Spread the love

———————————————-
THIS WEEK’S NEWS SUMMARY
———————————————-
NO APPEAL FOR DRUG SMUGGLER—5/20/2006
June Lewis, 20, from Kingston lost on appeal in her drug smuggling case. Lewis, a trade exporter, was convicted of attempting to export more than 9,000 pounds of compressed ganja out of the country in 2003. She was sentenced to three years in prison. Lewis was caught when Customs officers carried out a routine check on a container labeled to carry yams to the United States. According to witness reports, Lewis was present at the time the drugs were loaded into her container. Lewis began her sentence in June 2005.

COPS PUT END TO ILLEGAL CAR BUSINESS—5/21/2006
Police in Kingston put an end to an illegal car dealership they believe were selling stolen cars. According to reports, nine stolen vehicles were recovered in the corporate district of Montego Bay. The nine cars included Hiaces, Hondas and Toyotas with a collective value of more than $5 million. Three people have been arrested in this case, however according to police they are not able to release names at this time. Police are still searching for 40 vehicles that have been stolen since the beginning of the year.

HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION TO START IN 2007—5/22/2006
Residents of Portmore will soon have a new hospital in their area. According to reports, construction is to begin in January 2007. Total cost of the construction is estimated to reach US $40 million. This new hospital will house more than 120 patient beds and offer services including cardiology, oncology, cosmetic surgery and others. Reports indicate the nurse to patient ratio should not exceed one to four and the ICU area will have one nurse for every two critical patients.

THREE DIE IN CAR CRASH—5/23/2006
Three people died in a motor vehicle crash on Spanish Town Road yesterday evening. One person, Cedric Thompson, 43, of Montego Bay is the only person currently identified. According to reports, a passenger vehicle and tractor-trailer cab were traveling towards Three Miles when the truck ran into the back of the passenger vehicle spinning them both out of control. The truck then hit a bus injuring 25 people, including three children. According to the driver of the passenger vehicle, the driver and passenger in the truck ran from the scene of the accident. This brings the total number of motor vehicle fatalities to 135 this year.

JAMAICAN GRADUATE MAKES HISTORY—5/24/2006
Saleem Josephs, a Jamaican national studying in the United States, made school history upon receiving his diploma. Josephs is the first person in Columbia University history to graduate with three degrees at one time. Josephs received his Doctor of Dental Surgery, a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Health. Josephs previously studied at Campion College in St. Andrew. Dr. Basil K. Bryan, Jamaica’s Consul General to New York attended the commencement ceremonies. Joseph’s two brothers are also currently enrolled in the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

HOTEL RESORT SUIT DELAYED—5/24/2006
The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort’s lawsuit against the Industrial Disputes Tribunal has been postponed until September. The judge presiding over the case, Mr. Justice Tattray, postponed the case after government lawyers objected the notes of the evidence were not properly filed in court. According to the lawyers, these notes are important in assessing the decision of the tribunal. The Holiday Inn Sunspree is hoping for a court order to overturn an earlier order awarding the tribunal last year. The tribunal allowed for workers to cast ballots for bargaining rights based on a list presented by the National Workers Union.

POLICE SEARCHING FOR BANK ROBBERS—5/25/2006
Police are searching for three men who robbed the National Commercial Bank in Manchester yesterday. According to reports, the men entered the bank yesterday morning, stole the security guard’s firearm and stole a little less than $1 million. Reports indicate the three men were armed with a .38 revolver and escaped the bank in a car left outside. The men also robbed the customers of cash and cell phones before escaping. Police have indicated they have identified the suspects and believe they are from the Spalding area. This is the second armed robbery in two weeks.

YOUTH CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY HALL—5/26/2006
Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall, announced his plans to launch a Youth in Excellency program to recognize the outstanding achievements of Jamaica’s young people. Hall met with youth leaders at the Consultative Youth Breakfast of Excellence yesterday in Hanover. This breakfast is a first step towards recognizing young people and their contributions to society. In a statement, the Governor-General says he is fully committed to this new program and looks forward to mentoring and encouraging the nation’s young people to achieve greatness. At the breakfast, youth representatives from St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover and St. Elizabeth were present to make suggestions on how to move forward with this program.

SKA GREAT DESMOND DEKKER DIES
Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska music to the world with hits such as “Israelites,” has died. His manager, Delroy Wilson, said Dekker collapsed from an apparent heart attack at his home in England on Thursday. Dekker’s 1969 song “Israelites,” a Top Ten single in both Britain and the United States, was the first international hit produced by Jamaica’s vibrant music scene.

——————————
SPORTS
——————————
CAMPBELL ACHEIVES NEW RECORD—5/22/2006
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell won the women’s 100m in just 10.99 seconds, a new world record. Campbell finished just ahead of Lisa Barber, Torri Edwards, the 2003 World Champion, and Jamaican teammate Aleen Bailey. Campbell is the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist. In the men’s 200m, Wallace Spearmon won with a new world record time of 20.06 seconds. Spearmon is a former Olympic and 400m World Champion. Jamaica’s Omar Brown finished the race in third place.

RUSSELL DEFEATS LEWIS IN SINGLES FINAL—5/23/2006
Jamaica’s Ryan Russell defeated Vernon Lewis of St. Lucia in the singles final of the Caribbean Top-16 Invitational. Russell won the match in two sets, 6-0, 6-0 to collect the $US2500 cash purse. In doubles play, Russell, along with teammate Jermaine Smith, beat Lewis and his partner H’cone Thompson in two sets, 6-3, 6-3. Russell, 22 is the top Jamaican Davis Cup player. Many of Russells points in singles play were won on service returns and he was able to out run the 40-year-old Lewis.

JAMAICAN CHESS TEAM BEATS KOREA—5/24/2006
Jamaica’s national chess team proved victorious against Korea Monday as they met in the 2006 Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy. Jamaica shut out the Korean team 4-0 in second-round play with wins by Shane Matthews, Jorno Pitterson, Warren Elliott ad Duane Rowe. Earlier in the week, Jamica lost .5 to 3.5 against Uzbekistan. Team veteran and seven-time national champion, Shane Matthews, scored Jamaica’s only half point in that match. Now ranked 102 in the pool of 149 teams, Jamaica moves on to play 53rd ranked Finland. In other games, the Jamaican women were defeated by Argentina 2-1 and Indonesia 3-0. The women, ranked 79th, move on to play 88th ranked Iraq.

NAGO HEAD DEFEATS NEGRIL FC—5/25/2006
Naggo Head clinched their first victory in the National Premier League play-off action yesterday against Negril FC at Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland. Patrick Edmondson and Nicholas Williams scored goals, leading Naggo Head to a 2-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Negril team. Naggo Head played strong in the opening minutes of the first half and after keeping Negil FC at bay in the 16 minute, Naggo Head continued to build momentum. Naggo Head scored their first goal in the 20 minute and their final goal 30 minutes into the game.

—————————————————————–
CREDITS/SOURCES
—————————————————————–
The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.