Americans said to have audio, video recordings of Gov't officials in community
Sunday, March 14, 2010
TIVOLI Gardens, the tough West Kingston base of Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, is under satellite surveillance by United States authorities who are determined to have Coke extradited to answer drug- and gun-running charges in New York, the Sunday Observer has learnt.
According to a security expert with knowledge of the operation, the US has powerful audio and video evidence of activities involving Coke, as well as several Government officials, including members of the legislature, inside the Tivoli Gardens community centre.
With the use of Satellite Internet Telemetry System (SIMS) similar to that used to record wildlife activities, the US has captured the make, colour and licence plates of vehicles entering and exiting Tivoli Gardens at specific periods, as well as conversations, the expert said.
The SIMS, the expert said, is very simple to operate.
"Satellite service is available anywhere in the world for the system to operate. The data is transmitted from the Satellite Telemetry System based on programmed time intervals and/or alarms. It is transferred through satellite and Internet to a dedicated web page, and you can monitor and collect that data as long as you have web access," the expert said.
"It is very simple. Set your co-ordinates, hook up your sensors, point the antenna to the sky, and turn on your equipment," added the expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Wire-tapping communication is an insignificant part of the evidence against Coke," said the expert in reference to Prime Minister Bruce Golding's claim that the evidence supporting the extradition request violated the Interception of Communications Act which makes strict provisions for the manner in which intercepted communications may be obtained and disclosed.
Also captured, the expert said, was a gathering of some Government officials, along with individuals from the Tivoli Gardens community making and smoking what appeared to be marijuana spliffs at the centre, on different occasions.
"The United States is making sure that its case against Coke is airtight, and until he is extradited every Jamaican entering the US will be targeted. The US will not relent on this one," said the expert who met with the Sunday Observer on Friday night.
Relations between Kingston and Washington have deteriorated over the extradition request, with the US State Department accusing the Jamaican Government of delaying tactics.
Two Mondays ago, in a scathing Narcotics Control Strategy Report, the Americans questioned Jamaica's commitment to law enforcement co-operation and charged that "Jamaica's processing of the extradition request has been subjected to unprecedented delays, unexplained disclosure of law enforcement information to the press, and unfounded allegations questioning the US' compliance with the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and Jamaican law".
The US also said that the Jamaican Government's handling of the extradition request marked a dramatic change in Kingston's previous co-operation on extradition, including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests.
The US also labelled Jamaica as the Caribbean's largest supplier of marijuana to the United States as well as a transshipment point for cocaine entering South America.
"The Government of Jamaica's ambitious anti-corruption and anti-crime legislative agendas announced in 2007 remain stalled in Parliament," said the report.
"Five anti-crime proposals under consideration as part of an extensive agenda to address the widespread crime challenges have yet to be debated by Parliament," added Washington, which noted that Jamaica is a party to the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention.
However, the following day, Golding rejected the US' charges and said that the evidence presented in the extradition request -- made in August last year -- breached Jamaican law.
"The Jamaican Government, rather than summarily refusing the request, discussed with the US authorities the breaches that had occurred which made it impossible for the minister (of justice), being aware of such breaches, to issue the authority to proceed," Golding said in an address to the Parliament.
"In an effort to overcome the impediment... the Jamaican Government indicated to the US authorities that if other evidence existed, the procurement and disclosure of which were not in violation of Jamaican law, the minister would be prepared to accept that evidence and issue the necessary authority to proceed. No such evidence has up to now been presented," he added.
On Friday, the security expert said that American border officials are turning up the heat on Jamaicans who have massive personal wealth but who have no supporting documentation to show how the wealth was gained.
A list viewed by the Sunday Observer includes some of Jamaica's well-known officials, as well as business people of both genders. They are described as having "massive personal wealth", which is said to have raised red flags at US borders.
The spotlight on these individuals has not come as a surprise to University of Miami Law Professor David Rowe, who remained consistent in his view that Coke is an albatross around the neck of the prime minister, the Jamaica Labour Party and the Government.
"There is no question that they are being targeted," Rowe said. "Where the individuals have amassed wealth in a short period of time and without any corresponding income to corroborate it is an automatic red flag to the US Justice Department."
Rowe as well as Sunday Observer sources in the US believe that embar****ing times are ahead for several Jamaican business officials at US borders, even if the Government hands over Coke.
Information reaching the Sunday Observer is that several Jamaicans who have amassed large personal wealth but who are unable to provide credible sources of income are currently in detention centres in the US.
Massive unexplained wealth is said to have been the reason behind an upstanding Jamaican businessman being detained in the US for several hours on a return trip to the island in early January.
It is also said to be the reason for the detention without bond -- at Krome Avenue Detention Centre in Florida -- of a Jamaican man of Chinese descent.
The man and another Jamaican/Chinese are said to have arrived in the US on March 2 on an Air Jamaica flight.
The man, whose Alien card number was supplied to the Sunday Observer, was said to have had his Green Card revoked. He did not respond to our request for an interview last Thursday.
Late last week, the influential Economist magazine reported that American authorities have become frustrated at what they see as foot-dragging by Jamaica's Government over the Coke extradition request.
The article, titled 'Seeking Mr Coke: American anger at Jamaica's slowness in handing over an alleged gang boss', said "if the United States' allegations of political links are well-founded, some Jamaican public figures may fear that Mr Coke's arrest would lead to the disclosure of embar****ing information".
DUBAI (AFP) -- A British couple accused of kissing in public in the Muslim emirate of Dubai will find out next month if an appeals court will uphold their one-month prison sentence, their lawyer said on yesterday.
The couple is accused of "committing a sexual act (by) kissing on the lips and touching", lawyer Khalaf al-Hosani told AFP. "A final verdict will be reached on April 4", by the Misdemeanours Appeals Court, he said.
The two, named by the British press as Ayman Najafi, 24 -- a British expat in Dubai, and British tourist Charlotte Lewis, 25 -- were arrested in November, after an Emirati woman accused them of kissing in a restaurant in the trendy Jumeirah Beach Residence neighbourhood.
They are also accused of consuming alcohol, a charge to which they pleaded guilty, but said they only kissed on the cheek.
They were convicted in January and sentenced to one month in prison. But they have been on bail since their arrest, with their passports held by the authorities, Hosani said.
The lawyer said he told court that the only witness, a 38-year-old Emirati woman, has presented different statements.
"She told the police that she saw them kissing, while she told the prosecution that her children saw them," he said, adding that the defence is arguing that the couple only kissed on the cheek "as a greeting" which is allowed.
British embassy spokesman, Simon Goldsmith, said the UK mission was "aware of the arrest of a British national on November 27", and that "consular assistance was provided at the time," but declined to provide further details.
Dubai is a popular destination for British tourists. Around 1.1 million British nationals visited the United Arab Emirates in 2009, but the city state still adheres to certain strict Islamic rules, and bans sex outside marriage.
More than 100,000 British nationals live in the UAE.
In recent months, the song I Feel Free has caught on like wild fire. Its in regular rotation on radio stations including ZIP 103 FM and its also a staple at parties and sessions.
I Feel Free was recorded by New York based producer/deejay Ricky Blaze. In an interview recently with this writer, Ricky who is of Jamaican parentage, said he was searching for a club banger with various elements, which resulted in the birth of I Feel Free.
"I was looking for a song that has feel good energy in the club and with a hip pop metal feel to it so I created the track first and then the hook. The rest became history," Ricky Blaze explained.
The track has been an underground staple within the New York tri-state area for months now, and Blaze is surprised that the song has caught on with Jamaican music lovers. "It's is doing well here in New York and I have been getting shows based on its growing popularity. I didn't have a clue it was popular in Jamaica, but when I got the news that it was, I felt grateful," he said.
Blaze, who recently signed to Atlantic Records, has been involved in music professionally for the past eleven years. "My whole family is from Jamaica ... I live in East Flatbush in New York, so I know everything about Jamaica. I am constantly surrounded by Caribbean people, and when I worked as a DJ in the dancehall night-clubs, that experience took me deeper into the culture," said Ricky
As a producer, Ricky Blaze is credited for producing the Elephant Man/Ding Dong hit, Badman Forward Badman Pull Up; Gyptian's Hold Yuh, the energy and Dutty Fridaze rhythm projects; and Everybody Dance, Cool Reminder, Love Dancing and Get Up, all of which were recorded by Merrital.
On the underground music scene stateside, some of his hits include Cut Dem Off, and For Life featuring Ding Dong, Wifey and Sky is the Limit featuring Young AK. He also collaborated with Major Lazer and Nina Sky on the track Keep it Goin' Louder which topped Billboard's Dance Music Club Play chart late last year.
Quizzed on what he's bringing to the table, Blaze said, "I'm bringing a fusion of genres, a different flavour, mixing of catchy hooks full of melodies and easy to remember styles."
He cites the late Michael Jackson, and producers Timbaland and Pharrell as his musical influences. "These people have done things in music that no one has done before, by taking risks and having the public expect that of them with each project that they put out," he explained.
His biggest challenge musically has been the fact that persons have been reluctant to follow the vision. "It has been challenging for me to try to get people to understand where I want to go with my music. A lot of people just want the same old radio stuff and are afraid to take risks," he said.
Ricky Blaze recently released the single Just You and I.
Shattered ... Becks lies in agony knowing his World Cup dream is over
The former England captain wept after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for AC Milan last night, and told a doctor: "It's broken, it's broken."
Becks, 34, had been dreaming of playing in a fourth successive World Cup finals.
He will fly to Finland today to undergo surgery.
Wife Victoria was last night set to jet out from Los Angeles to comfort the shattered ace, who had signed for Milan on loan from LA Galaxy in the hope of impressing England manager Fabio Capello.
He and assistant Franco Baldini both telephoned Becks to offer their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
But the star fears he may now not play in South Africa this summer - or ever again.
Beckham's spokesman said last night: "He's devastated by the injury. He's fearful of what it could mean for his World Cup hopes. We will see in the morning the full extent of the injury. Victoria is flying out to him immediately. She is naturally worried about him."
Becks was about to kick the ball unchallenged during the game against Chievo when he suddenly pulled up.
The midfielder, who had earlier suffered a cut to his face when he was kicked, frantically signalled to the Milan bench. A TV reporter said he told the club doctor: "It's broken, it's broken."
A Milan spokesman confirmed he had suffered a ruptured Achilles, adding: "It's so sad. He's very unlucky." Coach Leonardo said: "Beckham's injury makes us feel terrible."
Becks broke a metatarsal bone in his foot weeks before the 2002 World Cup, but recovered in time to play in the tournament in Japan. But experts warn it will probably be THREE MONTHS before he can even start training again
ON TRACK ... Ashley Cole
Reports at the weekend suggested the left-back would miss the World Cup due to a setback in his recovery from a broken ankle.
But the Blues claim Cole will be back in time to prove his fitness to Capello ahead of England's trip to South Africa.
A club spokesman said: "The club's medical staff are delighted with Ashley's operation and the treatment he's received so far.
"Contrary to reports, he's recovering extremely well from his injury and he's bang on schedule.
Almost 80 percent of National Football League players are flirting with bankruptcy two years after they retire, according to Sports Illustrated. NBA players arent faring much better. 60 percent of former National Basketball Association players end up broke within five years of retirement. Athletes squander millions of dollars due to bad decisions, lavish spending and poor financial planning. Here is a list of athletes that have lost their fortunes through some of the biggest financial blunders of all time.
Scottie Pippen
Known more for his on court defense than his off court business sense, former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen lost $120 million in career earnings due to poor financial planning and bad business ideas. Air Jordans sidekick blew $27 million on bad investments and spent $4.3 million on a Gulfstream II corporate jet.
Evander Holyfield
Four-time boxing champ Evander The Real Deal Holyfield reportedly made over $250 million in cash during his boxing career, but despite this he reportedly is flat broke. Holyfield lost all his money by making smart business decisions look really foolish. You thought buying a house was a smart move? It normally is, but not when you buy a house the size of Rhode Island. Holyfield bought a $20 million house with over 54,000 square feet and 109 rooms. The house has 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Imagine how much it must cost to cut the g**** on all 235 acres! You could buy a Range Rover with the electric bill payment alone.
Lenny Dykstra
Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies star Lenny Nails Dykstra was a success on the baseball diamond, but in the business field Dykstra has struck out. Dykstras failed businesses include car washes, a magazine company, real estate investing and a stock trading website. According to Dykstras July 2009 bankruptcy filing, he owed more than $30 million to creditors, including his $18.5 million purchase of Wayne Gretzkys home. The amazing part is that after two foreclosed homes and numerous failed businesses Dykstra is offering the investment advice that led him into bankruptcy for a mere $899 a year! In the investment world, it is often said that past history does not dictate future performance. Nevertheless, its pretty clear Dykstra isnt the guy to go to for advice.
Latrell Sprewell
Look up the word shortsighted in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Latrell Sprewell. He famously turned down a $21 million contract because he said it wasnt enough money to feed his family. Sprewell, who made over $96 million during his career, lost his $1.5 million dollar Italian yacht, named Milwaukees Best, in 2007. According to MSNBC, a U.S. marshal seized the yacht after Sprewell defaulted on his mortgage. His $5.4 million house went into foreclosure in May 2008. Dont blame Sprewell for turning down the three-year, $21 million contract though. I mean really, who could live off a measly $7 million a year?
John Daly
Two-time PGA major champ John Daly gambled away between $50 and $60 million in career earnings, according to his 2006 autobiography. Daly once lost $1.65 million in five hours playing the slot machines at a casino. If you think thats impressive, theres more. Daly blew $1.2 million in a mere two hours and 30 minutes at a casino in Las Vegas. He just had his $1.6 million house foreclosed on. Did Daly quit gambling after blowing so much cash at the casino tables? Not by a long shot. Instead, he decided to downgrade from the $5,000 slot machines to the $100 and $500 machines. It looks in John Dalys world, that is considered sound financial planning.
Jack Clark
Former professional baseball slugger Jack Clark was driven into bankruptcy in 1992 by his appetite for luxury cars. According to his bankruptcy filing, he owned 18 luxury automobiles, including a $700,000 Ferrari and a Rolls Royce. Clark was trying to pay 17 car notes simultaneously, and whenever he got bored with a car he would get rid of it and just buy another one. He ended up losing million-dollar homes and his drag-racing business because of his extravagant spending habits, but despite one of the most publicized bankruptcies in baseball, Clark reportedly got back on his feet in the late 90s.
Mike Tyson
The king of them all is boxer Mike Tyson, who squandered a $350 million to $400 million dollar fortune. So what did Iron Mike spend his fortune on? Everything. He dropped half a million dollars on a 420-horsepower Bentley Continental SC with lambs wool rugs, a phone and a removable glass roof. It is one of only 73 Bentley Continental SCs ever built. The sad part is thats not even the only Bentley that Tyson owned! He spent over $4.5 million dollars on cars alone. Throw in a $2 million dollar bathtub and $140,000 for two Bengal tigers and you can see why Tysons fortune is down for the count. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003.
after all they are the law and I am a law-abiding Jamaican," states Vybz Kartel.
This is statement is regarding the police in Jamaica who recently reported that Vybz Kartel's studio in Havendale, St. Andrew is operating without a permit and is a public disturbance so they are on the verge to shutting the studio down, COMPLETELY.
According to a representative from the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation, "It is a residential area and noise and obstruction is something which has caught our attention."
But Kartel's rebuttal is, "The studio is situated way in the back of the property, two metal gates and 25 metres away from the road, and its a sound proof room as all studios are."
But like he says, he is a LAW ABIDING JAMAICAN so the police is welcome to do what it is that they have to do.
Despite the growing shortage of family doctors in the United States, medical centers last year offered higher salaries and incentives to specialist nurses than to primary care doctors, according to an annual survey of physicians' salaries.
Primary care doctors were offered an average base salary of $173,000 in 2009 compared to an average base salary of $189,000 offered to certified nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs, according to the latest numbers from Merritt Hawkins & Associates, a physician recruiting and consulting firm.
And the firm's projections for 2010 indicate that the average base salary for family physicians will be about $178,000 compared to $186,000 for CRNAs.
CRNAs are advanced practice nurses who administer anesthesia to patients. An important distinction between CRNAs and anesthesiologist is that when anesthesia is administered by a nurse anesthetist, it is still recognized as the practice of nursing rather than a practice of medicine
"It's the fourth year in a row that CRNAs were recruited at a higher pay than a family doctor," said Kurt Mosley, staffing expert with Merritt Hawkins & Associates.
CRNA salaries have trended higher as the number of surgical procedures picked up pace over the past few years, fueling demand for anesthesiologists and anesthetists.
Mosley said medical doctors and specialists, including anesthesiologists, typically have four to five years more of medical training than CRNAs. After spending a lot of time speaking with physicians around the country, he said many family doctors are starting to feel like "second-class citizens."
This type of income disparity "won't make them feel better," he said. Most primary care doctors say they're already struggling to make ends meet as their costs rise faster than what Medicare and private insurers are paying them .
Looking at these compensation trends, the biggest concern for the nation's health care system is how to encourage more medical students to pick primary care as their specialty at a time when the nation is already facing a shortage of about 60,000 primary care doctors.
"The demand for primary care doctors will increase twofold when health reform happens and millions of more Americans have access to health care," said Mosley. "Who is going to triage these patients? It's not the neurologist or pulmonologist. It has to be the primary care doctor."
The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) maintains that CRNAs are being fairly compensated.
"From our perspective, we are fairly compensated for the level of responsibility that we shoulder," said Lisa Thiemann, senior director of professional services with the AANA.
"We are at the head of the patient's bed. We deliver anesthesia and we keep the patient safe," said Thiemann, who has been a CRNA for 14 years.
"Once nurses and physicians arrive at anesthesia training, we use the same textbooks and same cases. The training is not too different between the two groups," she said. "We all deliver anesthesia the same way."
In its annual report on Human Rights practices in countries around the world, Jamaica came in for particularly harsh review. The report said while the government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, there were serious problems in some areas. It listed unlawful killings by the security forces, abuse of detainees and prisoners by police and prison guards, poor prison and jail conditions as well as impunity for police who committed crimes. The US State Department also highlighted the overburdened judicial system and frequent lengthy delays in trials, violence and discrimination against women, trafficking in persons, and violence against individuals based on their suspected or known sexual orientation. According to the State Department, there were more than 200 shooting cases involving the police last year resulting in 241 fatalities. It said sources indicated that many police killings were unreported, with police meting out the justice they see as unavailable through the judicial system. |
My father died, in the city of his birth, New York, at 3:50 EST this afternoon.
Though the financial constraints of his youth made college infeasible, he accomplished the near-impossible, becoming an architect licensed in 40 states. Much of his work was commercial, for a series of shoe store chains and department stores. There was a time in the 1970s when nearly all of the Baskin-Robbins outlets in the country had been built to his design, and under his direction. Through much of my youth and my early adult life, it was almost impossible to be anywhere in this country and not be a short drive to one of his stores.
My Dad was predeceased last year by my mother, Marie, his wife of nearly 60 years. He died peacefully after a long fight against the complications that ensued after successful colon surgery last September at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. My sister Jenna and I were at his side, and I was reading him his favorite James Thurber short stories, as he left us.
Interviewer: Is your life easier since you are multimillionaire?
Beyonce: The fear of the student, have no future, being dependent on her boyfriend, objectively weigh heavier than the fears that torment me. Only music from subjective feeling arises - and subjective fears, many musicians have lost. We feel pain and depression, just like other people. What separates us, is perhaps the price of butter. But all that is essential, I feel like every hard working woman.
Interviewer: For example?
Beyonce: For example, I believe that in my relationship with Jay-Z as in any genuine relationship not everything is easy. I want children not now, later. Hes entirely not aware of that fact yet. I want to sit around at home, also times in a tracksuit pants. He assumes and believes that women even wear high heels just to go to the bathroom.
Interviewer: Apparently Jay-Z has to pay you ,in the case of a separation after two years of marriage, ten million dollars, for each additional year of marriage is added an additional one million.
Beyonce: Anyone who thinks so because of what? I do not deny that there is a marriage contract. I would encourage any woman getting married to put on such a treaty, it will gain more influence on self-esteem. For details, I don't express myself . I am not here on trial.
Despite strong indications from the England chief that he has done enough, the AC Milan midfielder admits he could miss out.
Beckham was an unused substitute during the recent 3-1 victory over Egypt and is now on the fringes of the national team.
The former Manchester United ace said: "I'm not guaranteed to go to South Africa at all. I have to work hard and then, hopefully, win my place. There are a good few months left in the season and plenty of games to play but, hopefully, I can carry on playing well and can get in the squad."
Theo Walcott started England's friendly at Wembley earlier in the month and was eventually replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
England's right- sided players will also face competition from Tottenham wide-man Aaron Lennon if he recovers from injury.
Beckham had been led to believe his move to Milan for a second loan spell would be enough to secure inclusion for this summer finals.
Capello believes his influence off the field and the way he sets an example to the rest of the squad is as important as his contribution on the field.
Beckham won his 115th cap in the World Cup qualifier against Belarus in October and has not played for his country since.
He missed England's showpiece friendly with Brazil in November and did not get on the field against the African champions.
But he has been to three World Cups and set his sights on a fourth tournament when he moved to the San Siro on loan in January.
His second-half performance for Milan at Old Trafford last Wednesday - when he donned a green and gold scarf after the final whistle - impressed Capello.
Yet Beckham still fears he is on the danger list.
She is planning a second wedding to Reid, 34, because of doubts over whether her Las Vegas nuptials were legal.
We revealed last week that Rev Mose Henney, 67, who conducted the service on February 2, didn't have a proper licence after he had to resign following a sex scandal.
This week his licence to perform marriages was revoked.
But shrewd Jordan, 31, isn't fazed. Speaking in Los Angeles, she admitted: "I'm fine about it.
"It gives me the opportunity to have another wedding in the UK. This time we're going to do it properly. It will be huge."
According to pals, Jordan - real name Katie Price - hopes to make Ł1million by selling it to a magazine.
One said: "She was already going to flog her summer blessing to the highest bidder but now it's the real deal she's demanding lots MORE cash."
Because nearly half the country's females, an astonishing 44 per cent, make love 20 TIMES A MONTH, a new survey has revealed.
But (yes, you've guessed it fellas) they're still not content.
Because 60 per cent of them admit faking orgasms. Yes, yes, yes really!
Meanwhile, 36 per cent of Britain's women are really missing out on the action - they have sex less than five times a month.
But nearly three-quarters of those quizzed really get a buzz - they use vibrators to spice up their love lives.
And naughty, naughty... 20 per cent enjoy sex so much they admit to bed-hopping with other lovers, the sex survey for ITV1's This Morning found.
Yet more than half of the 3,000 polled said their partners had cheated on them - and 60 per cent said they would end the relationship if their fella strayed even the once. This Morning's editor Adam Vandermark said: "The results are a fascinating insight into the sex lives of our viewers. The vast majority desire sex, and a high number have faked an orgasm or used sex toys to spice up their relationship."
News of the World sex guru Tracey Cox, who will take part in the show's sex week from tomorrow, added: "It's a myth that the male sex drive is higher than women's - 20 times a month is healthily high but not unexpected.
"The more sex you have, the more sex you want."
Vybz Kartel says he is willing to close the studio in Havendale, St Andrew, which the police claim is operating without a permit and is a public disturbance.
The deejay, who operates the studio at Kirk Avenue, told THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday that he is a law-abiding citizen and is willing to comply with the law.
He said: "the police are here to serve but more importantly to protect the public, so if they see that it is in the better welfare of the community then close down shop by all means, after all they are the law and I am a law-abiding Jamaican."
Yesterday Superintendent Newton Amos, head of operations for the Area 5 police, said they are seeking to have the studio shut down. He said police have written to the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) requesting its closure.
He said representatives of the KSAC had since reported that a permit was not granted for the studio. "It is a residential area and noise and obstruction is something which has caught our attention," he said.
Kartel does not believe the studio is a disturbance to the Havendale community. "The studio is situated way in the back of the property, two metal gates and 25 metres away from the road, and its a sound proof room as all studios are."
Earlier this week Kartel and former protégé Blak Ryno met with police to discuss peace between the two. The police said there is major concern about the number of incidents said to be reprisal attacks which have occurred in the St Andrew North, St Andrew Central and St Catherine South divisions.
Superintendent Amos said police theorised the incidents, which include the rumoured firebombing of Blak Ryno's Winchester Court apartment, were acts of reprisal, occurring amidst an alleged dispute between the two artistes.
Johnny Wonder- Contributed
The world of dancehall is made up of countless stars but few wonders. While most like to be in the spotlight, for entrepreneur and music lover Johnny Wonder, working behind the scenes and making things happen is what he does best.
Johnny Wonder is a name known to everybody in dancehall circles, yet few outside are familiar with the name. The Sunday Gleaner recently spoke to the humble Wonder about his work for the last 25 years - bringing Jamaican music to the world. Growing up as a teenager in New York immersed in the popular culture of hip hop, Wonder never grew up imagining he would have been a frequent visitor to the Caribbean and a lover of Jamaican music.
At the age of 15, Wonder made his first contact with local music while hanging around Washington Square Park listening to the likes of Black Uhuru, Sly and Robbie, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and others. The reggae fever soon caught the youngster who, in the '80s, opened two reggae retail stores in Manhattan and playing out on his own sound system, Street Life International, at popular reggae joints. Wonder soon linked with legendary producer, King Jammy's, who was then making a name for himself in the business.
hooked on ja
In the mid-'80s, Wonder made his first trip to Jamaica and was hooked. Working with the likes of Risto Benji, Junior Cat, Pan Head, Bounty Killer, Wonder, alongside King Jammy's and VP Records, started distributing reggae/dancehall music to the world. Wonder found himself in the late'90s working with TVT Records, an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. In the midst of distributing music, Wonder found time to manage the early careers of Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and the Scare Dem Crew.
After a brief break from reggae in the late '90s, Wonder couldn't stay away for long.
"I came back into reggae in like 2002 and I would send out emails with records I liked," Johnny Wonder told The Sunday Gleaner. "I went back to work for VP Records and that didn't work out so what I do now is do an email blast and distribute music, working with artistes, taking them around and promoting them. I work with everybody. We push reggae music and artistes and go into the streets with dem when they are nobody, push them to mek dem become stars. Been doing that since Jammy's days."
Wonder's email blasts, which are done under his company, 21st Promotions, send local music to the globe. From local to international disc jocks, everyone seems to get their music from Johnny Wonder first. Wonder's email list has 2,600 contacts from Hawaii to Europe, the United States, Australia - anywhere there is a love for Jamaican music.
"Now the email blasts it's ridiculous, it's big. Even right now I got eight or nine things in my email I gotta download. Now I dunno what I did but everybody wants me to send out their things," he said.
While it's been years of hard work in the streets doing promotions, Wonder said he has no plans of leaving the business.
"Reggae is just something I have a passion for," he said. "Reggae and dancehall is a challenge. I like to see people come from nothing to something. I do it for the love of music and trying to help it out."
Outside of his email blasts and promotions, Wonder has also done DVDs chronicling and highlighting young talent. The first DVD, Dancehall Draft Picks Volume One, showcased then young stars Busy Signal, Aidonia, Mavado and others, which was released for VP Records. According to Wonder, the DVD did well and he is now editing volume two, which was produced by Hapilos Entertainment and will be released independently.
For the future, Wonder has big dreams for Jamaican music.
"I'm working on everybody's projects. I want to release records and compilations and albums and working on digital distribution like what we used to do," he said. "I know there is a market for it so I wanna fill that void."
One of Wonder's latest accomplishments is having been added to the Reggae Grammy Committee from where he plans to continue making a difference in reggae music.
FURNITURE retailer Courts Jamaica Limited has filed an appeal against the multi-million- dollar award to a 26-year-old man it had previously agreed to supply with what amounts to a lifetime supply of Viagra, following an accident that left him impotent.
Courts is finding it hard to swallow the Supreme Court's decision to award Kenroy Biggs $18 million for pain and suffering and wants the Court of Appeal to shrink the sum by $8 million.
Overall, the furniture retailer is to shell out to Kenroy Biggs $45.85 million in damages -- which includes the contested $18 million -- plus legal costs.
The company had agreed to foot the Viagra cost for Biggs to the tune of $1.53 million, a figure that had been affirmed by Justice Bryan Sykes in a ruling late January.
Biggs, from a rural St Andrew community, suffers from permanent erectile dysfunction and his whole person has been impaired by "55 per cent" as a result of a Courts truck crashing into him seven years ago. Biggs also lost part of his left leg by way of amputation.
Biggs was hit by the truck and pinned to a wall while walking in his community on the night of March 23, 2003. He was 19 years old at the time.
Following the accident, Biggs underwent several years of medical procedures, which included urethra surgeries in the United States, along with persistent back and other pains.
Biggs later filed suit against Courts to recover damages. The company subsequently agreed to some of the damages sought by Biggs, including his Viagra expenses.
A medical report said that Biggs suffered from depression as a result of the trauma of the accident. Biggs' constant worry that he may not be able to engage in sexual relations or father a child also contributed to his depression, according to the report.
According to the medical report, Biggs is functioning at "65 per cent of his full overall psychological capacity".
Justice Sykes, in making the award in January, lamented Biggs' plight, while noting that the sum of $18 million was appropriate compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenities.
Added Sykes: "Mr Biggs has permanent urological damage. There is the permanent problem of stricture of his urethra, which can only be relieved by the painful insertion of catheters. Mr Biggs has permanent erectile dysfunction. He has lost a leg."
But Courts feels that the award should not be allowed to stand. Courts, in papers filed with the Appellate Court, said that Justice Sykes had erred in his ruling.
"The award for pain and suffering is inordinately high and inconsistent with awards made in comparable authorities," according to Courts.
Lisa Hyper (left), Black Ryno (in background) and Vybz Kartel onstage at the Hype TV Awards ceremony for the music industry, held at Seymour Avenue on February 26, 2009. - file
After weeks of disruptive behaviour, deejays Vybz Kartel and Blak Ryno met with local authorities to discuss their rumoured tension.
Sources from the St Andrew North police told THE STAR that the artistes visited the Constant Spring Police Station on Tuesday where they spoke about issues which were of major concern. Among these was the rumoured tension between the two that are believed to to have spiralled into violent incidents.
When contacted, Kartel made it clear that there was no 'war' going on between himself and his former protégé, Blak Ryno. When asked about what was discussed in the meeting he said, "Nothing of any significance or importance to the country's welfare or well being. We didn't discuss corruption, etc."
Deputy Superintendent Altermoth 'Parro' Campbell, Crime Chief for the division told THE STAR that the men were urged to conform with law and order and keep the peace. DSP Campbell said they both agreed to comply.
discussed issues
The Crime Chief elaborated, "We met with them and discussed issues which were causing problems in some divisions. There are some incidents which are said to be caused by the situation between them. Incidents of reprisals and so on. They say they are willing to cooperate with the police."
This meeting comes in light of a series of incidences that have taken place since deejay Blak Ryno's announcement that he was leaving the Vybz Kartel-led Portmore Empire two weeks ago. Ryno had been a member of the Empire since January of 2007 where he was officially signed to Kartel's Adidjaheim Records. Ryno was the latest in a crew of persons to have left the Empire including Gaza Kim, known now as Kym and Lisa Hyper.
On Thursday of last week, deejay Popcaan, Kartel's new protégé in the Portmore Empire, was one of several men reportedly detained during a police operation at a studio in Havendale, St Andrew.
firebombed
The detention of Popcaan and Vybz Kartel's visit to the station come a day after Blak Ryno's Winchester Court Apartment in St Andrew was destroyed by fire. The cause of that fire is still not known but it is rumoured that the apartment was firebombed.
When contacted last week, Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, Head of the St Andrew Central police said "We would not have received word on the cause of the fire yet ... . The fire people would still be doing their investigations."
TOP DROGS ... John Terry hails goal hero Didier as Chelsea go back to the summit
Drogba put the Hammers to the sword with two goals as the Blues ran riot.
Alex and Florent Malouda also got in on the act and their goals were enough to send Chelsea to the summit.
Defender Alex had got the show on the road by converting Malouda's cross.
Scott Parker gave Chelsea a fright with a breathtaking volley but Drogba cancelled it out.
Malouda then grabbed one himself before Drogba's late goal wrapped it up.
Chelsea bossed the early exchanges and Drogba came close with a thunderbolt 20-yard volley.
In the 10th minute Drogba wriggled clear of the Hammers back-line only to shoot into the side netting.
Ilan then wasted a golden chance to snatch the lead.
The Brazilian was just eight yards out when he met Mido's cross but was left red-faced when he blazed over.
And Chelsea cashed in on his howler just two minutes later.
West Ham failed to clear Malouda's first cross and gave the winger a second crack of the whip.
Malouda's repeat attempt was spot on and Alex was on hand to convert.
In the 27th minute Chelsea blazed through the Hammers only for Drogba to miss Frank Lampard's cross.
But two minutes later Parker sent down his lightening bolt to stun Chelsea.
The former Stamford Bridge man chested down and fired over Ross Turnbull from 25 yards.
At the other end, Robert Green was at full stretch to keep out a long drive from Lampard.
And Green was lucky to have the ball in his arms just before the break when Paulo Ferreira nodded straight at the stopper.
Chelsea almost grabbed back the lead when Malouda's cross just eluded Michael Ballack.
But they only had to wait two more minutes to get their noses in front.
John Terry marauded down the pitch and allowed Drogba to lay the ball wide to Malouda.
The France star sent in another pin-point cross for pal Drogba to nod home.
Malouda made it 3-1 to Chelsea in the 76th minute with a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting reward for the ace who had set up both Chelsea's earlier goals.
Drogba completed the scoring in the 89th minute with his 27th goal of the season finishing off from close range after Green had palmed a Lampard shot into his path.
Chelsea: Turnbull, Ivanovic (Zhirkov 80), Alex, Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka (Joe Cole 66), Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 87).
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Deco, Sturridge, Bruma.
Goals: Alex 16, Drogba 56, Malouda 77, Drogba 90.
West Ham: Green, Spector, Upson, Gabbidon, Daprela, Ilan (Diamanti 83), Parker, Kovac, Behrami, Dyer (Stanislas 68), Mido (Cole 67).
Subs Not Used: Stech, McCarthy, Tomkins, Collison.
Booked: Mido.
Goals: Parker 30.
Att: 41,755
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
WASHINGTON President Barack Obama plans to donate the $1.4 million from his Nobel Peace Prize
to helping students, veterans' families and survivors of Haiti's
earthquake, among others, drawing attention to organizations he said
"do extraordinary work."
Obama is giving a
total of $750,000 to six groups that help kids go to college. Fisher
House, which provides housing for families with loved ones at Veterans
Administration hospitals, will receive $250,000, the White House said
Thursday. And the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, for which two former
presidents are raising money to rebuild earthquake-ravaged Haiti, will receive $200,000.
"These
organizations do extraordinary work in the United States and abroad
helping students, veterans and countless others in need," Obama said in
a statement. "I'm proud to support their work."
Obama was chosen for the Nobel award more for his aspirations and approach than his accomplishments thus far. The Nobel committee
honored him for changing the tenor of international politics and for
pursuing goals Obama says will require worldwide effort, such as nuclear disarmament and reversing global warming.
Obama himself was surprised by the award, and aides said at the time he would donate the cash prize to charity.
The Fisher House donation would help pay for three new homes at Bethesda Naval Hospital and Dover Air Force Base, where the bodies of Americans killed overseas are flown.
"It's
work that needs to be done for these men and women who have served this
nation so gallantly," Fisher House Foundation Chairman and CEO Kenneth Fisher
said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's a privilege to
serve these men and women and these families because they give so much
to this nation."
The funds for Haiti would go to the rebuilding effort led by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
A Jan. 12 earthquake wrecked Haiti and killed an estimated 200,000
people, and the U.S. is playing an active role in rebuilding the
country.
In addition, Obama plans to give
$125,000 apiece to groups that help students go to college: College
Summit, a national nonprofit that works with elementary and middle school students to boost college enrollment rates; the Posse Foundation, which gives full college scholarships to public school students who might be overlooked by traditional scholarship programs; United Negro College Fund; the Hispanic Scholarship Fund; the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation; and the American Indian College Fund.
And Obama is donating $100,000 to AfriCare, which funds HIV/AIDS programs, public health programs, water resource development and agriculture in 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. He will give $100,000 to the Central Asia Institute, which promotes education for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Obama accepted his peace prize just days after announcing he was ramping up U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan.
ON TARGET ... Jermain Defoe nips in to score Tottenham's opener
Hopes of a Blackburn comeback were dashed when Pavlyuchenko scored his eighth in his last six games and even Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who has been at loggerheads with the unsettled Russian at times during the season, was up celebrating.
Despite their woeful record on the road, Rovers showed early attacking intent, largely due to David Dunn returning from a calf injury and making his first start since January.
His 50-yard box-to-box run required Spurs midfielder Wilson Palacios to track back into his own penalty area, then he could have earned a penalty for the visitors.
Dunn carried the ball into the area and Palacios won the ball fairly but Vedran Corluka cut across the midfielder at the same time, although World Cup referee Howard Webb decided to wave play on.
Spurs' first chances came to Pavlyuchenko, preferred to Peter Crouch as Defoe returned from a tight hamstring.
Pavlyuchenko's first effort was stabbed into the ground and over after Benoit Assou-Ekotto burst into the area, then Gareth Bale crossed and he fired wide.
It meant Paul Robinson, granted a warm welcome from his former club, was not forced into a save before he was taken off with an injury to his left leg.
Jason Brown came off the bench to deputise and was nearly beaten shortly afterwards when Bale, who had the beating of Michel Salgado for pace, dashed around the Spanish veteran but fired wide.
Brown saved at full stretch before the break when Assou-Ekotto's early cross from the left angled towards the bottom corner, then he parried a Defoe effort after Luka Modric sent him through.
But Defoe was on target in stoppage-time of the first half. Niko Kranjcar's corner was flicked on by Corluka, who climbed above Martin Olsson, and Defoe was at the far post to tap home for his 23rd of the season.
Nikola Kalinic mis-controlled when he had sight of goal just after the break - and Spurs then punished Rovers in the 55th minute with the second goal.
Spurs were defending a corner when the move started, with Modric carrying the ball forward and finding Defoe. Defoe resisted the temptation to shoot and laid on Pavlyuchenko, whose finish went under the substitute keeper.
Modric could have added another when Sebastien Bassong carried the ball out of defence and found his team-mate - but the Croatia playmaker dragged his finish wide.
Bale felt he should have had a penalty when Salgado challenged but Webb pointed for a goalkick and did not book the Wales international.
Webb turned down another appeal when Bale went over a challenge by Morten Gamst Pedersen, with Samba then setting up a nervous finish when he headed home from Pedersen's cross.
Pavlyuchenko, however, killed off the game five minutes before the end when he clipped home Bale's cross. He was denied a hat-trick when Samba cleared off the line, then Kalinic had an fine effort chalked off for handball.
History Of Unemployment
Since it started keeping track of unemployment numbers in 1948 the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported only two other years, 1982 and 1983, where the unemployment rate exceeded 9% as the national average. The BLS did not start included African-Americans in the unemployment rate until 1972. Even from the very beginning African-Americans reported a higher than average unemployment rate peaking at 19.5% in 1983 and dropping as low as 7.6% in 2000.
According to a 2003 employment population study only 51.8% of African-American men in New York had jobs compared to 75..7% of white males. Unfortunately, in times of financial hardship the government does not have a good track record of supporting legislation that would boost the employment rate of African-Americans.
Since the historical election of President Obama many African-American community leaders have criticized his lack of attention to the Black community. Specifically, the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also know as the Stimulus Package, which cited no details of filtering some of the funds to African-American communities suffering unemployment rates twice the national average.
The disbursement has been left to state and city leaders who have fought over where to spend the money. Since most of the money has been filtered into infrastructure projects to create jobs and the majority of unions consist of mostly whites, the money is not getting to the African-American communities where it is needed most. With the reduction in social services in many urban co0mmunities where African-American populations are, the outlook is not good for many in these communities. To add insult to injury, most states are facing an educational funding crisis and are forced to reduce staff and close schools mostly in the urban areas.
PHOENIX - Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter insists he meant no harm toward Latino players when he referred to them as "impostors" while discussing the number of African-Americans in the major leagues.
Hunter's original comments were made two weeks ago in one of a series of USA Today roundtables about baseball and published in Wednesday's editions.
"What troubles me most was the word "impostors" appearing in reference to Latin American players not being black players. It was the wrong word choice, and it definitely doesn't accurately reflect how I feel and who I am," Hunter posted on his Angels-sponsored blog Wednesday afternoon.
"What I meant was they're not black players; they're Latin American players. There is a difference culturally. But on the field, we're all brothers, no matter where we come from, and that's something I've always taken pride in: treating everybody the same, whether he's a superstar or a young kid breaking into the game. Where he was born and raised makes no difference."
Hunter has long been known as one of baseball's sincere, good guys.
In the blog post, he added: "I am hurt by how the comments attributed to me went off the track and misrepresented how I feel. My whole identity has been about bringing people together, from my neighborhood to the clubhouse. The point I was trying to make was that there is a difference between black players coming from American neighborhoods and players from Latin America. In the clubhouse, there is no difference at all. We're all the same.
"We all come from different places and backgrounds. Coming from Pine Bluff, Ark., my hometown, is no different than being a kid from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. We all share the common bond of a love of baseball, and it pulls us together on the field and in the clubhouse," he wrote.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the article's author, said he spoke by phone with Hunter for 30 minutes Wednesday after Hunter's blog update was posted.
"He said: 'I'm not going to apologize. I told the truth. I'm sorry if I used the wrong choice of words, but impostor is not a racist word,'" Nightengale said. "He's more upset by the reaction to the story."
In the report, Hunter was quoted as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors. Even people I know come up and say: 'Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?' I say, 'Come on, he's Dominican. He's not black.' ...
"As African-American players, we have a theory that baseball can go get an imitator and pass them off as us. It's like they had to get some kind of dark faces, so they go to the Dominican or Venezuela because you can get them cheaper. It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' ... I'm telling you, it's sad," he said.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a Venezuelan, scoffed at Hunter's remarks before Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics. Angels spokesman Eric Kay said Hunter will not further discuss the subject.
"I was laughing because when he said, 'They go there and sign for potato chips,' I said, 'Well, we've got Chapman. They gave him $12 million. (Cincinnati actually agreed to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with pitcher Aroldis Chapman.) We've got (prospect Dayan) Viciedo. They gave him $10 million. I remember in my time, one scout goes (to Venezuela and) 30 players show up. Now, 30 scouts go there and one player shows up. In our country, we play baseball. That's no choice. Here you can play basketball, you can be another athlete, you can do so many things when you have the opportunity. And that's why there's not many (African-American) players out there."
There has been some concern about the number of African-American baseball players. Many blacks are choosing to play other sports instead.
Black players accounted for 10.2 percent of major leaguers in 2008, the most since the 1995 season, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports.
"I keep saying a lot of times, in 10 more years American people are going to need a visa to play this game because we're going to take over. We're going to," Guillen said.