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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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GANG WAR KEEPS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CLOSED – 30/04/04
For the second day running, two community schools in Arnett Gardens/Jones Town remains closed because of periodic shootings. The situation escalated following incidents of scores of residence being forced from their homes. A gun battle developed and has been going for the past two days. Children of
the Trench Town and Charlie Smith Comprehensive High Schools have been affected and are unable to attend school, with only weeks away before CXC/GCE exams…
WHAT DO YOU THINK! – U.S AND CARICOM RIFT OVER HAITI?
A meeting between CARICOM regional national security ministers and the United States Tom Ridge, Secretary for Homeland Security, was postponed amidst talk of a rift. The United States spokesperson, Orna Blum said there was no rift between CARICOM and the United States despite CARICOM’s
unwavering stance on excluding Haiti as part of the Community. Ms. Blum said the meeting was postponed and not cancelled and that it would take place some time in the summer when Haiti could be included. CARICOM refuses to accept the interim government put in place by the United States…
GUNMEN TAKES CONTROL, CAUSES RESIDENCE TO FLEE – 29/04/04
Gunmen in Arnett Gardens have taken over the Community and caused residence to flee their homes. Those forced to leave home were accused of being informers and spies. The rival gunmen in the community erupted in a fierce gun battle, forcing schools and workers living in the community to stay at
home. A few residences from the community complained of being beaten and given ultimatum to leave. Acting Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas said the got reports are was putting measures in place to prevent a reprisal…
GOVERNEMNT NEW CRIME INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY BY YEAR END
The government plans to have its new crime independent investigative authority in place by year-end. During a speech in the House, the Prime Minister revealed his intention to establish the new investigative body to fight difficult and complex crimes and police injudiciousness. The body will draw on other human resource agencies already probing crimes, felonies encompassing corruption, extortion, extradition, and financial crimes…
COLUMBIAN SOUGHT IN DRUG INVESTIGATION – 28/04/04
The police have been seeking a 33-year-old Columbian whom they suspect to be the mastermind of cocaine trafficking between Jamaica and Columbia. The police has already arrested eight persons on warrants seeking their extradition to the United States for trial on drug trafficking and related charges…
JAMAICANS LIVING ABROAD NOT RETURING FOR RETIREMENT
The Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook has noted that returning residence is in the decline. He said that the numbers of Jamaicans returning to live are dropping and there is an urgent need for the trend to be reversed. Mr. Pennicook was speaking at the Jamaica Tourist Board townhall in Atlanta Georgia where he pressed the importance for Jamaicans abroad to start coming back in their huge numbers, pointing out that “it is now easy to get Jamaica, as Air Jamaica offers so many flights from various locations…
HAITIAN REFUGEES RUSH JAMAICA – 27/04/04
Haitians are coming in drawls and flooding the Jamaican shores. One hundred and twenty eight (128) Haitians arrived in boats claiming that they came under attack from the interim government put in place by the United States. The Jamaican immigration is feeling the stress and Minister of Foreign Affairs K.D Knight says some level of assistance should be given by weeks end from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “They said they were forced to flee their homeland in the dead of night, Friday,” Inspector Desroy Livingstone of the Portland police told The Gleaner…
PRIMARY SCHOOL INTRODUCE SPANISH IN CORE CURRICULUM
Primary schools in Jamaica will introduce Spanish in the curriculum come September 2004. The subject will be introduced in selected schools to be used as pilot projects. The teachers to be involved in the 15-school pilot project have already been assessed and those not yet up to scratch will be trained. The education officer Martha Corbett-Baugh said her unit at the Ministry of Education and Culture is currently working on the first draft of the primary curriculum for implementation in September…
UWI STUDENTS ROW OVER OUTSTANDING FEES – 26/04/04
Students at the University of the West Indies have been threatened with being blocked from final exams for outstanding fees. The students staged a protest threatening to disrupt classes across the campuses. The National Executive Council urged the Minister of Education Maxine Henry-Wilson tointervene immediately to prevent any such disruption. Mrs. Henry-Wilson has set up a meeting with representatives of the UWI Guild of Undergraduates to hear their proposal, after which she plans to meet with Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, to determine whether emergency provisions
can be made….
HAITI MAY BE REACCEPTED IN THE CARICOM MEMBERSHIP
CARICOM had expelled Haiti from membership after Aristide’s refusal to step down as president amidst fear that a civil war was possible. However, after Aristide was ousted, the United States installed an interim government, which the CARICOM was not prepared to accept. However, CARICOM is now
reconsidering accepting the interim government at the meeting in Antigua on May 4, Mr. Knight Jamaica’s Foreign Affair Minister says it is possible that at CARICOM’s Bureau of Heads conference may consider the matter…
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SPORT
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RICARDO RECOVERS IN TIME FOR PLAY – 28/04/04
Ricardo Fuller, one of Jamaica’s best strikers has recovered from a knee injury, which kept him away from the game for over three months. Fuller was welcomed back into the team by coach Carl Brown who is happy to see him well again. Fuller executed a brilliant cross that was diverted past Liver-pool’s goalkeeper Patrice Luzi by Djimi Traore in the 83rd minute that
made the game 2-2. …
MINTO RAKES IN MORE SCHOLARSHIPS
Jamaican born Michael Minto has successfully raked it Jamaica’s 34th and 35th basketball scholarship at a tertiary institution in the United States. Minto himself was the recipient of a basketball scholarship and vowed to do the same for other talented youths from Jamaica. By all estimations, Minto’s word has been his bond as he has assisted 35 youths to secure free tertiary education through basketball scholarships since 1995…
Reggae Boyz stop Venezuela – April 29
Jamaica emerged 2-1 winners over Venezuela in their friendly international football match at the National Stadium last night. New Reggae Boyz striker Marlon King scored a debut goal in the 10th minute and Andy Williams unleashed a screamer just before half time to give Jamaica the win. Ricardo Fuller assisted both goals. Juan Orango scored Venezula’s lone goal in the 27th minute as his 30 yards shot was misjudged by out-of-position Donovan Ricketts. There were a number of incidents between the players as Barbadian referee, Noel Ford, poorly handled the game. The win serves a morale booster
for the Reggae Boyz upcoming world cup qualifier on June 12 against Haiti.
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