South Africa 361-5 (42 overs) vs West Indies – 5th ODI

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | 1:05 PM    

CENTURION, South Africa (AFP) – Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw both hit centuries for the second time in the series as South Africa punished a lacklustre West Indian bowling attack in the fifth and final one-day international at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

Amla made 133 and Rossouw powered his way to 132 in a South African total of 361 for five in an innings reduced to 42 overs because of rain.

The pair equalled their South African record for any wicket by putting on 247 for the third wicket.

They set the mark with a first wicket stand in the second match in Johannesburg when both also hit hundreds and provided a platform for AB de Villiers to hit the fastest century in one-day international history.

De Villiers was rested for Wednesday’s game, along with all four of South Africa’s first-choice specialist bowlers.

West Indies captain Jason Holder sent South Africa in to bat and initially it seemed a good move as the batsmen struggled to time the ball on a pitch which had spent most of the day under the covers as steady drizzle delayed the start by two-and-a-half hours.

Amla took his total for the series to 412 for twice out, scoring his 133 runs off 105 balls with 11 fours and six sixes.

The left-handed Rossouw took 60 balls to reach his fifty but then cut loose, needing only another 23 balls to post his second international century and only 15 more before he was caught on the boundary off Andre Russell after an innings which included nine fours and eight sixes.

Russell took three wickets but conceded 85 runs in eight overs, including 28 in one over during the batting power play.

Russell sent down three no-balls and five wides, two of which were out of reach of wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and went to the boundary.

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South Africa 361-5 (42 overs) vs West Indies – 5th ODI

Cuba would cooperate with US against Ebola – Castro

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 12:43 PM    

HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — Cuba stands ready to cooperate with the United States (US) in the battle against Ebola, former leader Fidel Castro said in an article published Saturday.

Cuba is sending about 460 doctors and nurses to West Africa to help fight Ebola, an effort that was praised on Friday by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The US is sending hundreds of soldiers to set up clinics and train health care workers and it also has sent officials from the Centers for Disease Control to help in training.

“With pleasure we will cooperate with US personnel in that task,” the 88-year-old ex-leader wrote in the Communist Party daily Granma. He said it would not be to seek peace between two countries long at odds, but “for the peace of the world.”

Castro did not say what form cooperation might take.

He also noted that Havana plays host on Monday to a meeting of leaders from the ALBA alliance of leftist Latin American nations that is meant to raise more support for the fight against Ebola.

He said such medical cooperation is “the greatest example of solidarity that a human being can offer.”

Jorge Perez, the head of Cuba’s top tropical medicine institute, told The Associated Press on Friday that Cuba is ready to send still more doctors if there is enough funding and infrastructure to support them.

“There are countries that have resources and can send money, but there are also those who can send human resources. It’s not just doctors. We also need nurses, technicians,” he said.

In Washington on Friday, Kerry mentioned Cuba as one of the “nations large and small stepping up in impressive ways to make a contribution on the front lines.”

Perez said that despite the United States’ chilly 55-year relationship with Cuba’s communist government, Kerry’s words were “an important gesture.”

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Cuba would cooperate with US against Ebola – Castro

Silent witnesses to child abuse could be jailed – new Barbados law

Sunday, June 22, 2014 | 3:05 PM    

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Persons who may be aware of instances of child abuse, but do not inform the authorities, could be brought before the courts and face possible jail according to a looming law.

Child Care Board Director, Joan Crawford, says Cabinet is about to consider a proposal making it mandatory for school principals, church leaders, social workers, court officials, and media workers, among others to report knowledge of child abuse.

“There are no ifs or buts. It will be that you … are bound to report,” she said Thursday. “The only exception there is that lawyer-client privilege, but all others are not considered that way.”

Further explaining the proposal before the Cabinet she said, “Failure to report a suspected case should carry a sanction in the form of a fine, with the alternative of imprisonment”.

Crawford’s revelation came during a symposium on student sexual abuse, where UNICEF Representative, Knu-Sandi Lwin, suggested that education officials and others involved in the delivery of education can be blamed for not disclosing all information on probable cases of child abuse.

“All of us, in one way or another, have been sinning, the sins of omission,” she said.

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Silent witnesses to child abuse could be jailed – new Barbados law

‘Fight fire with fire’ – T&T National Security Minister

Sunday, June 22, 2014 | 4:08 PM    

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Asserting that “these are desperate times”, the Trinidad Ministry of National Security plans “fighting fire with fire” and will be racking up its armoury to take on criminal elements.

This message came in a statement from the ministry late Saturday, following the killing of a man by police officers in a shootout, the subsequent shooting of a soldier in Desperlie Crescent, Laventille , and a confrontation between contingents of lawmen and residents earlier in the day.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith, was quoted as the Ministry of National Security would be adding to its arsenal very soon Armoured Personnel Carriers that would allow troops to enter these high risk hot zone areas and be able to stabilize any threat or attack on Law Enforcement.

Media reports, apparently based on information from police, indicated that just after midnight a police patrol attempted to approach three men, but was met by gunfire. The lawmen returned fire, killing a 19-year-old man, said to be among the three. The other two escaped.

According to the newspapers, hours later residents blocked access roads to Desperlie Crescent with debris and set it ablaze. Police responded in large numbers, explosions were heard, and an off-duty soldier was shot in the knee.

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‘Fight fire with fire’ – T&T National Security Minister

Jamaica can earn US$7B annually from limestone industry – local scientist

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — One of Jamaica’s leading researchers says that the country can earn up to US$7 billion annually by ramping up the production of limestone and its high value-added items, for the local and export markets.

According to, Dr Conrad Douglas, in presenting research findings at a recent stakeholder symposium at JAMPRO’s New Kingston office, the industry offers vast opportunity for investors in agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing. Dr Douglas the executive chairman of research company, Conrad Douglas and Associates, cited the production of paper, polishes, paints, rubber, glass, cosmetics, plastics and adhesives as possibilities. “There are great opportunities … what we found was really large. We are talking about total cumulative value for the markets of some US$7 billion,” he said.According to Dr Douglas, Jamaica is blessed with rich limestone resources and is considered “the limestone capital of the world”.The country’s limestone resource is estimated 150 billion tonnes of which 50 billion tonnes is recoverable. The main export markets for limestone are Canada, United States, CARICOM, and South America, he said.“Jamaican limestone is occurring naturally, we have been producing it, and we have been exporting it, and it has found acceptance in the international markets. We have pharmaceutical limestone, we have chemical limestone, and we also have metallurgical limestone (use primarily in the bauxite industry). Limestone has the most diverse end-use structure of all material known by mankind. That, in itself, presents a wide range of opportunities,” said Dr Douglas.He cautioned, however, that there is need to focus on the production of high value-added products to drive the industry for the future. “We believe that there is opportunity, as found from the study, to ramp-up production to a greater level,” he said.Dr Douglas said that currently, Jamaica imports limestone products that can be manufactured locally, and some 10 plants across the island can be “ramped-up easily” for the production of these value-added items.He pointed out, however, that for the development of the sector, a number of legislation relating to planning and development orders need to be amended. He noted too that “great reliance” will have to be placed on scientists in the development of the industry.“It means that we have to apply best sciences, and the best technology, and the best environment management practices to embark on a path of sustainable development and the use of creative conservation technologies, which now exist for the rehabilitation of those areas, which we might extract this resource from,” he said.Dr Douglas’s team is to conduct two other studies on the limestone industry, one looking at the required investment for the sector, while the other will explore technical and environmental plans for the companies involved in the industry.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserverDr Douglas, presenting findings on the limestone industry, at a recent stakeholder symposium held at the JAMPRO business auditorium in New Kingston.

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Jamaica can earn US$7B annually from limestone industry – local scientist

Virtual football a thing for the future – CONCACAF chief

DALLAS, Texas — Interactive virtual football is a thing for the future, says CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz.

According to Sanz the emerging trend, as it stands, is “a bridge between the future and the present”. ”I see the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup as a bridge — a bridge between the future and the present of the traditional soccer fan and the new generation of soccer fans,” said CONCACAF’s chief administrator.” When we first announced the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup everybody was saying, ‘what is this?’. But what we wanted to do is emulate our Gold Cup with the Interactive Gold Cup, so we started with 5,000 players and down to the best 12 in the same format of the Gold Cup representing the different regions,” Sanz told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday night.He said the aim of the virtual tournament is“to connect the athletes on the field with interactive players…we are looking at the new generation and we know this will get more popular with them,” noted Sanz, a Colombian-born American. Those caught up in the wave of the virtual phenomenon, Sanz suggested, are very knowledgeable individuals of the game.“The  interactive players know a lot about the game… they know every coach, every player and what they do, they know the tactics, so it’s a very interesting experience and so far we are getting very good feedback,” Sanz argued.Meanwhile, Jamaica’s representative Karl Cowan, who made the final 12 and who was eliminated at a group play-off Tuesday night here, said he got into virtual stratosphere by chance.  “I had a little spare time on my hand and then I started to play with my friends but there wasn’t much competition there, so I started to play online and there was good competition,” he told the Observer. He said he learnt of the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup while he was online playing with overseas opponents.“There was pop-up of a tournament and that the top player would get a chance to represent Jamaica, and I took a shot at it, and here I am,” said Cowan, a supporter of Harbour View FC, the Jamaican Premier League champion.The Jamaica Public Service engineer was happy to shed light on how he was able to make the final cut of 12 which earned him an airline ticket to the actual Gold Cup.“You are competing against about 3.5 million people across the world, including Brazil, Spain, Italy on the Play Station network, so basically we just play games against each other to see who could come out with the best record. At the end of the season they look at your record and they match you with some pre-determined stuff,” he explained.Cowan agreed with Sanz that players of the virtual ball game are usually very up to date with the nuances of the game, even if they have not physically played it at a high level.“The better you are at real football, the better you’ll be at virtual football… I think it’s a very good simulation,” said Cowan.The Constant Spring Garden resident would not let the opportunity slip to weigh in on Jamaica’s football.“We have natural ability and very good individuals, but in terms of team play that is where we need to get it together. We struggle to play as a unit and we also find it difficult to keep a unit together and because of that it shows on the field,” he noted.“Another big weakness that I see is within the fundamentals, including our ball handling skills which are not at the level that is necessary to carry us to the international level,”Cowan added. Representing the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Gold Cup interactive tournament, Carlon Garcia, believes the virtual format gives average players the opportunity to lift their game on another frontier. “I think virtual football is the great equaliser as not everybody is naturally athletic, so for those who can’t play physical football on the field, they equalise that by playing virtually,” he stated. Garcia added that “these games are becoming more realistic” and the player has to possess “some degree of knowledge” because it involves a lot of tactics.Others making the final 12 were Diego Orozco (Guatemala), David Medina (Honduras), Juan Ambriz (USA), Kevin Dehizadeh (Canada), John Castilla (Panama), Josue Paul Renderos Granillo (El Salvador), Jean Jacques Pierre (Haiti), Bouver Bique (St Martin), Irvin Velazquez (Mexico) and Luiz Adrian (Costa Rica).Meanwhile, the final of the Interactive Gold Cup was by El Salvador, clipping Mexico 1-0 in a giant screen showdown at Cowboys Stadium between the semi-final matches of the real deal.The champion of the 2013 CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup, Josue Paul Renderos Granillo, won an all-expense paid VIP trip for two to receive the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup trophy in Chicago during the festivities surrounding the final of the actual CONCACAF Gold Cup at Soldier Field on Sunday.The Interactive Gold Cup is a competition involving contestants engaging in an online virtual play-off fashioning the format of the actual Gold Cup on a PlayStation 3 console.– Sean WilliamsLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserverCONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz (centre) poses for pictures with the finalists of the inaugural CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup at Cowboy Stadium on Tuesday. Gold Cup Interactive champion El Salvador’s Josue Paul Renderos Granillo (4th right) and Jamaica’s Karl Cowan (right) are also pictured. (PHOTO: CONCACAF)

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Virtual football a thing for the future – CONCACAF chief

Virtual football a thing for the future – CONCACAF chief

DALLAS, Texas — Interactive virtual football is a thing for the future, says CONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz.

According to Sanz the emerging trend, as it stands, is “a bridge between the future and the present”. ”I see the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup as a bridge — a bridge between the future and the present of the traditional soccer fan and the new generation of soccer fans,” said CONCACAF’s chief administrator.” When we first announced the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup everybody was saying, ‘what is this?’. But what we wanted to do is emulate our Gold Cup with the Interactive Gold Cup, so we started with 5,000 players and down to the best 12 in the same format of the Gold Cup representing the different regions,” Sanz told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday night.He said the aim of the virtual tournament is“to connect the athletes on the field with interactive players…we are looking at the new generation and we know this will get more popular with them,” noted Sanz, a Colombian-born American. Those caught up in the wave of the virtual phenomenon, Sanz suggested, are very knowledgeable individuals of the game.“The  interactive players know a lot about the game… they know every coach, every player and what they do, they know the tactics, so it’s a very interesting experience and so far we are getting very good feedback,” Sanz argued.Meanwhile, Jamaica’s representative Karl Cowan, who made the final 12 and who was eliminated at a group play-off Tuesday night here, said he got into virtual stratosphere by chance.  “I had a little spare time on my hand and then I started to play with my friends but there wasn’t much competition there, so I started to play online and there was good competition,” he told the Observer. He said he learnt of the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup while he was online playing with overseas opponents.“There was pop-up of a tournament and that the top player would get a chance to represent Jamaica, and I took a shot at it, and here I am,” said Cowan, a supporter of Harbour View FC, the Jamaican Premier League champion.The Jamaica Public Service engineer was happy to shed light on how he was able to make the final cut of 12 which earned him an airline ticket to the actual Gold Cup.“You are competing against about 3.5 million people across the world, including Brazil, Spain, Italy on the Play Station network, so basically we just play games against each other to see who could come out with the best record. At the end of the season they look at your record and they match you with some pre-determined stuff,” he explained.Cowan agreed with Sanz that players of the virtual ball game are usually very up to date with the nuances of the game, even if they have not physically played it at a high level.“The better you are at real football, the better you’ll be at virtual football… I think it’s a very good simulation,” said Cowan.The Constant Spring Garden resident would not let the opportunity slip to weigh in on Jamaica’s football.“We have natural ability and very good individuals, but in terms of team play that is where we need to get it together. We struggle to play as a unit and we also find it difficult to keep a unit together and because of that it shows on the field,” he noted.“Another big weakness that I see is within the fundamentals, including our ball handling skills which are not at the level that is necessary to carry us to the international level,”Cowan added. Representing the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Gold Cup interactive tournament, Carlon Garcia, believes the virtual format gives average players the opportunity to lift their game on another frontier. “I think virtual football is the great equaliser as not everybody is naturally athletic, so for those who can’t play physical football on the field, they equalise that by playing virtually,” he stated. Garcia added that “these games are becoming more realistic” and the player has to possess “some degree of knowledge” because it involves a lot of tactics.Others making the final 12 were Diego Orozco (Guatemala), David Medina (Honduras), Juan Ambriz (USA), Kevin Dehizadeh (Canada), John Castilla (Panama), Josue Paul Renderos Granillo (El Salvador), Jean Jacques Pierre (Haiti), Bouver Bique (St Martin), Irvin Velazquez (Mexico) and Luiz Adrian (Costa Rica).Meanwhile, the final of the Interactive Gold Cup was by El Salvador, clipping Mexico 1-0 in a giant screen showdown at Cowboys Stadium between the semi-final matches of the real deal.The champion of the 2013 CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup, Josue Paul Renderos Granillo, won an all-expense paid VIP trip for two to receive the CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup trophy in Chicago during the festivities surrounding the final of the actual CONCACAF Gold Cup at Soldier Field on Sunday.The Interactive Gold Cup is a competition involving contestants engaging in an online virtual play-off fashioning the format of the actual Gold Cup on a PlayStation 3 console.– Sean WilliamsCONCACAF general secretary Enrique Sanz (centre) poses for pictures with the finalists of the inaugural CONCACAF Interactive Gold Cup at Cowboy Stadium on Tuesday. Gold Cup Interactive champion El Salvador’s Josue Paul Renderos Granillo (4th right) and Jamaica’s Karl Cowan (right) are also pictured. (PHOTO: CONCACAF)

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Virtual football a thing for the future – CONCACAF chief

At 112, NY man is world"s oldest; oldest woman 115 – Guinness World Records

GRAND ISLAND, NY (AP) — A 112-year-old self-taught musician, coal miner and gin rummy aficionado from western New York is now the world’s oldest man, according to Guinness World Records.

Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez became the world’s oldest man when Jiroemon Kimura died June 12 at age 116.The world’s oldest person is a woman, 115-year-old Misao Okawa of Japan.Guinness World Records used census reports, immigration papers, marriage records and news reports to confirm the record.Robert Young, senior gerontology consultant with Guinness World Records, said 90 per cent of all supercentenarians are female and Salustiano is currently the only male born in 1901 with proof of birth.Born June 8, 1901, in village of El Tejado de Bejar, Spain, he was known for his talent on the dulzania, a double-reed wind instrument that he taught himself and played at weddings and village celebrations. At 17, he moved with his older brother Pedro and a group of friends to Cuba, where they worked in the cane fields.In 1920, he came to the United States through Ellis Island and worked in the coal mines of Lynch, Kentucky. Ultimately, he moved to the Niagara Falls area of New York, where he still lives, working in construction and in the industrial furnaces. He married his wife, Pearl, in 1934.In a statement provided by Guinness World Records, Salustiano — whose nickname is ‘Shorty’ — said he was humbled by the attention, saying he didn’t feel he accomplished anything special just because he has lived longer than most.“He says, `I’m an old man and let’s leave it at that,’” said his daughter, 69-year-old Irene Johnson. Salustiano lived with Johnson in Grand Island after his wife died in 1988; he moved to a nursing home in 2007.“We did our best,” Johnson said. “We weren’t going to put him somewhere just because he was old.”Salustiano said his longevity can be attributed to eating one banana per day and his daily dose of six Anacin tablets. His daughter has another theory.“I think it’s just because he’s an independent, stubborn man,” she said.Besides his daughter, he has a 76-year-old son, John, seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.The oldest authenticated person was Jeanne Louise Calment of France, who died at the age of 122 years and 164 days.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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At 112, NY man is world"s oldest; oldest woman 115 – Guinness World Records

We have no agreement for a flat tax – Taxi operators

Latest News

Thursday, July 11, 2013 | 4:48 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Association of Transport Owners & Operators (JATOO) says any plans to introduce a flat tax on public passenger vehicles (PPV) operators will be rejected by its membership and also by the majority of the public passenger transportation sector.The Transport Ministry in a statement Thursday said that an agreement was reached with the island’s transport operators for a flat tax.But in a quick response this afternoon, JATOO president Louis Barton denied any such agreement. “The days of government or their agencies imposing laws or regulations on the public transport industry without a process of consultation is now over,” Barton said in a release.“A flat tax on the public transportation sector is, at least, discriminatory as no other sector will be having this tax being imposed on them.”“Bus operators have seen their expenses increase by over 78 per cent between 2008 and 2012, while for the same period income has remained the same because there had not been a fare increase,” Barton charged.He said that no public transport owner was making a profit at this time, including the government-owned Jamaica Urban Transport Company (JUTC) which was subsidised to the tune of over $5.7 billion over the same period.“Any decision by the Tax and Audit Administration of Jamaica to impose a flat tax on the industry will be vigorously rejected by JATOO using all possible channels at our disposal,” Barton insisted.Meanwhile minister without portfolio in the Trasnport Ministry, Dr Morais Guy in championing a flat tax said that the move will eventually result in a formalisation of the public transportation sector.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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We have no agreement for a flat tax – Taxi operators