10 drink windshield wiper fluid at Ark. day care

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Ten children drank windshield wiper fluid after a staffer at an Arkansas day care mistakenly put the liquid in a refrigerator and served it, hospital officials said Friday.

Doctors estimate the children, ages 2 to 7, drank about an ounce of the blue fluid late Thursday afternoon before realizing it tasted wrong, said Laura James, a pediatric pharmacologist and toxicologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

Only one child remained hospitalized Friday morning, after *lo** samples showed "measurable levels" of methanol, a highly toxic alcohol that can induce comas and cause blindness, officials said. The day care also provided the fluid for testing.

"All we know was that the individual at the day care had recently shopped and had come back to the day care with a lot of different products," James told The Associated Press. "This product was mistakenly grabbed and thought to be Kool-Aid and put in the refrigerator."

Julie Munsell, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services, identified the day care operator as Carolyn Bynum in Scott, about 15 miles east of Little Rock. Bynum declined to comment Friday.

Bynum had a state license to care for 10 children in her home and had no found complaints or serious compliance issues in the past, Munsell said. Child welfare investigators planned to interview Bynum on Friday.

"They'll go out, they'll get an explanation and they'll try to sort (it) out preliminarily," Munsell said.

Munsell said a suspension or license revokation could be imposed pending an investigation.

The toxicologist warned that many antifreeze or windshield wiper solutions have bright colors, which can be mistaken for fruit drinks.

"I think the take-home message is not to have these products in the kitchen or where you're doing any kind of food preparation," she said.

AP  A daycare center for children near Scott, Ark., is shown Friday, March 13, 2009. Arkansas Children's 



-- Edited by alligcold on Friday 13th of March 2009 05:32:20 PM

Lloyd B Smith

The Broadcasting Commission's decision to ban Vybz Kartel and Spice's Rampin Shop and other "daggerin" explicit lyrics from the regular airwaves is a typical case of attempting to catch the horse after it has bolted through the gate. While all well-thinking citizens will commend that regulatory body for finally mustering up enough testosterone to call a spade a spade and tell it like it is, it is somewhat belated and speaks to a national malaise which sees for the most part the country's decision-makers being reactive rather than proactive.

It is perhaps more than ironic that such a decision should be arrived at during what is being observed as Reggae Month as well as at a time when we have celebrated the birthdays of two of our most prolific musical exponents, Bob Marley and Dennis Brown, who reached international stardom without having to go below the waist in their lyrical offerings. And there's the rub, because what this suggests is that those who are in a position to influence meaningful change in our music have preferred to pander to the lowest common multiple.

The media, both electronic and print, are also to be blamed for the proliferation and widespread acceptance of these lyrics which demean women, cheapen the sexual encounter, advocate violence against gays, glorify the use of guns and "badmanism". In a bid to remain popular and to get good ratings as well as improve their profit margins, several media houses have opted to sensationalise and give full exposure to those artistes who revel in delivering these types of lyrics to their usually eager audiences. Indeed, it is fair to say that what would be seen and treated as underground music in other countries is perceived here as the norm, to the extent that even the youngest among us know the lyrics word for word as well as all the sexually explicit and suggestive dance moves that accompany them.

Against this background, if the Broadcasting Commission's latest decision and others to follow are not to be seen as merely oppressive, punitive or "fighting against poor people music" (whatever that means), then a more holistic approach is necessary. In this vein, I concur with the views of Gerald "Ras Kassa" Hynes, said to be one of Jamaica's leading music video directors, who in a newspaper interview expressed the view that the Broadcasting Commission's clampdown on explicit content should target the airing of other risqué productions such as carnival parades, not only dancehall.

For many Jamaicans, there is a great deal of hypocrisy surrounding the issue of slackness as this relates to carnival (soca) and dancehall. The perception is that it is an uptown versus downtown thing. In other words, uptowners can gyrate lewdly in half-naked costumes during carnival and get away with it, but when a similar scenario unfolds downtown then it is downright slackness and should not be tolerated. Well, what is good for the goose must be good for the gander.

The problem with our popular music in Jamaica is that what has come to the surface is not the best that our musicians, composers and performers truly have to offer. One can only surmise that it is the producers, promoters, editors and programme mangers who have skewed the musical genre into a particular direction in order to appeal to the masses.
But do people always know what is best for them? When should a government intervene and determine what is good or bad? Must morality be subject to the laws of the land? Where does the buck stop? I for one do not believe that we should legislate morality.

Realistically, there is no way that the authorities can rid the society totally of explicit lyrics. In any event, every Jamaican is guaranteed freedom of expression. But with freedom must come responsibility and this is where education and the law come in, because if the purveyors of these dirty lyrics are not prepared to restrict or prohibit their lewd and lascivious carryings-on in public spaces, then they must face the full brunt of the law and what civil society deems as acceptable and lawful.

Corporate Jamaica in some instances has in a somewhat weak-kneed response sought to withhold sponsorship with respect to shows and other events which feature these artistes, but there needs to be a more comprehensive approach which should involve such powerful and influential organisations as the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica. The Ministry of Information, Youth and Culture as well as the Ministry of Education must also come up with clear-cut and pragmatic policies that seek to address this vexing matter. The double standard is too glaring. Take the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, for example, and its many competitions which include dancehall music, shouldn't there be a ban on this being used in the future if there is any lewdness or explicitness in the selections? As for some of the dances involving children at the basic and primary levels and upwards, surely an attempt should be made to have the choreographers tone down on the over-explicit gyrations we often see. The bottom line must be zero tolerance.

It will be argued by many that those of us who want to see this country return to some level of decency and decorum are over-reacting, but when one looks at the moral decay, the decadence, the cra** indiscipline and lawlessness that have overtaken this nation, isn't it time we seek to take back this country from morons, hooligans, criminals and the wide assortment of "buttoos" in our midst? And if not now, when?

Let's face it, sex sells and will always be an integral part of the entertainment industry, but there is a time and place for everything. Subtlety, too, has its place in the scheme of things. Compare the Mighty Sparrow's Salt Fish to the Kartel/Spice Rampin Shop, for example. Maybe we should begin to have ongoing workshops staged by the JCDC and the Jamaica Federation of Musicians which focus on songwriting, because undoubtedly there is a great deal of raw talent to be harnessed. Jamaica's musical industry has tremendous potential in assisting this country on the way forward to economic independence. For too long, we have missed the boat. Let's face it, Rampin Shop will never become one of the best remembered songs of the 21st century. Bob Marley's One Love and Exodus achieved that in the 20th century.

This just in romping shop has been banned from the air waves!!! OH MY GAWD!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!

Patrons enjoying the action at the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, held at Weekenz, Constant Spring Road, recently. - Contributed

Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall has captivated the hearts and minds of the Jamaican masses and every week at Weekenz is another great show.

"The empress a touch the stage now", remarked a man clad in a pair of jeans and hair representing the Rastafari faith tucked away in a tam. He spoke just before the Portmore Princess Jody Miller took the stage onFebruary 28.

While supporters echoed 'forwards' at the first live show, armed with a flag, the Rastafarian remained faithful in cheering on Miller during her performance.

A good thing

After Miller exited the stage, he declared: "Really, is a good thing the people doing for the youth of this country, because it allow them to show their talent and who they are; like Jody, a empress with positive and real lyrics about what happening ... a good work them (Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall) a do."

Last Saturday, Latisha, a female patron at the show, also commented on the first live show and the competition in general. "It's a good way of exposing talent and allowing persons to shape their talent". She continued: "Different persons have different talents and I think all the contestants were good and I feel that as they go along in the competition, they will develop their skills more. The persons in charge of the show must be congratulated for bringing artistes in the business like Bugle to be judges last week."

Very enlightening

At the second live show on March 7, a male patron commented before Sexy K finished her performance, "she not going to get a good comment from (judge) Ms Kitty." Shaking his head, he continued: "Look at Ms Kitty shaking her head and a listen to her; she got vibes, her lyrics put together but she not interacting with the crowd."

So said the patron and so said Ms Kitty. As Sexy K made her exit from the stage, another male patron closer to the stage shouted, "she sexy but she not doing the work, she a come off."

On Saturday night, Ms Kitty gave RC a commendation: "that was a very enlightening performance; the opening was good, your thing was well sorted out ... . I can use it on ma show right after I play Nesbeth'sBoard House."

In a group of five patrons, one male patron said, "Is a good thing happen for that youth, Ms Kitty want to use him song."

It is clear; Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall is, for the second year, a hit, and the patrons agree. As host, Empress exited the stage after her final monologue, one patron shouted: "A this the music need: every week a some good tune a belt out. dem couldacharge me money an mi wouldn't complain; a good show dis."

Stay tuned this Saturday at 9 p.m. on TVJ for another edition of Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, where true Jamaican talent is unearthed.

'A this the music need: every week a some good tune a belt out ... .'

TENAHA, Texas You can drive into this dusty fleck of a town near the Texas-Louisiana border if youre African-American, but you might not be able to drive out of itat least not with your car, your cash, your jewelry or other valuables.

Thats because the police here allegedly have found a way to strip motorists, many of them black, of their property without ever charging them with a crime. Instead they offer out-of-towners a grim choice: voluntarily sign over your belongings to the town, or face felony charges of money laundering or other serious crimes.

More than 140 people reluctantly accepted that deal from June 2006 to June 2008, according to court records. Among them were a black grandmother from Akron, who surrendered $4,000 in cash after Tenaha police pulled her over, and an interracial couple from Houston, who gave up more than $6,000 after police threatened to seize their children and put them into foster care, the court documents show. Neither the grandmother nor the couple were charged with any crime.

Officials in Tenaha, situated along a heavily traveled highway connecting Houston with popular gambling destinations in Louisiana, say they are engaged in a battle against drug trafficking and call the search-and-seizure practice a legitimate use of the states asset-forfeiture law. That law permits local police agencies to keep drug money and other property used in the commission of a crime and add the proceeds to their budgets.

OCHO RIOS, St Ann - The 17-year-old college student charged with the murder of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend was remanded in custody when he appeared in the St Ann's Bay Resident Magistrate's Court Tuesday.

Despite a lengthy bail application by the youth's attorney, Oswest Senior Smith, the presiding magistrate Carol Edwards refused to offer bail. The magistrate said there were gaps in the prosecution's case that needed to be addressed before bail could be considered.

Nisa Grant, 16, a fourth form student of the York Castle High School in Brown's Town, was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend on February 5 after she told him the relationship was over.

A post-mortem report revealed that the girl sustained 13 injuries to different parts of her body.

The boy, who had earlier told the police that he and the girl were attacked while walking through a 'shortcut', allegedly confessed to the killing during intensive interrogation by the police.

The boy's lawyer yesterday raised questions about the confession allegedly given by his client. He said the reported confession was taken from a boy he described as vulnerable and impressionable.

Senior Smith argued further that the prosecution was faced with overwhelming challenges, adding that there were enormous shortcomings in the investigations.

However, the magistrate was not persuaded. She instructed the investigator to carry out further investigation and have all outstanding statements available to the court by March 20, when the case will again be mentioned.

An investigator also told the court yesterday that the police were concerned about the safety of the boy should he be offered bail. The policeman said residents of both the communities in which Grant lived and where the accused man is from were still angry over the manner in which the girl met her death.

The police said on the day of the killing the accused asked the girl to meet him at his home. He, however, reportedly met her on the way and took her into an abandoned building where he allegedly stabbed her several times before slashing her throat.

The police said they later found the boy's *lo**stained clothes hidden near a cemetery.

2pac


BIGGIE

THIS was one bet Sergey Tuganov was determined to win.

British newspaper, The Sun, reports the 28-year-old Russian man died after taking a bottle of Viagra pills for an apparent 12-hour sex romp.

Two women told Moscow police they bet Tuganov $US4300 that he wouldn't be able to satisfy them during a non-stop half day sex marathon.

The mechanic died of a heart attack minutes after winning the wager, Moscow police said.

"We called emergency services but it was too late, there was nothing they could do," said one of the female participants who identified herself only as Alina.

Medics said he most likely died from the quantity of Viagra he had ingested.

There are 30 pills in an average 100mg bottle of Viagra.

Posted here

HIM SEH A SAMPLE HIM SAMPLE DEM STILL BUT MI NO KNOW WEH FI SEH

Jackass seh de worl' no level. Jackass seh wat a daggarashan de Brawdcyastin Commishan gwaan wid ova de weeken'!

First of all, let Jackass state straight out. He har have habsolutely no problem with the Broadcasting Commission's ban on the daggering songs over the public airwaves.

Potential sexual predators

They are introducing sex, rough sex at that, to minors, making some of them with no strong adult guidance susceptible to sexual approaches by adults, as well as potential sexual predators on fellow children themselves.

And don't tell Jackass ... about 'parents and guardians are the ones who must be responsible for the songs their children listen to'. Even if someone is able to prevent their child from hearing about daggering, there are the children they have to come into contact with at school. Plus, there are those drivers who have the stuff blaring from their speakers, who seem to take pleasure in pulling up beside other cars in traffic and looking across to see the effect they have on other people - including those driving with children.

And Jackass is willing to bet that the people who play those daggering songs on the air would be mortified if they heard their children singing one of the tracks, or if another kid approached theirs with an invitation to 'dagga'. But there is a funny thing about people who do not come from the ghetto or who come from one and have moved up in life. They try their hardest to show that they are still so 'roots', going to the extreme to prove that they are one of the masses.

So, some radio disc jocks will play any amount of daggering songs, just to show that they are 'cool'.

With all that, though, the world is not level at all, if daggering can be banned from the airwaves, but Dollar Wine and such carnival proddings can be afforded a free run on television, live and in living colour. You can go on and on about the soca being subtle. There is absolutely nothing subtle about the jukking and wining that goes on in the streets.

Back Road slam

Of course, we know, in matters related to sex, the less money you have the nastier it looks. When a couple who should not be coupling heads to the North Coast for a discreet getaway it is called an assignation. When two people head to Port Henderson Road for a two-hour hotel stay it is called a Back Road slam. Upper class women have a 'procedure,' middle class women terminate a pregnancy and poor women 'dash weh belly'. So it goes, but a Dagga wine in a dancehall and a Dollar wine on television have exactly the same effect and the Broadcasting Commission must recognise this.

Of course, there is the matter of money, lots of money, to deal with, as it is the filthy wealthy who are at the heart of this carnival daggeration that is cloaked as dollar wine. And, that always tends to put a different spin on things.

Jackass seh de worl' no level. Jackass seh de dancehall people dem fi string up a big soun' an play pare daggarin' song pon carnival Sunday.

March 07, 2009. So Chris Browns crisis specialist team has figured out a new way to save his reputation by PIMPIMG OUT Rihanna on a world tour with him. MediaTakeOut.com caught wind of a new rumor that Chris will use Rihanna to help resuscitate his career.

Heres what FOX News is reporting:

Along those lines, I've learned Brown and Rihanna -- who has taken him back (but with key provisions outlined below) -- will co-author a book about abuse and go on a talk show whirlwind to speak directly to their fans and the general public. It is widely expected that Brown's high-profile attorney, Mark Geragos, will broker a probation deal for his client that will involve no jail time.

In the meantime, the Brown team's working title of his career-recovery plan is ''Project Mea Culpa.'' It will involve not only Brown's telling of his increasingly abusive behavior toward Rihanna, but also partnering with clinical experts in the field to add credibility to the couple's efforts.

Obviously Chris Browns publicists are living in a dream world if they think this will work. Rihanna girl this here is a sinking ship time to save yourself and get off

Jamaica-born educator Dr Beverly L. Hall, who is public-school superintendent for Atlanta, has been named National Super-intendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

The recognition, which came with a US$10,000 (J$878,914.84) cash prize, is the highest professional honour for an urban educator and K-12 school administrator in the United States.

The announcement, made at the AASA's national conference on education in San Francisco last weekend, capped a year of high-level honours for Dr Hall.

She was named Georgia Superintendent of the Year in December by the Georgia School Superintendents Association, and one of the 100 most influential Georgians by Georgia Trend magazine.

Dr Hall, a former student of the St Andrew High School for Girls, said she was honoured and humbled by the honour, as it was a great achievement for her as a member of a minority group.

Fugitive drug lord makes Forbes' billionaire list

MEXICO CITY Who says crime doesn't pay? A suspected drug lord who is Mexico's most-wanted fugitive made the Forbes list of billionaires on Wednesday with a fortune described as "self made."

The magazine estimates Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's worth at $1 billion No. 701 on the list, right between a Swiss oil-trading tycoon and a U.S. chemical heir. Dozens of other people were also tied for the spot.

It is unclear what Guzman thinks of the distinction. Forbes senior editor Luisa Kroll notes that "unfortunately ... Guzman could not be reached for comment."

Often described as Mexico's most powerful cartel kingpin, Guzman has been on the run with a $5 million reward on his head since 2001, when he escaped from prison apparently hidden in a laundry truck.

At the time, he was serving more than 20 years for criminal association and bribery. Mexican officials say he leads the Sinaloa drug gang, though Guzman has never been convicted on drug trafficking charges.

The government had no immediate comment on the listing, which includes an old photo of Guzman taken under police custody while wearing rumpled prison clothes unbefitting the world's alleged 701st-richest person.

Guzman, 54, is not the first drug trafficker to make the list; Forbes says Col****ian cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar was once included, before dying in a shootout with the South American nation's security forces in 1993.

"El Chapo," whose nickname refers to his short, stocky build, has been enjoying a bit of notoriety lately. Telemundo, the No. 2 Spanish-language television network in the United States, announced last year that it is working on a new docudrama based on Guzman's life.

Forbes cited estimates that Guzman and his operation likely grossed 20 percent of the $18 billion to $39 billion in drug revenues that Mexican and Col****ian traffickers laundered last year "enough for him to have pocketed $1 billion over his career and earn a spot on the billionaires list for the first time."

That figure, Kroll said, "is a conservative estimate based on the information we have."

Legal arguments began yesterday in an application brought by retired president and chief executive officer of Scotiabank William Bill Clarke to bar the bank from evicting him from the house to which he was assigned.Clarke wants to remain in the house and be in possession of two motor vehicles assigned to him until his retirement package is settled.

Lawyers representing the parties made submissions yesterday before Justice Horace Marsh.

When the hearing resumes today, the lawyers will continue their submissions.

Clarke retired from the bank on November 1 and it was agreed that the issue of his retirement package would go to arbitration.

He is contending that he received a letter from the head office in Canada that he is to leave the house and hand over the motor cars by July 31.

Clarke says in court documents that if the bank is not restrained, he fears he will be evicted from the house.

When Clarke came before the Supreme Court earlier this year, the parties arrived at a consent order which allows Clarke to remain in possession of the house and motor cars until the Supreme Court makes a ruling.

Regional director in the Ministry of Education, Simon McKenzie is hopeful that an electrical problem that knocked out power at the Spanish Town High School in St Catherine will be fixed by the end of the week.

The power failure has dragged on for three weeks.

"We are aware of the problem and a contract has been awarded for work to be done. Government inspectors have gone to the school and checks have been made.

"However, the proper wires are needed before the work can be undertaken," said McKenzie.

Classes disrupted

The director said that attempts to fix the problem last week were scuttled because the wrong equipment was procured.

The Gleaner learnt that on February 20, classes were disrupted after an electrical fire cut power to the institution.

Persons who attend the school's evening classes have been adversely affected.

"This cannot be allowed to happen any more as the money that is being paid will go down the drain. It must be addressed now.'' remarked one student, who requested anonymity.

FAMOUS COUPLE DAGGERING AGAIN

Somebody please say it aint so. I heard this rumour weeks ago but just totally ignored it, but now, a confidante of mine informed me that even if they had not officially got back together, they were at least daggering. You can just imagine my shock and consternation that this could have actually happened. What would Racquel say? How would Schoolgirl take the news? And of course, wah Zagga Zow haffi say about this? Dem say ole fire stick ketch quick, but this ah one fire mi no waan see start, it woulda too much fi me. Daggering, daggering, daggering...maybe ah next baby coulda soon be on the way....daggering daggering daggering. Worse like how ah pure rain inna Jamaica now.


READ BETWEEN DI LINES & UNNO WILL KNOW A WHO DEM A TALK BOUT

-- Edited by lyndo bwoy at 12:47, 2008-05-29

 

Lord please deliver Keiva

Imagine Keiva stop dance, open store and a live like pauper.

Me go inna 'Keiva's Closet' as it's called and no light no in deh. Me hear har pon har fone a tell sumady sey from morning she no eat and nutten no sell inna di store. She all a tell di person sey she affi start back dancing and a rehearsal she jus a come from with Ding Dong.

A likkle youth come inna her store and she no stop pressure him fi buy a $6500 shoe wey no worth it. The way how me feel sorry fi har, me did haffi bye a $1200 key chain weh me neva even need. The way she glad fi di likkle money, she jus grab it and put it inna her pocket.

Keiva u really need fi pick up back dancing, bcz the store alone nah go mek it.

>http://www.mediafire.com/?ngwyme0tgwd</a>

Barbadian beauty Rihanna seems to have her eyes on Kanye West since of late. Is it that Chris Brown is too childish for her?

Even though Rihanna and her young lad Chris Brown were always being caught by photographers in intimate position none of the two never once confirmed that they are more than just friends.

According to new-magazine.co.uk - Earlier this month, Rihanna was spotted backstage at a concert with Kanye, and it seems the pair were talking about more than just musical collaborations.

A source said: Rihanna and Kanye hung out together after they performed their songs. Rihanna was sitting on Kanyes lap, singing along to the music. Before long, the two were full-on kissing each other.

besides the small problems that i adresss everyday, everything else is good for me, props to admin and all the HARDWORKING  mods....keep up the work, lets get rid of the leechers and keep the peace

-- Edited by gamepun at 12:01, 2009-03-12

wat yu think?

Vote For Mavado's 'So Special' Alliance prodigal son David 'Mavado' Brooks has been working assiduously in the tri-state area this week, promoting the release of his highly-anticipated album "Mr Brooks - A Better Tomorrow." As part of the promotion he recorded an episode of BET's late night programme "The Deal," which they introduced recently to replace the popular "Rap City" show. "The Deal" follows the same format as its predecessor, with an interview followed by a freestyle from the Gangster. The episode featuring Mavado will be aired next Monday March 9th at approximately 2:00 - 2:30am. Please check your local TV listings to confirm time. On Tuesday the sinjay's video was premiered on BET, but for it to make the countdown and remain there we have to vote. To cast your vote for Mavado's - 'So Special' please click the following link. Vote For Mavado - 'So Special'

MONTEGO BAY, St James - In what appeared to be a sharp rebuke of a prominent Jamaican priest, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Jamaica insisted yesterday that financial assistance from Europe "does not come with any strings attached".

ALEMANNI. it is not offered with conditions

"The EU's money is not *lo** money, it's banana money, it's sugar money, it's community money, it's money for the average man," Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni declared, as he signed grant contracts valued at 2.3 million euro under the European Union Banana Support programme, at a ceremony in this north coast resort city.

Using diplomatic speak and not calling names, Alemanni obviously took Roman Catholic Priest Father Richard Holung to task for saying that Jamaica should not accept monetary aid from international agencies if it had conditions, including the legalisation of abortion or homosexuality.

In a passionate presentation last month to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament looking at the legalisation of abortion, Holung, dubbed a ghetto priest for his legendary work among the poor of Kingston's sprawling slums, said:
"There is *lo** money from the European Union and post-modern USA. (They say) 'if you want our millions and billions of dollars you must agree to legalise abortion. If you want our wealth, men and women must be able to be gay, without that you get no money'."

Ambassador Alemanni was adamant, however, that the EU's grants were unconditional except to ensure the well-being of Jamaicans.

HOLUNG. there is *lo** money from the European Union and post-modern USA

"It is not offered with conditions; the only condition is that it be used to enhance the industries and welfare of the Jamaican people," he told the gathering, including government officials, at the Wexford Hotel.

At the same time, he urged the Jamaican Government to create viable alternatives in an effort to minimise the effects of the global financial meltdown.

"In every crisis there is an opportunity and this is the time for Jamaica to find those viable alternatives that will help feed, not just households but new industries that will be developed," he said.

Funds from yesterday's grant signing, a component of the wider Rural Diversification Programme Social and Economic Infrastructure Projects, have been earmarked for the financing of two major projects to be implemented in the parishes of St James, St Mary, St Thomas, Portland, St Catherine and Clarendon. Focus will be placed on social and infrastructural development.

The first project, being launched through the St James Parish Council, will be implemented by the six local authorities and will support communities to develop their economic and social infrastructure, including engineering works, roads and other infrastructure and community groups.

The other project is being undertaken by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund and will focus on the improvement of social infrastructure in early childhood and primary schools, community water supply systems and primary health care facilities.

 

BAUXITE workers at Windalco, majority owned by Russian company US Rusal, have accepted a 40 per cent cut in salary and a reduction of hours to a three-day work-week, effective April 1.

National Workers Union (NWU) and UC Rusal signed off Tuesday on the agreement that will seek to save jobs instead of widespread layoff as the bauxite company closes production in reaction to depressed global markets.

"The plants are in a shutdown mode and come the end of March they will cease the production of alumina in Jamaica," NWU President Vincent Morrison told the Observer yesterday.

"Come the first of April, everyone will be on a three-day week," said Morrison. "We had a meeting with the workers and they have accepted."

The interim agreement remains in force until December 31, 2009.

According to a copy of the agreement sent to the Observer, it is to be reviewed after the prescribed period and if there are no significant changes in the global bauxite market the terms will be extended.

In the event that the plants return to normal production, the agreement would immediately come to an end, the agreement said.

Windalco employs approximately 850 permanent and temporary workers at its Kirkvine and Ewarton plants.
"This affects everybody, unionised and non-unioised, all the workers right across the board," Morrison said.

UC Rusal, the world's largest alumina producer, part-owns Windalco along with the Jamaican Government, and holds majority shares in the Alpart alumina plant.

In mid-January, Alpart cut its temporary staff corps of 250 and announced that further assessments would decide its total workforce as aluminium demand fell worldwide.

The St Elizabeth-company also cut its production volume by 50 per cent down from 1.65 million tonnes as a consequence of the contraction in world demand.

Unionised workers at Alpart, which is 65 per cent owned by Rusal and 35 per cent by Norsk Hydro of Norway, in January accepted reduced working hours and salary cut to a minimum of 60 per cent effective for four months.

 

It was only last week I wrote that Portia Simpson Miller's principled call for all members of parliament with dual citizenship to resign might be a strategic mistake. I argued that should the Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz win the West Portland by-election it might be the boost needed for Bruce Golding to call a general election. And should the JLP win the by-election, then what would be the political future of Portia Simpson Miller? But now the JLP sounds as if they are "running scared".

MICHAEL BURKE

Take the fertiliser affair and the statement by the agriculture minister Christopher Tufton that it is no time to score cheap political points. But politicians will be politicians and Tufton should know that it is indeed the time to be scoring political points because a crucial by-election is imminent which could determine whether a general election is called or not.

Indeed, it is known that perception is seen as reality in Jamaica. The Observer of March 6 reports that Alex Kaminsky, the managing director of the Florida-based Diamond R Fertiliser, said that "there is no human faecal material in our fertiliser". But the perception is there that it is. And faecal stench is quite distinct, so someone is not telling the truth. We know that politicians will play politics. But we also know that prominent people like President Bill Clinton and President Richard Nixon have also made denials. In the case of Clinton, most of us know the story regarding Monica Lewinsky and with regard to the late Richard Nixon, we know of the Watergate scandal

So animal and human waste have always been used as fertiliser in Jamaica, certainly for growing coffee as people in the the Blue Mountains and Portland should know. But that is our own and not that of a First-World country with a reputation of imperialism and oppression, which is what galls most Jamaicans.

Another JLP knee-jerk reaction was when Kenneth Rowe used a word that is understood in a certain campaign context as political fair play. In politics, "intimidation" by greater numbers is not seen as a form of violence. Indeed, my information is that this is precisely the tactic that the JLP is using in the campaign. But what does the JLP's call for the disqualification of Kenneth Rowe tell you?

Yet another alarm raised is the revelation that the PNP candidate has a Canadian passport and that Rowe should withdraw not on legal but moral grounds. Canada is a part of the British Commonwealth and there is no violation of the constitution. True, the PNP had to act quickly after learning of a by-election and not an award of the seat to Abe Dabdoub. But they still should have checked out all of these things before. While a candidate can constitutionally have a Commonwealth passport, in the circumstances it doesn't look good on Rowe.

But Western Portland gave Daryl Vaz a majority in the general election despite his dual citizenship at the time. It is therefore possible for Rowe to win despite his Canadian passport and the appearance of hypocrisy after the pressure that the PNP put on Vaz for having dual citizenship.

The similarities in the political subculture of Kingston and Montego Bay are greater than the similarities between Kingston and Portland. The Blue Mountains cause a separation that creates a different subculture. Kingstonians travel to Mandeville and even Negril, let alone Montego Bay more often than they do to Portland. I have known this for at least 39 of my 55-year existence.

In 1970 as a teenager I was a member of the PNP Youth Organisation, and the PNPYO set up a summer school in Hope Bay, Portland. I stayed in the home of the late Clement Afflick for five weeks in the summer of 1970.

At the time, Ken Wright was MP for Eastern Portland. The JLP was promoting a young man named Lascelles Tucker as their candidate. From the public relations angle in Kingston, Tucker seemed ahead. But going into Portland I found that Tucker was not as popular as he was being promoted to be. And he lost his bid for Parliament against Ken Wright in 1972.

And I learnt that Portland voted for the individual. Indeed, Sir Harold Allan, Jamaica's first minister of finance, represented Eastern Portland and was an independent, not a member of a political party although he was in Bustamante's Cabinet. In Western Portland, it did not surprise me that although the JLP's Leopold Lynch had been MP for 32 years, as soon as he stepped down the PNP's Leslie Birch won the seat.

It is of interest that this is the fourth time in Western Portland the PNP candidate has been a "convert" from the JLP. There was Edward Fagan in 1955 (who as a JLP candidate defeated Norman Manley in 1944), Clement Afflick in 1972 , a former Federal MP (1958-62) and MP for Eastern Portland (elected in a by-election following the death of Ken Jones in 1964), Abe Dabdoub and now Kenneth Rowe.

I really thought Daryl Vaz had this thing pat. I have not been into Portland since the start of this year, but those alarmist cries from the JLP sounds like any card can play on March 23.

I think there is only a handful of women who really enjoy sex on the same level as us men...some even behave as if they're doing us a favor by f@%king us. Is it because most of the time they dont experience an orgasm and we alway do?..
Ladies?

William 'Bill' Clarke, retired president and chief executive officer of Scotiabank, will know next week Thursday if his retirement package will go to arbitration.

Supreme Court Judge Horace Marsh reserved his decision yesterday after hearing legal arguments in chambers from lawyers representing Clarke and the bank.

Clarke, who is being represented by attorneys-at-law Dr Lloyd Barnett and Keith Bishop, is contending that because his retirement package was not settled before he left the bank, it was decided that the matter should go to arbitration.

The bank, which is being represented by John Vassell, QC, is claiming that there was no such agreement and therefore the terms of reference were not settled.

Clarke is also seeking court orders to bar the bank from evicting him from the house and repossessing the two motor cars which were assigned to him. He wants to remain in possession of them until his retirement package has been settled.

A consent order between the parties allows Clarke to remain in possession of the house and motor cars until the judge makes his ruling.

Residents, including children, help with unloading stones from a truck for work being done at the check dams in Somerset, St Thomas. A check dam is a small temporary dam constructed across low-lying or depressed and often wet land or drainage ditch. - Contributed

Residents of Five in St Thomas, where banana was once the main crop, are now eager participants in a rural diversification project aimed at sustaining their livelihood.

The first phase of the project is rehabilitating and providing new check dams to deal with land slippage and flooding in Somerset.

The project is being implemented by the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) with the support of the European Union, Christian Aid and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Ground was broken last month for the construction of a check dam at the Fitzgerald Gully in Somerset and excavation work is already complete. The work was critical because heavy showers inundate Somerset with tonnes of soil and millions of gallons of water from two gullies, Fitzgerald and Church.

Great losses

Residents are often forced to abandon their homes and suffer great losses.

Although two check dams were built to address the situation, these have been damaged due, among other things, to the scale of the inflow of dirt and water and poor maintenance.

Community members will be helping to build two check dams closer to the most active areas of both gullies.

Construction will reduce the velocity of water run off and retard the movement of top soil down slope.

Workers for the project have been selected from a group of ex-banana workers as well as others who stand to benefit.

The work on the check dams is being implemented with technical support from the Forestry Department, Water Resources Authority and St Thomas Parish Council, said Claudia Sewell, coordinator of the project, operating from WROC's office in Morant Bay.

Improving living standards

Another programme, the rural diversification project, is expected to benefit residents of Trinityville, Johnson Mountain, Spring Bank and Mount Vernon.

It is geared at improving the living standards and quality of life of farmers, farm workers, their families and communities with a wide range of initiatives.

Hey while I was in J.A. I linked up with a guy by the name of Sheldon Pennicott at the 'In The Streetz' office. Well after picking up a bunch of tunes (approx $1Aus each what a bargain.) he told me that he had his own label called Young Veterans Productions & one of the artistes he had was Opal (of Mr. Vegas - 'Hot Wuk' & her own hit 'I Said It' fame) & he was also the produce of Konshens - Rasta Imposter. Well anyway me kept the link & well now is the time for me to share with al of you. He has just released Pt. I of the 'Playfield Riddim' as everyone knows that it is relick time in J.A. so this is a relick of the 'Playground Riddim' who can forget Beenie Man - Who Am I, Sean Paul - Infiltrate & Mr. Vegas - Nike Air to name a few. Well i've just received the first half & I'm impressed with tunes like Harry Toddler - Ceeli (Just ran out of time to put this song on mixtape it is a true banger) & Monsters Shack Crew - How She Wine. So i've uploaded all of their riddims so pm me for the links other wise feel free to contact sheldon direct on sheldonpennicott@yahoo.com. here are the tracklists to the riddims: Playfield Riddim Black-Er - Nah Wah No Gun Don Mafia - From No Good Harry Toddler - Ceeli Lady G - Hands Up Deh Macka Diamond - Wine Up Clean Macka Diamond - Wine Up Raw Mega Banton - Wah Dem A Prove Clean Mega Banton - Wah Dem A Prove Raw Monster Shack - How She Wine Clean Monster Shack - How She Wine Raw Opal - Got It Bad Stephen Blake - Missing U Teflon - Cah Tame Me Clean Teflon - Cah Tame Me Raw Tina Nunez - Without Your Love Ft. Terro 3000 Young Veterans Productions - Version Be on the look out for Pt. II with Mr. Vegas, Cobra, Erup Etc. 143 Riddim Alozade - Talk The Thing D'Angel - Boom Flick Deva Bratt - Punks That Shocked Young Veterans Productions - Version After Effection Riddim Jeffrey Str - What About The Utes Konshens - Rasta Imposter Laden - Little Shooter Stevie B - Have U Ever Been Tina Nunes - Sent From Above Young Veterans Productions - Version Just talked to Sheldon there is gonna be a Pt. II with Jah Mason, Norris Man, Natural Blacks, Cutty Corn, Ginjah, King Li baber, Barbee, Teflon Blackberry Riddim Laden - Wine For Me Young Veterans Productions - Version Freedom Cry Riddim Lutan Fyah - Bigger Than Them Marlon Brando - What We All Want Norris Man - Love Yo So Much Reido - Dog Eat Dog World The Storm - Nature Smith & Western Riddim Shane-O - If I Did See & Know Young Veterans Productions - Version Pm me for the links. THIS IS BY: Djrasta __________________ DEE DRE'

TMZ knows who triggered the fight that left Rihanna battered and bruised and Chris Brown an accused felon -- it's Brown's manager.

Sources tell us the woman who left the three-page text message on Brown's cell phone is Tina Davis. Davis -- who turns 40 this month -- was rumored to have had a relationship with Brown when he was 16. Brown and Davis have denied it.

Law enforcement tells us the text message to Brown talked about hooking up later -- and it totally pissed off Rihanna. She slapped and hit him and he then brutally fired back.

The detective's affidavit refers to the text message as being "from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with."

Davis could not be reached for comment.

Posted here

THE Marine Police Division was yesterday trying to identify the body of a man which was pulled from the Kingston Harbour Monday night.

Deputy Superintendent Oral Harrison said divers who spent much of Monday afternoon searching for the body retrieved it about 7:00 pm.

"We have not identified it as yet due to the advanced state of decomposition," said Harrison.

The Kingston Central Police were, in the meantime, carrying out investigations to determine if there was any foul play in the death of the man.

The decomposing body, believed to be in the mid-forties, was first seen by fishermen in the murky waters near the Victoria Pier shortly after midday Monday.

Harrison yesterday dismissed allegations made by onlookers Monday that the police were not properly equipped to remove bodies from the sea.

"The dive team that we have is very equipped. We had no problems in recovering the body at that time," he said.

Efforts to retrieve the body were complicated after it slipped from hooks the police were using to pull it and sank into the murky waters.

A 15-year-old student of Donald Quarrie High School was yesterday sentenced to two years in custody when she appeared in the Corporate Area Family Court to answer charges of possession of offensive weapons.

However, the magistrate suspended the sentences and warned the teenager about her future conduct.

The 15-year-old was among a group of students held by members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) in downtown Kingston last November.

She was found with a knife and an ice pick in her bag and claimed she was carrying the weapons because she was worried about a rumoured spate of abductions.

However, the ISCF members said she was part of a group of children who repeatedly skipped school and idled downtown.

It was noted that other students were found with clothes in their school bags and tried to evade the police before they were held.

There is no word yet from American Airlines on the possible fallout which Jamaica could face from its decision to further reduce flights.

But a reduction in the number of people flying has caused the airline to cut flights and could force Jamaica to make a US$4.5-million payment to the airline, which the Government was hoping it would not have to.

Yesterday, American announced plans to cut domestic flying by nine per cent and trim international capacity by 2.5 per cent as part of its response to a reduction in passenger loads.

Thomas W. Horton, chief financial officer for American's parent company AMR Corporation, said the reduction in flights was in reaction to a dramatic fall-off in bookings.

According to Horton, bookings over the next four months were about 2.5 percentage points behind the corresponding period in 2008, with international bookings running 4.5 percentage points behind.

However, officials of the airline were unable to provide The Gleaner with any information on the possible impact on Jamaica.

American Airlines is expected to carry thousands of passengers into Jamaica this year under a deal signed with local authorities last November.

Under the deal, the Government has given American a US$4.5-million guarantee which will be paid if it comes into the island without a specified number of passengers.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who was at the centre of the deal, has claimed that there would be seats for approximately 156,000 more visitors to come to the island.

"This arrangement is unprecedented in terms of its value to us at a time when there are massive cuts in airlifts throughout the Caribbean and the world," Bartlett claimed while a firestorm raged over the deal last year.

According to Bartlett, with nearly 3,000 new hotel rooms this year, the deal would help Jamaica to ensure seat security out of North America.

The tourism minister had added that despite putting up the money, the deal might not cost Jamaica "one cent" as it was based on the number of passengers that American took to the island.

The load factor

"No payment will be made to American until the end of the one-year period (November 30, 2009). This depends on the load factor and the money will remain in escrow earning interest," Bartlett said.

But with the reported decline in bookings being reported by American, it seems certain Jamaica will have to fork out the money.

Under the deal, American will not fly its planes into Jamaica if less than 65 per cent of the seats are taken up. However, if the aircraft is more than 65 per cent full but less than 75 per cent, Jamaica will be required to pay the 10 per cent revenue the airline would lose.

Bartlett had also claimed American would be making 19 new flights to Jamaica, but that figure was reduced within a month when The Gleaner learnt that instead of flying to Jamaica five times per week from Chicago, American would instead fly twice per week before withdrawing from the route completely on April 10.

The Constant Spring police are investigating reports that a man severely beat his seven-year-old autistic stepson because he could not tell him where he had placed a key. A neighbour who tried to go to the child's rescue, was also reportedly beaten.

The incident allegedly happened last Saturday.

Autism is a brain development disorder which usually causes affected persons to suffer from impaired social interaction and communication, and withdrawn and repetitive behaviour.

THE STAR has learnt that the boy, whose disorder causes him to behave and act like a three-year-old, misplaced a key at the home. The stepfather reportedly asked the boy for the key and when he was unable to answer, he began to kick, punch and slap the boy all over his body. The child reportedly received blows to his face, arm and back.

Beat neighbour

A neighbour who heard the child's cries and is aware of his condition intervened and asked the accused to stop the beating. It is alleged, however, that the man instead turned his wrath on the neighbour, hitting her with a shovel. She was reportedly hit many times in the head with the shovel, causing large, exposed wounds.

Both the child and neighbour were taken to the doctor for examination.

The matter was then reported to the Constant Spring police.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police was abducted, beaten and robbed by gunmen in Portmore, St Catherine, last week.

The policeman, stationed in the Manchester division, was left nursing a broken nose, among other injuries, and was robbed of more than $40,000, THE STAR understands.

Reports are that the officer was at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) about 10:30 p.m., last Tuesday, where he had gone to withdraw money while in the company of two women.

Upon exiting the ATM, three armed men reportedly approached the group and ordered the officer and the women into his vehicle.

Car stolen

Further reports are that the officer was ordered to drive to the Bernard Lodge area, also in St Catherine, where he was beaten and robbed of $20,000 and US$240 (about J$21,000). The officer's private motor car was also reportedly stolen.

They were left at the scene before being helped by a passing motorist.

Fifteen-year-old Danielle Seymour of Passagefort Drive, Portmore, St Catherine, has been reported missing from home since Monday, February 23.

She is of dark complexion, slim build and about 160 centimetres tall. At the time she went missing, she was dressed in a grey skirt, purple blouse and black slippers.

Police reports are that about 9 p.m., Daniell left home for an undisclosed destination and has not been seen since. Anyone knowing her whereabouts is being asked to contact the Waterford police at 988-1763, police 119 emergency numbers or the nearest police station.

In just a little over 24 hours, six people were murdered by gunmen in separate incidents in St James, but the police were still unable to identify any definitive motive for the incidents.

Up to press time yesterday, the police confirmed that no motive had been established for any of the incidents.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, gunmen staged a brazen attack in the heart of downtown Montego Bay and shot two men who washed cars near the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Cocaine addicts

They are Miguel Thompson, 34, of no fixed address, and Marvin Williams, 40, labourer of Paradise, Norwood, in the parish. It was confirmed that both deceased were cocaine addicts. Some residents have speculated that their deaths might have been a reprisal for stealing from people's vehicles.

Reports are that Thompson and Williams were sitting on a wall along Harbour Street when a car drove up. Two men alighted and opened fire, killing Thompson on the spot. Williams was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he died while being treated.

Early Sunday morning, gunmen invaded a bar in Hendon, Glendevon, and shot eight people, four of whom died.

A British national who tried to smuggle a pound of ganja out of the island in the hope of receiving £4,000 was fined J$37,000 and given a suspended sentence in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Builder Ian Lawrence, 49, was charged with possession, dealing and attempting to export ganja after 2.5lb of ganja was found in clothes he was wearing as he attempted to leave Jamaica.

He checked in at the Sangster International Airport on March 2 to board a flight to the Gatwick Airport in London. He was seen behaving suspiciously at the security checkpoint and was interviewed. A search of his person revealed six packages of ganja in a merino he was wearing.

Family woes

Defence lawyer Adrian Dayes told the court, during a mitigation plea, that his client's business in England was failing and his Jamaican girlfriend was pregnant. He said that the accused was introduced to a man in Negril who offered him £4,000 if he took the drug to England.

He asked that his client not be sent to prison, as he is responsible for taking care of his parents, who are over 80 years old.

Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry imposed fines of $4,000 for possession, $8,000 for dealing in, $20,000 for attempting to export and $5,000 for prosecution cost. He was also sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years.

FOOTAGE OF a white cop in Seattle battering a black 15-year-old girl suspected of being a car thief, has been met with outrage.

Police released the CCTV footage which showed Kings County Sheriffs deputy, Paul Schene, kicking the girl in the stomach, slamming her head against a wall, pulling her hair, and

punching her on the holding cell floor at SeaTac City Hall in November.

 

Schene, who is now facing charges of fourth degree assault, has pleaded not guilty, claiming the girl attacked him first. He said she taunted cops, calling them pigs and kicked off her

shoes, which he said struck him in the shin.

 

But as the video was circulated online, people expressed their outrage. For being lippy and kicking a shoe, she gets beaten like a dog in the street? These cops and the police

department that hired them need to be sued for every penny they have, a furious blogger called Kris wrote.

 

If teachers HAVE to show self-control with 30 lippy teens in classes all day or get fired, why is this cop getting a free pass [paid administrative leave]?

 

But some defended the cop.

 

Something is seriously wrong with American society and these police are not equipped to deal with it. They are only human and everyone has their breaking point, said a blogger called

Tony.

 

Youre lucky if you only have to deal with some rotten monster once or twice your entire life, these guys deal with dozens a day. Ill tell you one thing, that brat is going to think twice before shooting her mouth or her shoe off at anyone again.

 

*See video at www.voiceonline. co.uk

-- Edited by MZJ at 16:00, 2009-03-11

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario A man jumped into Niagara Falls on Wednesday and survived the 180-foot plunge, then resisted rescue attempts before he eventually was pulled from the icy water to safety, police said.

The man, believed to be in his late 30s, was semiconscious when he was taken to a hospital. He lapsed into unconsciousness and was listed in critical condition.

Niagara Parks Police Chief Doug Kane said the man "voluntarily entered into the water and refused medical assistance at the bottom."

He said the man was suffering from hypothermia and a head injury. Police were unable to get any information from the man because of the effects of the near-freezing water.

A witness called police shortly after 2 p.m. and told them a man had climbed over a retaining wall and jumped into the rapids above the Horseshoe Falls, one of Niagara Falls' three waterfalls. A short time later, the man was seen near the base of the falls.

Specially trained falls rescue crews tried to assist the man, but he swam away from them toward the middle of the river, Kane said.

Read

Peter Catchpole was surprised when the uniformed officer, in a marked car, said he could not take any action to stop the thieves.

Instead of springing into action, the policeman remained in his car, taking some details, and only went to inspect the scene after the thieves had gone.

Mr Catchpole saw the group of men throwing lead off the roof of a flat in Croydon, South East London, into a trolley near some garages in an alley.

He spotted a police patrol car just yards from the thieves and told him about the theft, expecting the officer to go and confront the men.

Mr Catchpole said: "He was not doing anything. I told him people were stealing lead and he said next time I should dial 999 and call the police. I said 'but you are the police'. I could not believe it.

"It was quite surreal. By the time other policemen could get here, they would have been gone.

"This guy could not have been closer. One of the three thieves even walked past his car and got a drink from the local shop.

Read

A 53-year-old man who admitted to wounding his spouse because she came home late and did not cook dinner was sent home from the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court with a stern warning.

Charged with unlawful wounding is Keith Wellington.

Misunderstanding

Wellington pleaded guilty to the charge, but said the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding. He told the court that the complainant came home late and did not tell him why. He added that she did not provide dinner for him and their children, and when he asked her about it, she "flared up". The complainant's hands were wounded by a figurine, which was thrown at her.

Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown asked the accused why he did not prepare the food himself. The judge also told the accused to stop treating the complainant like she was his child and to start acknowledging the fact that she is an adult. He also reminded the accused that slavery was abolished long ago.

The accused was told to apologise to the complainant and to assure her and the court that such an incident would never happen again.

Wellington was set free after a no-order was made.

AP  This Sept. 3, 2008 file photo shows Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her boyfriend 

WASILLA, Alaska Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, have broken off their engagement, he said Wednesday, about 2 1/2 months after the couple had a baby.

Johnston, 19, told The Associated Press that he and 18-year-old Bristol Palin mutually decided "a while ago" to end their relationship. He declined to elaborate as he stood outside his family's home in Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage.

He also said some details of the breakup, rumors of which had been swirling on the Internet, were inaccurate.

Bristol Palin said in a statement that she was devastated about a report on Star magazine's Web site that quoted Levi's sister, Mercede, as saying Bristol "makes it nearly impossible" to visit the teenagers' infant son, Tripp. The baby was born Dec. 27.

"Unfortunately, my family has seen many people say and do many things to `cash in' on the Palin name," said the statement, which was issued through the governor's political action committee. "Sometimes that greed clouds good judgment and the truth."

SarahPAC spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton did not immediately respond to calls seeking further information. The governor's spokesman, Bill McAllister, declined comment.

Sarah Palin revealed her daughter's pregnancy just days after being named John McCain's running mate on the Republican presidential ticket. She had said in December that her daughter and Johnston "are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child."

In an interview that aired on Fox News last month, Bristol Palin said her fiance saw the baby every day and described him as a "hands-on" dad.

Johnston and Palin had said they were considering a summer wedding.

"We both love each other," he told the AP in October. "We both want to marry each other. And that's what we are going to do."

Moral of the story...DON'T SPEND THAT CASH JUST YET!

*******

In a landmark case, Brian Myerson is arguing that the 90 per cent loss of value in his shares over the last 12 months could not have been predicted.

Describing his fortune as being "hit by the earthquake of the global financial crisis", he is trying to claw back some of the £11 million he was ordered to pay his wife of 27 years, Ingrid.

If the 50-year-old is successful, the case could pave the way for scores of previously successful businessmen to use the credit crisis to appeal divorce settlements.

Mrs Myerson, 48, tanned and wearing a pink jacket and scarf, was in court with her legal team led by Nicholas Mostyn QC, who represented Paul McCartney in his bitter divorce from Heather Mills.

Her South African-born ex-husband decided to stay away as the apparent collapse of his finances was aired in public at the High Court.

The couple got married in December 1982, had a daughter and two sons, but divorced in February last year.

Read

 

Bridgez

After taking a break from her music career to find a new management team, Bridgett Roache is now singing her way back.

After bursting on to the local scenes in 2006 with the single Best Friend, then recording I'm In Like and Not In Love, Bridgez, as she is more popularly known, is seeking to pick up where she left off.

"Well, I took a break to sort out some management issues. I am now looking forward to bigger and better things," Roache told THE STAR.

"At the moment, I am working with Flava from No Doubt Records, and things are going quite well; we really understand each other," she added.

Ever smiling

The ever-smiling artiste recently released a single in Germany and Japan. The song, titled So Fine, features Snow Cone and was done on his self-titled label.

The single will also be featured on the compilation album Reggae Dancehall Nature, which also features songs from Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Spragga Benz and Vegas, among a host of other artistes on the Snow Cone Productions Label.

Reggae Dancehall Nature Volume One will be first of the five volumes to be released.

Her latest single, Come On Home, features singing sensation Lukie D of the group LUST.

"The song is all about love. It's just saying, hey, no matter what happened between us in the past, let's just put it behind us and move on together," she said.

The Best Friend singer, however, knows that making it big won't be an easy feat to achieve, but she is prepared for whatever challenges may arise.

"I am aware that there will always be challenges, the first of those will be to please the listeners, especially here in Jamaica. The away crowd is always easier to please," said the Merlgrove High graduate.

Very memorable

Roache said one of her most memorable moments in her career was hearing her single, Take My Breath Away, playing on air.

"I cried tears of joy when I heard it for the first time. That's what most new artistes dream of, especially while shooting the video for it. Also when it peaked at number eight on the Cross Caribbean Countdown on Tempo, on which it stayed for over two months (was very memorable)," Roache said with obvious joy in her voice.

On the flip side, Roache spends her time away from the studio writing poetry, shopping and hanging out with friends.

"When I'm not in studio, I am with friends or just chilling doing things that I love," she emphasised.

( L - R ) Tikki, Tattoo - Contributed photos

 

A BIG rags-to-riches story is in the making in the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall competition should Poor and Boasty continue riding his determination horse out of hard-luck boulevard to the top of success heights.

At Saturday's Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall elimination show, staged at Weekendz, Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, Poor and Boasty, performing with a windshield wiper in one hand and microphone in the other, made his life story into a musical journey which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

He spoke of life in poverty, wiping windshields for a living and his determination to ensure that his young daughter gets the best opportunity that life has to offer.

Born a star

Proud and Boasty

So impressed were the judges that Miss Kitty remarked: "You were born a star."

Merciless, another of the judges, said Poor and Boasty was obviously gifted and had an abundance of talent.

But Poor and Boasty was not the only one who had the audience rocking approvingly.

Tattoo, a princess who sported a multi-coloured wig, which she called "tek a gal man and nuh care," was a crowd favourite and so too were Destiny, Sexy K, Tiki and TGee.

Meanwhile, the other princes of the night were The Warrior, RC, Neckoteen and Mr Kruger.

The competition continues on Saturday when Jamaica will know which two princes and princesses will falter.

Kingston's female contestants Reggae Queen and Baby Glamorous were eliminated on Saturday, so too Montego Bay's prince Medal Tally and Triple Threat - the only group in the competition.