PNP national executive member on fraud charge returns to court

Monday, September 29, 2014 | 9:48 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – People’s National Party (PNP) member Donovan Bisasor and a co-accused arrested in August for fraud will again appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court today.

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.

It is alleged that in January 2011 the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) served an enforcement notice on the NWC in respect to Barnes Gully, resulting in the company having to carry out an emergency procedure. As a result, a contract was allegedly awarded to XYZ Construction Company for $27.4 million with $2.3 million for security.

However, on completion of the project Bisasor allegedly told NWC that the money for security was insufficient and was instructed to provide documents to substantiate his claim.

It is further alleged that on August 15, 2011 Goss submitted a claim for $7.3 million for services provided by Secure Security Limited. However, checks made with the security company allegedly revealed that it was never contracted to work on the project.

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PNP national executive member on fraud charge returns to court

Who should replace Roger Clarke as member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland?

A date for a by-election to fill the Central Westmoreland seat left vacant with the passing of the People’s National Party’s Member of Parliament Roger Clarke is yet to be announced, but already a number of persons are eyeing the seat. The Jamaica Observer West’s Alan Lewin sought reaction on Tuesday when he visited the constituency and asked: Who do you think is most suitable to represent the constituency of Central Westmoreland?

Yolando Cazely, store manager:

We want Michael Erskine because he can sit on my court case, so we have a lawyer to represent us as our MP. We don’t want the other one them that we hear about.

Lennox Mackie, unemployed:

We don’t want Karl Blythe or Michael Erskine. Only a person from the JLP can replace Roger Clarke.

Talisha Bedward-Scarlett, sales representative:

I think Karl Blythe should get the edge. He is a kind person and he always look out for the poor people.

Shantel Wright, unemployed:

I think it should be Dr Karl Blythe. From what I heard, he is a good man and look out for the poor people as Michael Manley did. That is what I have heard from my parents.

Tasha Walker, unemployed:

Well, anyone the PNP choose is fine with me. But of the two names that are rumoured, I think Karl Blythe should get the nod.

Bernard Vanriel, PNP councillor:

I believe that the party should look outside for a replacement because the constituency calls for a lot of money. It takes a lot of money to run a by-election in a parish council division much less to run a by-election in a constituency. The persons from the parish who I hear want to run now, are bruk pocket.

But whoever the party selects to run, I will support them

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Who should replace Roger Clarke as member of Parliament for Central Westmoreland?

Narrow escape for Fab 5 member - Grub Cooper in vehicle collision

Gareth Davis Sr, Star Writer

Grub Cooper

One of Jamaica’s most prestigious singers, Grub Cooper, who is also leader of the Fab 5 band, had a narrow escape yesterday, following a two-vehicle collision along the Boundbrook roadway in Port Antonio, Portland.

The incident took place shortly after 10:30 a.m. during the staging of the Boston Jerk and Musical festival.

According to police, Cooper was reportedly travelling in a Toyota Rav 4, which was being driven by a female and was heading towards Port Antonio, when the vehicle collided with a Suzuki Vitara travelling in the opposite direction.

Police have theorised that the driver of the Toyota Rav 4 was not familiar with route (roadway), and instead of taking the turn into Port Antonio, ran straight across the road at the intersection at Boundbrook and slammed straight into the Vitara.

serious injuries

Dozens of persons reportedly rushed to the aid of passengers inside both vehicles, as fears mounted as to whether or not there were any serious injuries or fatalities. The bonnet of the Vitara was displaced, and both vehicles were totalled.

And although there were no serious injuries to anyone, Cooper, who was unscathed, was taken to the Port Antonio hospital for observation but was later released.

The Fab 5 band is booked to perform at the Boston Jerk and Music Festival being held at Boston, the home of authentic jerk pork.

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Narrow escape for Fab 5 member - Grub Cooper in vehicle collision

Latvia to become 18th Eurozone member

BRUSSELS, Belgium – THE tiny Baltic state of Latvia received the green light from its European partners yesterday to become the 18th member of the eurozone, even though the region’s long and debilitating crisis is far from over.

In what Latvia’s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis described as a “good day for Latvia and also for Europe,” the ECOFIN council — made up of finance ministers of the EU’s 28 member states — gave formal approval to the country’s Euro membership.“Yes, we are joining the euro as of January 1 next year,” Dombrovskis told a news conference.It had been a long journey for the former Soviet state since it joined the EU in 2004.And despite the eurozone’s current troubles, membership would bring with it benefits, the prime minister said, pointing to lower interest rates, lower currency conversion costs and increased foreign investment.Neighbouring Estonia had enjoyed similar positive developments since it adopted the single currency in 2011, he added.It also showed that the crisis-ridden single currency area — which not long ago had been seen as on the verge of disintegrating — was continuing to expand, Dombrovskis said.Latvia’s Finance Minister Andris Vilks said it was a “very symbolic day” for his country, marking the culmination of Latvia’s integration into Europe.“We trust Europe and we trust the euro,” he said, adding that he hoped Latvia would prove to be one of the “best performers” in the single currency zone.Latvia emerged from a crisis in 2008-09 to become the EU’s fastest-growing economy. And after notching up GDP growth of more than five per cent in both 2011 and 2012, it is projected to register further growth of 3.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent this year and next year.The main challenges now were the preparations to introduce euro banknotes and coins.But Dombrovskis also said that his government still has to fight widespread euro scepticism among Latvians.Despite large-scale PR campaigns, polls suggest the population remains wary of swapping their currency while eurozone members such as Greece and Cyprus are in crisis.Irina Livchuk, from a suburb of Riga and an acupuncturist, told AFP she felt it was “the wrong time for Latvia to join”.Igors Antonovs, a 26-year-old sales manager from Riga was also sceptical, even if he believed it was “a good thing for a currency to cover the whole EU one day.”Evirts Melniks, a 24-year-old student, was convinced of the benefits.“I travel a lot, so it is much more convenient to have a single currency.“Estonians told me prices did go up when they joined the Euro, so we expect to see the same thing here. But I understand that this is not just about the currency — it is about being a good member of the Union as well.” he said.Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said his Government “still has to do a lot to convince the public that it’s the right decision.“I’m not entirely happy that more than half of the population do not believe in the euro,” he told AFP. A man walks past a currency exchange office in Riga, Lativa. (PHOTO: AFP)

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Latvia to become 18th Eurozone member