UPDATE: Remains of plane crash victims Larry and Jane Glazer recovered

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 | 1:43 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) have reported that wreckage from the small air craft that crashed in Jamaican waters on September 5, 2014 has been found.

The private aircraft, with US businessman Larry Glazer and his wife Jane aboard, left Rochester, New York, destined for Florida, but missed the southernmost US state, entered Cuban airspace, then the Jamaican airspace.

It is believed that the aircraft ran out of fuel some 14 miles north-east of Port Antonio, Portland, where it crashed.

A search of the area was immediately conducted by the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard, JDF Air Wing and US Coast Guard. However, after two days, the search was abandoned, based on the assessment that there was a minimal probability for a successful rescue and/or recovery operation, under the existing conditions.

The Glazer family subsequently retained the services of a recovery organisation to salvage the aircraft and find the remains of the couple, the joint release said.

Debris along with human remains were recovered from the site and is reportedly now enroute to the USA, “where the various authorities will observe the necessary post-incident protocols consistent with the national requirements of the USA”.

 The operation commenced on Tuesday, January 13 and was terminated on Monday, January 19.

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UPDATE: Remains of plane crash victims Larry and Jane Glazer recovered

Police say human remains could be missing UVA student Hannah Graham - VIDEO: Remains sent to Richmond to be identified

Police say human remains found Saturday in Virginia could be those of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham – who was last seen on Sept. 13.

Further forensic tests are needed to confirm whether the remains are those of Hannah Graham, Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo told a news conference. The remains were found on an abandoned property in southern Albemarle County by a search team from the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, Longo said. They are being transported to Richmond for identification.

“Right now we have the discovery of human remains and a great deal of work ahead of us,” said Col. Steve Sellers, Albemarle County Police chief. “We cannot and will not jump to any conclusions regarding today’s discovery. I ask for the public’s patience as we move forward and pursue what is now a new, ongoing death investigation.”

Authorities are asking anyone who recalls seeing any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area of Old Lynchburg Road in Charlottesville – where the remains were found – to contact the Albemarle County Police Department at 434-296-5807.

Thousands of volunteers had searched for the 18-year-old Graham in the weeks since her disappearance.

Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., 32, has been charged with abduction with intent to defile Graham. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 4 on the charge. In the meantime, Matthew is being held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Police officials Saturday afternoon had blocked the road leading to the site where the remains were found.

Surveillance videos captured some of what Graham did the night she vanished. Authorities say she met friends at a restaurant for dinner Sept. 12 before stopping by two parties at off-campus housing units. She left the second party alone and eventually texted a friend saying she was lost, authorities said.

She can be seen walking unsteadily and even running at times, past a pub and a service station and then onto a seven-block pedestrian strip that includes the Tempo Restaurant.

Tempo Restaurant owner Brice Cunningham has said Graham appeared to be incapacitated as she walked away with Matthew. Police have said they have no reason to believe she and Matthew knew each other before their encounter.

Matthew, an operating room technician at the university’s hospital who sometimes drives a taxi, had been drinking at the bar earlier that night before he encountered Graham, Cunningham has said.

A week after Graham went missing, Longo publicly described Matthew in detail without naming him, saying investigators wanted to talk to the “person of interest” and had searched his apartment because he was the last person to see her.

Matthew showed up at police headquarters, asked for a lawyer, and then sped away, according to a police account. His exit prompted a warrant for “reckless driving,” a charge that Longo cited as he named the suspect and appealed for information from anyone who saw him with Graham the night she disappeared.

Matthew was arrested a few days later in Galveston, Texas.

While Matthew was a fugitive in Texas, Virginia police added a charge of abduction with intent to defile, a violent felony that under Virginia law compels suspects to submit to DNA testing.

Very quickly thereafter, Virginia State Police announced a “forensic link” to Harrington’s killing. That case, in turn, has been linked by DNA evidence since 2012 to the rape of a woman in Fairfax, Virginia, who survived after a passer-by startled her attacker, the FBI has said.

Following Matthew’s arrest, Christopher Newport University released a statement noting that he had been named in a police file involving a Sept. 7, 2003 sexual assault on the Newport News campus. Matthew was a student there from January 2003 through Oct. 15, 2003.

Matthew had transferred to CNU after three years at Liberty University, where he also was briefly on the football team.

When he was at Liberty University, he was accused of raping a student on campus. That charge was dropped when the person declined to move forward with prosecution, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Doucette said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Police say human remains could be missing UVA student Hannah Graham - VIDEO: Remains sent to Richmond to be identified

Ban on use of jet skis lifted however import ban remains in effect

It has been announced that the islandwide ban on the operation of  private Personal Water Crafts or jet skis will be lifted today. However, the ban on the importation of  jet skis will remain.  A statement from the Tourism Ministry says licensed operators will be allowed to use their water crafts.

A ban was imposed in February to allow for the regularisation of   commercial operations; and for steps to be taken by the Maritime Authority of  Jamaica to register all jet-skis. The measures were applied in the wake of  three accidents involving jet skis between August last year and January.In announcing the ban in Parliament Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill indicated that the suspension would be lifted when measures and regulations are implemented and persons become compliant.     
In the meantime, the Maritime Authority has registered 90 private and 29 commercial jet skis. A Task Force has been established as one of  the measures to bring private water craft activity under stronger management and enforcement. It is being guided by the Maritime Authority and the Tourism Product Development Company with enforcement by the Marine Police.

Owners and operators of  private and commercial launch sites will be required to inform the Authority of  their location to facilitate monitoring of  activities across the island.  A launch site is an area on the foreshore where jet skis are permitted to leave and return. The Tourism Ministry says sites will not be established close to high risk areas such as places where persons swim.

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Ban on use of jet skis lifted however import ban remains in effect

Flash Flood Warning for Portland, St Mary remains in effect

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 | 5:14 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect for Portland and St Mary until 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 22, the Meteorological Service has advised.

Residents in low-lying areas are being urged to be on the alert for rising waters and be ready to move quickly to higher ground.

In addition motorists and pedestrians should not attempt to cross flooded roadways or other low-lying areas as strong currents are likely.

The Met Service said that a Stationary Front which extends across eastern Cuba and Jamaica continues to produce showers across sections of mainly northern parishes. Moderate to heavy showers have occurred over Portland and St Mary Tuesday morning, while sections of St James, Trelawny and Westmoreland were affected by very heavy showers in the afternoon.

The outlook is for scattered showers to continue across the island especially over Portland and St Mary on Wednesday. The Met Service’s warning comes despite reports from Portland residents of an ease in the parish.

A decrease in rainfall is expected on Thursday as the Front weakens, the Met Service said.

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Flash Flood Warning for Portland, St Mary remains in effect

MBU"s aim remains to win RSPL

TUCKER, St James — Nothing has changed in the objectives of Montego Bay United in this their third season in the Red Stripe Premier League set to start on Sunday.

“Every year we start the league we want to win it,” club president Orville Powell told the Jamaica Observer, describing last year’s campaign when they finished outside the top six after three rounds as “a disappointment”.The previous season, their first as Montego Bay United after changing their name from Seba United, they were sixth, but if Powell is to get his wish the only team from western Jamaica in the Red Stripe Premier League will be the one at the top at the end.MBU have not lost any player from the squad that finished the previous season, and with the addition of coach Donovan Duckie, Powell likes what he sees for the 2013-14 team.The players have grown since last year, he said, and with the experience and tactical awareness that Duckie brings, Powell thinks his team could make some serious ripples this season.Despite some challenges that have slowed their preparations, Powell said: “I see some maturity in the team and the players are developing a nice chemistry.”Bahamian Lesly St Fleur, who led the team with seven goals last year before injury ended his season, will return to lead the attack, and national striker Dino Williams will start his first season with the team that will also see Allan Ottey, as well as Mauracio Gordon, who returned to the team midway last season after starting the last campaign at Portmore United.Fabian McCarthy, who formed the backbone of the defence along with Cordel Simpson, Orlando McBayne and Ladale Richie, also scored three times last year, all from spot kicks.Goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett, who is in the national set-up, will return as the first choice shot-stopper, while youngster Jermaine Woozencroft, who was one of the outstanding players for the team last season, leads a list of players who will be expected to play their part in the team’s success.Midfielder Keneil Kirlew, who represented the national Under-20 team, Aldaine Grant, Oraine Gaynor, Winston Wilkinson, and John Barrett will form part of the MBU youth brigade.Former national midfielder Lacon Brissett, who played part of last season at Rivoli United in the Super League, will lend some veteran leadership, along with team captain Dwayne Ambusley and Omar Gordon.There is no doubt in Powell’s mind that the team will do well, and he said there will be no complacency, or playing just to get into the play-offs in the new format that replaces the straight league that was played the past few seasons.“We have no plans to cruise at the start,” he said. “We want to win every game we play, and that will be our aim from day one,” Powell said.He said Duckie presented a new approach to coaching. “I like how he interacts with the players, there are some key things that he does that gets his points across, and at times he seems to be teaching more than coaching, and that comes across well.”MBU will split home games between the Montego Bay Sports Complex and the newly improved Wespow Park in Tucker this season.New Montego Bay United Head Coach Donovan Duckie (second left) takes his players through their paces at the UDC beach in Montego Bay recently. (PHOTO: PAUL REID)

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MBU"s aim remains to win RSPL

Boyz cling to hope - Coach Schafer remains optimistic

DESPITE not having a practice game prior to their do-or-die World Cup qualifying away match-up against Panama on September 6, Reggae Boyz head coach Winfried Schafer has instead made himself busy by scouting and talking to several key overseas-based players.

The 63-year-old German, who was appointed in July, remains upbeat that the Reggae Boyz can pull off the miracle and still qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year.“Right now we have a 30 per cent chance, but when we win against Panama that will be 60 per cent and maybe Costa Rica or Honduras lose the next match, I don’t know, it’s not easy,” said Schafer.The former Bundesliga stalwart, who scored 46 goals in 403 German top-flight appearances as a player and who led Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations title in 2002, said he wouldn’t have taken the Jamaican job if he thought it was hopeless.“I believe I can change from the last matches to success in the few days before the match against Panama, I will have to instil belief in the players,” said Schafer.The Reggae Boyz are currently at the bottom of the six-team group on two points behind Panama (six), Honduras (seven), Mexico (eight), Costa Rica (11), and the United States of America (13) with only four games remaining.Schafer said he was shocked when he looked at the table and saw Jamaica with only two points, and after careful video analysis, he was convinced that the Reggae Boyz should have been in a better position.“I have to talk to the players, I need information from my players. I need opinion of the players why Jamaica have only two points. What we have to do for better. Why we lost against United States. Why we lost against Panama. I want opinions of the players,” he explained.“The important thing is that the players come here with motivation and only these players will show up in my team,” said Schafer.With all six teams in the Hexagonal round busy recently with friendly games, Jamaica were unable to secure one on the last FIFA calendar date set aside for friendly internationals. But Schafer was not idle.“I was in America at the CONCACAF Gold Cup which featured four of our opponents in the World Cup qualifying,” noted Schafer.“I watched Honduras, Costa Rica, United States, Mexico and Panama after I was in England and watched six Championship matches, and importantly, I talked to my Reggae Boyz,” he noted.While in the United Kingdom where he met and spoke with several players, five of whom are captains of Championships teams in England.Although he couldn’t remember all the names, he did mention one Westley Morgan who is the skipper of Leicester City and who is regarded as the best centre back in the Championship. Morgan, 29, may be a replacement for the injured Nyron Nosworthy.“I saw some new players while in England, but I cannot tell you now which players are on the list. When Captain (Horace) Burrell comes back we will have a press conference and talk about it,” he told the Jamaica Observer.President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell (left) greets Reggae Boyz head coach Winfried Schafer at last month’s press conference at the Federation’s offices to present the new coach.

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Boyz cling to hope - Coach Schafer remains optimistic