Muslim leader blames Trinidad for deportation from Ja

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 1:11 PM    

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Jamaat Al-Muslimeen Leader Yasin Abu Bakr has said he was not a threat to Jamaica’s national security and he is blaming The Trinidad and Tobago Government for his deportation from Jamaica on Wednesday.

Bakr issued a statement through the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen about the incident that took place at the Norman Manley International Airport on Wednesday afternoon in which he was detained and handcuffed, when he became upset and agitated after immigration officials told him he would not be admitted into Jamaica.

The incident comes at a time when Jamaica has called on Minister of National Security Gary Griffith to “refrain from continuing to muddy the integration waters” as it responded to his statement that the influx of thousands of illegal Jamaicans into Trinidad and Tobago is putting a strain on the country’s resources.

In the news release, Bakr called for the intervention of Trinidad and Tobago authorities in clearing up this matter stating the actions of politicians affect the citizens of their respective countries at home and abroad.

Bakr said, “These decisions were not made by immigration officials at the airport. They are in bad taste and it is unfortunate that I have been mixed into this mess at this point.”

He continued, “It is embarrassingly incorrect to come to the conclusion in these circumstances that I would be a threat to Jamaica’s National Security. I support freedom of movement in the region and employ a number of Jamaican nationals in Trinidad.

“My private school also caters to foreign nations, a number of whom are Jamaicans, who find difficulty accessing education in the government-run institutions. We will continue to make efforts to get to the bottom of this abuse and appropriate action will be taken in accordance.”

Sources indicated that Bakr’s name may have been on an Interpol list, but this was not so when checks were made with senior Interpol contacts.?

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Muslim leader blames Trinidad for deportation from Ja

Bunting blames gang feuds for murder spike

News

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY-WILLIS Senior staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com Wednesday, September 11, 2013

PETER Bunting yesterday said a general increase in the number of inter- and intra-gang conflicts is among several reasons for the spike in murders which have made for an unusually bloody summer with an average four murders per day for the period June 30 to August 31.In a statement to the House of Representatives yesterday, the national security minister said analysis of the murder attribution statistics shows that the largest increase in homicides during the period falls within the category “murders in the course of robbery”.“There were 90 murders in this category for the spike period in 2013 versus 41 in 2012. This may suggest that more hardened gunmen or gang members are diversifying into robbery as other sources of illicit income, such as extortion or lottery scamming, are squeezed,” Bunting said.In noting that a general increase in the number of inter and intra-gang conflicts is also thought to be a factor, he said the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) is monitoring approximately 50 of these situations currently.He said contributing factors to these increased conflicts include “a predicted increase in the trafficking of drugs and guns due to a so-called ‘balloon effect’,” caused by the fact that as the war on drugs heats up in Central America, more cocaine traffic is starting to return to the historical Caribbean routes.Bunting said cocaine seizures by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, which can be used as one indicator of total cocaine traffic, have more than doubled year-to-date (Jan-July) with 354 Kkg seized as against 152 kg last year.“There has also been an increase in marijuana interdictions. Similarly, the police have seized 479 guns year-to-date (January to August) compared to 397 for the similar period last year, the increased trafficking is likely fuelling increased gang activity,” Bunting added.Another reason for the spike, he said, was that in recent times a number of alleged gang leaders have been released from custody for a variety of reasons.“Since their release there has been an increase in murder in the areas where they have influence. The NIB indicates that this increase is a result of attempts by these leaders to reassert their authority and exact retribution on those who did not support them during incarceration,” Bunting told the House.He also said the infamous lottery scamming continues to fuel murders by gangs, with there being four murders related to lottery scamming during the last week alone.In the meantime, he said that to combat the situation, the Administration intends to accelerate the passage through Parliament of the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Organised Criminal Organisations) Bill, more commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Gang’ Bill. National Security Minister Peter Bunting (centre) observes as Earl Richards (left), chairman/president of the Airports Authority of Jamaica and CEO, Norman Manley International Airport Limited, presents the keys to the newly refurbished airport police station in Kingston to Police Commissioner Owen Ellington during Wednesday’s handing-over ceremony.

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Bunting blames gang feuds for murder spike

"Harassing" US mayor blames city

1 August 2013 Last updated at 10:27 ET Bob Filner said last week that he took responsibility for his actions

A lawyer for embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner argues the city should fund his defence as it failed to give him anti-sexual harassment training.

Harvey Berger made the argument in a letter a day before the city council voted unanimously to deny Mr Filner such funding.

Eight women have now accused him of unwelcome advances, some of them physical.

He has said he will attend “behaviour counselling”, but will not quit.

The mayor and the city have been sued by his former communication director, Irene McCormack Jackson, over harassment allegations. Among other claims, she says he asked her to work without wearing underwear.

Continue reading the main story

Many – if not most – people do not know what is and what is not illegal sexual harassment under California law”

End Quote Harvey Berger Mayor Bob Filner’s laywer While Mr Filner has admitted he is in need of “help”, his lawyer says his client denies Ms McCormack’s allegations.

In a letter sent on Monday and obtained by a local broadcaster, Mr Berger argued that the city of San Diego had been required to provide sexual harassment training for all management-level employees in their first six months.

Mr Berger said the training had been scheduled, but the city trainer cancelled and did not reschedule.

“This is not an excuse for any inappropriate behavior which may have occurred,” the lawyer wrote, “but having conducted sexual harassment training many times over the years, I have learned that many – if not most – people do not know what is and what is not illegal sexual harassment under California law.”

He said Mr Filner may not now be facing a lawsuit if he had undergone the classes.

However, the city council evidently was not swayed by the lawyer’s argument.

A day later, on Tuesday, they voted unanimously to sue Mr Filner to require him pay for any legal damages or fees if the city is held liable for the harassment claims. It also moved to deny him funds for his defence.

The local Democratic committee voted by 34-6 last week for Mr Filner to quit, but only a recall election can force him out of office.

The former congressman said in a news conference on Friday that his behaviour had been “inexcusable”.

He said he would undergo two weeks of intensive therapy “to begin the process of addressing my behaviour”.

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"Harassing" US mayor blames city