The trial court awarded her custody of the children and $2,142.87 a month in child support. It also awarded her a division of the marital property totaling more than $1.1 million and including a lump sum payment of $775,000.

Her attorneys argue that based on her lack of education and inability to earn income, the court abused its discretion by not awarding alimony and then ordering her and the children out of their $2.6 million home in Sandy Springs.

Everyone inside -- and outside -- the Beltway has been buzzing about what kind of bash Oprah Winfrey's going to throw to celebrate the Inauguration of the century. Sorry to disappoint you, folks, but it ain't happening.

We're told in no uncertain terms by Oprah's peeps -- she's not throwing a party during Obamafest. There had been loud whispers she would be hosting a shindig at her ex-personal chef Art Smith's new joint, Art and Soul, in the District.

The whispers only got louder when people who tried to get a reservation for Jan. 18-21 were turned away because, they said, the eatery was "bought out" during those dates.

Seems O will be concentrating on her show, which will be live from DC that week -- and keeping an eye on her own waistline.

Producer Sean 'Seanizzle' Reid says he would like to set the record straight and make it clear to the public that he is the one who created the Creepa rhythm and also produced Elephant Man's hit single Gully Creepa.

According to Seanizzle, there seemed to have been some misunderstanding in the streets, as persons thought it was Daseca who produced the song.

"From wah day since mi touch di road an' a campaign an' a tell people sey a me produce Gully Creepa,dem a sey if mi sure sey a me like a some clown ting, but right now, mi would a like fi mek di clarification," Seanizzle said.

Seanizzle, who has been in the music business professionally for four years, says he has created a number of other popular rhythms, including songs on the Stepfather rhythm (produced by Mr G), Fast Lane, a single on Buju Banton's Too Bad album, which was also produced by himself and Mr G and the Reverse rhythm, which featured songs like Beenie Man's Reverse Di Ting and Tony Matterhorn's Si Down Pon It.

A man accused of using an eight-year-old child to gain entry to a shop and rob it was granted bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Kevon Davis appeared to answer charges of shop-breaking and larceny.

Slipper found

Allegations are that on December 17, 2008, the accused and an eight-year-old boy broke into the complainant's shop and stole $500 worth of goods and phone cards. The police, acting on information and a slipper that was left at the scene, found the child.

The child allegedly told the police that the accused broke a window in the shop, pushed him through and told him to open the door and let him inside, where he stole the items.

However, Davis' attorney claimed that the child had been held for breaking into the shop several times in the past and had blamed other persons in the community for it.

Davis is a 21-year-old photographer from Padmore district in St Ann.

A conflict has once again developed between the Broadcasting Commission and popular talk show host, Dr Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart.

Yesterday, Stewart complained on air during his programme, 'Ragashanti Live', on Newstalk 93 FM, while the Commission issued a release about a b**** threat on its offices and reaffirming its commitment to policing the airwaves.

Stewart said he felt he was being treated unfairly by the commission, who had written to him (the station) about a soca song he had played during his show some time ago. He complained that the commission said the lyrics of the song were too sexual for the airwaves, but that songs of a similar nature were being allowed on air elsewhere.

B**** Squad

While on air, Stewart threatened to walk off the programme if he did not have the support of his manager. He even told listeners that he was unsure if he would be on air today, as he had a meeting with his manager to discuss the issue following the show. Efforts to get a comment from the station or Stewart up to news time were unsuccessful.

Yesterday, the commission also sent out a press release stating that it had received a b**** threat at 12:21 p.m. "The caller used expletives and alleged that the commission was threatening to remove the host of the Newstalk 93 FM programme, 'Ragashanti Live' ... and in return, action would be taken against the commission, specifically that a b**** had been planted at its office to be detonated in the afternoon," the release said.

As a result of the threat, the commission's New Kingston offices were evacuated and that of some of business places nearby, while the Police B**** Squad were called in to investigate the threat. After no b**** was found the all clear was given. The police are now investigating the matter.

A man who was allegedly beaten with a gun and a machete and tied up with telephone wire said he was rescued by police after he managed to escape and call Operation Kingfish.

Kerry Walker, the man accused of the attack, was granted $50,000 bail with surety by Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown, who then transferred the matter to the gun court.

The Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court heard Tuesday that the complainant was attending university and boarded at the accused man's premises and was responsible for paying the bills. The complainant alleged that the accused man and his girlfriend began to have problems and that he blamed the complainant for being the cause of those problems.

Slapped with a gun

The complainant alleged that he was at home when the accused and his friends came to the house. Walker allegedly used a gun to slap him in the face while his friends used a machete to slap him all over his back, causing bruises. The complainant was then allegedly tied up with telephone wire and left at the house.

However, he managed to free himself enough to call Operation Kingfish, which sent a contingent of police and soldiers, who rescued him. Following police investigations, Walker was arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and illegal possession of firearm.

Mob beats man to death

Twenty-five-year-old Willard Whittle, otherwise called 'Jubby,' of Nugent Street, Spanish Town, and Kitson Town, both in St Catherine, was beaten to death by a mob after he was accused of stealing cellular phones from a home in the community on Tuesday.

Reports are that about 11 a.m. Whittle was painting a house at Nugent Street when he was accused of stealing cellular phones. He was held and severely beaten by a group of persons. Members of the community went to his rescue and he was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he died while being treated.

A couple caught attempting to smuggle more than 2.3 kilograms (5lb) of ganja out of the island in the handles of their suitcases was remanded in custody when they appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Robert Cunningham of Paradise in Montego Bay, St James, pleaded guilty to possession of, dealing in and attempting to export ganja. His girlfriend, Cynthia Woolery of a Westmoreland address, pleaded not guilty.

Defence attorney, H. Charles Johnson, made a submission to the court that the charges against Woolery be withdrawn because she knew nothing about the drugs. He added that Cunningham had said he was responsible.

He was, however, told "not so fast", as the court was told that Woolery was before the court in January last year for similar charges that resulted from similar allegations. This revelation was made after Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry said Woolery looked familiar.

RM Henry adjourned the matter until January 12, as the investigating officer in the matter was absent. RM Henry said she would make no decision about withdrawing the matters, especially in light of Woolery's previous conviction.

Tony Rebel - Colin Hamilton

It appears that on January 17, the atmosphere inside of Port Kaiser's Sport Club will be transformed into a roots musical frenzy when reggae icon Tony Rebel hosts his annual Rebel Salute.

The concert has been going on for 16 years and Rebel, who is well-known for his ground-breaking roots-reggae lyrics, told The STAR that the concert, dubbed 'The Caribbean's Largest One-night Roots Reggae Concert', will be entertaining and fans can expect a memorable night.

"It's going to be full of nice vibes. The show is 'edutainment' because it is for the family and it will be a spectacular vibes," said Rebel, born Patrick Barrett.

Good start

He continued: "Its a good start to the year for patrons to celebrate themselves, their colour and to enjoy the rest of the year."

The show will see a cluster of Jamaica's best and fastest-rising roots reggae artistes, including Capleton, Queen Ifrica, I-Wayne, Tarrus Riley, I-Octane and Chuck Fendah, who is expected to baptise the audience with the 'living' fire.

Undoubtedly, the appearances of the powerful Wailing Souls, John Holt, Gregory Isaacs, Leroy Sibbles, Luciano, Sanchez, Morgan Heritage and Horace Andy will add another impressive dimension to the show.

"To know that people have been enjoying the show for so long is great. The traditional, authentic music is what the people love.

"That is the most successful thing for me. The show appreciates every artiste. they don't have to have songs playing over the radio to be on Rebel Salute. As long as the people know what they are all about, then all they want is to enjoy it," said Rebel in a telephone interview with The STAR.

When asked why he chose to have his show so early in the year, Rebel said that this year the show will be making history for a number of reasons.

"Because Tony Rebel and Dr Martin Luther King Jr were born on the same day (January 15), we decided to keep the show on the closest Saturday to that day. It started from that reason and has now mushroomed into what it is now," said Rebel.

Headline

He added: "You know, Rebel Salute is a headline show. The music is clean, no alcohol and patrons will see the return of Wailing Souls, which has not performed in Jamaica for 25 years. Then we have Morgan Heritage, who will be performing the last time as a group.

"It will be unique in the sense that there is a black man in the White House and he will be celebrated on the 20th, so we have our own pre-celebration party here," he said.

Also, performances will come from Lady G, Tinga Stewart, Errol Dunkley, Silverstones, Leroy Gibbons, and Beenie Man.

Asked why, after 15 years, he has billed Beenie Man for Rebel Salute 16, Rebel said: "Beenie Man always wanted to perform on Rebel Salute. He is often in the audience of Rebel Salute and sometimes touchs the stage.

Police Constable Andrew Rhooms has been freed by a Home Circuit Court jury of the murder of 31-year-old taxi driver, Clarence Fogoe.

Fogoe was fatally shot on January 31, 2003 in Greenwich Town, Kingston 12.

Defence lawyer, Oswest Senior-Smith, in addressing the jury, told them to free Rhooms because he had fired his service revolver in self-defence.

Senior-Smith also submitted that from the Crown's case, Rhooms and another policeman fired in self-defence and the Crown had not established who fired the fatal shot.

The jury retired for two hours before making the decision.

Justice Roy Jones presided at the trial, which began on December 8 and had to be adjourned from December 22 to January 5 to allow the jurors time for the holidays.

The Michaelmas session, which began on September 16, 2008, should have ended on December 19. However, the murder case caused the session to be extended until the jury handed down the verdict Tuesday. The new session opened on January 7.

Evidence was given at the trial that on January 31, 2003, the police were conducting a spot check at the intersection of Maxfield Avenue and Delacree Road, Kingston 13.

Disobeyed policemen

Fogoe, who was carrying several passengers, disobeyed policemen who signalled him to stop. He allegedly tried to hit one of the policemen.

The police gave chase and Fogoe was forced to stop when he came upon a roadblock in Greenwich Town. Evidence was given that Rhooms and another policeman were travelling in a motor car; Rhooms was armed with a service revolver while the other cop had an M16 rifle.

The Crown called 13 witnesses to testify at the trial. During the trial, Senior-Smith asked the judge to call a Crown witness.

The witness, who said he was a mason, testified that on the day of the incident, he was working at a house in Greenwich Town. He said after the motor car stopped at the roadblock, he saw a policeman, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, exit the vehicle with a long gun. He said the policeman then opened fire.

Cross-examined by Senior-Smith, the witness said he heard gunshots and after that he saw a motor vehicle approach the blockade. He said a man came out of the car and the man had his hand in the air and was turning around when the policeman fired at him.

One of the witnesses for the Crown testified that Fogoe had exited the car and was running when he was shot. Some witnesses said that he had his hands in the air when the police fired. Another witness said he saw Rhooms and another policeman firing at Fogoe.

Shot in the back of the head

The Crown was not able to establish which of the two policemen shot Fogoe in the back of the head.

Rhooms gave an unsworn statement from the dock in which he said that when Fogoe's motor car stopped at the roadblock in Greenwich Town, persons from the motor car fired shots at the police.

Rhsooms said he returned the fire and took cover behind the police service vehicle in which he was travelling. He said sometime after, he saw a man, who turned out to be the cab driver, Fogoe, lying on the ground.

LAWYERS for embattled former junior energy minister, Kern Spencer, are expected to vigourously contest the prosecution's decision to drop the charges against co-accused Rodney 'Andrew' Chin Jnr, in order to use him as a crown witness in the Cuban light bulb trial.

According to a source close to the case, serious fireworks and "hell" can be expected on Monday when the prosecution is expected to announce its decision in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court.

The Observer source groused that it was not right for the charges against Chin to be dropped after he admitted to wrongdoing.

A third defendant, Coleen Wright, Kern's former executive assistant and supervisor at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, is also to stand trial on Monday.

All three defendants were arrested and charged in February as a result of a criminal probe into the handling of a gift of four million Cuban light bulbs, which reportedly cost taxpayers well over $100 million to be distributed.

Contracts to Chin's company, the managing director of Universal Management Company and Caribbean Communications and Media Network Ltd, are at the centre of the controversy.

Chin was at the centre of another controversy in November last year when it became public that his company, Chin's Construction Limited, had landed a Government contract to repair drains and gullies, while he was still facing criminal charges.

Hibbert

CONTRACTOR GENERAL Greg Christie has earned the ire of attorney-at-law Ernest Smith, after opening an investigation into State Minister Joseph Hibbert's actions in connection with British firm Mabey and Johnson.

Smith, a Government backbencher and private counsel to Hibbert, has labelled the contractor general "irresponsible", and warned that his overly enthusiastic behaviour would cause him to "one day digest the venom of his own spleen".

"I don't say that he is not a good person in his job, but he has become so enthusiastic that he does not verify his facts before he issues statements," Smith told The Gleaner yesterday.

The Office of the Contractor General (OCG) yesterday announced that it has commenced a formal investigation into allegations of corruption and irregularity that are related to bridge-building contracts that were awarded to Mabey and Johnson Limited while Hibbert was the chief technical director in the transport and works ministry.

The OCG's investigation will be directed primarily at determining the precise role, if any, played by Hibbert, the Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew and state minister in the Ministry of Transport and Works; and businessman Deryck A Gibson, in the facilitation, procurement, awarding, implementation, execution and/or variation of some contracts.

Double checking

The OCG is also to determine whether there is any merit to allegations that questionable payments, totalling millions of United States dollars, were made or transferred by Mabey and Johnson to certain specified persons and/or into certain bank accounts in relation to the contracts.

Christie's office said information received from the Jamaica Constabulary Force suggests that several of the alleged referenced payments were made to, for the benefit of, and/or on the account of Hibbert between 1993 and 2003.

However, Smith feels the contractor general's statement was unfair to his client and government colleague, whose integrity he said has now been questioned.

"The contractor general is very irresponsible. For him to cast those kinds of aspersions and innuendoes at our client, he is very irresponsible and downright out of order, and his release demonstrates the greatest degree of insensitivity and irresponsibility," Smith said.

Homes raided

It is alleged that individuals benefited improperly from association with the bridge-building company. As part of a fraud investigation, members of Britain's Serious Fraud Office visited Jamaica and raided the homes of Hibbert and Gibson.

Smith claims Hibbert has been a victim of crooks who used his name to defraud Mabey and Johnson and send the money to bank accounts in some far away land.

"As far as my client, Minister Joseph Hibbert, is concerned, and based on what has been shown to me, Mr Hibbert has not breached nor is he a party to any act of corruption, directly or indirectly," Smith said.

According to Smith, documents supplied by the British investigators indicate that money was transferred to accounts that did not belong to Hibbert.

No comment

Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, who is in charge of the local police investigation, refused to say what evidence before him caused him to refer the matter to the contractor general.

"I will not say more than what is contained in the release by the contractor general," Green told The Gleaner yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Spokesman on Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, has called for Prime Minister Bruce Golding to relieve Hibbert of his ministerial duties.

"While a determination of Mr Hibbert's guilt or innocence is ultimately the responsibility of the courts, he should be relieved of his ministerial responsibilities to remove any appearance or perception of interference," Pickersgill said.

Joe Francis and Larry Flynt claim the economy has made America's sexual appetite go limp, so they're going to the one place where sex is always rampant -- Congress.

Flynt (the "Hustler" guy) and Francis (the "Girls Gone Wild" dude) are asking the government for a $5 billion bailout, claiming the adult entertainment industry has taken a huge shot to the face because of the downturn -- citing the fact that XXX DVD sales are down 22% from a year ago.

"With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind," Flynt says. "It's time for Congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America."

Francis sees his industry like the big 3 automakers, only BIGGER: "Congress seems willing to help shore up our nation's most important businesses; we feel we deserve the same consideration."

Francis says he's going to D.C. to personally make the pitch. Sounds like someone has a bone to pick.

A teenager who shot and killed a New York security guard who confronted egg-throwing youths on Halloween has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

A judge imposed the second-degree murder sentence Monday on 19-year-old Nyanda Charley of Mount Vernon.

Charley had admitted to shooting 52-year-old Neville Webb on Halloween in 2007. The guard had tried to chase off a group of youths throwing eggs near the Mount Vernon apartment complex where he was working.

FRIENDS INDEED Strong performances at Shaggy's benefit concert

( L - R ) Nuffy, Mavado - Nathaniel Stewart photos

Popular MC Nuffy says he wants a public apology from dancehall artiste Mavado.

The MC is upset, claiming that Mavado wrongfully accused him of bias on CVM TV's On Stage which was aired on January 3.

This followed the highly publicised lyrical clash between Mavado and Vybz Kartel at Sting, which was held on December 26 at Jamworld Entertainment Centre, Portmore.

"I heard Mavado saying that me and Vybz Kartel set him up (at Sting). Him seh me Nuffy call him on 15 minutes before him even reach the venue. Me woulda like fi know weh him get dat argument from," Nuffy told The STAR.

"Mi need a public apology from Mavado. And, if him don't do it mi know seh him have something against me."

Is fi him problem

As one of the hosts of the event, Nuffy said he was simply working off the instructions given by the stage manager.

"Mi nuh deh pon no man side, mi a nuh Alliance, me a nuh (Portmore) Empire. Him need fi go sort out him thing wid him and Vybz Kartel. Is not my problem, is fi him problem," Nuffy said.

The STAR tried to contact Mavado for a comment several times yesterday but was unsuccessful.

However, his manager Julian-Jones-Griffith said he was unaware of the accusations.

No man draw mi inna dem thing

But MC Nuffy is concerned about his safety.

"Mi nuh want no man draw mi inna dem thing. Mi feel cut up over it 'cause Mavado have him fans and I am a public figure. A serious thing 'cause mi can deh a road and people see mi and seh Nuffy a try disrespect the gully gaad (in reference to Mavado)," Nuffy told The STAR.

While that is the case, Jones-Griffith said Nuffy has nothing to worry about.

"Nobody nah do Nuffy nutten man. Ah him a prolong it now and fi bring it back inna di media. And it's time everybody moved on from Sting, a last year thing dat," Jones-Griffith told The STAR.

"We and Nuffy a fren, a wi brethren. A Bounty (Killer) buss Nuffy. Mavado been telling his fans not to follow-up the clashing thing in the streets."

Mad Bwoy on the road to success

Mad Bwoy - Contributed

With a unique style, Frederick Manderson says that he has one thing on his mind ... success.

"My style is different. I have an international appeal and the drive for success," Manderson told The Star recently.

The artiste, based in New Hampshire, in the United States of America, is seeking to make a name for himself locally and that has brought him to the island to promote his music.

Originally from Port Maria, in St Mary, Manderson, who goes by the name Mad Bwoy, developed the love for music from his older brother, Kashif Downs.

Main influence

"Music has been a part of me from birth," said Manderson. "Being around my brother helped me to hone the skills I now have. He is the main influence in my decision to pursue music as a career," he added.

Manderson said that he has been enjoying the reception he has received overseas and hopes to have the same impact in Jamaica.

After releasing his first video for his song Shake It Baby, featuring American singer Heather May, Manderson said he has been gaining much more recognition and popularity and is hoping that it will give him the necessary exposure he is seeking.

The ambitious artiste said, other than recording, he sees himself venturing into other areas of the business.

Goals

"Right now I see myself doing some choreography. I also want to test my hands at producing and to take some lessons in playing the piano and the guitar," said Manderson.

Having also recorded songs such as Dance Floor, Don't Leave and She Likes It, Manderson, who is signed to Garrison Entertainment Records, said that he is looking forward to the future and is working hard at achieving all his goals.

This week he will be shooting his second video for a song, Wining Round and Round,on the Cashflow Label.

Genesis Festival 2009 delivers impressive line-up

Buff Bay, Portland - Christopher Clarke, the 31-year-old mechanic and driver of the market truck that plunged over the ravine at Dam Bridge in the Rio Grande Valley on December 19, 2008 killing 14 persons, was offered $1 million bail yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court here by Justice Marjorie Moyston.

Clarke was charged on Monday by the Port Antonio police with 14 counts of manslaughter, driving without insurance, operating contrary to a driver's licence, and failing to report an accident.

Clarke, who had fled the accident scene, turned himself in to the police on December 30. He was accompanied by his attorney, Carl McDonald.

Yesterday, Clarke, who had a heavy bandage on the fourth finger on his left hand, stood in the dock as McDonald tried hard to have the manslaughter charge dropped by arguing that his client was not a reckless or negligent driver but that the road was defective.

McDonald told the court that at the identification parade two of the survivors showed support for Clarke. One, he said, "hugged him tight" and the other "refused to take part in
the parade".

He stated that the section of the road where the accident occurred is "significantly narrow" and his client had stopped the truck to allow a car to pass when the left back wheel of the truck went over the edge and the vehicle fell backward, due to the weight of the load.

The truck was transporting approximately 20 vendors and their produce from Portland to Kingston.

McDonald tried to convince the judge that the only evidence that can be used is that of Balford Richards, who, he insisted, was the sole passenger in the front seat of the truck at the time of the accident.

McDonald also stated that his client did not flee the scene of the accident, rather "panic set in, and he sought assistance from his sister to turn himself in".

The clerk of court pointed out that the case file was not ready but McDonald was not happy as he said statements were collected and they could have been copied and presented to him as they do not necessarily have to be typed.

In addition to the bail, Justice Moyston ordered that Clarke surrender his travel documents and report to the Port Antonio Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm.

However, McDonald pointed out to the court that his client's passport has expired.

Clarke is still in custody and is to return to court on January 14.

Damn, yall, a black mans life was worth less than the spent cartridge used to end it out in Cali as police put a cap in him while he was lying on the ground:

Law enforcement officials urged patience while they investigated details surrounding the fatal New Years Day shooting of a 22-year-old man by a transit agency police officer.

Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Chief Gary Gee said on Sunday that the agency is committed to completing an unbiased, thorough and detailed investigation of the shooting death of Oscar Grant.

This case is not even four days cold. Were in the early stages of the investigation and we will do a very thorough job, he said.

Several unanswered questions remained after BART officers went to Oaklands Fruitvale station to investigate reports of a supposed brawl on a train on which Grant was riding around 2 a.m. Thursday.

A friend of Grants who was with him on the crowded Oakland train station platform at the time of the shooting said Grant pleaded with officers not to harm him.

Oscar yelled, You shot me! I got a four-year-old daughter, said Fernando Anicete. Oscar was telling us to calm down and we did. We werent looking for any trouble.

Anicete was among more than 50 people attending a tearful news conference in Oakland on Sunday where Grants family announced they planned to file a $25 million claim against the Bay Area Rapid Transit agency this week. A claim is the first step in the process of suing the agency.

The familys attorney John Burris said the shooting was intentional, and that he planned to ask Alameda County prosecutors to seek criminal charges against the officer. Burris said Grant, of Hayward, Calif., posed no threat to officers when a bullet entered his back and ricocheted to his lung area, killing him almost instantly.

You gotta be f*cking kidding that the police out in Cali are still executing blacks and other minorities with no regard. This is some bullsh*t and were glad the family is seeking retribution. R.I.P. young brother.

Click here to see the disturbing footage of the actual shooting.

Some sad pics remembering Oscar below.

On January 19th, BDR is hosting the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball featuring T.I., LLCool J and Jeezy:

Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Valeisha Butterfield and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) have partnered with Heineken and Myspace Music to sponsor the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball. Simmons HSAN is hosting the star-studded black tie gala, in honor of President-elect Barack Obamas historic inauguration.

Superstars T.I., Young Jeezy, and LL Cool J will co-host the event with Russell Simmons, who emphasized the importance of young adults voting power in Obamas 2008 run. The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball will be a fantastic gala and upscale party in celebration of Barack Obama being inaugurated President of the United States, Simmons explained. We are also recognizing the outstanding contributions of T.I., LL Cool J, and Young Jeezy in helping turn out the largest young adult vote in history.

Given that this is a Russell Simmons joint, we dont expect any thuggery to go down. Fortunately, Bossip will be there to cover the event, so stay tuned for a full report of all the action.

A placard placed at the entrance to the Vauxhall High School, east Kingston, after an earlier protest by parents and students over the dismissal of Angela Chaplain as principal of the institution. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Education Minister Andrew Holness has recommended that the dispute over the firing of the Vauxhall High School principal Angela Chaplain be referred to the Appeals Tribunal.

The dismissal sparked a demonstration by students and teachers outside the school gate yesterday.

The island's two principals' associations also expressed concern over the sudden dismissal of Chaplain, saying the reasons given for the termination of her employment do not warrant such drastic action.

According to a letter addressed to Chaplain in December, after six years as headmistress, her service was terminated because of professional misconduct, failure to respond to a request by the school board about the school's roster in a timely manner, tardiness in carrying out the board's request to make appraisals available and failure to attend a personnel committee meeting, among other things.

"We want due process to take place. If there are other reasons, they should be investigated but these do not necessitate such action," Michael Stewart, immediate past president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Tribunal bound

The Gleaner understands that Chaplain was given the termination letter days before December 31, 2008, when the tenure of the board expired.

"I am recommending that the matter be taken to the tribunal," Holness told The Gleaner yesterday.

On Monday, he appointed a new board for the Winward Road-based Vauxhaul High School in Kingston.

The education minister said the leadership of principals was critical to the development of the school, adding that he was aware that there were instances when boards and principals do not agree on certain issues.

As a result, Holness said the Ministry of Education would be examining the relationship between boards and principals.

In the meantime, he has sought to assure principals that he would ensure that school boards act in accordance with the Education Code.

A joint release from Albert Corcho, the president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals of Secondary Schools, and Nadine Molloy, the president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, said the Education Act clearly outlines the procedure involved in the termination of an educator's service.

"With this in mind, we now await the details concerning the case. We must allow for due process," said the release from the presidents.

HINDS... I am done talking to the NWC

    He says he has also written to the prime minister and the health minister with the concerns, in an effort to get help for the problem, which is affecting residents in nearby communities.

    According to Hinds, the recent discovery of a case of malaria at the Caymanas Park is reason enough to put pressure on the water company as the poorly maintained ponds breed mosquitoes which make residents' lives unbearable.

    "We have been talking to the NWC for quite some time and to be honest I am done talking to them. I am now writing to the prime minister [Bruce Golding] and the minister of health [Ruddy Spencer]," Hinds told the Observer. "I just need them to come in and clean those ponds. I am giving them until the 31st of January to clean them and after that [if they are not cleaned] they are going to have hell to pay."

    He added: "The lilies are overgrown and the mosquitoes don't live in the water, they live on the lilies. There has to be maintenance because we are talking about 24 ponds that are filled with crocodiles and there is a primary school on one side, a basic school on one side, a high school on the other side..."

    Although there has been only one confirmed case of malaria in the area, Hinds said he suspects there are at least four more.

    "I have told the public health (department) about what I have heard and I am expecting them to investigate this matter," Hinds said.

    When contacted last Friday, the NWC's corporate public relations manager, Charles Buchanan, refused to comment on the matter.

    In 2006, responding to similar questions, Buchanan told the Observer that a lack of resources had hampered the NWC's ability to adequately maintain the sewage treatment plants.

    "The NWC has never had the kind of revenue to enable it to upgrade and maintain the infrastructure to meet the highest standard," he said then.

    Meanwhile, Councillor Leon Thomas (People's National Party - Hellshire Division) said he has been appealing to the NWC for years to clean the ponds which he said have overflowed into nearby communities on several occasions.

    "The ponds have not been cleaned for some time now. They cut the bush round the pond, but they don't clean it," he told the Observer. "We have experienced cases where the sewage water has overflowed its banks and is backing up into the community. It affects 2 East, 2 West, 3 West and 3 East especially, and the stench from it goes as far as 2 North. The people up there said when the breeze blows the stench is unbearable. And then we have two basic schools, one primary school and one high school in close proximity, about 100 yards from the ponds."

    Thomas was particularly concerned that students who have just returned to school from the Christmas break, will have to contend with the stench from the ponds.

    He said the residents felt betrayed as there was a 90 per cent compliance rate in the municipality in terms of customers who pay their water bills.

    "The community is not getting value for its money," he said, adding that at least 50 per cent of the pumps in the sewage ponds are not functioning.

A 54-year-old male resident of the Spanish Town Infirmary yesterday died after he was allegedly stabbed by another inmate during an early morning fight.

Police have identified the dead man as Rocky Thomas, while his alleged killer - a crippled, 78-year-old man whose identity they have withheld - was taken into custody for questioning.

Police process the scene where 54-year-old Rocky Thomas collapsed and died after he was allegedly stabbed by another resident at the Spanish Town Infirmary in St Catherine yesterday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

According to the police, Thomas was stabbed once in his groin and succumbed to his injuries minutes later at about 5:30 am.

The police alleged that on Monday night Thomas threatened to kill the accused, who staff at the infirmary said suffers from arthritis and is unable to walk.

Thomas, they said, was however surprised when he allegedly returned early yesterday morning and tried to strangle the man who pulled a knife and stabbed him.

Thomas then ran into another room on the male dormitory where he collapsed and died, police said.

Mayor of Spanish Town Andrew Wheatley described the incident as a very sad and surprising one. He said it was the first such incident at the infirmary.

"It is really surprising to us 'cause none of our patients had any history of committing any violent attacks. It is really strange and it is a very sad day in the life of the infirmary," said Wheatley.

"We have already started counselling some of the staff members and other residents at the infirmary who might have been traumatised by the incident. At this time, however, we are waiting on the police to carry out their investigations into the details of the incident," he added, noting that he will be looking at ways to prevent a recurrence.

Yesterday, workers at the infirmary, including the house matron who refused to give her name, declined to speak to the media about the incident.

Spanish Town

An argument over a Wrizzler is reported to be the cause of death of one resident and the arrest and charge with murder of another at the Spanish Town Infirmary on Tuesday.

Reports are that about 5 a.m., staff at the Monk Street institution saw the body of Rocky Thomas, 54, with a wound to his right leg. Further investigations revealed that Thomas was in a tussle with 78-year-old Roland Stevens when a knife was used to stab him in the leg.

The infirmary's matron, Hilda Richards, said both men had differences: "I heard that Rocky went to Mr Stevens bedside and they had a quarrel that turned into a fight and it was then that Rocky was stabbed. He was found later in a pool of *lo**," she said, adding that there are 143 residents at the institution and the situation had affected them badly.

Police said Stevens has since been taken into custody on a charge of murder.

Thomas' death brings to five the number of deaths in St Catherine North Division since the start of 2009.

Rosemary Brown migrated from Jamaica to Canada when she was 19 years old to study at McGill University.

Brown's commemorative stamp is one of two to be issued by Canada Post for Black History Month in February.

Brown, who died at age 72 in 2003, was the first black woman elected to public office in Canada when she won a seat in the British Columbia legislature for the New Democratic Party in 1972.

Racism Canadian-style

In her 1989 autobiography, Being Brown: A Very Public Life, Brown said she encountered "racism Canadian-style - polite, denied and accepted".

Her experience in Canada was not what she expected. She could not find anyone at McGill to share accommodations with just because she was black. Brown had to be in a room by herself.

"Despite the fact that that particular form of racial discrimination worked in my favour economically, it made me angry, and my anger was compounded by my frustration," she wrote.

However, Brown refused to be pigeonholed because of her colour.

She obtained her bachelor of arts degree in 1955 and worked at the Montreal Children's Hospital before leaving to live with her husband in Vancouver.

Munro College student dies in crash, brother in stable condition

Corporate Area bus commuters could be caught up in a conflict between the Ministry of Transport and Works and private bus franchisee, National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS), if a dispute over fees is not settled by next week.

Efforts by the NTCS to get an extension of its sub-franchise to operate in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR), which expired at the end of December, have been stalled by its failure to pay licence fees dating back to August 2008.

In a release yesterday, the ministry said that consent given to the NTCS by the Government-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to operate in the KMTR will not be renewed until the fees are paid.

The ministry is also concerned that the NTCS is disputing the amount owed to the JUTC, and has failed to produce the audited financial statements required as a condition of the extension of the licences.

At a meeting yesterday between the parties, which also involved representatives of the Attorney-General's Department and the Transport Authority (TA), the ministry insisted that the NTCS must pay up ahead of any possible extension of its licences.

"While we need them as part of the overall transport arrangement in the KMTR, they cannot be allowed to be a law unto themselves," the ministry's communications consultant, Reginald Allen, commented last night.

NTCS executives could not be contacted for a response but it is understood that following the firm stand taken by the ministry yesterday, the co-operative has indicated that it will seek to meet the conditions laid down by the ministry prior to another meeting expected early next week.

The NTCS is said to owe the JUTC and the TA at least $17 million in outstanding sub-franchise fees. The ministry also wants the co-operative to fulfil its other obligations by the end of the month.

"The meeting culminated with the NTCS being advised to make the payment as a basis for consideration of an extension of the expired licences, with the financial statements being also insisted upon by the ministry team," the release from the ministry said.

Allen said that the JUTC, which has the exclusive operating franchise for the KMTR, has been mandated by minister of transport and works, Mike Henry, to have the matter resolved quickly, failing which the law will run its course.

Henry has said that his ministry is awaiting the outcome of the NTCS' case against the Government in the United Kingdom Privy Council in respect of the co-operative's transport franchise operations to make more permanent decisions on public transportation policy in the KMTR.