted to hear Gallawas' "knock out punches".

Ms Kitty's wildcard Juggla made her proud with his sharply worded We Trade Guns for Girls; as Kitty said, "lyricsmad, salient points, yuh hit hard every time and yuh keep us entertained."

Another contestant who wowed last week but didn't get such a good response from the judges was Bumpa. I-Octane said her stage performance could use some work.

 

begged fans

The energetic Tanto Blacks didn't disappoint, jumping around and utilizing the stage, as he told the audience in his song, "mi know mi ago mek it."

Too Qute and Chozenn closed the performances with Too Qute messing up on her lyrics, and later in the VIP room begging fans to give her another chance.

Chozenn, however, was on par, drawing melodies from Vybz Kartel's popular song Clarkes for his song, and dazzled the audience with an interesting introduction given in the voice of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga. According to I-Octane, he was impressed by Chozenn and hoped to do work with him in the future.

Shady Squad closed off the night introducing two new original dance moves to the crowd called the 'Melody' and the '9.58'.

( l - r ) Riddim Queen, Mysterious, Queen Doll

( l - r ) Gibralta, Bumpa

( l - r ) Chin Hype Gallawas

Tarrus Riley - file

Reggae crooners Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson have added their voices to the English group Sade's current single Soldier of Love.

The remix has been done by producer Colin 'Bulby' York of Fat Eyes Productions and features the two singers alongside Sade.

When THE STAR spoke to Bulby, he explained how the song came about saying, "they (Sony) asked me to do it, to just do a reggae remix. It's not quite official yet cause we're waiting on the clearance ... I don't know their response to the song as yet as Sade is on tour, so I'm waiting on their yes or no."

Once the producer gets the clearance from Sony Music Entertainment, where Sade is signed to, then the remix will be released on itunes and made available to the public. According to Bulby, he was the one who chose Riley and Stephenson for the remix saying, "they just seemed perfect for it, and they both sing on it well."

 

various radio stations

Thus far, the remix for the song was released to a select few disc jocks over a week ago and has been playing locally on various radio stations. The original Soldier of Love is the lead single of Sade's long awaited sixth album, also called 'Soldier of Love' - which was released in February. This album marked the group's first album release in almost ten years.

The song was released on iTunes digitally on January 12, 2010, and debuted at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's highest debut on the chart and has since peaked at #52. Babyfather is the second UK single to be taken from the album. Sade is more popularly known for songs such as Smooth Operator and Hang Unto Your Love.

 

debut album

Duane Stephenson

Duane Stephenson, who is better known for songs like Cottage in Negril, is currently working on his follow up to his debut album 'August Town.'

When THE STAR spoke to Tarrus Riley, he was happy about the collaboration saying, "it feels good, the collab is great and mi into dat, doing different types of music, fresh music wid different people." The singer is getting ready to shoot his next video for the song Superman from his Contagious album, which will be directed by Gareth Cobran.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh has described as "harmful rather than helpful" reports done on Jamaica by foreign bodies.

"I have a difficulty with these reports when they get in front of the press... I find them excessive, inappropriate and overdone in terms of harmful statements that are made that can affect these countries," Dr Baugh told the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament examining the 2010/2011 Estimates of Expenditure last week.

Dr Baugh was responding to questions from Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs Anthony Hylton as to the strategies or measures that will be taken to address the impact on the reputation of Jamaicans home and abroad because of these reports.

Making specific reference to the recent International Narcotics Control Strategy Report in Jamaica issued by the US State Department, Baugh said the account was "not kind to us".

"We do have a difficulty when the reports are issued. This report in particular is hardly different from a previous report issued in your time," said Baugh in reference to Hylton's tenure in Government. "It is almost the same in terms of the format and the substance."

The report, issued early in March, among other things said drug arrests in Jamaica remained flat last year, and maintained that only "light, non-criminal penalties", are applied to persons found in possession of the drug ecstasy.

Prior to Baugh's statement, National Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson had argued that "the statements in that report do not accurately represent the efforts being made by the security forces and the Jamaican authorities in the fight against international drug trafficking and organised crime".

Last week, Dr Baugh also said the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment issued in February this year painted an untrue picture of the Jamaican situation.

In that report, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak said the conditions in Jamaican lock-ups are inhumane and condemned the overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and cruel treatment of prisoners by warders in Jamaica's lock-ups, saying it reflects a total disregard for human dignity.

Speaking specifically to the recent prisoner uprising at the Horizon Remand Centre, Nowak, supported by Forensic Specialist Dr Derrick Pounder, pointed out that defenceless prisoners were severely beaten. He said many of the injuries appeared to be of a defensive nature, confirming an observation made by Public Defender Earl Witter.

But according to Baugh, the final report was miles away from what the rapporteur had said in prior meetings.

"Even his meetings with the United States Embassy in Jamaica gave a report that was more acceptable to us," said Baugh. "His final report when he had a press conference and the report issued abroad have taken it much further.

"As a matter of a fact, I find that the report is harmful rather than helpful because these reports are really excessive and do not acknowledge the kind of work we are doing nor the difficulties and challenges we face," Dr Baugh said.

The foreign affairs minister said such reports were more damaging since they had a likely effect on the opinions of investors and tourists who are contemplating coming to Jamaica.

"...We don't really have any control over them. What we have to do is respond when they issue these reports so they don't do the harm we anticipate they can do," he said.

1. DEM ALWAYS WAAH SEE WID DEM HAND, DEM HAFFI TOUCH EVERYTHING

2. DEM ALWAYS WAAH "BEAT THE SYSTEM" AND WHEN THE GET KETCH DEM WAAH "JOSTIS"

3. FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME, TVJ IS NOT JBC, THAT WAS 15 YEARS AGO

4. PPL NEED FI STOP CALL ALL ASIANS "CHINEY" THE PERSON CUD BE FROM KOREA, DEM CALL HIM CHINEY

5. EVERYBODY AND DEM MAMA A FIGHT U OUT .....THE, TAXI BRUCK DUNG, THE DRIVER A FIGHT DEM OUT

6. EVERY SPECIAL DAY IS A CELEBRATION, DEM PUT ON A DANCE FI EVERY OCCASION

7.FREENESS IS THE MIDDLE NAME, IF SOMETHING COST 50 CENTS, ITS EXPENSIVE,...........IF ITS FREE THEY WILL TAKE TWO

8.EVERYBODY IS "BWOY" AND "GYAL"...............EVEN YUH GRANDPARENTS

9. THEYRE BUSINESS IS TOP SECRET...BUT YOURS IS ON THE FRONT PAGE

10. IF YOU GIVE YAAH THE BAWSE, YAAH THE BIG MAN, YAAH DADS.................IF YOU DONT.......YUH MEAN "YAH PU55YOLE

HE KNOWS HE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!!!
HERE ARE SOME RESPONSES!!




-- Edited by steppz on Monday 5th of April 2010 09:35:40 AM

[youtube=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhuK44N7JRhe8vxG5K]

LOS ANGELES Damage reports from the U.S.-Mexico border region are growing after a magnitude-7.2 earthquake in Baja California that was felt from Tijuana and Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Phoenix.

The quake struck south of Mexicali, Mexico, at 3:40 p.m. Sunday, but damage also was being reported north of the border.

Calexico Fire Chief Peter Mercado tells KABC-TV in Los Angeles that there is substantial damage in the older section of the southeastern California city. Mercado says there is structural damage and broken windows, leaking gas lines and damage to the water system. But he says no injuries have been reported.

Across the border, a parking structure at the Mexicali city hall has collapsed. Mexicali is a bustling commerce center where trucks carrying goods cross into California.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) A powerful earthquake in Baja California rocked the U.S.-Mexico border region Sunday, collapsing a parking structure south of the border and causing power outages in both countries as it sent out seismic waves felt from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Arizona.

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck at 3:40 p.m. about 19 miles southeast of Mexicali, a bustling commerce center on the Mexican side of the border where trucks carrying goods cross into California. More than 900,000 people live in the greater Mexicali area.

It was the largest earthquake in the region in nearly 18 years and was followed by aftershocks or distant "triggered" earthquakes on both sides of the border, said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Lucy Jones.

A multistory parking structure collapsed at the Mexicali city hall but no one was injured, said Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo.

Other early reports indicated only minor damage, but communication in the region more than 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles is often slow.

"I grabbed my children and said, 'Let's go outside, hurry, hurry!'" said Elizabeth Alvarez, 54, who said the quake hit as she was getting ready to leave her house with her children in an eastern Tijuana neighborhood, across the border from San Diego.

Hundreds of people fled Tijuana's beach fearing a tsunami, said Capt. Juan Manuel Hernandez, chief of aquatic rescue at the Tijuana fire department. Tsunami experts quickly reported that no tsunami was expected along the West Coast, and Hernandez said the beach filled back up with people within an hour.

Tijuana Fire Chief Rafael Carillo said firefighters were rescuing people trapped in an elevator at the Ticuan Hotel in downtown Tijuana, but mostly were responding to reports of fallen cables and minor damage to buildings.

The Crowne Plaza hotel in Mexicali had minor damage burst pipes and broken windows but no on was hurt, said receptionist Juan Carlos Fernandez.

"There was a little bit of panic," Fernandez said. "Wait, it's trembling again."

Guests fled their rooms at the Hotel Playa Club in San Felipe, on the Gulf of California, but there was no damage, said receptionist Araceli Marquez.

Seismologists said there have been many earthquakes in the region including many in the magnitude-3.0 range before Sunday's big shock.

"The last time we had an earthquake this large in either Baja or California was in 1992 with the Landers Earthquake, which was 7.3," Jones said.

The USGS reported three strong aftershocks within the hour, including a magnitude-5.1 jolt in the Imperial County desert east of San Diego. Magnitude-4.5 and magnitude-4.3 aftershocks were also reported. Another occurred off Malibu.

The 7.2-magnitude quake was felt as far north as Santa Barbara, USGS seismologist Susan Potter said. It was one of the strongest to hit California in recent history. Only one has been stronger a 7.3 quake that hit Landers, Calif., and left three dead in 1992 and there were at least two other 7.2-magnitude quakes in the last 20 years.

Seismologists also said a number of small quakes were triggered in a geothermal area in Northern California.

More than 5,000 Southern California Edison customers were affected, mostly with about 30 seconds of flickering lights. Several hundred had longer outages.

In Arizona, 3,369 customers in the Yuma area had a "relatively momentary outage" from the quake, Arizona Public Service Company spokesman Don Wool said.

Only about 70 people were still without service in the rural Gadsden and Summerton areas. But Wool said he expected electricity to be restored there in about two hours.

Clint Norred, a spokesman for the Yuma, Ariz., Police Department, said the quake was very strong there but he'd heard no reports of injuries or major damage.

In the Phoenix area, Jacqueline Land said her king-sized bed in her second-floor apartment felt like a boat gently swaying on the ocean.

"I thought to myself, 'That can't be an earthquake. I'm in Arizona,'" the Northern California native said.

___

Associated Press Writers Mariana Jimenez in Tijuana, Mexico, Andrew Dalton and John Antczak in Los Angeles, John S. Marshall in San Francisco, and Matt Reed and Katie Oyan in Phoenix contributed to this report.

THE Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has no bomb squad, the unit that would respond to bomb threats, senior police officers have confirmed.

The officers who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the newspaper, suggested that a lack of resources along with a cultural focus on the gun, were the likely reasons no such unit was here.

But asked whether they were concerned that bombings could reach local shores, the cops said there were trained officers who were "more than capable" to handle such a situation.

"There are several officers stationed across the island who are trained to deal with such a situation," said a senior officer from the Protective Services of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the unit that deals with such threats.

A recent report about a bomb threat at the Clan Carthy High School in Kingston two weeks ago was one of the latest that the police were called in to address.

Teachers at the Kingston-based school were on Monday, March 23 forced to halt classes and hastily evacuate students from classrooms after receiving a bomb threat from an anonymous caller.

"At about 7 yesterday (Monday) someone called the school and told officials that a bomb was on the school grounds," senior vice-principal Ekle Bailey told the Observer. She said the police were called in and the premises searched, but no bombs were found.

"I have been part of this unit for over 20 years and throughout that time in responding to various reports about bomb threats, the most I have heard of were Molotov c**ktail bombs being found at the scene," said one of the senior NIB officers. "It is just not the culture in Jamaica."

The officer, however, said it was a good idea to look at the issue much closer as persons of all cultures were coming to the island.

Here's our round-up of singers', rockers' and rappers' 20 coolest and funnest tweets from the past seven days. Be sure to tag@billboarddotcom to your favorite music retweets (and don't forget to follow us!)

 

 

	@fatbellybella (Erykah Badu): ..didnt remember what kind of undies i wore that day so i chked 1st b4 removing pants.lol. i knew my intent was good.that thought made it ok
	@ricky_martin : Whats going on gang?I'm doing great!Stronger than ever!I'm here relaxing @ home enjoying ur messages!I feel the love!Thanx for all!peace
	@theboygeorge (Boy George): I'm so gay too but it feels wonderful!
	@mariahcarey : Be clear..If anyone who works for me (even if we're kool)trys to "april fool" me they are so fired.
	@adamlambert : Aaaaand yes, I kissed Kesha. It was fun. I hope future interviewers review these tweets. If not, they're twats. Hahah.
	imjonescapo (Jim Jones): I just seen another rappers video tht look just like me chain gang n scarf dam I'm sonnin these niggaz I gues my style might body ya lol wht
	@MyFabolouslife (Fabolous): Oh so it's time 4 subliminal tweets huh?? Ok cool.. #TellMeWhyUMad I'm mad cuz it's over for that ballin.... Brooklynnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
	@trvsbrkr (Travis Barker): HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM/DJAM. MISS YOU BROTHA!
	@RealTalibKweli (Talib Kweli): Feeling blessed. Moscow bombing happened yards from the club I was at last night, very soon after we left. Counting blessings.
	@therealakon (Akon): Leaving Mama Africa on my way to LA to play soccer at the Galaxy Stadium! In case you didn't know, I'm nice on the soccer field!
	@owlcity : Today a man with a huge mustache asked me to go for a ride in his truck and I hesitated for a minute but it was just my dad, so I agreed.
	@RevRunWisdom (Rev Run): im @ the kids choice awards... wow! Im a belieber.. this kid is gr8
	@OneRepublic: Pretty sure the band from Almost Famous just got on our flight. I'm gonna start singing "Tiny Dancer" & see if they catch on...or get pissed
	@michellebranch : Just got home from the studio with Timbaland. Working on a really cool project. Can't wait for y'all to hear. Now bedtime.
	@AndrewWK: PARTY TIP: A true woman has male qualities. A true man has female aspects. Arnold was wrong: Being a girlie man is awesome.
	@yelyahwilliams (Hayley Williams): Windows down, cruisin. Sorta worried my Slipknot poster is gonna rip off the car ceiling and fly away with the wind.
	@diplo: Just wwalked 5 miles in north carolina in tiny shorts with a subway samwich bag full of dirty laundry. veryone honk @ me
	@barenakedladies : Skateboarding in Toronto... forgot I was 39. So, I'm celebrating the release of AIGT by getting an MRI. Music Rehabilitates Injuries!
	@amandapalmer : went to chatroulette. SO many dudes with their hands on their penises i had to leave to take a twitter breather. things are so clean here.
	@THEREALBANNER (David Banner): there should be a hood limit to the amount of fake stuff a woman can have on her body

Bounty Killer's legal woes worsened today with news that the deejay is once again behind bars after a domestic incident at his house over the weekend. The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) confirmed the incident but did not give out any details, adding that a release would soon be sent out to the media.

YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HELL FOR THIS . . . BUT DOESN'T NBA SUPERSTAR CHRIS BOSH LOOK A LOT LIKE . . .

OUTSPOKEN sports medicine specialist Dr Paul Wright yesterday renewed his call for drug testing at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championship, arguing that it was important, given the scrutiny under which Jamaica has been placed because of the country's outstanding performances in international track and field.

Dr Wright's call was supported by Calabar High School coach Michael Clarke, even though he pointed out that putting athletes on a performance-enhancing drug programme is costly

"Although it is very expensive for coaches to administer drugs, I support the need for drug testing to preserve the credibility of Champs in the event that there are some... world records set," said Clarke.

Both men were guests at the weekly Observer Monday Exchange meeting of reporters and editors at the newspaper's head office in Kingston.

Dr Wright, who serves on the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), said he has been trying for the past 15 years to have drug testing introduced at Champs. However, his efforts have met resistance.

"I remember going to ISSA with a proposal to do drug testing at Champs and you know what I was told? 'We have enough problems with birth certificates and you want to add another one'," Dr Wright said.

"I find that to be simply amazing," he added. "I can tell you from my days in drug testing, there are some people in this country who have no intention for drug testing to go on."

Asked whether he thought athletes took drugs to compete at Champs, Dr Wright -- who has worked with national teams in various sporting disciplines, including football, cricket, hockey and track and field -- replied: "I don't know, but we need to know."

The annual high school Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships is the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world and attracts the attention of international sport reporters, mostly because it serves as a nursery for athletes who represent Jamaica on the international circuit.

At least 35 journalists from 12 overseas media outlets covered this year's event held March 24-27 at the National Stadium in Kingston. Among the foreign media houses were Sports Illustrated, Reuters News Agency and US Fitness in the United States; The Guardian newspaper and BBC Radio from the United Kingdom; FP TV from France; Popeye Magazine out of Japan; as well as FHM Magazine and Milk Magazine from China.

Wolmer's Boys' School won this year's 100th staging of the event, while Holmwood Technical High won the girls title for the eighth consecutive year. Wolmer's' victory was historic, given that the school had taken the inaugural event and had last won the title in 1956.

Yesterday, Clarke pointed to the intrusion of past students who want their schools to win, as one of the problems faced by coaches.

"I am going to start with the fight I have with old boys. People tend to glorify stars in terms of being with them, and they try and gain their attention. Some will provide lunch money, spikes or something, and sometimes an old boy might very well pass onto a child a substance without the coach's knowledge," he noted.

"As coach, it is your responsibility to advise athletes as to what should or should not be, because a simple cough syrup for cold may just be considered to be a steroid. They are producing many kinds of drinks nowadays that are labelled boosters. A lot of times I see athletes drinking them," said Clarke who won 10 championships with three different schools.

He first won with St Jago in the 1987 then rattled up an impressive seven years with Jamaica College in the 1990s and led his alma mater, Calabar to titles in 2007 and 2008.

Clarke appeared to discount speculation that schoolboy athletes could be taking performance enhancing drugs, arguing that their coaches would have to be able to afford the hefty cost.

"If there was any use of drugs at this or any other year at Champs, for one, I know it is not cheap. It must be a coach who can access these things and it must be a treatment over a period of time and it will be very, very expensive," he said.

However, Clarke, whose son Sekou represented Jamaica College with distinction a few years ago, admitted that it was extremely difficult to monitor student athletes.

"We have very little control, and if you do, you become very unpopular," he said. "I try to have a tighter grip of my athletes because of the intrusion of these old boys that feel that they must help."

Meanwhile, Dr Wright said he was shocked to learn that drug testing was being conducted at this year's Gibson Relays in February without the involvement of JADCO.

He explained that he was treating an injured female athlete at the relays "and she told me to hurry up because she had a drug test to do. I contacted JADCO and they said they are not doing drug testing".

"I was flabbergasted to know that JADCO had nothing to do with drug testing at Gibson Relays. It was done by another group who are apparently opposed to JADCO," he said.

"There are forces pulling in different directions and it can't work," he argued.

Describing himself as a "fanatic" when it comes to drug testing, Dr Wright said he started programmes in football and among horse racing jockeys. However, the programmes went well until certain people were caught.

"The moment you catch the guy who nobody knows, it's OK," he said. However, the moment you catch the guy who is riding a winner every day, it's a problem."

OPERATIONS at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston were yesterday afternoon suspended for about 18 minutes when a fire alarm went off, forcing the evacuation of dozens of passengers from the terminal building.

"There was no fire. The alarm was set off about 1:44 after an employee pulled the switch," Mark Williams, the airport's public relations manager told the Observer.

"Whether or not he did so by accident, I don't know. But security personnel are currently reviewing tapes from the security cameras," Williams said.

The incident resulted in two flights being delayed, added the airport spokesman.

"Caribbean Airlines should have departed at 1:55 but it departed at 2:19; also American Airlines was delayed on its arrival; it arrived at 1:55 but passengers were allowed to disembarked at 2:30," he said.

A woman, who was among passengers who were asked to evacuate the terminal building, said she was frightened when she saw a crowd rushing towards her.

"I don't even know what was happening. I just see everybody rushing out and I decided that I wasn't going to stay," recounted the passenger, laughing after speaking to our reporter.

An elderly female passenger, who arrived after the incident, said she was happy her transportation to the airport was delayed as she would not be able to handle the excitement.

Transport Minister Mike Henry, meanwhile, has ordered that a preliminary report into the incident be presented to him by today.

Late last year, passengers had to evacuate the said building after smoke billowed from a ventilation system.

According to Williams, that incident started when sparks and smoke from welding work being conducted on the roof entered the building

Sound system selector Rylan 'Scratchy' Samuels who rose to fame on the hugely popular dancehall sound system, Metromedia, is now playing to a completely different set of fans these days. The 15-year veteran got baptised at Fellowship Tabernacle in Kingston on Good Friday.

Samuels, one of the earlier members of the sound system, could hardly contain his excitement as he volunteered to share with the congregation the joy he felt at having made the decision to serve the Lord.

An elated Samuels said he had no qualms about giving up the sound system career he had pursued for over 15 years as well as all the glamour of travelling around the world to entertain fans.

Attired in full white, a reflective Samuels climbed slowly into the baptismal pool, to stand solemnly between the two pastors.

With hands clasped as if in prayer and eyes closed the new convert was submerged in the water signifying his new birth.

But shortly before the baptism service began, a smiling Samuels raced to the front of the church, anxious to share with the congregation his reason for departing the "ways of the world" to follow a new path.

He explained that last Christmas he decided to accept an invitation to attended the Greater Works International Church where he heard the speaker preach the story of Zaccheus. The biblical character, Zaccheus, was a rich tax collector who, having heard that Jesus was passing through his town, decided to climb a sycamore tree in order to get a better view.

But Jesus, knowing he was there, stopped under the tree and asked him to come down so he could go to his house to dine with him. This caused much furore among the people who accused Jesus of going to dine with a sinner. But Zaccheus heeded the command and came down to take Jesus to his house.

But unlike Zaccheus who obeyed immediately, Samuels said that although the message tugged at his heart he never yielded that day.

Less than a month later, he said, he visited Fellowship Tabernacle and again the guest preacher taught from the same biblical passage.

"Him teach the same message about 'Zaccheus come down' and my brother who was beside me nudged me and said 'are you Zaccheus'," he said with a big smile.

This time, Samuels said he knew he had to respond as he didn't want to run the risk of not getting another chance to do so.

"Well I know that them say three strikes and you are out so me tell meself that I won't let the third message catch me," he later told the Observer.

But Samuels believes there are other Zaccheus' who need to come down and already he is beseeching other sound system selectors to follow in his footsteps.

"If I can give up all I used to enjoy, like travelling all over the world to play music for people to enjoy themselves, then a lot more selectors can do the same and come to Christ," he said.

Neosoul singer Erykah Badu faces a disorderly conduct charge for her nude music video shoot in downtown Dallas' Dealey Plaza, officials announced Friday.

Colin Hamilton-Blak Ryno

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Deejay Ryno di Stinger, formerly known as Blak Ryno, has responded lyrically to Popcaan's 'Dem Sell We Out', in his recently released 'U Vex Eeh'.

When Ryno left from the Portmore Empire weeks ago, Vybz Kartel's newly named protégé Popcaan, released hisDem Sell We Out on the 'Remedy' rhythm, which most persons claim was throwing words at Ryno.

In the song Popcaan deejayed: "Di likkle fool neva real to di ting/deep inna him heart him badmind di king/a watchdi man rose gold chain and ring/and a dat give him power in di song weh him sing/mi see sey yuh bad mind from yuh born/yuh nuh rate Jah Vinci, yuh nuh rate Shawn Storm/vex true di general sign Popcaan."

He continues, "why yuh do wid we dat Peter, use mi fadda fi get visa/lemme tell yuh bout fake friend/look how Vybz Kartel did honour dem/ungrateful people a go sorry when every yute a get rich and a nuh bruk again."

 

freedom

In Ryno's U Vex Eeh, the deejay in his introduction says: "how dem mean mi sell out? Freedom ova bondage mi sey, life ova death, good ova evil."

He deejays: "How dem mean sey man sell out? when a dem bad mind me ting/how yuh mean sey mi bad mind yuh boss fi him rose gold and ring? rememba a me drive up and down wid yuh /a uptown/till yuh know yuh king/me and mi shadow nuh fi inna nuh clashing ting/stop sing like how mi sing."

On Youtube, persons have been responding positively to Ryno's song as one person commented: "Kartel, mi know you heart hurt yuh fi lose da student ya," while another added: "Mad dem caan stop tha youth yah now."

Since leaving the Portmore Empire, Ryno has not only changed his name but has also formed his own group called 'Garrison'. He recently released a video for his song Mi Lef, which talks about his split from the Empire.

Ryno has also joined musical forces with former Portmore Empire member Kym, for the song Last Night on the 'Summa Swing' rhythm. Popcaan has recently released a song w

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson showed off her new slimmed-down figure yesterday as she was revealed as the new face of Weight Watchers.

The 28-year-old looked happier than ever as she arrived for an appearance on Good Morning America in dark skinny jeans, a figure-hugging beige top and a black blazer.

She smiled for photographers and signed autographs for fans before making her way inside the studios in Times Square.

Hudson, who is thought to have lost almost 60lbs since giving birth to son David last August, credits her weight loss to eating sensibly and following the Weight Watchers points plan and also working out with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.