News
Dudus scared
FORMER Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke wet his trousers when he ran into a group of policemen who took him into custody while he travelled with religious leader Rev Merrick 'Al' Miller in St Catherine last Tuesday, one law enforcer told the Sunday Observer.
Coke, 42, who is accused of being the leader of the ruthless Shower Posse, was travelling with Rev Miller along the Mandela Highway when police intercepted the sports utility vehicle, allowed Miller to leave and took Coke initially to the Spanish Town Police Station and later to Up Park Camp, the army's headquarters in Kingston.
A Jamaica Defence Force soldier secures a ballistc helmet on the head of Christopher ‘Dudus’ at the Spanish Town Police Station yesterday afternoon shortly after Coke was captured by police.
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A Jamaica Defence Force soldier secures a ballistc helmet on the head of Christopher ‘Dudus’ at the Spanish Town Police Station yesterday afternoon shortly after Coke was captured by police.
Miller was later charged with one count each of harbouring a fugitive and perverting the course of justice.
"The man p... up himself when him see the police," one member of the party which intercepted the vehicle told the Sunday Observer on condition that his name is not mentioned.
"Him just look so frighten with this wig and the woman glasses that you would never believe this was the same man who everybody say is bad and mighty," added the cop.
"He wasn't sweating and the vehicle had the air condition on, so you could clearly see the impression on his pants that some wetting was going on when we took him out. Rain was in the area, but it wasn't caused from that," the policeman said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police assigned to the constabulary's National Intelligence Centre Kevin Blake was non-committal when the Sunday Observer asked him about the matter last Friday, offering only that: "Well, let us say that it is the rainy season."
The wetting of trousers is nothing new to wanted men. Kevin Tyndale, better known as Richie Poo, reportedly wet himself when he was captured by police on February 12, 2005.
Tyndale became head of the Gideon Warriors gang, based in Papine, eastern St Andrew, after the capture of its former leader Joel Andem in May 2004.
"He wet his pants," a policeman who took part in the operation told the Sunday Observer at the time. "It was amazing to see a man whose name drives fear into many hearts, begging and pleading for his life," added the policeman who did not wish to be named.
"Even after he was handcuffed he kept begging the officers not to kill him, and when he was taken to the lock-up he thanked the police for not killing him," the cop added.
Tyndale -- who was a suspect in 19 major crimes including murder, shootings and robberies -- was accused of killing 56-year-old Ena Grant while she worshipped at a church in Land Lease, St Andrew, in June 2004. Police and eyewitness reports at the time said he entered the church, pointed the gun at the senior citizen, pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired. Amid the chaos that ensued, with worshippers fleeing, Tyndale corrected the problem on the firearm and shot Grant dead.
He was later convicted of murder, for which he was given a life sentence.
He was also found guilty of wounding with intent, illegal possession of firearm and shooting with intent, and received separate sentences.
"It is a normal human reaction," said noted psychiatrist Dr Aggrey Irons in an interview.
"Such a situation is based on a lack of control... when there is a serious autonomic response, the autonomic nervous system just does that," he said. "It is not because you are a coward, but something happens at the time that raises your level of awareness very suddenly."
A medical doctor who opted for anonymity said that it was a natural reaction for something like that to occur, if that were the case with Coke.
"It can happen to normal individuals... the suddenness of that situation, where all the muscles relax and you lose control," said the doctor. "Under normal circumstances when you do not urinate on yourself, it is because your brain is sending out signals of control. It happens all the while to people who are fearful... it is a phobia."
Tyndale's predecessor Andem, was also reported by the police as showing signs of nervousness when he was captured.
"He was trembling like a badly-tuned truck," police superintendent Donald Pusey told the Observer at the time.
Jamaica and Haiti invited to G8 meeting
MONTREAL, Canada – Canada has invited Jamaica and Haiti for talks on development and security on the periphery of this month’s G8 meeting here.
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the two Caricom countries would be among several African, Caribbean and South American countries that he has invited to the talks.
The others include Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Colombia.
The two-day G8 meeting, which takes place from June 25-26, will be followed by another two-day G20 meeting in Toronto, from June 26-27.
“The G8 has a long tradition of developing credible solutions to global challenges in partnership with Africa and others in the international community,” said Harper, adding that the meeting would “broaden representation and maximise results on international development and peace and security issues.”
Canada’s invitation to Jamaica and Haiti comes on the heels of last week’s meeting in Barbados on security and other issues between United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and CARICOM community leaders and foreign ministers.
Over the years, Haiti has been plagued by security issues and, recently, Jamaica has had to contend with the outbreak of violence between its security forces and armed civilians loyal to fugitive Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted in the United States on drugs and gun-related charges.
PSOJ, JCC support security forces' Tivoli operation
PSOJ, JCC support security forces' Tivoli operation
BY JULIAN RICHARDSON Assistant business co-ordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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THE island's two major private sector groups yesterday came out in full support of the security forces' operation against armed thugs in the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens.
President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Joseph Matalon defended the mission, saying that what the security forces are trying to do in their offensive "is to reassert the authority of the State".
Police and a soldier engage gunmen in a section of Kingston yesterday. (Photos: Michael Gordon JDF soldiers take up position Downtown Kingston yesterday. This woman, who was shot near the intersection of Maxfield Avenue and Spanish Town Road, is being taken to a vehicle which took her to hospital.
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Police and a soldier engage gunmen in a section of Kingston yesterday. (Photos: Michael Gordon
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"The fact is that in a situation such as this, there are going to be sacrifices that we're going to have to make if in fact we genuinely want to put the country on a different path," said Matalon. "Therefore, while that instruction is obviously regrettable, I would rather see short-term disruption on getting us on an entirely different path rather than the path that we have been on up to now."
Said Milton Samuda, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC): "We stand fully behind the security forces in the difficult job that they have and assure them of our thoughts and prayers and hope that we will be using this opportunity to strike against rampant criminality."
Jamaica Defence Force soldiers and police moved into Tivoli yesterday in a bid to arrest Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted by the United States to face drug and firearms charges. Last Monday, minutes after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that the extradition request for Coke would be signed, residents of Tivoli barricaded themselves in their community and ignored pleas by the authorities to remove the barricades. Violence has since escalated in Tivoli and throughout sections of the Corporate Area.
Samuda and Matalon said businesses in the downtown district have paid a huge price for the civil unrest.
"The uncertainty and tension which continue to exist in downtown will affect the downtown commercial district," said Samuda, who noted that some of the JCC's members had indicated that their businesses would remain closed today.
"I think the immediate implications are obviously the lack of man-hours and the additional expense that comes with increased security... productivity will be down and sales will be down," the JCC president outlined.
Matalon said that PSOJ members in the district were willing victims of the fallout in short-term business in exchange for sustainability over the long term.
"The members that I have spoken to that operate downtown are very much of the view that something has to be done to stop the rot in terms of what's going on in garrison communities across the island, and they're prepared to make the sacrifice that is entailed for the restoration of law and order and for the longer term improvement in our standards," he said.
BY JULIAN RICHARDSON Assistant business co-ordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
THE island's two major private sector groups yesterday came out in full support of the security forces' operation against armed thugs in the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens.
President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Joseph Matalon defended the mission, saying that what the security forces are trying to do in their offensive "is to reassert the authority of the State".
Police and a soldier engage gunmen in a section of Kingston yesterday. (Photos: Michael Gordon JDF soldiers take up position Downtown Kingston yesterday. This woman, who was shot near the intersection of Maxfield Avenue and Spanish Town Road, is being taken to a vehicle which took her to hospital.
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Police and a soldier engage gunmen in a section of Kingston yesterday. (Photos: Michael Gordon
"The fact is that in a situation such as this, there are going to be sacrifices that we're going to have to make if in fact we genuinely want to put the country on a different path," said Matalon. "Therefore, while that instruction is obviously regrettable, I would rather see short-term disruption on getting us on an entirely different path rather than the path that we have been on up to now."
Said Milton Samuda, president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC): "We stand fully behind the security forces in the difficult job that they have and assure them of our thoughts and prayers and hope that we will be using this opportunity to strike against rampant criminality."
Jamaica Defence Force soldiers and police moved into Tivoli yesterday in a bid to arrest Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted by the United States to face drug and firearms charges. Last Monday, minutes after Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced that the extradition request for Coke would be signed, residents of Tivoli barricaded themselves in their community and ignored pleas by the authorities to remove the barricades. Violence has since escalated in Tivoli and throughout sections of the Corporate Area.
Samuda and Matalon said businesses in the downtown district have paid a huge price for the civil unrest.
"The uncertainty and tension which continue to exist in downtown will affect the downtown commercial district," said Samuda, who noted that some of the JCC's members had indicated that their businesses would remain closed today.
"I think the immediate implications are obviously the lack of man-hours and the additional expense that comes with increased security... productivity will be down and sales will be down," the JCC president outlined.
Matalon said that PSOJ members in the district were willing victims of the fallout in short-term business in exchange for sustainability over the long term.
"The members that I have spoken to that operate downtown are very much of the view that something has to be done to stop the rot in terms of what's going on in garrison communities across the island, and they're prepared to make the sacrifice that is entailed for the restoration of law and order and for the longer term improvement in our standards," he said.
Jamaica to sign Dudus extradition request
A deeply apologetic Prime Minister Bruce Golding tonight announced that Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne will sign the authority for extradition proceedings to commence against Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke who is wanted by the United States to face gun- and drug-running charges.
In an address to the nation a short while ago, Golding begged the nation to forgive him for dragging out the extradition issue and for his involvement in the matter.
"The Minister of Justice will sign the authorisation for the extradition process to commence," Golding said.
Golding's head has been on the chopping block since last Tuesday's announcement in Parliament that he had personally sanctioned his party's decision to seek the assistance of United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to negotiate with the Barack Obama administration in the contentious extradition matter.
Calls from all sectors of society for Golding to resign led him to rally his party's top brass to high level talks on the weekend.
"In hindsight the party should have never got involved in the way it did," he said in tonight's broadcast. "I must accept responsibility for it and the way it was handled and I must express my remorse. I ask for your forgiveness."
Jamaica to sign Dudus extradition request
A deeply apologetic Prime Minister Bruce Golding tonight announced that Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne will sign the authority for extradition proceedings to commence against Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke who is wanted by the United States to face gun- and drug-running charges.
In an address to the nation a short while ago, Golding begged the nation to forgive him for dragging out the extradition issue and for his involvement in the matter.
"The Minister of Justice will sign the authorisation for the extradition process to commence," Golding said.
Golding's head has been on the chopping block since last Tuesday's announcement in Parliament that he had personally sanctioned his party's decision to seek the assistance of United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to negotiate with the Barack Obama administration in the contentious extradition matter.
Calls from all sectors of society for Golding to resign led him to rally his party's top brass to high level talks on the weekend.
"In hindsight the party should have never got involved in the way it did," he said in tonight's broadcast. "I must accept responsibility for it and the way it was handled and I must express my remorse. I ask for your forgiveness."
BOSS
The future of an extradition motion brought by Attorney General and Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne hinges on a ruling from Supreme Court Judge Roy Jones on whether Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller should remain a defendant in the matter.
Lightbourne has asked the court to make a determination on her powers as attorney general under the Extradition Act and has named Simpson Miller as a defendant.
Simpson Miller was one of three persons named as defendants in the motion. Joseph M. Matalon, for and on behalf of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), and Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the businessman around whom the extradition issue revolves, are the other persons named as defendants.
The Gleaner has learnt that during the hearing in chambers yesterday, Lightbourne, the claimant, took the position that there was no basis for the second defendant, Matalon, to remain as a defendant.
Coke has not been served and is therefore under no obligation to take a seat in court and respond.
It means that Simpson Miller stands as the sole defendant in the matter, but lawyers representing her have argued strongly that she should be released.
If she is released, there would be no basis upon which the matter would proceed.
Yesterday, Queen's Counsel K.D. Knight and attorneys-at-law John Junor and Abe Dabdoub, who are representing Simpson Miller, and R.N.A. Henriques, QC, and attorney Richard Small, who represent the PSOJ, argued that they should be released as defendants in the motion because they had no knowledge, information, documents or evidence that could assist the court in the proceedings.
However, attorneys-at-law Dr Lloyd Barnett and Dr Adolph Edwards opposed Simpson Miller's application and argued that she should remain a defendant because she was the leader of the opposition and had a constitutional duty.
Lightbourne said in court documents that Simpson Miller and the PSOJ had been named as defendants because of public views expressed by them on the extradition issue.
She said Coke was named as a defendant because he is the person involved in the extradition request.
The Gleaner understands the attorney general's lawyers said in chambers that her decision, to concede that Matalon should not have been named as a defendant, was based on the affidavit given by Matalon. In that affidavit, he said the PSOJ, in its public statement, was in no way disputing the minister's powers under the Extradition Act.
The PSOJ was not released as a defendant as Jones has reserved his decision in the applications for a later date. It is expected that the judge will hand down his decision later this month.
Lightbourne has taken the decision not to sign the authority to proceed with the extradition for Coke, who is wanted in the United States to face drug and firearm-trafficking charges.
She filed the motion in the Supreme Court on April 14, seeking declarations as to her powers under the Extradition Act.
Lightbourne and Solicitor General Douglas Leys attended the hearing, but the motion for the declarations was not heard yesterday, as it will have to await the judge's ruling on the applications for the defendants to be released.
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Dwyane Wade Estranged Wife Files Lawsuit
The estranged wife of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has filed a lawsuit against his girlfriend, actress Gabrielle Union (right), claiming that their relationship has caused Wade's two sons emotional distress, according to the Associated Press.
"Siohvaughn Wade filed the suit in Chicago this week, adding yet another chapter to the lengthy divorce saga between the former high school sweethearts who separated more than two years ago," writes the AP's Tim Reynolds. "She and Dwyane Wade had two sons, ages 8 and 2, who are listed as plaintiffs."
The lawsuit alleges that Union "engaged in sexual foreplay" in front of Wade's sons and that severely inflicted the Plaintiffs emotionally and mentally." Other claims include that the boys received "medium size gifts" from their father for Christmas last year, and Union got "the biggest gift of all." As well as the allegation that the "Defendant played sexually explicit roles, including roles as a seductress ... [and] has apparently decided to take her role beyond the films and into the home of a married man, Dwyane Wade, in the presence of his two minor children."
Union's attorney, C. Anthony Mulrain says that "Each and every allegation made is entirely false."
And Dwayne Wade supports Union: "I can state with certainty that the claims Siohvaughn made about Gabrielle are untrue," Wade said. "I am deeply saddened and disappointed that Siohvaughn has used our sons once again as pawns and is now lashing out at Gabrielle, who is an innocent party. It is clear that this is a desperate attempt to retaliate against me for seeking sole custody of our children.
"I am shocked that Siohvaughn Wade has brought this baseless and meritless lawsuit in the name of our children against Gabrielle Union," he added.
The Wades' divorce trial is slated to start in June, although Dwyane Wade's legal team is hoping for a settlement before the case goes to court.
O'neil From Voicemail Shot & Injured
L-R Oneil, Kevin and Craig from Voicemail
Scotiabank Small Business launches Farm Loan
SCOTIABANK is launching a $100-million loan fund to assist small farmers to plant cash crops for local consumption. The funds, which are being made available at a concessionary rate of 9.95 percent, is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries FARM (Financial Access for Responsible Members) Programme.
"This Scotia FARM Fund reinforces the Bank's ongoing thrust to stimulate growth in the agricultural and productive sectors," said Scotia in a press release on Thursday.
selection of Irish potatoes, peppers and onions from the farm of Leroy DelaHaye, a Scotiabank Small Business customer, just before the launch of Scotiabank’s Farm Loan programme on Thursday morning on the DelaHaye farm in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
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selection of Irish potatoes, peppers and onions from the farm of Leroy DelaHaye, a Scotiabank Small Business customer, just before the launch of Scotiabank’s Farm Loan programme on Thursday morning on the DelaHaye farm in Old Harbour, St Catherine.
"Under this initiative, the bank is providing short-term, non-revolving loans to financially viable farming projects with the goal of stimulating increased farming activities, reducing the use of foreign exchange on imports of products that can be produced locally and generating increased employment," added the firm.
The fund will be available from April 29 to December 31, 2010 to eligible farmers registered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries FARM Programme. Loans will range between $500,000 and $2 million and will be utilised for short-term crop financing, including purchasing of fertilizer,insecticide, seeds, and securing labour directly related to the crop production.
In the first phase of the project, the bank will be lending for the planting of onions, irish potatoes and hot peppers. The maximum loan term for the financing of onion and potato crops is six months and the maximum term for hot peppers is nine months. A maximum of 10 per cent of the project cost (up to $200,000) can also be used for the purchase of capital equipment specific to the project/crop planting. Loans will be disbursed against invoices for material and labour and directly to the suppliers for material.
Speaking about the launch of the programme, Patsy Latchman Atterbury, vice- president for small business banking at Scotiabank, said that the FARM fund was "a great partnership that clearly demonstrates that once we are committed to the process, all parties, the Government, bank and customers can all work together to improve access to financing. We expect that this fund will ease the pressure on our farmers' cash flow and assist them to improve their yields and produce better quality products and grow the business further."
Scotiabank and the Ministry of Agriculture have signed an agreement which will see the Ministry and RADA selecting and training farmers, assisting the farmers to prepare business plans and providing an assessment of the financial and technical viability of the project before a formal application for a loan is made to the bank. The Ministry will also monitor and supervise farm operations and help farmers in marketing and sales.
IMF to open office in Jamaica
NEW YORK, USA — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to open an office in Jamaica in what the Washington-based lending agency says is a move that will "further deepen the IMF's relationship with the country's authorities and other important stakeholders".
IMF spokesman Andreas Andriano told the Sunday Observer here that the office -- one of two to be set up in the Caribbean -- will begin operations later this month. The other office, he said, will be established in Antigua and Barbuda to cover IMF member countries in the Eastern Caribbean.
With a similar office already operating in Haiti, the two new offices form part of the Fund's strategic plans to broaden its services in the region.
Nicolas Eyzaguirre, director of the IMF's Western Hemisphere, said the Fund's presence in the Caribbean will create a better understanding of local circumstances and constraints and help foster close and productive dialogue with policymakers in the region.
These include trade unions, the private sector, academics, and non-governmental organisations.
He expressed confidence that the presence of these resident representatives "will help the IMF develop closer ties with the people in the region".
St Lucian-born Gene Leon will head the Jamaica office, while Wendell Samuel, a national of St Vincent and the Grenadines, will head the office for the Eastern Caribbean.
Both are credited with having extensive experience in the Caribbean. Leon is also credited with developing the first Fund programme for Iraq and has led IMF teams to the Gulf region, while Samuels has worked mostly in the bank's Western Hemisphere Department.
Jamaica and the IMF signed a US$2.7-billion standby agreement in February. The country faces the first quarterly test under that agreement this month.
'Thanks for choosing Air Jamaica, the little piece of Jamaica that flies no more' — flight attendant.
FOR four decades, tourists and 'yardies' alike have flocked to Jamaica on the 'Lovebird' to enjoy the tropical climate, the food and everything else the island has to offer.
But passengers who came in on flight JM036 from Fort Lauderdale shortly after 11:00 on Friday night were not so upbeat after disembarking the 'final' flight on the national carrier.
It was an emotional journey for most, with some passengers reportedly shedding a few tears as they openly mourned the end of Air Jamaica on the late flight into Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston.
"It was very emotional; a lot of sentiments," said Captain Paul Wilson in describing the general mood aboard the flight. "We saw some low-spirited people coming off there... it was like a funeral. The last couple of flights, I have been flying with the passengers, they were all saying the same thing, 'we are going to miss you guys'," Wilson said.
EDUCATION Minister Andrew Holness yesterday described the planned two-day strike by public school teachers as unfortunate, but warned that their actions must not disrupt the sitting of Caribbean Examination Council examinations scheduled for those days.
"The ministry is not expecting, and would look unfavourably on any attempt to prevent access to any school, examination centre, laboratory or any examination material which may be in their (teachers') custody," the minister told reporters at an afternoon press briefing in Kingston.
More than ten Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) examinations -- including visual arts, music, sociology, French, and Caribbean Studies -- are scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday when the teachers plan to stay off the job.
But Holness said yesterday that while many teachers may not want to turn up for work, those
scheduled to work as examination invigilators -- for which they are compensated separately — are expected to fulfil their obligations.
In addition, the minister said all administration, clerical, and ancillary staff, are expected to report to work over the two days, noting that officers from the ministry's regional offices will be visiting the schools to ensure that duties were being performed.
