Warrior Love still smarting

BY SIMONE MORGAN Observer Staff Reporter morgans@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, January 26, 2015    

BASSIST and leader of the Warrior Love Band, Joseph Graham, said he and his colleagues are disappointed with the behaviour of singer Leroy Smart at the recent Rebel Salute show.

He told the Jamaica Observer that it was the first time they had been abused by an artiste on stage.

“Leroy ‘Don’ Smart was booed at Rebel Salute because, to put it mildly, his performance was lacking and he repeatedly disrespected the band throughout this performance,” Graham said.

He disclosed that the veteran singer was slated to rehearse with the band but did not show up.

“After we left the rehearsal studio, Leroy called me to say he is no longer performing at Rebel Salute so we should not rehearse his songs. At that point we had not received his material (set list) for the rehearsal,” Graham disclosed.

The musician said as the band prepared to leave for the venue, Smart contacted him, requesting a rehearsal to which they agreed, although it was last-minute.

“Within less than 10 minutes after collecting his material, [and] heading to the rehearsal studio, Leroy called me again to say ‘no rehearsal for me because I am not doing Rebel Salute’. And he repeatedly said ‘do not rehearse my material’,” Graham explained.

Regardless, Graham said the band went to the rehearsal room and

selected 10 songs from the Leroy Smart 20 classic hits album in the event he showed up.

Graham said it was minutes before Smart’s scheduled slot that the band was made aware that he would be on the show.

What resulted was a fiasco.

Smart openly criticised the band during his performance, and was roundly booed by a frustrated and impatient crowd.

Warrior Love backed over 30 acts at the two-day festival. Graham noted that Smart was not the only artiste who failed to show for rehearsals.

“(Singer) Leroy Gibbons did not turn up for his rehearsal, and we did not get a set list from him, either. Yet, he was as professional and talented an artiste to deliver a well-received performance based on an old set list that we had for him. That’s a professional artiste,” Graham said.

The seven-piece Warrior Love (which also includes Oniel Walters, Dwight James, Jeffery Graham, Ian Williams, Miguel Edwards, and Andrew Branch) has backed a number of dancehall/reggae acts in the last five years.

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Warrior Love still smarting

Will Smith still turns Jada on

Jada Pinkett Smith gets turned on when Will Smith challenges her spiritually and intellectually.

The 43-year-old Gotham actress, who has son Jaden, 16, and daughter Willow, 14, with the former Fresh Prince of Bel Air star, 46, admits she is very attracted to his brain.

She said: “I read a lot of spiritual and self-expansion books. Will and I were just reading The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra, together, and having long discussions about it.

“It’s a big turn-on for me in a relationship to be spiritually and intellectually challenged by Will. To me, it’s like foreplay! Of course, I enjoy that I have sex in my relationship, but I think this other intellectual aspect is quite unique and something that strongly connects us.”

Meanwhile, Jada claims she no longer pushes herself in the gym as hard as she used to, because she is getting older.

She told Shape magazine: “My energy levels just aren’t the same. My joints, my knees, the amount of weight that I can push versus what I did in my twenties, how long I’m willing to work out. For example, I’m not staying at the gym for two hours anymore. I hit it and quit it … I’m not going to stress my body that way anymore. I can’t.”

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Will Smith still turns Jada on

IRAN NUKE BLAST Experts: Explosion proves nuclear program still alive

Satellite photos from before and after Sunday’s blast show an explosion that some experts say proves Iran’s nuclear weapons program is real. (IsraelDefense.com)

The massive blast at an Iranian nuclear plant earlier this week remains shrouded in mystery, but it cleared up one thing, according to those who track the Islamic Republic: The nuclear weapons program Tehran has long denied is real.

The massive blast Sunday night rocked buildings more than 10 miles away, and before-and-after satellite images published by the Israel Defense Force showed startling destruction at a facility Iran has repeatedly barred international inspectors from entering.

“[The] images indicate that a complete section of structures was simply eliminated by an unexplained explosion,” IDF analyst Ronen Solomon said. “The explosion wiped several testing units off the face of the earth while inflicting collateral damage on adjacent buildings.”

Iran, which initially denied an explosion took place, was forced a day later to own up to a blast, via the IRNA official Iranian news agency. The report said two people had been killed as a result of a fire at the site. The true casualty figure may never be known.

“The explosion wiped several testing units off the face of the earth while inflicting collateral damage on adjacent buildings.”

- Ronen Solomon, IDF analyst

Israel has long insisted that Iran’s charm offensive, successful in easing western sanctions, is a ruse to buy time while it pursues nuclear weapons.

“Don’t be fooled by Iran’s manipulative charm offensive,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 29. “It’s designed for one purpose and for one purpose only: to lift the sanctions and remove the obstacles to Iran’s path to the bomb.

“Once Iran produces atomic bombs,” Netanyahu added, “all the charms and all the smiles will suddenly disappear. They’ll just vanish. And it’s then that the ayatollahs will show their true face and unleash their aggressive fanaticism on the entire world.”

As in past cases when things explode or scientists are killed in Iran, speculation centers on Israeli intelligence agencies, who, just as predictably, do not comment. Both misplaced blame and proper credit serve the purpose of burnishing their reputation within enemy and terrorist regimes. There are other possibilities, including that it was an accident or that Iranian dissident groups or western intelligence agencies played a role.

“If someone did succeed in infiltrating the Parchin site with explosives and causing the huge explosion which took place there, we are talking about an exceptional achievement,” regional terror analyst Ronen Bergman suggested in Wednesday’s Ynet.com.

Parchin, a site to which international inspectors have repeatedly been denied access since 2007 – a fact that many opponents of the P5+1 talks have long insisted in itself makes a mockery of the so-called negotiation process – is rumored to be the location of the development of the key warhead components required for making a nuclear bomb.

“Western officials suspect that at the heart of this secret development is the weapon group developing the nuclear lens mechanism,” Bergman said. “It’s a complex system of timers and explosives assembled around the core of the bomb, which explode in a way that “pushes” the enriched uranium sphere inwards and starts the chain reaction needed for an atomic explosion. If the smoking gun for the existence of the weapon group is found, it will serve as decisive evidence that Iran has been lying and that there is no point in negotiating with it.”

The assassination of a series of Iranian nuclear scientists inside Iran in recent years as the result of bombs planted on, or next to their vehicles by mysterious motorcycle-riding hitmen, together with the vicious Stuxnet computer virus that hit Iran’s key Natanz nuclear facility in 2010, has allegedly put the brakes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear project.

According to Amnesty International, thousands of dissidents languish in Iranian jails, (including a significant number of journalists). Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out each year, often following only a token trial.

 Regime support is also indicated in the September 2013 massacre of at least 52 Iranians in neighbouring Iraq at the Camp Ashraf refugee camp that had been designated a safe haven for Iranian activists, many of whom had opposed the direction of their nation’s nuclear ambitions. U.S. officials were reportedly furious at Iran’s Revolutionary Guard praising the attack, while Foreign Policy magazine reported that, “U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iranian commandos took part [in the attack].”

Paul Alster is an Israel-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter @paul_alster and visit his website: www.paulalster.com.

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IRAN NUKE BLAST Experts: Explosion proves nuclear program still alive

UPDATE: Statements still outstanding in PNP exec fraud case

Monday, September 29, 2014 | 12:12 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) member Donovan Bisasor and a co-accused are to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on October 5.

The October date was set this morning after the court was told that witness statements were still outstanding.

The 58-year-old Bisasor and his 31-year-old co-accused Jesse Gosse were both offered $1.5-million bail on their first appearance in court, on August 19.

Bisasor, who sits on the ruling party’s National Executive Council, is accused of trying to defraud the State-owned National Water Commission of $5 million.

Bisasor, an engineer who hails from Cherry Gardens in Kingston, and quantity surveyor Gosse, of Richmond Park are charged with attempting to obtain money by false documents, forgery, uttering forged documents, conspiracy to defraud, and demanding property on forged documents.

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UPDATE: Statements still outstanding in PNP exec fraud case

Smith fails, Bravo flickers but Chennai still win handsomely

BANGALORE, India (CMC) — West Indies one-day captain Dwayne Bravo played a minor role while opener Dwayne Smith failed again, but Chennai Super Kings did just enough to beat Perth Scorchers by 13 runs and edge closer to a semi-final spot in the Champions League Twenty20 here Saturday.

Sent in, Chennai overcame a terrible start to post 155 for six off their 20

overs and then produced a clinical bowling performance to restrict Scorchers to 142 for seven at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

With the victory, Chennai moved to 10 points from their full complement of matches and into second spot behind Kolkata Knight Riders who have already qualified for the semis.

Chennai can only be caught by Lahore Lions who have six points and play Scorchers in their final game tomorrow.

Hunting a crucial win, Chennai stumbled to 56 for four in the 12th

over before being rescued by a 64-run, sixth-wicket stand between Ravi Jadeja (44 not out) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35).

Brendon McCullum (11) and Suresh Raina perished within the space of three balls in the third over to leave Chennai on 16 for two.

Smith, recently named in West Indies one-day team for the tour of India, continued his struggles with the bat when he struck two fours in scoring 11 from 13 balls before he was bowled by seamer Yasir Arafat with the score on 33 for three.

When Mithun Manhas fell for 18, Chennai were 56 for four, but Bravo combined with Jadeja to add 23 for the fifth wicket and stem the haemorrhaging.

Bravo scored a patient 27 from 26 balls with a four and a six and was threatening to explode when he missed a prod at one from off-spinner Ashton Turner and was bowled off stump in the 15th over.

However, Jadeja smashed four fours and two sixes in his 28-ball knock, while Dhoni thumped four massive sixes in his 16-ball stay, to rally the innings.

Scorchers were never really in the hunt, losing wickets steadily, as off-spinner Ravi Ashwin with three for 20 from his four overs, crippled the innings.

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Smith fails, Bravo flickers but Chennai still win handsomely

NCB still Jamaica's largest bank

8:23 am, Thu September 25, 2014

NCB continues to be recognised as the biggest bank in Jamaica, as measured by assets.      
Of  the $810 billion in banking assets in Jamaica, NCB held $352 billion, or 43 per cent of  the total. Scotia Bank holds 32 per cent.  
Sagicor Bank is recognised as the third biggest bank, by a distance, with under 10 per cent of  the assets.      
First Caribbean, First Global and Citibank are ranked 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

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NCB still Jamaica"s largest bank

Still no motive in Fairfield Road double murder

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Up to late yesterday, police had not established a motive or identified any suspect(s) in connection with Saturday’s killing of two men at Fairfield Road, St Catherine.

Delroy Edwards, a businessman from the community, and who is employed to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and another man, who was still unidentified, were shot to death inside a bar.

When The STAR visited the area yesterday, the community was still tense. Residents expressed concerns about the killings. “This killing now mean people have to lock up from early and start to fret about who might be next,” a female resident said.

It was reported that about 9:30 p.m., Edwards who is also the nephew of Jennifer Edwards, the NSWMA’s executive director, was inside a bar he operated. Police said a man walked in, brandished a handgun and fired shots hitting Edwards and an unidentified male patron.

The man escaped in the community.

The St Catherine North Major Investigation Task Force is probing the matter.

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Still no motive in Fairfield Road double murder

IMF still expects 1.4% expansion

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it still expects the Jamaican economy to expand at a rate of 1.4 percent this year.

The latest outlook came from IMF Representative to Jamaica, Bert van Selm, as the entity revised its forecast for global growth.   

On Thursday the IMF said, it expects global growth to be 3.4 percent this year, which is down from the 3.7 percent it forecast in April. 

Growth for the region has also been revised downwards to 2 percent from 2 .5 percent.

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IMF still expects 1.4% expansion

IMF still expects 1.4% expansion

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it still expects the Jamaican economy to expand at a rate of 1.4 percent this year.

The latest outlook came from IMF Representative to Jamaica, Bert van Selm, as the entity revised its forecast for global growth.   

On Thursday the IMF said, it expects global growth to be 3.4 percent this year, which is down from the 3.7 percent it forecast in April. 

Growth for the region has also been revised downwards to 2 percent from 2 .5 percent.

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IMF still expects 1.4% expansion

73-Y-O FALLS INTO 170 ft CAVE - Body still not recovered

Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

Today, authorities will continue their attempts to remove the body of an elderly man from a 170ft deep chasm a week after its discovery in Retirement, St Elizabeth.

He has been identified as 73-year-old Aston Thompson of a Retirement, St Elizabeth, address.

Thompson was reportedly last seen at a shop in his community on July 12, and reported missing to the police by family members on July 13. On July 20, a week after, Thompson was reported missing. The grim discovery was made by residents who reportedly smelled an odour and summoned police personnel to the scene.

So far, investigations suggest that Thompson’s death may have been accidental. The elderly man, who reportedly suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, is believed to have wandered from his home into nearby woodlands, later falling to his death.

“We cannot rule out foul play, that is why we’re making another effort tomorrow to go down again to see if we can get the body. When we went down there on Monday night, they saw the body, but the body was in a decomposed state,” said Sergeant C Reid, sub-officer attached to the Maggoty Police Station.

Previous attempts by the personnel from the Santa Cruz Fire Brigade to assist in removing the body from the chasm proved futile. As a last-ditch effort, the police, alongside members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), will continue to work assiduously to put an end to the week-long ordeal.

“Having gone there, our last resort is to ask the army (for assistance) because as the law states, once a body is found, it must come up to find out what is the cause of death. So we are having that challenge. And the challenge is that, to go down a 170ft in a chasm, a cave or a precipice, it is an onerous task,” Reid explained.

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73-Y-O FALLS INTO 170 ft CAVE - Body still not recovered

PANCAP report - still a work in progress says PM Denzil Douglas

CARICOM governments have deferred full consideration of  a report by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS, (PANCAP) which critics say is designed to encourage a re-order of  the Caribbean society in a negative way.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas said during deliberations on the document it was said that leaders were not yet in a position to support the declaration going forward in the form it was presented.

Douglas was speaking to the Caribbean Media Corporation during the just concluded 35th Heads of  Government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.

He said as a result, the report continues to be work in progress and at a later stage heads of  governments will revisit it.

Two weeks ago, 140 Caribbean organisations including some from Jamaica issued a joint statement expressing concern about regional leaders preparing to endorse several actionable recommendations on eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

The recommendations included repealing laws criminalising consensual sexual acts between adults and making sexual orientation a protected category for non-discrimination.

In a subsequent protest in Jamaica, some of  the groups called for transparency and accountability in the discussions leading up to the formulation of  the recommendations.

But Douglas, who has lead responsibility for health matters within the quasi-CARICOM Cabinet, said he does not think that PANCAP was making any recommendation on issues such as same sex marriages.

He added that the declaration was taken out of  context and issues such as same sex marriage have never come up.

He said the aim of  the PANCAP report is to reduce stigma and discrimination against persons who are associated with HIV/AIDS.                                                             

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PANCAP report - still a work in progress says PM Denzil Douglas

LIME still has plans for subscriber TV service

Telecommunications company, LIME, says it has not ditched plans for subscriber television services after years of delays on a full roll out.

The company in its annual report for 2013, says it will spend US$16 million in the next few months to upgrade its fixed broadband speeds.

It says the investment will help to ready the platform for the introduction of its subscriber television service, though it did not give a time line for that to happen.

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LIME still has plans for subscriber TV service

St Vincent economy shows improvement but ‘difficulties are still with us’ – Gonsalves

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (File photo)

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Tuesday July 1, 2014, CMC – The Vincentian economy has shown improved performance during the first five months of 2014, compared to the same period of 2013, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves revealed at a press conference Monday.

Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Finance, however, repeated his warning that the nation is not yet out of the woods.

“Difficulties are still with us on many fronts even though we have seen an improvement in the overall fiscal situation.”

He said the drought during from January to May impacted farmers even more than the devastation left by the trough system that caused severe flooding on Christmas Eve.

Revenue and grants during the first five months of 2014 totaled EC$221.2 million (One EC dollar= US$0.37 cents)compared to EC$199.2 million during the same period of 2013.

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Total expenditure also registered an increase, of 4.8 per cent to EC$227.76 million, up from EC$217.3 million during the 2013 period under review.

Recurrent expenditure increased by 3.8 per cent, moving from EC$197.4 million to EC$204.87 million.

At the same time, capital expenditure rose 15.2 per cent – from EC$19.9 million to EC$22.9 million.

The current balance shows a surplus of EC$12.56 million, compared to a deficit of EC$14.78 million. The overall balance, however, is a deficit of EC$6.6 million, compared to a deficit of EC$18.03 million in 2013.

Gonsalves said the current revenue has increased by ‘a sizeable sum’ and his government has seen taxes on international trade increase by 1.6 per cent, while taxes on domestic transactions has increased by 6.3 per cent.

Revenue from valued-added tax has increased by 8.7 per cent. The raise in revenue is an indication of increased economic activity and improved efficiency in administration of taxes, Gonsalves said.

He, however, said that interest, rent, and dividend had moved from EC$1.7 million in 2013 to EC$10.33 million in 2014

Meanwhile, other revenue moved from EC$5.6 million to EC$14 million in 2014. Gonsalves said this reflected some revenue received after the Christmas Eve disaster.

“So we see a general improvement over the same situation last year, but we are still not out of the woods and the fiscal situation remains challenging,” he said noting the additional expenses after the Christmas Eve trough system, which left EC$330 million — 17 per cent of GDP — in loss and damage.

He said the loss and damage after the storm was ‘a big blow’, followed by a drought during the first five months of 2014.

He said 12 inches of rain fell in some parts of the country during three hours on Christmas Eve, but only 20 inches fell from January to May, compare to the usual 45 inches.

Gonsalves said he has found that making public information about the performance of the economy “gives a good indication to the citizens as to how we are managing the fiscal situation and to alert them and business, workers, public servants, where we are and facilitating them as to where we are and to frame decision which they have to make”.

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St Vincent economy shows improvement but ‘difficulties are still with us’ – Gonsalves

Remand centre escapees still missing

The two inmates who escaped through a vent at the Horizon Adult Remand Centre on April 27 are yet to turn themselves in.

They are 18-year-old Casheen Peart, otherwise called ‘Nine Star’, of Church Lane district, St Thomas, and 22-year-old Omar Creary of August Town, Kingston 6.

Peart, who is on a murder charge, is of brown complexion, slim built with a tattoo on his chest and shoulder. He also has pierced ears and was last seen dressed in a white merino and a pair of plaid shorts.

Creary, who was serving a life sentence, is also of brown complexion. He is 183 centimetres (6 feet) tall and has scars on his lower and upper arms.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the inmates are to contact the 119 emergency number, Crime Stop at 311 or the nearest police station.

The public is also being reminded that it is a criminal act, punishable by law, to harbour a criminal.

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Remand centre escapees still missing

Married, but still in love with my ex

With Wayne Powell MA Counselling Psychology Relationship Counsellor

Monday, February 03, 2014    

Dear Counsellor,

Twenty three years ago I met this guy and really liked him, but because I knew he was a user, I told myself I did not want to be part of his statistics. After much persuasion from him, we went out on a date one evening. He forced himself onto me and had sex with me without my permission.

I did not tell anybody in my family about it. This is a secret I’ve carried with me all these years. At some time I could see it was eating him up inside, but he never said sorry. He would just come and sit with me in the evening without any conversation.

During the time we were together, communication was not one of our strong points. Our relationship was based on senses and emotions only. He eventually decided to leave town but would come home once a month on weekends. He would see me briefly then.

As far as I am concerned, we never had a relationship. I knew I had strong feelings for him, but because he was so unstable, and a womaniser, I never talked about it or told him how I felt.

One weekend he asked me out for dinner and during dinner informed me that he had impregnated a woman and decided to marry her. He then gave me a set of tear-drop earrings and that evening, roads closed.

Two months after his marriage, he called me and told me about problems he was experiencing in his marriage. At that stage I broke all communication with him. I then met my current husband who is 20 years my senior. I decided to get married for the wrong reasons, but I eventually learned to love my husband because he treated me like a queen. I cannot ask for a better life.

My ex would always call me on my birthday, for Christmas and New Year. I was OK with that. Then last year, suddenly, out of the blue, I received a call from him informing me he was in town and wanted to have coffee. During our coffee date, he began to apologise to me about everything he had done in the past. He said he always loved me. Since that evening I’ve had deep feelings that I never knew I had, which developed stronger and stronger by the day. We are currently having a long-distance relationship, but sometimes I get the feeling that we are making the same mistakes as when we were younger. Sometimes I get the feeling we are just tolerating one another.

I want to call it off, but I am too scared. I’m not sure how his marriage is doing, because we never talk about it. My marriage is doing very well. I have no reason to cheat on my husband, except that I still have feelings for my ex.

One very instructive declaration in your letter is, “Our relationship was based on senses and emotions only”. From the start it does appear that you allowed your heart to rule your head and even though you were very aware of the gentleman’s “busy” schedule, you allowed yourself to be swayed by his persuasive talk. Many men have mastered the art of sweet talk and many women knowingly and unknowingly have fallen prey.

Unfortunately, many women can testify that their first date experience was identical to yours. They are forced against their will to engage in sexual intercourse which is the definition for rape and punishable by law. Many date rapes are never reported and so the perpetrator walks away and continues his vicious assault on the next available victim. And like you, for fear of verbal abuse or ridicule from others, including friends, family members and in some instances law enforcement agencies, they live with this nightmare for years which will no doubt create psychological challenges in present and future relationships. There are numerous sexually abused women walking around today who are unable to function appropriately in relationships due to the unresolved issues that were not addressed. It is critical that they engage in counselling to at least rid themselves of guilt and self-blame.

Another critical self-confessed statement you made was, “I decided to get married for the wrong reasons”. Again, a terrible mistake many women and men make. A rebound relationship will never eliminate the thoughts and memories of the ex especially if no closure was achieved and so this baggage is carried into the new relationship which causes intra and interpersonal conflicts.

So your dilemma, though not unusual, could have been avoided if you had followed your gut feeling and not started a relationship with your ex having known of his history as a womaniser. Now you are caught between a rock and a hard place. Your husband is apparently unaware of the fact that you still have feelings for your ex and in a matter of time, no matter how skilful you may be, your emotions will betray you and if he is observant, he will notice something unusual about your mannerisms. If, as you said, you are having a long-distance relationship with your ex, this will certainly impact your marriage as it is difficult to serve two masters and give them both equal attention and commitment.

Take a minute to consider this: Your loving husband has provided you with the basic necessities of life: food, clothing, shelter, etc. To use your words, “He treated me like a queen”. What more could a woman want? Are you not grateful that you have a man that many would die for? Why spoil a good thing? Why put your marriage at risk?

Even though your ex has declared his love for you, you both are now committed to other persons in marriage. You would appreciate that marriage is a sacred institution that was designed for persons who have decided to commit to each other exclusively.

Believe it or not, even though you may not be meeting with your ex physically, you are still cheating on your husband albeit from a distance. You both are emotionally connected to each other.

Your guilt is understandable and happens only because there is conflict between your heart and your head. Your head is saying give him up for logical reasons while your heart is saying hold on to him for selfish reasons. The question is which faculty will you allow to take precedence? Only you can make such an imperative decision, no one else can. Look at the likely outcome of both options and decide which is in your best interest and that of your marriage. Which one is short-lived and which one has longevity? Which one is purely emotional and which one is rationally centred? To help you make a determination you may wish to sit with a counsellor to help you analyse the options and arrive at a considered position.

Wayne Powell is a relationship counsellor. Write to crisscounselloronline@gmail.com

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Married, but still in love with my ex

Doctors still tight lipped on Schumacher

GRENOBLE, France (AFP) — Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is to turn 45 today while lying comatose in a French hospital after suffering critical head injuries in a ski accident.

Doctors and family members were tight-lipped yesterday about the condition of the German racing great, who has been hospitalised since Sunday, when he slammed his head against a rock while skiing in the French Alps.There have been conflicting statements about the speed the seven-time world racing champion was going when the tragedy befell him in the Meribel ski resort, where he has a property. The rock impact split the helmet Schumacher was wearing in two, according to a source close to the investigation.The Ferrari F1 team where Schumacher spent many years announced it would today hold a “silent gathering” in front of the Grenoble hospital to mark the birthday of the retired sportsman, who is being kept in an induced coma.But Schumacher’s fan club in his childhood town of Kerpen said any celebration of the birthday would be in bad taste.Mark Hughes fined for improper conductLONDON, England — Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has been fined 8,000 pounds ($13,100, 9,600 euros) after admitting a charge of improper conduct, the Football Association announced yesterday.The charge related to his dismissal from the touchline during Stoke’s 5-1 Premier League drubbing at Newcastle United last week.Hughes was sent to the stands after reacting angrily when Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan was sent off for two bookable offences during the first half of the game at St James’ Park, when the visitors were 1-0 up.Stoke defender Marc Wilson was also sent off during the game.The Welshman has, however, avoided a touchline ban, meaning he will be able to take to the dug-out for his side’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Leicester City tomorrow.Andy Murray concerned about unhealthy attitudeDOHA, Dafar (AFP) — Andy Murray wants to put a stop to the habit of putting “extreme pressure” on players, as part of a legacy for his history-making achievement in winning Wimbledon.The Scot ended a 77-year wait for a British male winner of the legendary Grand Slam event and is keen that the ensuing opportunity to learn lessons should not be missed during 2014.Murray has been concerned about unhealthy attitudes in trying to produce winners for some time, and elaborated on it at the Qatar Open where he has been preparing for the Australian Open, the new year’s first Grand Slam tournament.“I just think it got to a stage where it was desperation,” he said. “It was hoping, rather than (thinking) what are you trying to do to develop the next Wimbledon champion.“You know you could have the best system and structure in place and never get someone that wins Wimbledon.Li Na scores fighting win In Shenzhen OpenBEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese superstar Li Na battled her way to yet another victory yesterday, downing Romania’s Monica Niculescu after three action-filled sets in the women’s singles quarter-final of the Shenzhen Open.Li, Asia’s highest-ranking player in tennis history, opened strongly, besting Niculescu 7-5 in the first set.The 26-year-old Romanian fought back with a 6-4 win in the second set, before Li toppled her with a third-set, 6-4 victory.Li, 31, is the defending Shenzhen Open champion and is also the world number three player.Her success has sparked a new Chinese interest in tennis as well as a swell of national pride. China’s state broadcaster CCTV this week named her rise its number two sports story of 2013.China notched another victory on yesterday as fifth-seed Peng Shuai soared to victory over Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova 6-3 6-2.Another Serena Williams, Sharapova clashBRISBANE, Australia, (AFP) — Serena Williams yesterday served a perfect first set on her way to setting up a blockbuster semi-final against bitter rival Maria Sharapova at the Brisbane International.The top-seeded Williams did not lose a point on serve during the opening set of her comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 win over Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.In stark contrast to Williams, Sharapova was forced to recover from an error-strewn start before eventually downing 2012 champion Kaia Kanepi in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.The second semi-final will be between second seed Victoria Azarenka, who survived a second-set meltdown when she blew eight match points to beat Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic.Jankovic was a 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-1 winner over Germany’s Angelique Kerber.Friday’s semi-final between Williams and Sharapova will be the 17th meeting between the two superstars of the women’s game, who make no secret of their frosty personal relationship.Taufel says new review system works betterABU DHABI, UAE (AFP) — Simon Taufel, five-time umpire of the year, yesterday said a new trialled system will help attain more accuracy and save time on refered decisions during international cricket matches.The International Cricket Council (ICC) is trialling a new review system, called Officiating Replay System (ORS), in which a non-match umpire is provided with direct replays during a match.ICC introduced the Decision Review System (DRS) in 2008 on a trial basis. The system allows both teams to challenge decisions made by on-field umpires and have them referred to the TV official.The new system, aimed at further improving the prevalent DRS, was first trialled earlier this year in the Old Trafford Test in the Ashes between Australia and England, and then in the fifth one-day international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last week.The trial continues during the ongoing first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi as well as the remaining two Tests in that series.Toronto Raptors snap Pacers’ winning streakTORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and sparked a fourth-quarter run Wednesday that lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 95-82 victory over Indiana, snapping the Pacers’ six-game winning streak.The Pacers fell to 25-6, leaving them level with Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA with San Antonio and Portland on 25-7 and defending NBA champion Miami at 24-7.The Raptors improved to 15-15 on the season, boosting their lead atop the Atlantic division with their fourth win in a row and eighth in 10 games.Toronto ended the first quarter on a 13-6 run for a 26-18 edge, but the Pacers outscored the Raptors 26-14 in the second quarter for a 44-40 half-time advantage.Toronto battled back and took a 66-63 lead into the fourth quarter thanks to a John Salmons 3-pointer.With the game knotted at 74-74, the Raptors went on a 14-3 run to seize command, DeRozan scoring eight points in the spurt for an 88-77 edge with 2:54 remaining and the Pacers never came close again.Terrence Ross scored 18 points for the Raptors while Kyle Lowry added 13 points and 14 assists and Lithuanian centre Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and nine rebounds. DeRozan also grabbed nine rebounds.Oscar dived, says MourinhoSOUTHAMPTON, (AFP) — Jose Mourinho revealed Oscar admitted diving in a failed attempt to win a penalty and get Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis sent off in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at St Mary’s.Brazil midfielder Oscar had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds after replacing Juan Mata when he went into the book for his theatrics and Blues manager Mourinho made it clear he thought referee Martin Atkinson had made the right decision.Oscar then went on to set up Fernando Torres for Chelsea’s first goal and scored the third himself after fellow Brazilian Willian had made it 2-0.Asked about Oscar’s dive, Mourinho added: “It was a fair yellow card. I don’t like it but his explanation to me I also accept.“He said to me; ‘When I saw the goalkeeper coming I was thinking ‘penalty, red card, goodbye’ and the goalkeeper – he is a 35 or 36-year-old man (Davis is 37) with lots of experience — thought ‘I am going to stop’.“Oscar found himself in a moment of contradiction — and we are speaking about fractions of a second — where he thinks ‘contact, penalty, red card’ and there was certainly no contact.“Oscar is a clean player who was waiting for the goalkeeper to come and smash him because that’s what normally happens in those situations.”Arsenal is strong—  WengerLONDON, England (AFP) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his side have now provided evidence of the strength and spirit required to end their long wait for a Premier League title.It is nine years since Arsenal last won a trophy and 10 years since they won the league, but the last-gasp 2-0 New Year’s Day win over Cardiff City confirmed their credentials as championship contenders.While Manchester City and Chelsea remain on their coattails, Arsenal continue to defy those expecting them to fall away.With time almost up and the game against Cardiff looking beyond them, goals from substitute Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott secured a win that kept them at the top of the table.It was a game that Arsenal might have lost or drawn in recent campaigns, but this is a different side.“We have a good togetherness in the side,” said Wenger.“The players come on with the right attitude and that makes the difference. You know that if you do not have that in the championship, then you have no chance to do it.“We have that in the squad. We have to take care of that spirit and show it in every game.”

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Doctors still tight lipped on Schumacher

Lifeline - Jamaica still has slim World Cup Final chance

AS Jamaica’s World Cup dream suffered a potentially fatal body blow with a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica in their match at the National Stadium last night, crowd favourite Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson had his moment of redemption.

The Waterhouse striker, who was kept out of the team by the previous coaching team, gave Jamaicans something to cheer about in the dying moments when he scored to give the Reggae Boyz hopes of a comeback having entered the field of play in the 68th minute.But Costa Rica, who scored in the 74th minute through another substitute, Randall Brenes, moved to 15 points in the CONCACAF hexagonal play-offs, and secured qualification along with the USA, who defeated Mexico 2-0 at home to boost their points tally to 16, for a safe passage to the Brazil 2014 World Cup Finals.Honduras followed up their 2-1 victory over Mexico at the Azteca last Friday with a 2-2 result against Panama at home to move to 11 points, while Panama inched up a place to fourth on eight points, the same as Mexico. Jamaica advanced to four points, but remained firmly rooted at the bottom of the six-nation group, but having failed to gather maximum points and with nearest rivals Mexico and Panama doing likewise, the Reggae Boyz were kept on life support, as they still have a mathematical chance of stealing fourth place, should they register maximum points from their two remaining games, and neither Mexico nor Panama score a win in either of their games.The team that finishes in fourth place will earn another chance at qualification when they engage the winner of the Oceania region, New Zealand, in a home-and-away play-off series in mid November.Jamaica will oppose the USA on October 11 in Kansas City, and then Honduras at home four days later, while Mexico welcome Panama to the Azteca on October 11, before travelling to the already qualified Costa Rica on October 15, as Panama entertain the US on the same day.Jamaica made their first purposeful move on goal in the fifth minute when Marlon King volleyed from the back post from a floated corner in by Shaun Cummings.Costa Rica responded a minute later through captain Bryan Ruiz, who rifled goalward, but stand-in goalkeeper Richard McCallum had to fist away the ball.In minute 13, Ruiz was at it again with another shot from distance, and again McCallum had to mop up.Jamaica made a breakaway down the right side in the 17th minute with skipper Luton Shelton, but his low cross inside could not find Jobi McAnuff, who had sprinted up field to lend support.The Boyz had another chance courtesy of Shelton, whose right-footed free kick from 25 yards was held by Costa Rican custodian Patrick Pemberton, even as it took a slight deflection.Garath McCleary re-ignited the Jamaican offensive thrust in the 64th when he dribbled across the field and got himself into a shooting position, but his final right-footed effort from 20 yards, went wide.At the other end, something was going terribly wrong when goalkeeper McCallum’s poor pass out of his area lacked logic and conviction and rolled nicely for an alert Brenes. The Costa Rican substitute licked his finger at the generous gift from the goalkeeper to beat the Jamaican at his near post.But after some probing, Jamaica’s goal came from hometown hero Anderson, who drifted wide for a gentle tap in after a long lofted ball from defender Jermaine Taylor found its mark.But as it turned out, and sadly, the Waterhouse man’s goal was a piece of magic too little, too late in front of about 7,000 spectators, nearly half of which we clad in Costa Rica’s red and white.Teams: Jamaica — Richard McCallum, Adrian Mariappa, Westley Morgan, Jermaine Taylor, Lloyd Doyley, Shaun Cummings, Marvin Elliott (Chris Humphrey 83rd), Garath McCleary, Joel McAnuff, Luton Shelton (Jermaine Beckford 46th), Marlon King (Jermaine Anderson 68th).Subs not used: Jacomeno Barrett, Gariece McPherson, , Kemar Lawrence, Darren Mattocks, Jermaine Johnson, Ryan Johnson, O’Brian Woodbine, Daniel Gordon, Theo Robinson.Booked: NoneCosta Rica — Patrick Pemberton, Michael Umana, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Johnny Acosta, Junior Diaz, Christian Gamboa, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda (Jose Miguel Cubero 57th), Diego Calvo (Randall Brenes 68th), Joel Campbell (Carlos Johnson 78th), Bryan Ruiz.Subs not used: Leonel Moriera, Oscar Duarte, Oscar Esteban Granados, Bryan Oviedo, Victor Nunez, Mauricio Castillo, Yendrick Ruiz, Michael Barrantes.Booked: NoneReferee: Jair Antonio Marrufo (USA)Assistant Referee 1: Eric Boria (USA)Assistant Referee 2: Frank Anderson (USA)Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu (Canada)Referee Assessor: Luis Enrique Yero Rodriquez (Cuba)Goalscorer Jermaine ‘Tuffy’ Anderson acknowledges the applause of spectators as he exits the field at the end of the game last night. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)Jamaica’s captain Luton Shelton (left) competes with Yeltsin Tejeda of Costa Rica during their World Cup Qualifier at the National Stadium last night. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

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Lifeline - Jamaica still has slim World Cup Final chance

A day late, but still a "GILBERT BABY"

DREDGING through the streets with machetes and sticks in hand, all were equipped for an expedition. They refused to be outdone by the downed trees and landslides that littered the roadway, as nothing would stop them from seeing first-hand who no longer had rooftops over their heads.

The torrential rains and winds of Hurricane Gilbert had subsided somewhat, having done all its damage on Monday, September 12, 1988. But at the first sign of daybreak on Tuesday, members of the Mannings Hill community in Stony Hill, were out in droves, feverishly documenting everything their eyes beheld.Fifty-two-year-old Hannah Barnett, refusing to be left behind, was among them. So too was her unborn child, Kitanya.Barnett was nine months pregnant; in fact, the due date she had been given was September 12.“Everything did pack and ready”, Barnett told the Jamaica Observer. “And when I saw the day came, I said to myself, ‘how dem give me the 12th and I don’t have her yet’.”She further added that she felt absolutely no pain the night of the storm, so off she went the following morning.However, her expedition came to a premature end as Barnett was hit with the first pangs of contraction about 7:00 am, while out exploring with community members. Though baby Kitanya had missed her “due date”, at that point, Barnett found out that she was definitely making her way into the world.Like her expedition plans, all plans associated with giving birth to her second child in the comfort of a hospital room were also shelved. Barnett made her way to a relative’s house and a midwife from a neighbouring community was called.“It was frightening because the road did block, we couldn’t move,” said 54-year-old Michael Walker, Kitanya’s father. “The midwife was not really a back-up plan because we were planning to go to the hospital, but because of the roadblocks we had to call the midwife.”Both Walker and Barnett said they were not worried because the midwife was known and lived within walking distance from them.Amidst the chaos that was left in the trail of Hurricane Gilbert, Kitanya’s parents said that at midday their daughter was born with no hiccups.For Kitanya, a day shy of 25 years old, she is accustomed to her personality being likened to the climate at the time of Gilbert.“People always associate the storm with my personality, saying, ‘yuh miserable, yeh man, a Gilbert yuh born inna’,” said Kitanya, which she said are accompanied by stories about how destructive Hurricane Gilbert was and how her mother almost died because she had started feeling pain while on the road.She added too that she is still affectionately called “Gilbert baby” by many of her community members who remember the fateful day that her mother gave birth to her in subdued winds and rains.Some would also describe Gilbert as persistent and determined, because of the path of destruction it left behind, many having no option but to pick up the pieces. Today, though still temperamental, it would appear that Kitanya may have got this side of her demeanour from being born on September 13, 1988.A past student of Immaculate Conception High School and the University of the West Indies, where she majored in accounting, she graduated in 2010 with first class honours. In January 2011 she started working at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and is now two papers shy of being accepted to the professional body of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).But what happened immediately after she was born?Just a few days old, baby Kitanya had her first motorbike ride as her mother needed to get her to the hospital for her check-up. Kitanya has no memory of this.Hannah Barnett and her baby Kitanya, who came a day late.

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A day late, but still a "GILBERT BABY"

Lifeline - Ja still has slim World Cup Final chance

News

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

JAMAICA’S Road to Rio campaign suffered a near fatal blow last night after the Reggae Boyz drew 1-1 with Costa Rica in their World Cup Football Qualifier at the National Stadium.However, the point earned from the game gave the Reggae Boyz a slim mathematical chance of grabbing the fourth spot to a play-off with New Zealand after the USA defeated Mexico 2-0 at home and Honduras drew with Panama 2-2.Story in Sport.Jamaicans Chris Humphrey (18), Jermaine Anderson (5), Jermaine Beckford (7) and Jobi McAnuff (10) compete for the ball with Costa Rica’s Christian Gamboa (16) and his unidentified teammate last night at the National Stadium in Kingston. (PHOTO: JOSEPH WELLINGTON)

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Lifeline - Ja still has slim World Cup Final chance

Decent effort, but job still undone

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, while not getting three points needed to lift their World Cup mission from the throes of disaster, still can take heart from a decent rendition against host Panama on Friday night.

The 0-0 score, it can be argued, is a fair one — but clearly not the desired outcome for any of the teams. They both needed a win to advance their cause as the teams lingering in the drop zone of the hexagonal play-offs.In a breakdown of how the Jamaicans performed on a rainy Panama City night, their grades will be mixed from the defence to the midfield and offence. The mark is from 0-10.DEFENCEClearly, the department that saved the Reggae Boyz from sure defeat to a Panama team that was bent on persevering home turf pride. In executing the 3-5-2 formation, drifting away from the 4-4-2, debutant central defender and Leicester City captain Wes Morgan was the consummate professional. He demonstrated throughout the match a class act who reads the game well, plus his timely tackles were clean. He, no doubt, helped to lift the game of fellow debutant, the left-sided Reading man, Shaun Cummings. Jermaine Taylor and Lloyd Doyley, who partnered Morgan in the three-prong defence, fed off his high-quality delivery. With Adrian Mariappa in the reckoning for Tuesday’s match against Costa Rica, it would be interesting to see what coach Winfried Schafer will do. Donovan Ricketts, when called upon, was in his element to deny the opposition. With all of the above, plus the fact that they kept a clean sheet, Jamaica’s defence gets a passing grade.— 6.5MIDFIELDFive midfielders were spread across the field with the new formation, and those playing on the flanks did more defence work than going forward, especially when Jamaica went down to 10 players, and understandably so. What was encouraging is how newcomer Shaun Cummings looked comfortable playing on both flanks, which he was forced to do when right-flanker Alvas Powell got injured in the first half. O’brian Woodbine, who came in, never shone, but he held his own and fitted into the scheme out there. Sadly, there wasn’t much feed for the strikers as those operating more inside were lacking in collective imagination. Still, the cry for a creative midfielder for the team, it seems, will go on forever. What we had was a lot of running, all running. Jobi McAnuff did well as he ran all game like a wound-up Duracel bunny, but with his purpose, to be fair. His Reading teammate, Garath McCleary, did show some good touches, but he too ran, albeit more into traffic than anything else. Rodolph Austin, the tanker in the middle, was doing his mopping-up duty, which eventually cost him in the end with two yellow cards. His replacement, Marvin Elliott, came in and played his typical game by keeping things simple, plus he broke up a couple of threatening Panamanian attacks.— 4.5OFFENCEWe didn’t score in a game we had to win. Too few shots on goal. Too few shots, period. Marlon King and Luton Shelton have contrasting playing styles, and while they gave us a couple of cute one-two plays, they never clicked as a deadly duo. The midfield may have failed them to a large extent, in terms of service, but forwards ought to be clever and resourceful operating behind enemy lines. Down to 10 men, substitute Jermaine ‘Teddy’ Johnson played as a one-man wrecking crew upfront, but he wasn’t packing the venom we know he’s capable of producing. It appeared that the counter-attacking approach was the name of our game, but it never paid dividends.— 4.0

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Decent effort, but job still undone