The streets are buzzing with talk that Vybz Kartel and the Portmore Empire have rekindled animosities with Mavado on a new single called Weh Dem a Go on the Day Rave riddim. Mavado's song is called Real Killa.

It sounds like a diss song because it is a counteraction to Mavados song on the same riddim, sort of what they did on the Daybreak Riddim. The streets love it, dem play it at a dance in the country and the place buss wid the tunes dem. This new yute Jah Vinchi ah go dun the place, one Portmore Empire insider told one876entertainment.com

Jah Vinchi, formerly a member of 357 Records, is the newest member of the Portmore Empire. In the past he recorded c****ination singles with Anthony B and T.O.K. but now it appears that he is ready to go into the big times since hooking up with the Empire. He has recorded a slew of songs with Vybz Kartel and his sick, signature vocals have been creating a buzz in the Dancehall Game. The kid, whose real name is Andre Rhoden, is a beast.

Jah Vinchi ah go come tek the place, dog. Him sick, him have a new sound that ah go rock Jamaica, Vybz Kartel said of Jah Vinchi.

Jah Vinchi sings in his distinctive voice: dem shoulda memba say the askella spray/where dem a go wid dem Chiney K?

Kartel chimes in with ah deadly reminder: 'mi get rifle ah USA'. And The Teacha's sick rhymes like: from mi small, mi skin cat and kill dawg/p--hole, yu coulda thick like Bling Dawg/mi ah go rise up the rifle dem from Big Yard.

In his response, Mavado promises that he will 'kill them without chorus', and says that rifle shot ah bite like dem bees.

Jah Vinchi was inspired to get involved in the music business after his brother died tragically. He was a member of a church at the time of his brothers death, but found himself trying to make sense of the awful tragedy by writing gospel songs, but the pain lingered still.

But now that this young man is out, the world better pay attention. He is hungry and the latest protégé of The Teacha himself, Vybz Kartel. Jah Vinchi plans to paint the world in the colours from his palette and there isn t a damn thing anybody can do about it. Now you know.

 

 

Women flock to STAR of the month Elephant Man not only for his reputed 'anaconda', but also for his skills in the kitchen.

Elephant Man explained, as THE STAR stopped by the Q45 studio on Burlington Avenue last Monday, "this is why all the ladies like mi. When they up in the morning and in their bed and I go bap bap in the kitchen, I'm the king of the kitchen."

The 'king of the kitchen' served rice and peas, fricassée chicken and vegetables, topped off with freshly made juice. For Elephant Man, who cooks at the studio on a regular basis, it was just another day in the kitchen with friends awaiting his well-prepared meal.

When THE STAR arrived at the studio, the artiste had already started cooking the rice and peas, he had seasoned the chicken and was preparing to fry the chicken.

He proudly said, "di man dem in di yard know seh mi a di top chef, two times a week dem beg mi fi cook, sometimes dem haffi pay mi." Ele chopped up the onions, potatoes, sweet peppers and the Scotch bonnet peppers while he gave THE STAR team a cooking lesson.

lil wayne & 50cent please u decide now

POLICE in the St Andrew North Division believe they have nabbed the last two suspects of a gang of four who held up a police constable at gunpoint along a main road near Milk River, Clarendon last Friday.

According to head of crime for the division, Inspector Altermoth 'Parra' Campbell, the two - who both hail from Red Hills in St Andrew - were arrested during a spot check in that community on Saturday night.

A relative of one of the men was also arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Campbell said that the men are believed to be those who narrowly escaped death when the constable, who had stopped to take a break at the side of the road, opened fire killing their cronies in the botched robbery attempt.

According to Constable Camay Watson, Constabulary Communication Network liaison officer for Clarendon, shortly after 11:00 pm, the four men pulled up behind the constable's car, two of them brandished guns and ordered that he hand over his car keys and money.

The constable, however, refused and opened fire hitting the two. The others, the police said, sped off leaving the dying men behind.

One of the dead men, police said, had earlier that day had his bail extended when he appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's court on charges of illegal possession of firearm and robbery with aggravation.

"We believe that it was these same men who tried to rob the policeman. We also believe that they are the same persons who have been carrying out a string of robberies, rapes and other gun crimes in sections of Red Hills, Lawrence Tavern and other areas in the division," said Campbell.

Campbell said the men, who were stopped in the a blue Toyota Corolla motor car similar to the one used in the attack on the lawman, were on Sunday taken to Red Hills where one of the dead man's house was searched.

"During that search army fatigue and other uniforms like those used by the (Jamaica Constabulary Force) Mobile Reserve were found," Campbell told the Observer.

He said that an uncle of one of the deceased was arrested after he was seen leaving the premises with a suspicious-looking bag which allegedly contained a home-made shotgun loaded with a live round.

Back together again?Is Beenie and D'Angel reconciling? Bwoy all now everybody a talk bout di comment whey she meck a Summer Sizzle bout what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Is she sending us a message here? Well meck wi si nuh, cause nuff people curious, dem caan wait fi si wha a guh really happen.

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CINCINNATI -- A 71-year-old Cincinnati preacher was on his way to church when he allegedly waved a gun at another motorist and cursed at her.
The preacher, Thomas Howell, claims that the woman cut him off. Howell testified in court that he has a gun and permit but denied ever removing the weapon from its holster.
But a judge sided with the woman, who said the preacher threatened to shoot her and called her names as their cars chased each other.
Howell has been convicted of aggravated menacing. He could get up to six months in jail on the misdemeanor charge when he's sentenced next month.

Sprinter Tyson Gay of the United States works out during a training session at the Beijing 2008 Olympics yesterday

US sprinter Tyson Gay said he is "injury-free" after completing a workout yesterday in which he showed no obvious signs of discomfort from the hamstring he hurt last month.

"I feel confident about today," Gay said as he left the track at the US Olympic training centre at Beijing Normal University. "I've been looking for an indicator to let me know where my confidence is going to be at, and I think today let me know that.

"I'm happy with today's workout: injury-free, no pain."

Gay, the defending world champion in the 100 and 200 metres, had to wait almost an hour to start his workout due to a heavy downpour of rain and lightning. He did some light jogging before completing sprints of 60, 80 and 100 metres during a workout that was open to reporters.

-- Edited by alligcold at 16:53, 2008-08-13

Dear Pastor,

I must say I am in need of some fatherly advice. I am a 25-year-old female with one child. I am HIV positive, but my child has tested negative. My problem is that I met a man who knows that I am HIV positive. He was really nice to me and he told me he was single and he wanted to be with me. He was really nice to me until one day a lady called me and told me she was his girlfriend and they were engaged. I couldn't believe how he lied to me. He was also there for me when I found out that I was HIV-positive.

Improper handling of weapons, being kept by the police for licensed firearm holders, has left the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) unable to trace more than 40 weapons to any particular owner. 

In an advertisement published in yesterday's Gleaner, the JCF requested that the owners of 81 firearms come in and retrieve their weapons from the Clarendon police.

However, checks by The Gleaner revealed that an error was made in the published advertisement, in which many of the weapons attributed to a particular person were, in fact, of unknown ownership.

Supt Dayton Henry, in charge of the Clarendon police, admitted that only 24 of the 81 advertised weapons could be attributed to a named owner.

Henry said the tags on many of the weapons were damaged, leaving the owners' names unrecognisable. 

Tags dry rot 

"The armoury is normally hot and, based on constant handling during the process of change of command of the division, when these firearms are checked off, the tags dry rot and disintegrate over a period of time," he said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Rose, head of the JCF Support and Services Branch, said the critical information for retrieval of a weapon from the police was the name and address of the owner.

Rose said a weapon would be destroyed if it remained unclaimed for some time after being advertised. 

Safe keeping 

The firearms advertised had been left in police custody after the owners surrendered them due to planned travel overseas. By law, a firearm must be turned in to the police for safe keeping if an owner ventures outside of the island. These firearms may also be placed in the custody of the police as the owners may have died and the weapons turned in by relatives.

Henry said the Clarendon division armoury was being overloaded with privately owned firearms, and that efforts to get them back to their owners was an attempt to create space in the facility.

Some of the listed firearms have been in the possession of the Clarendon police since the 1950s.

It's that time of the year once again when parents hustle feverishly to pay their children's school fees, purchase their books and uniforms and get them ready for the re-opening of school in September.

For many it will be a nightmare, with the perceived exorbitant increase in auxiliary fees, and the 20 per cent or more increase on school books and school uniforms. Add to it the fact that most parents will have less to spend this year, with an inflation rate of 20 per cent, and we have the recipe for 'bangarang.'

THE Ministry of Education is currently examining ways to transmit lessons to schools across the island via cable television, the Internet and even telephones as part of the e-learning Jamaica (e-Ljam) project, Education Minister Andrew Holness announced Tuesday.

The plans, if implemented, could see lessons taught by master teachers being transmitted to students in remote parts of the island, the minister indicated.

"We have seen some technologies that are promising but they still need to be tried and tested," the minister said. He said, however, that the ministry was not sure if some of the technologies were robust enough to give access.

The minister said there had been significant delays in getting the e-learning Jamaica project going because of problems with the contracts to get in the equipment, but said he had been reassured that the problems would be addressed soon.
Holness was speaking Tuesday at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between telecommunications giant Digicel and four tertiary institutions, which will see Digicel providing summer and graduate internship for students of the institutions, and mentorship for the students from Digicel executives.

Institutions signing the MOU were University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University and the University College of the Caribbean - which hosted the function.

Digital technology, electrical engineering, computer science, electronics and physics, marketing, finance and accounting are some of the areas on which the internship programme will concentrate, and it will result in full-time employment for some of the chosen candidates. The programme, which begins in the upcoming semester, will be open to students in at least the second year of their tertiary studies.

The e-Ljam project, which is being implemented in 186 learning institutions - most of them high schools - utilises information and communication technologies (ICT) to introduce new approaches to impart instruction, stimulate learning and deliver education to students.

The projected cost of the e-Learning project is US$50 million, and is made available through the Universal Access Fund (UAF), which is collected from a cess on international phone calls to Jamaica.

Well, Microsoft finally got SP3 out the door for you stubborn Vista-resistant XP users, and we're dying to know how you like it. That's right, you. See, our resident guinea pig intern hasn't felt any performance improvement, we've received tips from people who have seen a speed bump, and problems have cropped up as well -- we've heard reports of sporadic reboots and crashes, some of them AMD-related. But hey, forget all of them... how has SP3 changed your

-- Edited by selectorbyron at 19:47, 2008-05-12

    Yow wa unnu tink, unnu believe sey Gay aggo tek drugs so him can win di 100 metres. First him claim sey  him injured ,  an avoid  couple meets  an possibly testing. Now he wants the world to know he is in good shape, which could probably be an act so it doesn't look suspicious when or if he performs good enough to win. I am not saying he will, I just dont think those pple have any pride or honor when it comes to winning. Plus if yo pre when him (and previous dopers) a run instead of intense breathing, their muscles be contracting so hard yo wanda if a get dem get heavier and a strain fi carry dem body or dem a lift weights. Only steroids unnu know mek pple tense up an gwaan so?

Ah it a run di place now. Yeah man, thanks to things like TV and Internet, whether you live in a village in Vanuatu, the forests of Venezuela or a cabin in Callaloo Mews, you can log on, click on or turn on and enjoy a sense of almost 'being in Beijing'. Trust me, I'm really having fun and learning much as I watch television coverage of the Olympic Games. The mind boggling displays and dazzling spectacle of the opening ceremony aside, just to observe the daily variety of activities and confluence of colours is exciting and entertaining. Existence of countries What a thing nice man? What a whole heap of events? And so many new countries! I'm not ashamed to admit that if it weren't for the Games, I probably wouldn't know about the existence of countries like Marshal Islands, Montenegro and Tuvalu. These are three countries making their first appearance at the Games. Of course, I didn't know anything about Saar and Kiribati either; and they have been to the Olympics before. Maybe I'm just paying more attention to this time around. Infectious Olympic fever The Olympic fever is really so infectious though, that one can't help being afflicted by it. I didn't know that I could spend time watching things like fencing, weightlifting, synchronised diving, archery and equestrian events. But mi busy a dweet! I've been watching gymnastics, tennis, handball, volleyball, beach volleyball, swimming and water polo. Like most Jamaicans though, I'm only watching all of this because the running don't start yet. You too? All of us are just really biding time because we can hardly wait to see our fellow Jamaicans kick up dust pon some foreign athletes in the track and field events. That's when the fever going to reach the point where it might send some people insane when their predictions and expectations fail to materialise. Dominant force in the sprints Some of that is bound to happen, and there will be many surprises. Still, this little piece of rock will again emerge as a dominant force in the sprints. But we should be dominating other areas like swimming too. After all, no matter where you are in Jamaica you are never more than 25 miles away from water. And most of us can't swim; that weird eeh? Yet we have no snow and we have bob sled team. We should also be into the rifling and other shooting events because many of our young men aspire to be shottas. You ever watch how some young Jamaican males gesticulate? It's as if some of them were born with their right index fingers wrapped around the trigger of a gun. If we harness their interest and abilities we could be manufacturing Olympic-gold-medal-winning shottas. What yu think? As I've said in this column before, Jamaica should really invest in the equipment, personnel and other resources needed to facilitate our participation in other Olympic events, especially because we seem to have natural talents in certain areas. For example, with our ability to fling bottle and big stone and stick, we should have a strong team of javelin, discus and shot-put throwers at the games. And how come we don't have more jumpers? Who can jump fence, scale wall and beat gate like we? We should try and transform these skills into competitive and productive endeavours. Wha yu say? Am I unto something here, or have I just acquired an acute case of Olympic fever?

A Bulgarian couple chained their seven-year-old boy to the kitchen sink to prevent him from misbehaving while they were at work, the daily Trud reported.

Social services in Bulgaria had to intervene after being notified by neighbours in the south-eastern town of Gotse Delchev, who heard the boy's father boast about how he was managing to control his son, the paper added.

According to the report, his parents began chaining the boy, Ilko, at the beginning of the summer holidays.

The report said Ilko was bound by a four-metre chain to the sink when his mother, a cleaning lady, and his father, who worked in metallurgy, left the house.

The chain was long enough to allow him to open the fridge and reach their terrace - but not to go to the toilet.

His only company was the family's dog Bucky - ironically, the dog was able to roam freely.

The child told social services that he was being punished for misbehaving.

His mother said her husband "was afraid his son would turn into a criminal," Trud reported.

Ilko has since been brought to an orphanage.

Social services were due to rule within 10 days whether he could be returned to his mother, who has promised to leave her husband.

RUSSIAN tanks are reported to have rolled into the Georgian port town of Poti and are still in the strategic city of Gori despite a ceasefire, Georgia's foreign ministry has said.

The claim has been denied by the Russian foreign ministry which states no Russian troops are on Georgian soil.

Earlier, the ministry said Russian armed forces were pulling out from Gori, a central hub on Georgias main east-west highway, which has been hit by shelling.

But reports said explosions could still be heard.

Meanwhile, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev met the leaders of South Ossetia and another rebel province, Abkhazia, to sign a six-point peace plan.

Aid

The Kremlin leader met the two rebel leaders to sign the plan, to end hostilities, brokered this week by France, it was reported.

"We will support any decisions taken by the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia...and not only do we support it but we will guarantee them both in the Caucasus and throughout the world," he said.

Last night, President Bush began sending US military planes and ships to Georgia with aid and told Russia to pull its troops out.

Experts feared Washingtons action would raise tensions and risk a new Cold War, with one warning it would go down extremely badly in Moscow.

A huge C-17 plane carrying life-saving drugs and shelters landed in Georgia last night and further mercy flights are due today.

Americas intervention was met with jubilation by Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who said his countrys ports and airports were under the control of the US defence ministry.

This was quickly denied by the Pentagon, which insisted it was not taking charge.

But the move was seen as a blunt message that America was ready to defend Georgia against further aggression.

A s****re Mr Bush appeared with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House to lay down the law to the Kremlin.

He said he was concerned at reports that Russian troops had blocked roads and blown up boats, saying: We insist Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected.

There was no reaction from Downing Street last night.

One source said: Its important to get help to people but it is important to send a clear message to Moscow too.

Jonathan Eyal, of defence think-tank the Royal United Services Institute, warned that Moscow would react badly.

Russia warned that at some point America would have to choose between partnership with it or Georgia.

BUSTED FOR HOLY SMOKE

BRACEBRIDGE -- A man who claims he is an ordained minister was busted
with almost half a kilo of pot yesterday during a traffic stop on
Hwy. 11 near Bracebridge.

"Rev." Michel Nathier, 53, of the Church of the Universe, admitted he
was smoking a joint when the OPP officer pulled him over but said he
was committing a holy act.

"It's a sacrament," Nathier said in an interview after he was
released from custody with a Sept. 2 court date.

PLANT BLESSED

Nathier said he has about 300 followers in the Sturgeon Falls area,
near North Bay, who believe that marijuana is the blessed plant
mentioned in the Bible as the "tree of life."

The church, which he said has chapters throughout Canada and the
U.S., has two rules: Don't hurt yourself and don't hurt others -- and
its followers routinely toke "the sacrament." It does not make one
stoned, "just enlightened," he insists.

"Ok, but it's still illegal," said a good-natured OPP Insp. Ed Medved.

Nathier was initially stopped because he was swerving between lanes,
Medved said.

When the officer stopped the car, a waft of the sacred herb came
floating out, police said. The officer seized almost a half kilo of
pot with a street value of between $1,500 and $3,000.

Nathier, who is already facing charges of possession of marijuana,
has been arrested for possession 10 times in 10 years and has spent
three years in jail. He'll fight the latest charge.
 

DEVON Garvey, the great grandson of National Hero Marcus Garvey, is now facing a charge of carnal abuse stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl this year.

Allegations are that on May 31, Garvey and the girl were making their way home from church in their St Andrew community, when he took the child to his house and sexually assaulted her.

The girl made a report to her mother and Garvey, 18, was arrested. He was later charged with carnal abuse.

When the case came up for mention in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, the matter was adjourned until September 8, when a preliminary inquiry is scheduled to begin.

Garvey is being represented by attorney Christopher Townsend.

Crime fighting and national security efforts got a significant boost this week as firm steps were taken to put in place a secure Internet portal at the Ministry of National Security. 

A partnership forged by the security ministry and international information technology firm IBM, to facilitate the development of the Internet portal was sealed with an official contract-signing ceremony.

Speaking at the event at the ministry's New Kingston head-quarters, minister of national security, Trevor MacMillan, said the portal would increase the capabilities of the ministry in fighting crime and protecting Jamaica's sovereignty.

"The improvement of the ministry's information technology capabilities are of significant importance," MacMillan said. "The vision of the Ministry of National Security and the course it proposes to chart in strengthening and modernising the organisation seem to fit well within the mould of IBM." 

Partnership 

MacMillan said the partnership would address some of the ministry's strategic objectives, which include maintaining public order and reducing the rate and fear of violent crime. He also mentioned that the implementation of the new system would facilitate a better justice system, in addition to increasing Jamaica's contribution, both regionally and internationally, to security. 

Success 

IBM Sales Manager Gordon Foot told The Gleaner at the signing that the corporation had secured the Internet portals in other Caribbean countries with much success and stressed that Jamaica could expect similar results.

"We have used it in other countries in the Caribbean and it has helped them to be more effective in their crime fighting, getting information faster and allowing them to operate more effectively," he said.

876radio.com cannot help but wonder if the gully gad from Cassava Piece is the new Teflon Don, it seems that everything they try to pin on him just refuses to stick. Mavado was yesterday freed of all charges in the Sav-la-Mar courts, arising out of an incident in Negril on August 3rd. Charged separately with assault and abusive language, Mavado appeared in the Petty Sessions Court in the town yesterday morning. Within two minutes he walked out freed of the abusive language charge, with the police not wishing to pursue the matter any further. At a sitting of night court the same day, Mavado appeared in the Resident Magistrate's court to answer the assault charge, which was also dismissed in less 5 minutes. The complainant told the court he no longer wished to proceed with the matter and the Judge instructed Mavado he was "free to go." "The incident and resulting media coverage were blown way out of proportion," said Mavado's manager Julian Jones-Griffith. "There were many independent witnesses present on the night who were prepared to come to court and testify that Mavado did absolutely nothing wrong, that he did not lay a finger on the complainant. Having said that we are glad sense prevailed and no more time was wasted on this matter by the justice system. Mavado was never even arrested on these charges. He's become a target for people and the media eager to make negative headlines out of his name but they only help to build him. He is 100% innocent of these charges and the dismissals prove that."

Last Saturday's staging of Hype 2008 at Independence Park, Black River in St. Elizabeth was an event riddled with endless drama and 876radio.com was in the house to witness its unfolding. Presently there's a question looming in the minds of many patrons as to whether or not Dancehall grung gad Bounty Killer will be charged after he used expletives during his performance in the presence of the Police. Bounty who delivered an OK set was not without his usual commentary lashing out against the injustices in our society while endlessly campaigning to rid it of homosexual elements. Checks with the Constabulary Communication Network (CNN) by our team revealed that no formal complaints were made against the warlord and so it is highly unlikely that any action will be taken against him. Just weeks ago a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the entertainer after he failed to show for a July 31st court hearing in the Montego Bay RM Court. However attorneys representing the entertainer told the court that the Warlord was in the Virgin Islands on professional engagements, hence the reason for his absence. They also explained that his absence was by no means a sign of disrespect to the city's court and asked that the execution of the warrant be extended until August 21st.

Robert Carr, Executive director of Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVCC) and a senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies, painted a graphic picture of Jamaica as a country where police officers attack and/or ignore homosexuals who go to them to report crimes against them, at the International AIDS Society conference in Mexico City, Mexico, recently.

Using power point, newspaper clippings and pictures as evidence, he highlighted the country's negative attitude to homosexuals. Pictures showing police officers with weapons drawn and members of the media filming and taking pictures during a homosexual mobbing in the Island's capital. A story, in the Observer, saying that homosexuality was "contrary to natural law". Carr also mentioned that violence and discrimination against homosexuals were celebrated in popular music.

Mavado

'Money makes the world go round' seems to be the popular message in the dancehall, as seen by the recent songs about money that have come to the fore. Deejays seem to be in a 'moneymaking mood'.

Girls, society's ills, dancing and sex have all been hot topics in the dancehall for years, but of late the focus seems to have shifted. Money is talked about in a variety of ways in the dancehall and making money is the clear focus.

In Stinking Rich singer and DASECA producer Serani proudly proclaims: "I got money in di bank so ma momma won't worry no more I'm living a poor man's dream/investing in housing scheme/ no more unsure meals, contract sealed/no need to rob and steal."

According to Serani, he coined the lyrics for the song before he became an artiste, while making the song's rhythm.

"That is my reality. I work really hard because the people that I care about most, especially my mother, depend, on me so if I don't mek it, dem won't mek it," he told THE STAR.

Not a novelty

Konshens

For Serani, he believes the focus on money is not new in the dancehall. However, when one 'money' song becomes popular for the purpose of 'musical juggling', songs with similar topics and tempo will gain popularity as well.

Though money is important in his life, Serani says he is not materialistic and "will neva buy a luxury car before he buys a house".

Newcomer Konshens is also 'all about di paper' in Winner, when he says, "rich mi seh if yuh need mi I'll be on the streets a roam wid plans of moneymaking circulating in ma drome."

Konshens wrote the self-explanatory lyrics after the birth of his daughter, which has encouraged the artiste to aim to be rich. He also noted the demise of investment schemes and the general increase in prices as reasons for the current focus on money.

Comprehensive

Assassin

Nonetheless, the most comprehensive money song goes to Assassin in Money Makes the World Go Round as he declares: "(money) keep di globe turning like a merry go round everything in life takes money."

Assassin sheds light on money being made in music saying, "Dem seh music mek all di money cause dem see Lenky Diwali money/ worse when dem see Bob Marley money." He also focuses on the demise of investment scheme Cash Plus saying: "lemme tell yuh bout di worse money a money weh yuh loss or money yuh caan get back like Cash Plus money."

In Trailer Load of Money from Vybz Kartel and Money Changer by Mavado the need for money means rising from the garrison. Kartel says, "mi no born rich/but mi nah dead poor ... The only thing that can satisfy me is a trailer load of money mi waan fast cash, grab di stash/touch di road, mek money/like mi print it, print it ..."

While for Mavado, money has its importance, but not at the cost of his soul, as he says: "we work for de paper/cause we want big van, an we want sky scraper nuh sell yuh soul, fi change a gillopy."

Mandarin Day Care Doubled As Drug Den, Police Say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Mandarin home day care center was recently shut down after Jacksonville narcotics officers raided the house and arrested the owner and her son.
Neighbors said they normally see children playing outside the home day care on Beaubien Road, but on Thursday signs let parents know they will have to find a new baby sitter.
Police said the place where children usually spend the day playing doubled as a drug den.
Investigators have charged the day care owner, Susan Vance, with maintaining a place where a controlled substance is sold. They said her son, Mark Scott, was selling cocaine and marijuana out of her in-home day care and she knew about it.
Investigators said it was an undercover narcotics team that learned that the day care was also a drug house.
"They went in posing as drug users for the purpose of buying drugs. Once they got in, they saw all the drugs, the scales; they saw everything that's used for this type of illegal activity," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.
Investigators said during one undercover buy, Vance came in a bedroom and saw her son selling cocaine and marijuana to the officer. According to the police report, the officer told her he'd better put the drugs away and she said, "Yeah, because her dad is a police officer," as she pointed to a girl she was watching inside the residence.
Jefferson said as far as the sheriff's office knows, a police officer's child did not attend the day care. However, he said parents need to do their homework before leaving their children anywhere.
"Always do a careful and thorough background check on whomever you're going to leave your children with," Jefferson said.
According to the state, Vance did have a license. According to DCF records, the Vance Family Day Care only had only minor violations during inspections.
In the past, Vance was cited for unsanitary living conditions and some broken toys that could be hazardous to children.
DCF is investigating the incident. It could permanently revoke the license for the day care.
Vance has been released from jail on bond. Her son remained in jail on Thursday evening on a $75,000 bond.

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PALM SPRINGS (CBS) A man behind bars after an officer confronted him about an unusual bulge in his pants in front of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Palm Springs. The man admitted he was trying to steal some chicken.

Timothy Yates, 46, was booked on suspicion of possessing stolen property. He was held on a $5,000 bail Tuesday evening, police said.

Sgt. Mitch Spike said an officer at the store at 5601 E. Ramon Road
asked Yates if he had anything on him that the officer should know about.

"It surprised the officer when Yates lifted up his shirt and removed a
3 1/2-pound package of Foster Farms chicken breasts from the front of his pants," he said

Christiana, Manchester - People's National Party (PNP) caretaker for North East Manchester, Paul Lyn, has accused the ruling Jamaica Labour party (JLP) of political victimisation, and has urged his party to include the issue in the Vale Royal talks which is seeking bipartisan consensus on the war against crime.

"This must be on the agenda of the next Vale Royal talks, because we cannot curb crime in this country if we continue like this.," Lyn told PNP presidential candidate Peter Phillips at a divisional conference in Christiana on Sunday night.

Phillips, the National Security Minister in the PNP administration which was narrowly beaten in parliamentary elections last September, is a lead member of the PNP delegation in the discussions with the ruling party.

Lyn charged that PNP supporters in NE Manchester and he suspected in "other constituencies", had suffered victimisation since last September. He claimed this was apparent in the relief efforts that followed Hurricane Dean last August, and said only last week PNP supporters were denied books that were being handed out at the JLP constituency office in Christiana.

According to Lyn, a message was sent out that "no PNP supporter must join the line.".

Lyn argued that such behaviour was intolerable "because is not Jamaica Labour Party money being spent, is the money of the taxpayers of Jamaica and everybody that needs to benefit must benefit.".

At the meeting on Sunday night, Lyn pledged his support to Phillips in his campaign to unseat Opposition leader Portia Simpson Miller as president of the PNP.

DESPITE being seldom recognised for their efforts, the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard has been making great strides in stemming the illicit drug-for-guns trade between Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.

According to statistics provided by the JDF, the coast guard has been responsible for the seizure of 2,600lbs of marijuana in 2007 - 565lbs more than what was seized in 2006 - and more than 4,000lbs of marijuana at the island's ports since the start of the year.

During a 2006 inland marijuana eradication drive spearheaded by the coast guard in collaboration with the Narcotics Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and members of the Jamaica Defence Force Infantry, 200lbs more of the weed were seized and seven fields, six acres, six nurseries, two huts and more than 70,000 marijuana seedlings were destroyed.

"Most of the marijuana seizures in 2007 were made at our nation's ports from canisters attached to vessels. The majority of the marijuana seized in 2008 were linked to marijuana bound for export via small go-fast vessels or canoes," Lieutenant Steve Batchelor told the Observer.

Batchelor, a member of the coast guard for nine years and second in command of the Surrey vessel - one of three ships in the Coast Guard's newest fleet of vessels - said that a strengthened approach as well as increased joint operations with members of the JCF, has led to a decrease in cocaine seizures at the nation's port.

Only five ounces of the dangerous drug was seized during the three-year period.

"Whenever you pressure traffickers in one area, you will find that they will find other areas to conduct their activities. That explains the decrease in cocaine finds, with the implementation of Operation Kingfish in 2004 and the assistance of the United Kingdom and the Dutch, we have seen a reduction in go-fast vessels which the traffickers would normally use to transport the drug from Col****ia. With that pressure on the sea, we suspect that traffickers are using other routes through Central America and the eastern Caribbean," said Batchelor.

According to the senior army man, the increased operations of the coast guard signifies the army's commitment to protecting the reputation of the shipping industry as well as protecting the island's ports against being black listed by other countries.

"Four thousand and forty-four pounds of marijuana were confiscated in 2008, consider what that means when one pound of the compressed drug can value more than US$100. We intend to continue to increase patrols and work even closer with local and international law enforcement agencies to c****at the illegal trade," said Batchelor.

Jamaica, a country overrun by an increase in gun-related offences, has been battling the scourge of illegal weapons that have spread across almost every parish in the country. The majority of these weapons are garnered through the illegal trade of drugs and other supplies between Jamaica and countries such as Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua.

 

BIG UP THE SOLDIERS DEM....POLICE NUH HAVE NO ra** SENSE

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) says it has embarked on a Driver's Licence Upgrade Exercise to improve the current driver's licence system. To facilitate the upgrading exercise, the IRD will suspend all driver's licence services until Friday. 

Regular services are scheduled to resume next Monday when the new system is brought back online.

During the period of the upgrading, the printing of driver's licences will also be suspended. However, motorists will still be able to pay the relevant driver's licence fees and to use the receipt of the payment as the official valid document to drive during this period. 

On completion of the upgrade to the driver's licence system, the May Pen Collectorate will be added to the existing sites which process and print licences. 

The other sites are: 

King Street

Constant Spring

St Ann's Bay

Spanish Town

Mandeville

Montego Bay.

Armed Man Holds Up 84-Year-Old At Cemetery

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville police have asked the public for help trying to determine who robbed an elderly man while he visited his wife's gravesite at a Westside cemetery.

Floyd Gaskins said he has been going to visit his late wife's grave everyday for the past year. The two were married for 62 years.
However, his Aug. 3 visit was nothing like what he expected.
Investigators said the incident began while the 84-year-old was at the Memorial Park Cemetery on Normandy Boulevard at about 4:35 p.m.
Police said a small green car approached Gaskins and the occupants asked him for directions before one of the men exited the vehicle, pulled out a handgun and robbed the victim at gunpoint.
"I seen the driver get out and I said 'Uh-oh,'" Gaskins said. "Well, he had it in his left hand and I could see the side of it."
The grandfather handed over his wallet, which contained more than $200. The thieves took the cash, and then took off.
Gaskins wasn't hurt during the robbery. He told Channel 4 that he has been through a lot since last year, but a robbery in a cemetery is pretty low.
"You don't expect it, and it can shake you up when it happens, I can guarantee you that," Gaskins said.
On Monday, police released surveillance photos from a Gate gas station a few miles from the cemetery where the armed robbery took place.
Investigators said Gaskins identified the man in the photo wearing a black hat and gray shirt as one of the suspected robbers.
According to the sheriff's office, that man entered and left the gas station with a second man who was wearing a blue shirt and a hat and had a beard.
Police said the bearded man might be a second suspect in the robbery.
"There was a time you felt safe in church, at a cemetery or even at home," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer Ken Jefferson.
Anyone with information that can identify the two men at the gas station or the green vehicle is asked to contact the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office at                904-630-0500         or call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS to remain anonymous.

Man Dressed As Winnie The Pooh Accused Of Beating And Robbing Man Who Stared At Him

You know how bad things have gotten in society when you can be physically attacked just for looking at someone the wrong way. Still, you can't blame the victim in this story for staring at the man accused of beating him up - the guy was dressed as Winnie the Pooh at the time.

This bizarre tale of too much to bear takes us to Tokyo and three men who walked out onto a city street there earlier this month. Police say one was dressed as a panther, another as a mouse while a third was clad as the beloved A.A. Milne character.

They were hanging out in a neighbourhood around midnight when a passerby was apparently startled by their unusual choice of dress and took a longer than norm glare at them.

That's when cops say "Winnie", also known as 20-year-old Masayuki Ishikawa, took offence. "It's uncommon to see people dressed up like this, so the victims were watching them," explains a police spokesman. "Then the perpetrator came up and said 'What are you staring at?'"

After that, it was mini-mayhem as the trio allegedly assailed the victim, beat him up and took $160 in cash off of him.

Police were called and all three were arrested. As you can imagine they weren't too hard to spot. They've been charged with a range of offences and are awaiting trial.

So what in the world were they doing out at midnight dressed in such ridiculous gear? The answer may prove that all three guys are likely bachelors. They told cops they put on the costumes simply because they'd run out of clean clothes and they were the only things left they had to wear.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Two police officers and an 84-year-old woman were recovering from injuries after a man trying to avoid being taken into custody struck them with a car.
Police said Theodore Valentino Thomas II fought off two officers as they tried to handcuff him about 7:20 p.m. Monday after receiving a complaint that he was out of control.
The officers were called by Thomas' fiancée, who said Thomas had stopped taking his medication and needed a mental-health evaluation under the provisions of the Baker Act.
Thomas' mother joined Officers Glen Karst and James Padilla as they tried to grab him, but Thomas managed to jump into his mother's car in the driveway of the home on Gilchrest Court and started backing up toward the officers.
One of the officers tried to push the mother out of the way of the car, all three were injured.
Thomas fled the scene, but returned later and tried to hit one of the officers again.
After Thomas was in custody, he apologized, telling police he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, just to get away.
"He also admitted that when he doesn't take his medication, he gets out of control," JSO spokesman Ken Jefferson said.
Both officers and the mother were admitted to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center. Karst suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck. The other officer suffered cuts to his leg and was expected to be released on Tuesday.
Thomas' mother was also admitted to the hospital, but police said her injuries were minor.
Thomas, 45, was booked into the Duval County jail on charges of aggravated battery on a law endowment officer and aggravated domestic battery.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Police recently arrested a woman they said deliberately hit a bike rider and crashed two separate cars, and then ran off naked.

Holly Highfield faces DUI and several other charges after witnesses said she intentionally struck a bicyclist, took off her clothes and ran around the crash scene, then drove off the road while attempting to leave the scene in someone else's vehicle.

Police said the incident occurred Sunday evening while Highfield, 34, was driving three children, ages 10 to 14.

Just after 8 p.m., officers were called to a report of an accident involving a pedestrian and a naked woman at the intersection of San Pablo Road and Pirate Court.

The children in Highfield's car told police that she was driving north when she turned to them and said: "Do you think this biker is going to get hit? Do you have faith? Are you afraid?" They said she then steered her SUV across San Pablo and struck 55-year-old Cathy Giury riding a bicycle.

When a couple in a van stopped to see if the bicyclist needed help, Highfield allegedly got out of her vehicle, jumped into the van yelling that she was going to jail, ordering the man behind the wheel to drive her away. Police were told than when the driver refused, she got out, took off her clothes and began running around.

According to the police report, when the bystander got out to help the bicyclist, Highfield yelled at the passenger in the van to get out, then attempted to drive off, but left the road and struck a fence.

When police arrived, Highfield was placed in the back of the patrol car. Officers said she became increasingly violent. When a female officer attempted to cover Highfield with a sheet, she was kicked.

The arrest report indicates Highfield "appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug." It said she also urinated in the back of the patrol car.

Highfield was arrested and charged with battery, carjacking, DUI while accompanied by a minor and DUI while causing damage to property. She was transported to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center for observation.

"I have no understanding of what's going on. My wife was riding a bike somebody hit her. That's all I know. I've been at the hospital for 20 hours," said the victim's husband, Mike Giury.

The bicyclist was transported to Beaches Baptist Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, where she remained in stable condition.

Did police in Sweden go overboard in the arrest of reggae superstar Sean Paul and hundreds of fans? Some reggae promoters think so, including the man who organized the Uppsala Reggae Festival, where Paul, nine other performers, and up to 300 fans were arrested on Friday for marijuana possession. "The way they treated Sean Paul and other artistes was totally unacceptable,` Uppsala organizer Yared Tekeste told a Swedish publication. "They searched his hotel room when he was not present and went through wallets and other personal belongings." Tekeste said he believed law enforcement officials targeted Paul to make an example of him. Out of the festival's three days they chose the day he was to perform to make the mass arrests. "Both artistes and staff feel humiliated," said Tekeste. "People were crying backstage. Some of the artistes were so angry they planned a demonstration outside the police station. But I managed to prevent that." Caribbean nationals involved in the New York reggae scene agreed that Paul may have been set up to prove a point. "He`s the one that sang, Just gimme the light and pass the draw." What did they expect?" asked television producer Shaun Walsh. But concert promoter Sharon Gordon believes there`s a double standard for reggae concerts, and Paul may have been a victim of it. She said venues charge her more than the usual fee because they want to hire extra security. "There`s always that stigma that I have to fight - the idea that reggae means ganja and lewd behavior," said Gordon. Both Walsh and Gordon agree though that Paul should have been more careful. "If he`s going to another country, he should respect their laws," said Walsh. "Reggae is always going to be targeted, but we also have to take some responsibility," Gordon added.

 21-year-old taxi operator, who was arrested and charged with indecent assault, was given bail, when he appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court last week.

Damian Allison, of Longwood district in St Elizabeth was granted $80,000 with one surety. He was arrested on July 25, after he was brought to the Santa Cruz police station. He was charged after he allegedly took the seven-year-old complainant from her home to be with her.

The court was told that the accused was hired to transport the complainant from school. He reportedly took the minor from her home in his car to some place where it is alleged that he assaulted her. This was some time in May this year.

Several complaints were made to the police and the accused was brought to the police station. The police informed the court that the accused, when he was brought to the station, walked out of the station while he was being processed, but was later arrested.

The accused was sternly warned by the Resident Magistrate Stanley Clarke to stay away from the complainant. He is to return to the Santa Cruz RM court on September 8 when the matter will be mentioned.

 

by Halima Abdallah Kisule
- Uganda -

Scores of Ugandans continue to bleach their skin despite a government ban on the sale of several lotions, creams, gels and soaps which are largely used to whiten, even and tone the skin.

Due to ineffective enforcement of the ban, these dangerous cosmetics are easily accessible anywhere in Uganda; whether sold over the counter, along the roadside or by hawkers, vendors move the skin lighteners easily due to high demand. Such is the popularity that skin-whitening products have gained today in Uganda.

Medically, skin whitening (or bleaching) products are used for treating pigmentation disorders like freckles, pregnancy marks, blotchy uneven skin tone, patches of brown to gray skin and age spots. Skin pigmentation occurs because the body either produces too much or too little melanin, the pigment responsible for creating the color of our eyes, skin and hair. It also provides crucial protection against the suns rays by absorbing ultra-violet light. Doctors say that those with darker skin are less susceptible to sunburn and the overall effects of sun damage.

Staff at the University Hospital of the West Indies rush one of the two men who were yesterday rescued by members of the Jamaica Defence Force air wing to the hospital's Accident and Emergency Department. The men's aircraft went down in Portland on Friday.

A risky search and rescue mission, involving members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) air wing, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Caribbean Aviation Centre, ended yesterday with the successful location of two men whose plane went down in Portland Friday afternoon.

A JDF helicopter flew the men to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) about noon yesterday, where they were met by hospital staff who hurriedly transported them on stretchers to the Accident and Emergency Department.

According to police reports, about 5:30 p.m. Friday, a single-engine Cessna-light aircraft registered N-116-Q with two persons aboard - the pilot and a passenger - went down in the Hope Bay/Swift River area of the parish.

The police said that, about 10 p.m. Friday, they received a report that the plane, which was en route from the Ken Jones aerodrome in Portland to Tinson Pen in Kingston, was involved in an accident.

Spokesperson for the JDF, Major Charlene Steer, said the men were found about 1,500 metres from the site where the wreckage of their aircraft was found on Saturday evening.

Blue Mountain

She said the plane was located some 5,800 feet atop the Blue Mountain by the commanding officer of the JDF's air wing, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Roper, and his team.

Specially trained soldiers were lowered by rope into the area from an aircraft, as the men were precariously positioned on a steep edge of the Blue Mountain. They were then hoisted by rope into the JDF rescue aircraft and transported to hospital.

Speaking with The Gleaner from the UHWI, Lisa Watson, wife of the single passenger on the plane, Christopher Watson, said she was both relieved and happy that her husband had been found alive.

She said he was conscious but had apparently suffered injuries to his lower limbs.

"He has a few bruises and cuts and there's something wrong with his foot. I don't know yet if it's broken," she said. Watson said the pilot, Gavin Colley, was also doing well.

She said other members of the family had also gathered at the hospital and were praying for the full recovery of both men.

Defendant Believed He Was Chatting With 14-Year-Old

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- A Navy man from Jacksonville was arrested Monday in Orange Park, accused of trying to solicit sex from a minor online.
Clay County investigators said Robert Godwin, 30, thought he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl when he was communicating with an undercover investigator with the Attorney General's Cyber Crimes unit.
After several online conversations, investigators said Godwin arranged to meet the "girl" at a Burger King at the intersection of Blanding Boulevard and Kingsley Avenue -- right across the street from Orange Park High School.
Clay deputies assisted state law enforcement with the arrest, then recovered a computer from Godwin's home. Forensic analysis will be conducted to determine if he was chatting with any other children.
Godwin, who is attached with VP-5 at NAS Jacksonville, was charged with three counts of online solicitation of a minor, a third-degree felony, and one count of traveling to meet a minor for sex, a second-degree felony.
If convicted, Godwin faces up to 30 years in prison.
Godwin was booked into the Clay County Jail, where he is held on $20,000 bond.

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- One of the first U.S. Army deserters from Iraq to seek refugee status in Canada said he's been ordered deported.

Jeremy Hinzman deserted the Army in 2004 after learning his unit was to be deployed to Iraq.

He refused to participate in what he calls an immoral and illegal war.

Hinzman fled to Canada along with his wife and son and sought refugee status.

Hinzman said Wednesday he was ordered out of the country by September 23. He said he's disappointed by the Canada Border Services Agency decision.

He said he is not ashamed of his decision to flee to Canada.

The Bob Marley Foundation recently donated 100 books to the Victory Basic School in Trench Town, St. Andrew. The books, which are based on the Caribbean experience, are designed to help children in the early childhood program develop in the critical areas of reading, mainly pronunciation.

The Administrator of the school, Miss Black, declared that she has already read the books and found them to fit perfectly in the school's curriculum.

Mrs. Jackie Lynch Stewart, General Manager of the Bob Marley Foundation said that the features of the books should accelerate the literacy process, and make learning more meaningful. She believes that starting with the young ones is an important way to contribute to nation building, and change the society.

The Foundation will also sponsor two teachers from the school by sending them to special reading workshops to improve their literacy teaching skills which will assist in improving the literacy level at the school.

The Foundation also has plans to make similar donations to Stephney Primary and Juniour High School, in the parish of Bob Marley's birth, St. Ann