Staff Writer———————————————————————
THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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NEW DRUG INITIATIVE REAPS SUCCESS – 12/11/04
The government’s newly instituted ‘Operation Kingfish’ has begun to reap success as several tons of cocaine and nine people are in detention. With the help of international agents, the police have been able to intercept three speedboats on three separate occasions in Caribbean waters. The boats were searched and cocaine found. Seven of the nine persons arrested were identified as Columbians, the nationality of the others remain unconfirmed…
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE
The government’s deal with Trinidad and Tobago to provide the island with over one million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas will come at no small cost to the country. The estimated cost of providing infrastructure to facilitate the gas will be over one and a half billion dollars. What the government hesitates to reveal though is the cost at which Trinidad and Tobago will charge Jamaica for the gas. Mr. Patterson told reporters that the LNG marine terminal; storage and regasification facilities will be established at Port Esquivel near Old Harbour, along with pipelines to take the natural gas from the Port Esquivel terminal to the gas users…
DR PAUL WRIGHT HONOURED
Dr. Paul Wright one of Jamaica’s notorious bone specialists (specialises in sports medicine and orthopaedics) has been awarded the well sought after Gleaner Silver Pen Award. Dr. Wright won the award for a letter entitled ’Teenager’s letter sparks corporate response’, published on June 24. Dr. Wright was so moved by the letter he decided to attempt to raise $200,000, which would go towards sending needy youngsters to a summer camp being put on by the Multicare Foundation. He was able to raise $350,000 which was presented to the Foundation to help teenagers who wanted to learn to read and write and who were unable to do so before….
JAMAICAN DRUG DON SENTENCED TO 71/2 YEARS – 11/11/04
Jamaican notorious drugs don Norman Ramcharan who has successfully eluded the law has been jailed and sentenced to seven and a half years in the UK for money laundering to the tune of £1.7 million. Ramcharan aged 50 along with his crony Everton George Dennis, 41, of Holland Park, London, was sentenced to five years. Ramcharan was held at Euston Station after a visit to Manchester where he purchased a suitcase. He was placed under surveillance and was accosted by London police after alighting the train. He was found with over sixty thousand pounds on his persons which was confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002…
NO NEW LEADER FOR JLP JUST YET
The Jamaica Labour Party will not be having a new leader and chairman of the party until 2005. This is so Mr. Justice Donald McIntosh yesterday set December 14 and 15 as the dates for lawyers representing competing factions within the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to reappear before him for a possible settlement of their differences. Seaga was to be replaced last Saturday at the JLP annual conference but because of the dispute which developed regarding questionable and illegal names on the dekegates lists, the elections for new leader was not held…
HURRICANE IVAN’S VICTIMS RECEIVE AID
The farmers who have been hardest hit by hurricane Ivan is to receive assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) ridge to reef Programme of approximately $1.7 million. According to Dr. Kevin Rushing, USAID’s deputy mission director, the relief fund was part of a $460 million (US$7.4 million) ‘refocused programme’ of activities of the American aid agency…
HAITI NOT READMITTED TO CARICOM – 10/11/04
Haiti will not be readmitted to the 15-member group of CARICOM nations. This was the decision taken by Caribbean leaders at the end of a two-day summit held at the Hilton Hotel in Jamaica. According to spokesman for CARICOM, Dr. Keith Mitchell, Grenadine Prime Minister, the CARICOM is sticking to their guns ‘there will be no interaction with Haiti at the regional level, even though individual countries may wish to do so. But we will continue to provide assistance as promised.”…
PETROLEUM STILL IN SHORT SUPPLY
The recent fire at the government run Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica is still causing petroleum and its products to be in short supply despite the government’s assurance that there is no shortage. The shortages manifested itself in the closure of many gas stations across the island because they had run out of petroleum. We nuh have nothing. We run out since Saturday,” one man said. The scene was similar at the Shell gas station on Deanery Road. A female employee waved motorists away shouting, “no gas.” Despite the extended opening hours at the Oil Refinery, shortages were still evident…
CARIBBEAN EDUCATION CHALLENGED BY RESOURCES
The Caribbean is facing its biggest challenge yet to advance the quality of education it provides across the region. The challenge comes in the form of a lack of resources both financial and human. However, the challenge is a global one as reported by Richard Lewis, president of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). While the challenge of funding is evident and a global one, the challenge in terms of seeking qualified teachers to teach and research and to deal with quality assurance” said Mr. Lewis…
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LEES FIFTH AVENUE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT– 09/11/04
The notorious and long standing Lees Fifth Avenue stores in Half Way Tree uptown, is to cease operation across the island and the jobs of 150 persons became redundant on Saturday November 6th. This means that those who wish to reapply for their positions will be able to do so, but the Lees Fifth Avenue will cease operations as of that date. Chairman of Lee’s Fifth Avenue, Lee Issa said that he would be shifting his interest to tourist industry…
POST-IVAN VICTIMS STILL NEEDS HELP
The Salvation Army is calling for help, as it has to use the relief products coming for the Christmas period for post-Ivan victims across the island. The Commander of the Salvation Army Major Devon Haughton said that they are still providing relief across the island for those persons who were badly affected by the hurricane. Mr. Haughton said that they have been giving supplies to residents of Cave Valley and there are a number of other areas that still need help. Because of this, we anticipate a significant depletion in the supplies, which we would have normally had to distribute specifically for Christmas…
UWI 51ST GRADUATION CEREMONY A SUCCESS
Many male and female graduates of the University of the West Indies were proud of their achievement after years of studies ended in graduation. Hundreds of men and women, elegantly adorned in colours of blue, black and red on Saturday evening, participated in the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) 51st graduation ceremony. However, Dr. Cherian Joseph Cherian, delivering the valedictory address, said, “The move by the Jamaican Government and our administrative body is potentially dangerous and is unfortunately emphasising the subtle, often pervasive feeling, that tertiary education is for the financially able”….
FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DIES – 08/11/04
Former Speaker of the House and former member of the Jamaica Labour Party Alva Ross is dead. He was Member of Parliament for South East St. Mary from 1967-1989. During his tenure he held a number of posts and served his country well. Mr. Ross is survived by survived by his wife Joan, daughters Sandra Tavares-Finson, Marlene Khouri, and Monica Green, and son Michael Ross…
INNERCITY RESIDENCE GETS HOTEL TRAINING
Inner-city residence is being given a chance to advance in life and to become valuable members and contributors to society B-CAN Business Network Limited, a two year-old training institution specialising in staff training and placement in the hospitality and tourism industry, is on a recruiting drive that is geared towards netting inner-city residents with a desire to work. Although the programme targets inner-city residence, others outside the circle are also welcomed. The B-CAN programme is certified by NCTVET and the agency works in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour’s overseas hotel programme, which opens a window of opportunity for B-CAN to secure overseas employment for their students. Additionally, the business network also has private overseas placement arrangements….
RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO TEACHER MIGRATION
A study is being conducted into the factors that are contributing to the mass migration of teacher across the Caribbean. The project, entitled ‘Teacher Mobility, Brain Drain, Labour Markets and Education Resources in the Commonwealth’, is being funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), and being undertaken at the centre for Comparative Education Research at the University of Nottingham (UN), England. Jamaica is one of four countries involved as part of the study and England, because they are one of the major recruiter of overseas teachers from the Commonwealth…
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SPORTS
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PORTMORE FC DEFEATS HARBOUR VIEW
Portmore FC defeats mighty Harbour View 2-1 in the Wray and Nephew Premier League at the Ferdie Neita Park to cut Harbour View’s lead at the top of the table by one point. Fans turned out in their numbers and although Harbour View showed more style and form in the beginning, it is Portmore who had the final say with a 54th and 86th minute goal over rivals Harbour View…
CRUTIAL AWAY GAMES FOR REGGAE BOYZ
The technical team for the Reggae Boyz is hoping for a fit and healthy team to present for their upcoming away game against the United States in Columbus Ohio. The coach is keeping his fingers cross that no member of the team picks up an injury. Already, the team will be without Jermaine Johnson who has a knee injury and will not be able to play. The other members of the team who are a part of British Clubs have games up until Tuesday…
Boyz Report To Training
Nov. 9, 2004-
Eight locally based Boyz are to report to training camp along with USA based Andy Williams, Craig Ziadie and Damani Ralph in preparation for the Reggae Boyz World Cup qualifier against the United States on November 17. An additional 10 players based in England along with Tyrone Marshal in the USA are expected to join the squad at a later date. Jamaica is currently second on six points in their group and needs an unprecedented victory over the USA to guarantee them a place in the final phase of the CONCACAF qualification. A loss would definitely end their 2006 Germany World Cup campaign. The Boyz will be without key central defender Claude Davis who is serving a one game suspension after receiving his second yellow card against El Salvador on October 13. Jamaica’s Technical director, Carl Brown, insists that the team is capable of doing well and points out that they have only given up one goal in their last three games, which is an indication that they have been playing well as a unit. In addition it is expected that the inclusion of new recruit Jason Euell will bring new options and strength to the midfield, which is an area of concern.
Euell to join Reggae Boyz for clash against USA
Nov 7
Charlton Athletic striker Jason Euell is expected to make his first start for Jamaica against the United States in their crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in Ohio on November 17. With an impressive goalscoring record in the English Premiership, Euell had planned on playing for the Reggae Boyz in the World Cup qualifiers against Panama and El Salvador last month, but his initial application to represent Jamaica was turned down by FIFA. Euell, whose father was born in Jamaica, was assisted in getting his international clearance by former Jamaica Football Federation president, Captain Horace Burrell. A former England Under-21, Euell was transferred in 2001 from Wimbledon to Charlton Athletic for a fee of £4.75 million and has since scored 32 goals in 110 games in the Premiership. With only one semi-final stage qualifying match remaining Jamaica are five points behind group leaders United States and one ahead of Panama. The Reggae Boyz are now up against the wall and will need a win, as loss or even a draw could see their World Cup hopes come crashing to halt on November 17.
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