Opposition calls for equal access to education loans

Tuesday, February 03, 2015 | 5:58 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition spokesperson on Education and Youth, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith is calling on Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites to clarify the Government’s position on the treatment of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) applicants by the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB).

Senator Johnson Smith said, “While we are all aware of the need to reform the funding of tertiary education, as a country we must ensure that there is equity and access for our young people. If the Government, through the Ministry of Education, is mandating limited access to funding for certain disciplines we would be concerned because in a democratic society, the government’s policy should not be to exclude students because of their interests.”

“There is a better way,” she insisted.??According to the Opposition spokesperson on education, the Students’ Loan Bureau should introduce a loan framework which balances national development with freedom of choice. 

“This could be done by introducing different interest rates, bonding arrangements and repayment periods combined in different ways, depending on the course of study to be pursued,” said Senator Johnson Smith.?”Aligning better interest rates, bonding arrangements and repayment periods with areas important for national development would balance choice and market needs, but would not completely exclude young people without interest or ability in STEM areas for example, who need financial support for tertiary education,” she continued.??In a news release on Tuesday, Senator Johnson Smith explained that the Jamaica Labour Party’s policy direction first announced in 2009 was that the SLB should offer incentives to young people to encourage them to take up studies in areas important to national development – and that these would certainly include STEM subjects. The intention however, was not to exclude or bar young people from getting loans to study in areas of interest to them.

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Opposition calls for equal access to education loans

Obama calls for expanded access to fast Internet - VIDEO: WH moving forward with plans to regulate broadband industry

President Obama is diving deeper into the debate over Internet control, urging the Federal Communications Commission to pre-empt state laws that restrict local governments from building broadband services. 

The president unveiled his plans Wednesday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, one of a handful of American cities — along with Chattanooga, Tenn., and Kansas City, Mo. — offering government-provided, high-speed Internet. 

The White House touts these networks as a fast and affordable option for consumers. And Obama sees them as local models for so-called net neutrality — his plan to preserve an open Internet, free of tiered pricing and restrictions imposed by commercial providers. 

“Today, high-speed broadband is not a luxury. It’s a necessity,” Obama said Wednesday. “This is about helping local businesses grow and prosper and compete in the global economy.” 

But the move has angered Republicans and others who worry the federal government is trampling on the ability of states to set their own rules. 

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., on Wednesday accused the president of pushing a “federal takeover of state laws governing broadband and the Internet.” 

According to the White House, 19 states have laws restricting municipal broadband networks. 

Fischer and other lawmakers worry about the impact an array of local government-run broadband networks would have on the private sector. She and 10 other Republican senators wrote to the FCC last summer urging the commission not to “force taxpayer funded competition against private broadband providers — against the wishes of the states.” 

Advocates of those state laws say they are designed to protect taxpayers from municipal projects that are expensive, can fail or may be unnecessary. 

The National Governors Association and the National Conference of State Legislatures have urged the FCC not to pre-empt state laws on broadband. 

But the administration argues these state measures stifle competition. 

Obama wants to expand access to broadband communications services, siding with local communities that want either to expand competition or provide municipal services themselves. To promote it, he announced that his administration will provide technical and financial assistance to towns and cities that want to improve Internet service for their residents. 

The proposals do not require congressional approval and are part of a series of measures Obama is rolling out before his State of the Union address next week. 

The administration’s stance would put it at odds with major cable and telephone companies such as AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc., that currently provide Internet service, often with little or no competition. Obama has already angered the industry by calling for new FCC rules that treat Internet service providers as public utilities, as part of his net neutrality push. 

In a White House video before the announcement, Obama says: “You know what it feels like when you don’t have a good Internet connection. Everything is buffering, you try to download a video and you’ve got that little circle thing that goes round and round, it’s really aggravating.” 

“There are real world consequences to this and it makes us less economically competitive,” he says. 

Jeff Zients, director of Obama’s National Economic Council, said Obama wants to use the bully pulpit of the presidency to press the FCC, an independent regulatory agency, to “ensure that all states have a playing field that allows for a vibrant and competitive market for communication services.” 

The FCC is already considering requests for Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Wilson, N.C., to prevent state laws from blocking the expansion of their broadband projects. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in June that local communities that want to provide their own broadband service “shouldn’t be stopped by state laws promoted by cable and telephone companies that don’t want that competition.” 

A new White House report says that while 94 percent of Americans living in urban areas can purchase an Internet connection of 25 megabits per second, only 51 percent of Americans in rural areas have access to such Internet speeds. 

The report also says that because of lack of competition three out of four Americans lack a choice for such Internet service. 

The White House also announced that the Commerce Department would promote greater broadband access by hosting regional workshops and offering technical assistance to communities. The Department of Agriculture also will provide grants and loans of $40 million to $50 million to assist rural areas. 

A council comprising more than a dozen government agencies will also seek to remove regulatory and policy barriers that hinder broadband competition, the White House said. 

Fox News’ Doug McKelway and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Obama calls for expanded access to fast Internet - VIDEO: WH moving forward with plans to regulate broadband industry

Barca president calls early club elections

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called club elections for the end of the season in a bid to ease the tension surrounding the embattled Catalan club.

Bartomeu took over as president a year ago after Sandro Rossell resigned following the controversial signing of Brazilian striker Neymar which led to the club being accused of tax fraud.

“I have called this press conference to say that we have called elections for the end of the season to reduce the tension that surrounds the club which I think is disproportionate and doesn’t correspond to the reality of the club,” Bartomeu said yesterday.

“It is better that the mandates are completed, but it is clear that in recent weeks the level of tension hasn’t been right. We will keep managing things as we had planned and will not change our programme.”

“We want to present ourselves for re-election. Things are positive, we started in 2010 and we want to continue.”

Former Barca president Joan Laporta, who oversaw two Champions League triumphs in his previous spell in charge of the club between 2003 and 2010, has been strongly linked with a return to the top job at the Camp Nou but is yet to formally declare himself as a candidate.

The current board’s mandate was due to run until 2016, but Bartomeu has come under fire in recent weeks after Barca’s appeal against a one-year transfer ban by FIFA for irregularities in the signing of players under the age of 16 was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

On Monday, Bartomeu sacked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, and former captain Carles Puyol resigned from his position as Zubizarreta’s assistant.

Barca’s turbulent start to 2015 on and off the pitch began with a shock 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’s Real Sociedad on Sunday after coach Luis Enrique had left nearly 300 million euros of talent, including Lionel Messi and Neymar, on the bench.

The two South American stars had only returned to Spain on Friday after being given two extra days’ holiday than the rest of the squad during the winter break.

Messi then sparked rumours he could leave the club he joined at the age of 13 when he missed an open training session with the club’s fans on Monday, citing a stomach bug, and then followed Chelsea players Thibaut Courtois and Flilipe Luis as well as the London club’s official account on the social networking site Instagram.

However, Bartomeu strongly denied claims in Barcelona sports daily Sport that a request from Enrique to discipline the Argentine for missing the training session had been rejected by the club.

“That story is completely false. Whoever sent it did so with the intention to damage the club.”

Bartomeu also dismissed suggestions that Messi could leave the club having signed a new contract to keep him at the Camp Nou until 2018 in May.

“Messi had a contract until 2018. He is happy and content, so we are calm.”

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Barca president calls early club elections

Taylor calls for stability

NIIGATA, Japan — Senior Reggae Boy Jermaine Taylor holds the view that for Jamaica‘s football to move to the next level a philosophy of identifying a core group of players and developing them over time will have to be the way forward.

The 29-year-old Houston Dynamo defender also believes that the constant changing of personnel will not lend to team chemistry and further won’t help in any attempt at building a system of play.

“I think our football is progressing a little, but not at the rate it should be. I think there is a lot of improvement that needs to be made on and off the field,” said Taylor, who figured in a three-pronged defence in Jamaica‘s 0-1 loss to Japan at the Denka Big Swan Stadium here on Friday night.

Taylor’s view echoes a long-espoused one by some football thinkers on the island.

“Part of our problem is that we don’t have enough time together as a team to build, we keep having different teams for different games. I think we need to have a group of players and try to get the chemistry going and that’s the only way I see how it’s going to build,” said the former Harbour View man.

“When you talk about the team progressing, that’s one of the things that has to be fixed.”

Taylor, who last represented the country in the failed Brazil 2014 campaign, said he relishes his recall to head coach Winfried Schaefer’s team, which is gearing up for the Caribbean Cup to be hosted in Montego Bay, November 10-18.

“It is always good to be back playing for Jamaica, as we are like a family; it’s like happy times when we come together for our country…it is always happy times off the field, but we need to have happy times on the field as well, and that’s the thing that’s killing us right now,” said Taylor, making reference to Jamaica‘s string of defeats in friendlies, including an 8-0 demolition away to France on June 8.

The former St Georges SC player, who has represented the country at every level, said he never turns down an opportunity to play for his country as it represents a particular source of pride for him.

“I never normally turn down a call for the national team and I am always going to grab it with both hands and play with my heart and give all for my country, family, friends and everybody back home,” noted Taylor.

Taylor, capped 73 times for the senior Boyz, said he is enjoying life at US Major League outfit Houston Dynamo, and now in his fourth year at the Texas club, he is still looking to go on as he feels at home there.

“It’s been pretty good at Houston and we have had a lot of successes; we have been at the finals twice during that time; we reached the Eastern Conference finals twice, so there is a lot that has happened for the club since I have been there,” he said.

“Everybody there is like a family on and off the field and that is one of the things that helps us as a team. So it’s really just about me working hard, training hard, and trying to hold my spot in the team and keep my job,” Taylor went on.

This season has not been the best for Houston, but they still fancy their chances of making the play-offs with two regular season games against DC United on Sunday and New England Revolution on Thursday.

“This year has been a little bit up and down, but we are still hopeful that we have a chance to make it to the play-offs to give ourselves a chance at the cup… at Houston it’s about good mental and physical work and a good attitude off the field, and that is what makes us successful,” Taylor ended.

– Sean Williams

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Taylor calls for stability

Man steals awning after calls to owner went unanswered

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 11:53 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man, who confessed to stealing an awning from a woman’s backyard, has been given next month to make restitution to the complainant.

Horace McLean was given until November 12 to pay the woman $50,000 for the awning after pleading guilty to a charge of simple larceny when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

He’s also to be sentenced on that day.

McLean’s bail was extended after he told the court that he needed to “hustle” to come up with the cash.

“If I don’t get the money by November 12, you will know which God you a serve,” Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told McLean.

The complainant told the court that she was doing renovation on her house and had the awning in her backyard when McLean stole it. She said when she confronted the accused he told her that only God could make him bring back her awning.

Asked by Pusey why he shouldn’t be sent to prison over the theft, McLean said, “It [the awning] was mash up. I was calling and me nuh hear nobody.”

“You caa throw down things in your yard,” Pusey lamented. “A man house his is palace, you caa go round there.”

He said he sold the awning for $800.

Racquel Porter

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Man steals awning after calls to owner went unanswered

PM calls for greater corporate support in national cleanup

Saturday, October 04, 2014 | 4:26 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Scores of residents from the community Payne Land, along Spanish Town Road, on Saturday joined in the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller-led national cleanup initiative.

The move, designed to help rid the areas of mosquito breeding sites, was also supported by telecoms giant Digicel, whose staff members joined in the cleanup effort within several communities.

The maim of the cleanup exercise is to rid areas of the mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya virus.

Addressing the group during the exercise, Simpson Miller commended Digicel on its responsiveness and urged other corporate entities to follow suit in their own communities.

“I want to use Digicel as an example today for other corporates to join the national cleanup efforts in their communities. Let us all work together to clean up Jamaica,” she implored.?

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PM calls for greater corporate support in national cleanup

Calls for Macfield to Withorn main road to be rehabilitated in Clarke’s honour

BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at large, Western Bureau

Thursday, September 18, 2014    

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland

THERE have been growing calls for the Government to rehabilitate the roughly 13 kilometres of roadway between Macfield and Withorn in Central Westmoreland, and for it to be named in honour of Roger Clarke, the late member of parliament.

“It would be a fitting tribute to Roger. He has been making representation for it to be rehabilitated from the JLP came into office (2007),” said Dr DK Duncan, the member of parliament for Eastern Hanover, shortly after last Saturday’s thanksgiving service for Clarke’s life, at the St George’s Anglican Church in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

“He had moved a resolution in Parliament when the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) came into office for it to be fixed. We (People’s National Party) then came back to office and he again brought it up, and there were promises over and over again that it would be fixed,” added Duncan, who is also the PNP’s chair for the party’s Region 6, which encompasses the parishes of St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Danree Delancy, the deputy mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, agrees. “The rehabilitation of the road would be a fitting tribute to Roger Clarke who had lobbied for the roadway to be upgraded ever since he became the member of parliament for Central Westmoreland in 2007,” he argued.

“We need a permanent mark in the constituency in his honour because of the tremendous work that he has done there, so it would really be a fitting tribute to the man,” he added.

The roadway forms a critical link between the resort city of Montego Bay and the rapidly developing South Coast, as well as the bustling town of Savanna-la-Mar.

But, for many years, the heavily used thoroughfare has been in a deplorable condition, despite calls from several quarters, including area residents and motorists for it to be rehabilitated.

“The road which is narrow and filled with potholes, makes driving uncomfortable. It needs to be widened and resurfaced,” a motorist, who plies the very popular Montego Bay to Savanna-la-Mar route via Macfield, told the Jamaica Observer West.

He argued that the roadway, which has not been repaired for a long time is widely used by trucks and tractor trailers, especially during the sugar cane cropping season.

The motorist too, believes that it would be a good idea to have it rehabilitated and named in honour of the late Clarke, who was also Minister of agriculture and fisheries.

When contacted yesterday, Stephen Shaw, the National Works Agency communications and customer service manager, told the Observer West that plans are afoot to undertake the reconstruction of roadway under the Government’s Major Infrastructure Development Programme. He said the design for the project was done a few years ago, adding that the project should go to tender by year end.

In the meantime, he said, some $4 million is being spent to carry out repairs on the corridor.

Clarke, an affable and flamboyant politician, died on August 28 in Florida of a suspected heart attack, as he was preparing to return to the island after a successful back surgery.

The untimely passing of the 74-year-old Clarke plunged the country into a state of mourning.

During the service of thanksgiving for his life on Saturday, which was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life, the witty former MP was described by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller as a gentle giant and phenomenal Jamaican patriot.

Paul Wilson, the vicechairman of the Central Westmoreland constituency, where Clarke served as the MP from 2007 up to the time of his passing, in his tribute, said the former parliamentarian showed love and compassion for the less fortunate in the constituency.

He stressed that Clarke who “did not see persons as JLP or PNP”, had a vision and passion for education.

Following the service, he was laid to rest in his native Glen Islay in Williamsfield, Westmoreland.

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Calls for Macfield to Withorn main road to be rehabilitated in Clarke’s honour

Health ministry calls on community to help fight Chik-v

The Ministry of Health is calling on community members to organise clean-up activities in their areas as part of efforts to reduce the spread of chikungunya.

Acting chief medical officer, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse, says community involvement and personal responsibility are important to reducing the breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is the vector that spreads the Chikungunya virus.

“We want community members to band together and take a day to clean up their communities, including their home, schools and churches in the areas. We also want businesses to get on board and do the same for their workplaces.

Breeding sites

We have to continue our efforts to search for and destroy mosquito breeding sites as this is the primary way in which we will be able to reduce the spread of chikungunya and other vector borne diseases,” Dr DuCasse said.

As of September 12, 2014, 321 notifications were received and reviewed by the Ministry of which 183 met the case definition which means that they had the appropriate symptoms and have been deemed suspected cases of chikungunya.

Of the 183 suspected cases, 24 tested negative and were discarded and 25 were laboratory confirmed including an additional case confirmed by CARPHA on Friday.

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Health ministry calls on community to help fight Chik-v

Calls to tax cheat hotline identifies millions in unpaid taxes

The authorities have identified millions of  dollars in unpaid taxes following calls to the tax cheat toll-free hotline.
The hotline is operated by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).
Based on reports from the public, TAJ raised assessment of  J$130 million for various tax types such as Income Tax, Education Tax and GCT for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

They include under-reporting, failure to pay and file, unlawful collection of  GCT, false deduction as well as false or altered documents.
In response, TAJ has ramped up efforts to manage increased information received.

The tax cheat hotline provides an avenue through which persons may confidentially submit information about individuals or companies suspected of  not complying with tax laws.
This is one of  the strategies used to widen the tax net and stem persons cheating the tax system.    
Once the information is received through the hotline, it is recorded by an agent and forwarded to the Investigation Unit for follow-up.

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Calls to tax cheat hotline identifies millions in unpaid taxes

St Kitts prime minister calls killing of three “a brazen act”

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Credit: Caribbean360 / Bigstock)

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Sunday July 13, 2014, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas Saturday said he was “appalled by this brazen act” after gunmen shot and killed three people and injured four others at the at the Frigate Bay Strip during the early hours.

In a statement, Dr. Douglas quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the “victims seems to have been targeted”

The police have not released the names or details of the shootings at the Frigate Bay Strip, but media reports said that two men, who had been sitting on the beach near a bar, had been shot and killed.

The media also reported that a third man died near the water’s edge as he attempted to flee the area.

Two female bystanders were struck in their legs during the early morning shooting that occurred around 3.00 am (local time).

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In his statement, Dr. Douglas said that the twin island Federation had been experiencing almost “ two years of peace and tranquility” and praised the police and the Defense Force for having “worked extraordinarily hard” in ensuring the peaceful environment.

“They have made excellent use of additional training and equipment, and they have benefited tremendously from our county’s strong relations with regional and international law enforcement agencies. This has had a very positive impact on the ground, and I wish to make it clear that my Government is determined to keep it this way.

“Like everyone in the Federation, I am appalled by this brazen act,” he said, extending his condolences to the family of those killed “sincere concerns to those who were injured”.

Dr. Douglas said he wanted to “remind each and every citizen and resident that indifference to criminality is not an option” and that “accommodating any form of criminality in your communities – and particularly in your homes – can come back and hit you hard.

“Because revenge and retaliation are often at the base of much crime, accommodating or excusing criminal behavior in your communities, your businesses, or your homes could result in you – or those you care about – falling victims in a cycle of action and reaction.”

He told citizens that the only way to protect yourself and those you love is to do what the people of the Federation have been doing for the past two years now, “strengthening their partnerships with law enforcement, ensuring that our children avail themselves of the youth-oriented programs organized by the police, doing their part to make our homes, our neighborhoods, and our country, crime free zones.

“Good, decent, and law-abiding citizens constitute the vast and overwhelming super-majority in this country. And it is we who must – and will – define the fabric and texture of life here. No-one else,” he added.

Dr. Douglas said that no one person, intent on violence, can be given greater weight than the rest of country.

“We, as a people, have already shown, and dramatically so, that when working in partnership with our police and defense forces, the law-abiding and decent citizens of our country most assuredly prevail. We have proven this over the past two years. And this is the trajectory on which we must – and shall – remain.

“The public has my assurance that our country’s law enforcement is treating the apprehension of the person responsible for this heinous act as a matter of utmost urgency,” Dr. Douglas added.

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St Kitts prime minister calls killing of three “a brazen act”

Transport group calls for delay in toll increase

Within the next seven days, the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Service, (TODSS), will submit a petition to the Prime Minister,  calling for a one year suspension of  the toll increase on Highway 2000.

In a news release this afternoon, the group said it’s doing so, with a view to re-visit the contract between the operators of  Highway 2000 and the Government. A copy of the petition will also be sent to Transport Minister, Dr. Omar Davies.

The petition will be signed by transport operators who use the Highway.

TODSS says, it will not rule out increasing fares and added that a meeting will be held in Portmore on Wednesday with members to announce what  action will be taken.

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Transport group calls for delay in toll increase

St Kitts-Nevis opens Cuban embassy, calls for US to end trade embargo

Havana Cuba

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Friday July 4, 2014, CMC – St. kitts-Nevis has opened an embassy in Cuba and has called on the United States to end its decade old trade and economic embargo against the only Communist country in the Caribbean.

A government statement said that Foreign Affairs Minister Patrice Nisbett told delegates to the opening of the embassy that Basseterre would continue to support the annual United Nations General Assembly vote calling on Washington to remove the embargo placed on the island when Fidel Casyro assumed power 50 years ago.

“We continue to avail ourselves of every opportunity and in every forum to appeal to the United States of America to bring to an immediate end its unfair treatment of the Cuban people who continue to suffer unreasonably as a result of the decades old embargo. Cuba is our neighbour.

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“Cuba is our friend and we shall continue to exploit all possible means of speaking on their behalf in the international community on this issue,” said Nisbett.

The St. Kitts-Nevis government has noted that the majority of countries within this hemisphere has supported Cuba in its quest for “normal and constructive relations” with all nations around the world.

The United States and a handful of countries have consistently voted against ending the embargo.

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St Kitts-Nevis opens Cuban embassy, calls for US to end trade embargo

CARICOM Secretary General calls for collective solutions to Caribbean challenges

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday July 2, 2014, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque says regional countries must find collective solutions to the serious challenges being posed by an ever changing global environment.

La Rocque, speaking at the opening of the 35th CARICCOM Summit here on Tuesday night, said that Dickinson Bay where the three-day summit is being held provides an opportunity for Caribbean governments “to do what is required to make our integration arrangements more effective in its response to the challenges of the day”.

In December 1965, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago signed the Dickenson Bay Agreement, establishing the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), the forerunner to CARICOM.

But La Rocque told delegates that in order to make the transition, regional countries “must find collective solutions to the serious challenges, particularly with respect to our economic condition, that threaten the hard won gains of our people.

“The structural and institutional characteristics which affect growth in our small, vulnerable economies combine to restrict our ability to compete internationally, expose our vulnerability to external events, and constrain our capacity for adjustment.”

He said that vulnerability is demonstrated by the lingering effects of the global economic and financial crisis in the region resulting among other things in stubbornly low growth rates.

“When added to a heavy debt burden and falling fiscal revenues, it leaves our governments with precious little room to manoeuvre especially as the International Financial Institutions and our development partners use the misleading criterion of per capita income to graduate us out of access to much needed concessionary development financing.”

La Rocque said importantly, neither the economic and financial crises nor the causes of climate change, originated within the Caribbean.

“However, there is analytical evidence to prove that their impact on the economies of most CARICOM States has heightened the debt and fiscal challenges we face.

“Formidable as these challenges are, our Community’s history clearly shows that we have never been daunted in the face of trials. It is now, in this period of acute economic stress faced by our region that the spirit of unity that brings us together in all forms of adversity, is infusing our actions as we seek to build the Community’s resilience to withstand the shocks, whether they are economic, social or climatic.”

He said never before in recent history, have so many of our member states faced such challenges at the same time for such a protracted period.

La Rocque said that it is in recognition of the need to find a regional resolution to the regional problem that regional governments mandated that “we prepare a strategic plan, which seeks to reposition the Community and which will inform the institutional mechanism to carry it forward.

“Having consulted extensively throughout the Community over the past year, the first ever Community Strategic Plan has been prepared. That plan, geared towards refocusing, redirecting, and reorganising the Community, is before this meeting and will set our course for the immediate future and beyond.”

He said the plan has identified eight strategic priorities to address the challenges over the five year period.

“Broadly, this will involve building resilience in the economic, social, environmental and technological areas, as well as strengthening governance and our spirit of Community. Co-ordinating our foreign and external economic relations, and research, development and innovation are also essential elements of the strategy.”

But the region’s top public servant warned that the key to the success of the plan is agreement on the priority activities and the steps to implement them.

“That in itself will be a sign that we are truly on the way to achieving that mature regionalism which is required to guide the future of our Community. We must now harness and channel our resources optimally, to get the results that will benefit the people of the Community.

“A critical factor in delivering those benefits is how we organise ourselves to make it possible in an effective and efficient manner. This is a plan for the Community and all of the Community must be involved.

“To succeed would entail a level of co-operation and co-ordination involving our Member States, all the Institutions of the Community and the Secretariat operating, within a responsive governance structure with clear lines of accountability under the direction of our Heads of Government,” La Roque added.

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CARICOM Secretary General calls for collective solutions to Caribbean challenges

Ele calls Beenie badmind

Curtis Campbell, STAR Writer

( l – r ) Elephant Man, Beenie Man

Elephant Man has come out swinging at fellow dancehall artiste Beenie Man, following comments made by the veteran in an interview with United States-based Hot 97 FM, in which he referred to Ele and other dancehall artistes as ‘broken down’.

According to Elephant Man, Beenie Man’s comments are damaging to the progress of dancehall and reggae music. He said the veteran artiste is trying to brand himself as the face of dancehall music, even if it means undermining others.

During the interview, ‘The Doctor’ stated: “I am the balance in dancehall music. Every time the music goes apart, I got to bring it back. I am the King of Dancehall.”

When the host asked the deejay what he thought about Baby Cham and Mr Vegas, Beenie Man’s response was that Cham is not active enough, and Mr Vegas wasn’t consistent, and only makes hits after two and three-year breaks.

As it relates to the ‘Energy God’, Beenie Man said: “Elephant Man is not there (musically), I haven’t seen Elephant Man for like two years now, like seriously. Dancehall is not broken, some of the artistes are broken; I am still here, and I am still putting out hit songs.”

Yesterday, Elephant Man was quick to respond to Beenie’s comments.

“Beenie Man badmind until him teeth and the middle of him hair a drop out. He never has nothing good to say about other artistes,” he said.

The artiste known for songs such as Signal The Plane, said Beenie has also made disparaging comments about other artistes, such as Shabba.

He is all about himself. That’s why him in the music fi suh long and nuh buss no artiste, because him badmind,” Elephant said.

He said it’s ironic that Beenie Man should make comments about his career, when they both appear to be progressing at the same pace.

“I was booked for Best of The Best, but I had problems leaving my European tour. I performed at BET the same time with him, and him sey mi nuh have nuh hit song. Suh tell mi which hit song Beenie Man have? Beenie Man don’t have a hit song,” Elephant Man continued.

“Nobody cyah guh up a di hills and point pon Beenie Man house. Yu gone pon interview gone tell people sey a you alone a duh good inna music, after dem never ask yu bout yuself. When Vybz Kartel deh road, yu run bakka the man and talk bout Gaza yu sey, then yu same one gone pon interview gone bash di man. Mi deh Europe, and di bwoy know sey mi deh Europe, and gone tell people foolishness,” a seemingly upset Elephant Man said.

The deejay also called out Beenie Man for claiming to be the King of Dancehall, a title which was already given to Yellowman.

“Yu too badmind. Yu try offa Yellowman. Yu not even own a studio fi record yu song dem, bout yu live inna apartment with 300 man. Wicked people cyah pretend too long, ah yourself yu a trick because yu nah run no dancehall, go fix yu teeth dem wey a drop out,” Elephant Man said.

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Ele calls Beenie badmind

US Ambassador calls sanctions on St Lucia police force “regrettable”

C – US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Ambassador William R. Brownfield

CASTRIES, St Lucia, Monday June 30, 2014, CMC - US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Ambassador William R. Brownfield, has expressed regret over the suspension of assistance from the United States to the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).

Last year the US Department of State announced a policy decision to withdraw training and material assistance to the RSLPF due to ‘credible allegations’ of gross human rights violations.

“Do I regret that we are in this position, of course I do,” Brownfield said last week.

He, however, made clear that his regret cut ‘both ways’.

“I regret even more the actions and activities by some – by no means all, that have somehow contaminated the entire institution and I hope we are able to work our way through this complicated set of issues,” Brownfield said.

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According to him, failure to do so would make not only the US, but the people of St Lucia and the entire Caribbean suffer.

However Ambassador Brownfield observed that his country is limited by law in terms of the cooperation it can offer and engage in with law enforcement institutions against which there are credible grounds to believe they have engaged in gross human rights violations, including extra-judicial killings.

“This is not a matter of flexibility or discretion for us, as once the determination is made we are then required to suspend cooperation until such time as that evidence is clarified to the contrary, or the affected agency or organisation has taken steps to clear up whatever activity may have caused the concern to begin with,” Brownfield noted.

A team from the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been conducting an independent investigation into at least 12 alleged extra-judicial killings by St Lucia Police between 2010 and 2011, during the administration of the then United Workers Party (UWP).

The length of time the investigation has taken has been criticised by both St Lucia’s Police Commissioner, Vernon Francois, and Human Rights Activist, Mary Francis, but the St Lucia government has said it would not compromise a thorough investigation for the sake of speed.

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US Ambassador calls sanctions on St Lucia police force “regrettable”

Minister calls emergency security talks at KPH

News

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 3:02 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has called an emergency stakeholders meeting for 3:00pm today (Monday, December 30) to discuss security arrangements at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Dr Ferguson will meet with representatives of the Nurses Association (NAJ), the Medical Association of Jamaica and the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association along with representatives of the South East Regional Health Authority, the ministry said in a ststement. This meeting follows recent reports of robberies and concerns about a lack of security at the Caribbean’s largest hospital. Dr Ferguson says he has already commenced discussions with Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and so far the response regarding improved security at the hospital has been favourableAccording to reports the KPH and its environs have seen an alarming rise in incidents of robbery of staff members, particularly nurses. The NAJ has condemned the attacks while urging all “well-thinking Jamaicans to join in the repudiation of that type of behaviour”.        

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Minister calls emergency security talks at KPH

Minister calls emergency security talks at KPH

Latest News

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 3:02 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has called an emergency stakeholders meeting for 3:00pm today (Monday, December 30) to discuss security arrangements at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Dr Ferguson will meet with representatives of the Nurses Association (NAJ), the Medical Association of Jamaica and the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association along with representatives of the South East Regional Health Authority, the ministry said in a ststement. This meeting follows recent reports of robberies and concerns about a lack of security at the Caribbean’s largest hospital. Dr Ferguson says he has already commenced discussions with Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and so far the response regarding improved security at the hospital has been favourableAccording to reports the KPH and its environs have seen an alarming rise in incidents of robbery of staff members, particularly nurses. The NAJ has condemned the attacks while urging all “well-thinking Jamaicans to join in the repudiation of that type of behaviour”.        Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Minister calls emergency security talks at KPH

Hanna calls for private sector assistance in Ananda Alert programme

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna has called on public and private sector individuals, groups and organisations to get more involved in the Ananda Alert missing children recovery programme to ensure the further success of the system.

Speaking at a press conference held by the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR) at Jamaica House on Friday, September 6, Hanna highlighted the need for a collaborative approach in dealing with reducing the number of children going missing and those being abused.“If we all assist we can create a strong network that will prove to be a valuable and useful tool in reducing the number of children who go missing and drastically increasing the numbers who are found and returned to their families safely,” Hanna said, noting that parents too have significant roles to play in the process.According to Hanna, the Government continues to forge new partnerships with key players even as her Ministry seeks to strengthen relationships that already exist in an effort to fulfil the administration’s commitment to seriously addressing the issue of child safety and reducing and preventing child abuse.Hanna added that her Ministry, through the OCR, is seeking to create a more effective public advisory system for the Ananda Alert programme. The system, she said, will include public education on the safety of children, consistent and real time dissemination of complete profiles of missing children including names, age, photographs, along with other pertinent information, and an update on those children who have returned home.“The OCR continues to make great strides in carrying out its mandate as a key player in caring for and protecting the nation’s children. Much of its success has been achieved through the OCR’s continuous drive to educate the public about child safety and child abuse prevention and reporting,” said Hanna.The Ananda Alert Missing Children Recovery Programme has been allocated $6.7 million which Hanna said will facilitate greater operational efficiency. As a result of the increased budgetary allocation by the Government, staff for the Ananda Alert programme is being increased and more resources are being invested in public education.Hanna said that between January 1, and August 23, this year the total number of children reported missing was 1,518 with 1,297 returning home.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Hanna calls for private sector assistance in Ananda Alert programme

Burrell calls on Chinese firm to develop football infrastructure

ASSOCIATE sponsor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has upped its investment in the nation’s top league with a $25 million injection, it was announced yesterday.

Of that total, there will be a direct payout of $23 million to organisers of the competition the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), with another $2 million going towards promotional activities and special incentives for coaches and players.Reacting to the announcement and commitment to football by the Chinese firm, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, urged them further to look at considering investing in field development of clubs.“If your company (China Harbour) has decided to give each of the football clubs a proper football field, believe me, in years to come, you would be recognised and remembered as the company that changed the quality and standard of football in this country,” Burrell said at the launch of Red Stripe Premier League at the PLCA’s offices in New Kingston yesterday.“I challenge you, China Harbour, please,” said Burrell as he pleaded with a smiling CHEC deputy regional manager, Xiao Yan Ming, who was seated in the audience.The new season kicks off on September 15.As he pressed home his point for the need for total development of the game and the role of corporate Jamaica in this thrust, Burrell warned that the game is bound to stagnate if there isn’t an inclusive approach to growing it.“In reality, we must have additional sponsors if our league is to move forward. We must have better playing facilities, better organisation of clubs, so we have some way to go,” Burrell noted.CHEC’s communication manager, Jennifer Armond, said her company was pleased with its association with the league last season, therefore it was not difficult to re-commit.“The company enjoyed participating in the Premier League as sponsor last season and became aware that it would only be through continued commitment that sport would be able to reap significant results from our initial interest,” said Armond.Supreme Ventures Limited’s senior marketing officer, Andrei Roper, also announced his organisation’s commitment worth $10m through its brand, JustBet.Also, JUTC’s yesterday made it public its decision to continue its partnership with the league.Meanwhile, PLCA chairman Edward Seaga, made note of a change in league format and likened it to the changing formats in cricket that have resuscitated that sport in terms of spectatorship.“There have been many changes in many sports. Cricket moved from five days to one day and now to two-and-a-half hours and that was unveiled in the Limacol competition and the crowd loved it,” noted Seaga.“They loved the excitement in shorter time which gives the players impetus not to sit at the wicket but to give them the joy of seeing the ball rising over the boundaries,” said the former Prime Minister of Jamaica.“Football has had the problem of diminishing crowds depending on the teams, but it has been a long time since we see a really packed stadium.“At the clubs, spectatorship has not been what we wanted it to be except on Monday night because the innovation of the (title) sponsors Red Stripe, and that is one innovation that has helped us to grow more crowd,” added Seaga.“This year we have to undertake more changes. I am not in a position to give you the details at this time because the JFF is to consider the proposals we are making,” he added.It is expected that the league format with 38 games, introduced for the 2007/08 season, will be discarded. For this season, the 12 teams will play three rounds of 33 matches in the preliminary phases, after which the top-eight will then advance to the quarter-final stage in a home-and-away series. It is expected that this phase will see the number-one ranked team facing the number eight-ranked team; the number two vs number seven; number three vs number six; and number four vs number five.The four winners will then advance to the semi-finals, also on a home and away basis, with the two winners from that stage qualifying for the final.The two teams at the bottom of the table at the end of the third round will be relegated.A draw to decide the first set of games to kick off the season was done at yesterday’s press launch which pits defending champion Harbour View away to Sporting Central Academy, while runners-up Waterhouse host Boys’ Town in the marquee match-up on September 15.In the other games, Portmore United travel to Cavalier, Humble Lion play Arnett Gardens, promoted teams August Town and Rivoli United clash and Tivoli Gardens tackle Montego Bay United.China Harbour Engineering Company deputy regional manager, Xiao Yan Ming (left), presents the symbolic cheque of $23m to PLCA chairman Edward Seaga (centre) and JFF president Captain Horace Burrell at the launch of the new season in New Kingston yesterday. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON).

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Burrell calls on Chinese firm to develop football infrastructure

Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM

News

Thursday, August 01, 2013 | 10:23 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The Jamaican government reiterated its commitment to the regional integration movement, CARICOM and dismissed calls for the island to quit the 15-member grouping.Foreign Affairs Minister, AJ Nicholson in a statement in the Upper House on Wednesday addressed comments from Opposition leader Andrew Holness and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) legislator Dr Christopher Tufton that the country could benefit from a “temporary pull out of CARICOM”.While Nicholson acknowledged that Jamaica may not be benefiting from CARICOM in the way it should, he said a withdrawal would affect benefits under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, services and labour across the community.“In the context of a withdrawal from the CSME Jamaica would in effect be preventing its nationals and companies from utilizing the provisions under the CSME for free movement of skilled persons, capital, services and right of establishment.“This would mean that those Jamaican nationals who have successfully moved to other CARICOM countries under the skills regime, would be required to amend their status in those countries,” he said. Nicholson said a split from CARICOM would also affect several regional organisations, including the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Caribbean Financial Cooperation.He argued that Jamaica has gained a high standing in CARICOM and this would be jeopardised with a temporary withdrawal.

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Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM