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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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BREATON 7 COPS ACQUITTED
Six policemen were on February 11, freed of the murder charges of the killing of seven young men in Braeton, St. Catherine dating back to March 2001. Justice Donald McIntosh upheld the no-case submission in respect to Constables Leighton Bucknor and Miguel Ebanks, Corporals Wayne Constantine and Linroy Edwards and Sergeant Raymond Miller. The judge directed the 12-member jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The policemen were on trial since January 17, charged with the murder of Lancelot Clarke, Christopher Grant, Curtis Smith, Tamoya Wilson, Regan Beckford, André Virgo and Dane Whyte. The Crown contended that the policemen were not acting in lawful self defence when the men were killed. After calling 24 witnesses, including ballistics expert Daniel Wray, the Crown closed its case. Defence lawyers submitted yesterday that there was no evidence to connect the accused men with the shooting.
MORE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS FOR SANGSTER INTERNATIONAL
To ease the delay at the Sangster International airport’s incoming immigration, a new staff roster for immigration officers was implemented this week. The decision was taken following a meeting at the Ministry of National Security between representatives of the Airport Authority of Jamaica, the Jamaica Tourist Board, the MBJ Airports Limited and the Immigration Department of the Ministry of National Security in reaction to complaints from passengers.
TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS WIN REGGAE GRAMMY
Fredrick ‘toots’ Hibbert and his group the Maytals were awarded the Grammy Award for Reggae for 2004. The group edged out Jimmy Cliff, Steel Pulse, Sly and Robbie, and complilation Def Jamaica at the 47th staging of the event at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California. The album entitled “True Love” was released under the V2 Records imprint last year, and features an impressive hit list of leading American and local artistes who were guests on the project including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Ryan Adams, and from Jamaica, Ken Boothe, Bunny Wailer and Marcia Griffiths among others.
LOVEBIRD TO BE PROFITABLE IN 2010
Dr Omar Davies, minister of finance and planning, is projecting that the debt-ridden national airline, Air Jamaica, will become profitable after 2010. Dr. Davies in parliament this week told the House that the government expects Air Jamaica to break even in five years. In December, Air Jamaica was taken over by the government from the Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart-led Air Jamaica Acquisition Group (AJAG) after it was earlier revealed in Parliament that the airline had accumulated losses of US$560 million
BILL CLARKE PROPOSES A UNITED FORCE
The managing director of Scotiabank (Jamaica) Ltd. has called for urgent steps to be taken to make the countrys army and police one. In an address to the police’s Motorised Patrol Division, Mr Clarke suggested that the government should abolish the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and have their functions taken over by a new multidisciplinary 30,000-strong force directly answerable to Parliament. Mr. Clarke is also urging Parliament to call a 60-day emergency session during which our elected leaders would debate and decide on the organisational structure of the new entity. During this process, inputs from the public would be invited and encouraged and a timetable set for enactment of the necessary legislation.
THOUSANDS MOURN KILANCHOLLY CHILDREN’S DEATH
Thousands of mourners converged on the district of kilancholly for the funeral service of the three children brutally murdered in the community two weeks ago. The murder of the three children Dwayne Davidson, 15, Sue-Ann Gordon,13, both students of St. Mary High School, and Shadece Williams, 4, has been causing much heartache to Jamaicans. Custos of St. Mary, Bobby Pottinger, said it was a sad day for St. Mary and urged all Christians to take the charge in changing the crime wave sweeping the island.
HENRY WILSON DEFEAT PAULWELL
Maxine Henry-Wilson was on February 13, returned as deputy chairman of the People’s National Party this when she beat Phillip Paulwell at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. Mrs. Henry-Wilson got 155 votes to Mr. Paulwell’s 70, with one vote going by way of spoiled ballot. Eleven new members of the executive committee were elected from the NEC with Senator Kern Spencer leading the voting with 202 votes. Senator Trevor Munroe got 201 votes: Anthony Hylton-190; Ronald Thwaites and K.D. Duncan 187 each; Dr. Wykeham McNeill 184; John Junor 181; Aloun Assamba 180; Deneise Daley 178; Morais Guy 152 and Lenworth Blake 145.
Senator Floyd Morris, Barbara Blake, Joseph Whitter and Richard Azan were also nominated. Party chairman Robert Pickersgill was returned unopposed.
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FIFA SAYS NO TO OFFICE SALE
FIFA says that should the JFF go ahead with its plan to sell the building, it could face harsh penalties including expulsion.The JFF has recently proposed to sell its $48m building at St. Lucia Crescent, New Kingston to clear huge debts. The sport’s world governing body insists that if the plan was to go ahead their cash injection of US$500,000 in assisting in the purchase of the building would be viewed as misuse of its funds.
AILEEN BAILEY SIGNS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR DEAL
Olympic relay gold medallist Aleen Bailey has signed a four-year multi-million dollar agreement with tele-communications provider Digicel. Digicel has committed itself to a four-year agreement with Aleen Bailey which will run until 2008. The contract incentives will also be applied to her medal achievements at all major athletic meets over the next four years. This covers her individual medals at the World Games in 2005 and 2007, the Olympics Games in Beijing, as well as her participation in relay events at the Olympics.
ONANDI LOWE CLEARED OF DRUG CHARGE
Jamaican International football star Onandi Lowe has been cleared of being part of a drug smuggling ring in the UK. The former Jamaica striker Onandi Lowe, 31, was on trial at Northampton Crown Court accused of attempting to possess more than 2lb (1kg) of crack cocaine. It is alleged he signed for a package which held more than £100,000 worth of the drug at his home in Northants. Mr Lowe was found not guilty of one charge of trying to possess drugs with intent to supply by a jury.
