PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- The Caribbean Community (Caricom) will be without a face and a presence in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, as Jamaica pulls out the last of its military personnel today.

Jamaica, with its military superiority, has been in the country since January 13 -- a mere 24 hours after the magnitue-7 earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, killing approximately 230,000 persons.

Jamaica began withdrawing its troops yesterday with the arrival in Kingston of 48 personnel.

The decision was taken based on a communique coming out of the just concluded Caricom Heads of Government conference in the Commonwealth

of Dominica.

As of now, Caricom's contribution will be monetary.

"With regard to the continued assistance to Haiti, the conference was guided by the pressing urgencies indicated by president Preval (Haitian President). In this regard, it was decided that the funds pledged by the Community for the third phase of Caricom's health sector intervention, would be contributed directly to the government of Haiti as a budgetary support to address these pressing needs," the communique, issued at the 21st intercessional meeting of the Caribbean Community heads, stated.

"...This gesture was also viewed as setting an example for the international community to follow," it added.

The conference, and Haiti's President Preval have agreed that, "a special fund should be established where all resources identified for Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake, should be placed and that the country should have immediate access to the resources".

Jamaica, through the JDF, sent about 320 personnel, including medics and military officials, but threatened to pull the soldiers after about three weeks in Port-au-Prince, citing its inability to afford the nearly $800,000 per day for the soldiers to remain in the country.

It sought assistance for Caricom to foot the bill, which a month later was running at some $40 million.

To date, all Caricom countries have sent personnel to Haiti, except Trinidad and Tobago.

However, it was Jamaica's response that led the way. In the first instance, approximately 168 personnel arrived in Port-au-Prince, two days after the devastating earthquake hit on January 12. They served as part of the recovery and medical assistance, as well as providing security for many of the international operations from other countries.

They spent a total of four weeks and were rotated and replaced by another 158 personnel, while a small number of officers from the original team remained.

Lieutenant Colonel Desmond 'Desi' Edwards replaced Major Jaime Ogilvie on February 11, and today ends a five-week tour of duty.

"Our focus was relief distribution and medical outreach primarily in Leogane, Port-au-Prince, Archaie and Cabaret...," the commanding officer told the Observer.

According to him, the JDF focus was on communities in the south of the island, with the capital city being the main reference point.

Jamaica also responded in large numbers with personnel from the Ministry of Health, who were rotated on seven-day tours. They were accommodated at the JDF camp near the airport and the combination facilitated large medical outreach.

However, the last of the health personnel left Haiti on March 5, resulting in the JDF becoming focused on relief distribution, particularly to children's homes, given that only a limited number of JDF medical personnel remained.

On Tuesday, its final outreach was done at an orphanage in Carrefour for abandoned and homeless children, and another at Delmas 3, which is run by Missionaries of the Poor.

Yesterday, soldiers carried out final duties at the UN headquarters at MINUSTAH log base while others prepared to return home.

DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP) -- The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland apologised "with all my heart" yesterday over his role in a child sex abuse controversy that has rocked the country.

Cardinal Sean Brady has faced calls to quit from victims' groups over his attendance at meetings in 1975 where children allegedly abused by one of Ireland's worst serial paedophiles were asked to take a vow of secrecy.

In his annual Saint Patrick's Day address, Brady said he would be "reflecting carefully" in the coming weeks on what had happened -- and asked worshippers to "pray for me".

"I want to say to anyone who has been hurt by any failure on my part that I apologise to you with all my heart," he said in the address in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

"I also apologise to all those who feel I have let them down. Looking back, I am ashamed that I have not always upheld the values that I profess and believe in."

Brady has previously said he would only resign if asked to by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Catholic church is facing allegations of links to paedophilia in countries like Germany and Brazil as well as in Ireland, while the pope has been criticised over his handling of the issue.

Brady has come under fire after it emerged that he attended meetings in 1975 where two alleged victims of Father Brendan Smyth signed an oath of secrecy.

The church was investigating sex abuse complaints against Smyth, whose activities led to the fall of prime minister Albert Reynolds' coalition government in 1994.

Smyth, who is believed to have abused hundreds of children over a 40-year period in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the United States, was finally jailed in the 1990s and died in prison.

Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, said Brady should "consider his position" over the row.

"I think it is a very grave situation for the Catholic church and I do believe that Cardinal Brady should consider his position," he told state broadcaster RTE from Washington, where he is spending Saint Patrick's Day.

"I would be very surprised, and I think many Catholics would be very surprised, if he wasn't doing that at the moment."

McGuinness, a Catholic whose party, Sinn Fein, is also heavily Catholic, added: "Catholics throughout the island of Ireland want to see real leadership at this time."

But Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said while it was "an important issue", the government should not get involved.

"It is not a question for the state to get involved in church matters nor for the church to be involved in state matters," he told RTE, also from Washington.

In his address, Brady also called for an end to the "drip, drip, drip revelations of failure" by the church on the issue.

"The integrity of our witness to the gospel challenges us to own up to and take responsibility for any mismanagement or cover-up of child abuse," he said.

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) -- Russia will spend nearly 60 million euros to build a new museum celebrating the 200th anniversary of Russia's 1812 victory over French emperor Napoleon, vice premier Alexander Joukov said yesterday.

"I hope that it will be a collection ... at the level of the best museums in the world," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Roughly 2.38 billion rubles (59 million euros or US$81 million) is to be spent on the museum by 2012.

Joukov said that the museum would include exhibits of many items from the era that are currently stocked in the warehouses of the History Museum on Moscow's Red Square.

Napoleon invaded Russia in June 1812 and although his forces entered Moscow in September, Tsar Alexander I did not surrender.

In October, Napoleon beat a catastrophic retreat from Russia as the Tsar's troops and the Russian winter ground down his army until it was finally defeated in November crossing the Berezina river in what is now Belarus.

Aidonia - File

"Plea my cause oh Jah Jah, weh dem a fight me for, for those who fight against me, Jesus walks Jah Jah walks with me, them bad mind, me know them can't stop me with powder obeah, inna me head no bwoy can't put hole inna, poison food from dem don't take no dinner, watch over me nuh Jehovah"

- Jehovah (Watch Over Me), Aidonia

Jag one Production (J.O.P) recording artiste Sheldon 'Aidonia' Lawrence recently released yet another masterfully crafted single that is poised to dominate the airwaves.

The song titled Jehovah produced by Stephen 'Di Genius' McGregor is a conscious ballad that sees the high-riding deejay asking the heavenly powers up above for guidance and protection against those with devious intents.

Jehovah is just one of several singles the J.O.P head has recorded for the Big Ship label since the start of the year. He is also featured on Stephen's Bad People rhythm with a song of a similar title currently enjoying premium airplay on the radio waves.

"It's just the reality of my life and things that I have been through and still going through, that inspired me to do the song. So we continue asking Jah Jah for guidance as we go about our doings everyday," Aidonia said.

In addition to the new releases, Aidonia sits atop the FIWI Choice Top 20 Chart in position No.2 and No.3 with Evil Head and Mood For Love, respectively.

Later this month, Aidonia, alongside Kingston-based sound systems Darkcide International, will perform at a concert, which will be held at the Signature Ranch in Miami

March 17, 2010

Ky-Mani didnt mean to hurt Marley family with Dear Dad tell-all book

Ky-Mani Marley, one of the sons of reggae legend, Bob Marley, has written a new book claiming he was deprived of his father's fortune for years unlike his half-brothers and half-sisters, sparking a row that could trigger legal action, a report carried by AFP says.


Ky-Mani Marley's Dear Dad hit booksellers' stands February 6, when the late reggae icon would have turned 65.


It has quickly become a major headache for this 34-year-old son of Marley.


Ky-Mani, aware of the family squabbling it could unleash, tried to delay its release, and to tweak the content. but he failed.


Now, there is a dispute between Ky-Mani Marley and his editor Farrah Gray, a young businessman of 24, over the truth of content of the book. Their clash could end up in court, both told media in the United States and Jamaica in recent days.


"The book was not an attack on my family. I love my brothers and sisters more than anyone can know," Ky-Mani Marley, a Jamaican actor and musician who is the son of Bob Marley and table tennis champ Anita Belnavis, said in a statement on his MySpace page.


The book says on its cover that it contains the "story the Marley family apparently didn't want you to know".


Among other themes, the book claims its author was kept from accessing his fathers' fortune by Marley's widow Rita. It also claims Rita Marley tried to keep the money for her children with Marley while denying financial support to his children with six other women.


"I did not expect that Dr Gray would have unprofessionally and maliciously twisted my words or use things that were discussed in confidence to create controversy in an attempt to sell a book," Ky-Mani Marley added.


"During the final edit of the book, I spoke with my sister, Cedella, and I advised Dr Farrah Gray that some changes had to be made and until the changes were made, I was not willing to do any promotion for the book," the author added.


But the editor was unmoved by what he said was the younger Marley's backtracking.


"His denials have thrown me and the publishing company under the bus. I didn't write his book, I published it. This is his story; these are his words and now I have to prove it," Gray argued.

A young woman accused of using a pot cover to hit her 78-year-old grandmother was taken before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The accused, Yonique Webb, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

The complainant told the court that she was at home when someone came to the yard to purchase ice. She said an argument developed between her and the accused woman's boyfriend about how to go about selling the ice. After that face-off, the complainant came to where she was and used a pot cover to slap her on the shoulder.

The accused woman and her father, however, challenged that account. The accused woman's father said the complainant wanted to 'control the yard' and on many occasions, referred to the accused as a 'jacket'.

DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS!!! ACTOR FOREST WHITAKER LOST 25 POUNDS . . . AND HE LOOKS A LOT BETTER . . . AND A LOT HEALTHIER NOW!! (BEFORE AND AFTER PICS INSIDE)

Policemen arriving in west Kingston.

Residents of Denham Town and Hannah Town in west, Kingston are claiming that two of three men who were shot dead during a reported shoot-out with the police were killed in cold *lo**.

Up to press time yesterday, the three men were unidentified.

Three policemen were also shot and injured during the alleged gun-battle. One officer was shot in the neck, one in the hand and one in the leg and back. The three injured lawmen were taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where they were admitted in stable condition.

But despite police reports of the gun battle with thugs, the residents are adamant that there was no shoot-out.

"A pure lie dem a tell, di man dem nuh fire no shot afta dem. Dem go inna one house weh di yute dem deh and kill dem jus like that," one resident of Hannah Town who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

The communities erupted into chaos yesterday afternoon after gunmen and police traded bullets just behind the walls of the Kingston Public Hospital. The scene was one resembling a battlefield with soldiers, helicopter and constant gunfire.

A soldier slides from an armoured vehicle as he gets ready for action in West Kingston yesterday. - Norman Grindley photos

That stand-off was said to be sparked by the killing of the three men.

Reports are that a police team went on an operation in search of two known gunmen. The team reportedly went to Regent Street, the border of Denham Town and Hannah Town and came under heavy gunfire. The fire was returned and the two men were fatally shot.

A 9mm Glock pistol and a ballistic vest were also reportedly taken from one of the men.

Residents told THE STAR that they are fed-up with the issue of violence in the communities.

'' Mi haffi duck under a table when gunshot start fi fire,wi tiad fi hear dem still, '' A resident told THE STAR.

Meanwhile a heavy detachment of police and military personnel will continue to patrol the areas.

Several persons try to glimpse on the body of one of the men said to have been killed in the shoot-out with the police.

Jimmy Cliff inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Jamaican reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Britain's Genesis, Swedish pop group Abba, punk pioneers the Stooges and The Hollies entered the rock star firmament Monday on being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


These were the big names honoured in New York at a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in front of music industry big wigs and celebrities.


The inclusion of Abba raised eyebrows of fans questioning whether the light pop group qualifies as a rock band.


But Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation CEO Joel Peresman said the collection "represents a great cross-section of artistes".
The Stooges' Iggy Pop was on hand to pick up his award as were five of The Hollies, Genesis frontman Phil Collins, and Abba's Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.


Jimmy Cliff raised the roof with The Harder They Come, while the Stooges gave a thunderous performance that ended with guests jamming on stage alongside a shirtless Iggy Pop.


The event was an Oscars-style black tie and tuxedo event, except this being the rock world many guests came without the tie or without the jacket, or either.


Iggy Pop joked to Rolling Stone magazine about the un-punk-like sartorial code, saying he owned a dinner jacket, but was hardly itching to put it on.


"I've got these things. I'm at the time of life where people sort of pick me up by the collar and exhibit me on various occasions," he said.


True to his bad boy image he immediately made an obscene gesture -- with both hands -- at the audience from the podium, then removed his shirt to go on stage for a raucous rendition of Search and Destroy.

Musicians already in the hall of fame include Eric Clapton, Madonna, the Beatles, The Byrds and Simon and Garfunkel.


The only official requirement for candidacy is having released an album or record at least 25 years ago. Record sales are not considered important.

UH OH!!! SANDRA BULLOCK'S HUSBAND IS REPORTEDLY CHEATING ON HER . . . BUT WTF . . . THAT'S HIS JUMPOFF???? (PICS OF THE INTERESTING LOOKING CHICK INSIDE)

Three women who attempted to smuggle money in tubes of toothpaste to an inmate at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, found themselves being charged with breaches of the Correctional Act.

THE STAR learnt that about 10:30 a.m. on Monday, the three females, Simone Hemmings, 36; Phillistine Balgrove, 58 and her daughter Angella Balgrove, went to visit an inmate at the penal institution, when the bags of groceries they brought were searched by correctional officers.

During the search, several tubes of toothpaste were checked and found to contain concealed money.

The police were called and the women held. They were charged by Detective Corporal Kirk Roache of the Spanish Town Police Station.

The women are booked to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on March 23.

FOUR alleged members of the notorious Umbrella Gang of Newlands, Portmore, three of whom were on the St Catherine South Police division's most-wanted list for six months, are to reappear in the Kingston Gun Court on March 29.

Travis 'Shrek' McPherson, Romaine 'British' Edwards, Patrick 'Mad Max' McDonald and Odean 'Zekes' Samuels have been described by police as key players of the Umbrella gang, unleashing a reign of terror on Newlands, Naggo Head and Portmore Lane communities.

The St Catherine South Police claim the gang, run by a jailed leader serving life imprisonment at the Horizon Remand Centre, is responsible for more murders than any other in the history of the division.

An ongoing feud between the Umbrella and Uprising gangs, has led to dozens of murders on both sides including innocent members of the affected communities particularly that of a 98-year-old woman, whose house was torched last November.

The four men, described for months as being wanted for serious crimes, were said to have fled the community after a shoot-out with the St Catherine South fugitive apprehension team.

The shoot-out resulted in the recovery of a shotgun. Samuels was held soon after.

Still jolted by Monday's gun battle between the police and gunmen, residents of Hannah Town yesterday feverishly sought to distance their community from the clash which claimed the lives of three men. Three policemen were injured.

The people of Hannah Town maintained that the shoot-out involved the police and men from neighbouring Denham Town.

Yesterday, the two communities stood in stark contrast to the violent scene that it was on Monday.

Both Hannah Town and Denham Town were quiet, almost sleepy, as life limped back to normal.

Police vehicles with wary crime fighters on the ready patrolled the areas.

An armoured truck was parked on Rose Lane near the rear of the Kingston Public Hospital.

A few people walked the streets, while others sat at their favourite corner, a common pastime in both communities in normal times.

Fear evident

But the fear was noticeable in Hannah Town.

Some residents sought to re-enact the violent scene, where members of the security forces and gunmen clashed in the vicinity of Blount and Hannah streets.

"We have long separated that area; the border is on the hill," declared one woman. "The men were on the other side the police and soldiers had to come into Hannah Town to get to the border where the men were," she added.

The woman pointed to a mound near the City Mission Church, where the people of Hannah Town had separated themselves from the residents of Denham Town because of the frequency of violent clashes between the two volatile communities.

Supported by another woman, the young mother admitted that she was sorely afraid of what was happening.

She said Hannah Town residents were frequent victims, as the area was smaller than Denham Town.

"These communities are not normal," she lamented.

The men appeared more wary and withdrawn, but the women spoke more openly, if in hushed tones.

Another female resident agreed that the men involved in the stand-off were from Denham Town.

She said the men who were killed were coming from the birthday bash held to celebrate Christopher Coke's 41st birthday.

But women who claimed to know the men said that they were asleep after the party, when they were attacked by the police.

They offered no explanation how three policemen were shot in the neck, hand, back and foot.

The celebrations reportedly ended minutes before 11 and the men were killed less than two hours later.

Wary return to peace

Other residents told The Gleaner that peace had returned to the community, but stressed that the people were still wary.

The streets leading from Spanish Town Road, which were blocked in numerous sections on Monday, were all cleared, with people and traffic moving as if nothing had happened.

In the meantime, the police have released the identity of one of three men who were taken to the Kingston Hospital during the mayhem.

He is Marvin Sylvester Kelly, otherwise called 'Top Man'.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has acknowledged the death of another at the hands of the security forces, but has not commented on the third man who was taken to hospital in a white patrol car.

The police say Kelly is a known member of the Colombia gang that operates in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew.

Kelly was reportedly wanted for several murders, including that of a two-year-old boy on White Wing Walk during an arson attack on a house, and was featured atop the most wanted list for the St Andrew South Police Division.

Pa. Bus Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide

NUH UHHHHHHHH!!!! MOTHER GOES TOO FAR . . . WHY WOULD SHE ALLOW HER BABY DAUGHTER TO WATCH THAT??????

RATINGS GRABBER!!! TYRA MAKES ALL THE MODELS FROM HER SHOW AMERICAS NEXT TOP MODEL . .. POSE NEKKID!!! (WARNING - PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED)

Tiger Woods -- One Big Happy Family

Tiger Woods' family life is getting back to normal -- TMZ has learned the golfer has made it a whole week living under the same roof as his wife Elin Noredgren and their two kids.



Sources close to the family tell us Tiger's been staying with the family at their Isleworth estate for the past 8 nights -- and during that time, we're told Elin has been seen around town with a rejuvenated demeanor.

As for Tiger, he was practicing like a man possessed before the weather got bad -- but with the rain coming down for the past few days, he's been stuck indoors.

As we previously reported, Woods is expected to make his return to golf on March 22nd at the Tavistock Cup -- but word on the street is Elin is not expected to attend.

G-Whizz could do no wrong at The Gleaner's Champs 100 School Tour at Herbert Morrison Technical High School last Friday.

Dancehall sensation G-Whizz caused pandemonium at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay last Friday during The Gleaner's Champs 100 School Tour in preparation for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.

Previous performances by Raine Seville, Duane Stephenson and Ginjah provided an entertaining appetiser, but the voracious appetite of the Herbert Morrison students was satisfied when G-Whizz stepped onstage.

singalong

Decked in an orange and silver striped shirt, matching shoes and belt and denim, a stylist G-Whizz told the students that is was okay to Make Money as he engaged them in a singalong. As if that was not enough, he showcased his versatility when he did a rendition of Chris Brown's hit song, With You. In a bid to interact more with the crowd, he tried walking the corridors of the school but he did not get far as a group of zealous female students bombarded him with flashing cameras.

Dance group Shady Squad in their element at The Gleaner's Champs 100 School Tour.

His song, Forward Mi Ago, prepared his audience of screaming females for his hit ballad Life, which speaks ofpoverty and the need to elevate, despite adversities, while maintaining strong values. He shared the stage with one of his colleagues who goes by the name Brain Damage.

Under the musical influence of selector Cutty from Coppershot sound system, Champs 100 tour sponsors GraceKennedy, Victoria Mutual Building Society and LIME made sure that students and teachers left the celebrations smiling with gifts.

One of the highlights of the celebration came when a female and male teacher engaged in a dance-off competition to the popular hit song Jerk by US-based rappers New Boyz. Both teachers 'jerked' their way to winning prizes from telecommunications company LIME.

Earlier, the dance professionals, Shady Squad, displayed an entertaining array of moves.

This was the fifth stop on The Gleaner's Champs 100 School Tour. Previous stops included Calabar, Holmwood Technical, St Jago High and St Elizabeth Technical High School.

One female student concurred that the celebrations lived up to their expectations as "from Monday everyone was talking about how Friday is going to be so nice and fun. Today, all people who never normally come a school on Fridays were here. I loved it".

The 100th edition of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships takes place from March 24-27 at the National Stadium.

- Sheena Gayle

Raine Seville performing on The Gleaner's Champs 100 School Tour. - Contributed

WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY!!!! RAPPER LIL WAYNE AIN'T BEEN LOCKED UP A WEEK . . . AND ALREADY WE'RE HEARING RUMORS OF HIS GIRL SHANELLE AND ANOTHER RAPPER!!!

WTF????? LADY GAGA SUGGESTS THAT BEYONCE IS BISEXUAL!!!

I was very excited to be working with Beyoncé again. It just sort of works out because we both like women.

A man accused of gyrating on a policewoman until he had an erection, while they were both on a bus recently, is to be tried in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court in May.

The accused, Carlton Mattocks, pleaded not guilty to indecent assault, assaulting police and resisting arrest when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

The allegations are that on March 9, about 5:45 p.m., the complainant, who is a district constable, was seated in a bus. When the bus got to a location along Hope Road, the accused got on and stood beside the complainant. It is alleged that even when the bus stopped to take up more passengers, the accused refused to move from beside her.

The complainant, it is alleged, felt the man's erect penis on her hand and also felt him moving back and forth. She then identified herself as a police officer and told the accused that she would be arresting him. He reportedly tried to leave the bus when it stopped and when the complainant held on to his hand, he reportedly punched her on the hand.

She was however assisted by a police officer in plain clothes and they eventually managed to restrain the accused.