St Catherine residents get medical help from US mission

Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

Scores of residents of Fraser’s Content and surrounding communities in St Catherine flocked the Church of God of Prophecy on Tuesday to receive treatment for various ailments.

The occasion saw members of the HELP JA Mission from the United States of America diagnosing and treating those who turned out.

According to Co-founder Dr Robert Clarke, the group is comprised of 30 doctors who dedicate themselves to give back to Jamaica.

“We were all born here (Jamaica) and have seen how persons have suffered ill-health and are not able to pay for treatment. We see it fit to give back, and have been for the last four years,” Dr Clarke said.

He told The Starthat Fraser’s Content was the fourth such stop and more than 400 persons have so far received medical attention.

Persons were given blood-sugar test, heart testing, HIV and eye testing, but the most cases, according to the doctor, are persons suffering from flu-like illnesses.

They were given various medications free of charge. Clarke said the mission will end on September 21.

“For years, I have had back problems, but it is with the help of these doctors that I know what is happening to me,” Melbourne Taffe, a patient said. Other persons were very thankful for the assistance given.

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St Catherine residents get medical help from US mission

Residents of Sangi grateful for upgraded road

GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Residents walking along the newly constructed Sangi road in Sanguinetti, Clarendon. – George Henry

Residents from Sangi in Sanguinetti, Clarendon, are expressing joy that a road leading to their houses has been upgraded.

A new road measuring just about 400 metres, was recently constructed at a cost of approximately $2M by the Clarendon Parish Council (CPC).

Councillor for the Spaldings Division, Trevor Gordon, said the residents, many of whom are senior citizens, have been calling for the dirt road to be resurfaced with asphalt for a very long time.

The first time councillor said he heard the residents’ plea, took the matter to the CPC and money was identified and allocated for the road. Gordon said the work, completed a month ago, has not only been making the life of the residents more comfortable, but that the infrastructure has now improved the value of the properties there.

construction materials

Eraldo Christie, who has been trying to set up a dwelling in that area, said it will now be easier for him and other residents to get construction materials to their properties.

“I am happy that the road has been constructed. It is now easier for trucks to carry material to our place, because they will be better able to transport them for us. Because there was no good road we had a hard time getting material across to our lands. We can now get material droped off on our property,” said Christie.

Similar sentiments were expressed by other property owners who either plan to do home improvement or carry out new construction. However, they are calling for a better drainage system in place, so the water will be properly channelled.

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Residents of Sangi grateful for upgraded road

Pittsburg residents warned of possible Jamaica phone scam

PITTSBURGH, United States, July 24, 2014, CMC – Residents of suburbs in Pittsburgh have been warned to beware of a telephone scam believed to be based in Jamaica.

The warning came from the District Attorney for Allegheny County who said the callers.

claim to work for a legitimate sweepstakes firm – Publisher’s Clearing House and tell residents they’ve won a prize but must first send a check to cover processing fees.

Zappala says the callers have targeted residents of Whitehall Borough and South Fayette Townships in recent days, and that IDs have indicated the calls are being placed from Jamaica’s ’876′ area code.

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Zappala says residents should always refuse to send money when they’re contacted by phone about any sweepstakes prize or similar offer.

Residents have been told to avoid the calls altogether by having their phone company block any calls from the Jamaican area code.

Meanwhile, in Jamaica, the Lottery Scam Task Force is reporting several arrests during a two-day multi-agency operation in the western end of the island.

So far, 41 suspects linked to lottery scamming activities were arrested in the back-to-back operations, which started on Monday.

Lottery Scam Media Liaison Officer, Corporal Kevin Watson, says the latest drive targeted persons who lured unsuspecting elderly United States citizens to Jamaica as couriers.

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Pittsburg residents warned of possible Jamaica phone scam

Clarendon residents fearful of flood waters

Horace Fisher, Star Writer

With a severe drought affecting most areas of Jamaica, scores of Rocky Point’s residents in Clarendon are living in knee- deep flood waters, an infestation of mosquitoes and are fearful that they and their belongings will soon get washed out to sea.

The worried residents, pointing to a massive fish kill in the community just days ago, complained that the Rio Minho river is now blocked, and the rising water has been flooding the homes of hundreds of residents along the West End Road for the last three weeks.

The affected residents, pointed to loss of domestic animals, utensils, clothing and other personal items to the water. They lamented that calls to their member of parliament, Rudyard Spencer; the National Work Agency (NWA); and the National Environment and Planning Agency have so far gone unanswered.

“The water come up almost my house, look around the back, everything dead, even the animals; we can’t go through this anymore, a pure mosquitoes down here, it is unbearable,” said Ivy Pryce, a shopkeeper from the area.

Councillor for the Rocky Point Division, Winston Maragh, explained that because of the drought, the river has lost some of its velocity, which rendered it unable to naturally clear the blockage at the point where the river meets the sea at Rocky Point.

“There is a sand bar blocking the river from discharging into the sea. Clearing the sand bar will require a tractor, but when I called the NWA parish manager, I am being told that there isn’t any money to send the tractor here,” Councilor Maragh insisted.

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Clarendon residents fearful of flood waters

Residents protest high electricity bills

Residents of the Corporate Area community of  Olympic Way are demanding answers from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) after receiving what they described as extraordinarily high electricity bills.

The residents took to the streets on Monday, armed with their electricity bills.

One resident said he received a bill of  J$102,000.

The residents have blamed the increase on a new metering system installed by the company.

“Because our light  bill is usually J$15,000 before the new system. So I don’t know what’s the problem with the box they are putting up. But the bills are more than our food bill, more than our rent and we cannot pay it,” said Daphne Carter-Brown, a resident of  Olympic Way.

According to the residents, they have visited JPS offices where they were instructed to get an electrician to check their wiring.

They say the JPS also promised to investigate their concerns however one week later nothing has been done.

The residents say they willing to pay for the electricity used, but believe they are being overcharged.

In response, the JPS says it’s aware of  the residents’ concerns.

Corporate Communications Manager, Winsome Callum, explained that the company has been talking to the residents and a meeting is scheduled for this week.

 She said the residents were asked to provide a list of  those who have been affected and what the JPS found is that since converting to the new system the residents have received two bills.

Callum explained that the first bill did not cover the full billing cycle while the second bill was for a full cycle hence the difference in the amount which may seem exorbitant.

She said in the upcoming meeting, the JPS will guide  residents on how to better manage their bills.

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Residents protest high electricity bills

Returned resident"s shooting a contract killing, say police

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator — Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, January 21, 2014    

THE murder last Friday night of a 75-year-old returned resident in St Elizabeth is believed by the police to be a contract killing.

Robert Campbell was attacked and shot near his two-storey home on Baptist Road in Middle Quarters by a gunman who called out to him before opening fire. Campbell’s household helper, who was travelling with him in his van, wasn’t injured.

A police source told the Jamaica Observer about the suspicion of a hit, while adding that the ‘trigger man’ and two other men had been in the area for two days interacting with residents of the quiet district in west St Elizabeth, before committing the crime.

The men were travelling in a Toyota Camry motor car. It was after the incident that residents started coming forward with the information.

According to Deputy Superintendent Lanford Salmon, Campbell’s murder could have been prevented had residents been more vigilant and reported the presence of the three strange men in the area.

“The citizens of St Elizabeth need to realise that the landscape has changed,” said Campbell, who is head of operations for the parish.

“St Elizabeth people are nice people and welcome [all] in their home, but they should look at strange men in the area as suspects and check them out with the police. We have intelligence that migrant criminals are coming into the parish seeking safe haven. The people are too friendly and need to wise up,” he added.

Campbell’s murder came a week after his wife died of natural causes in hospital. He leaves behind five grandchildren.

Meanwhile, grieving relatives and residents had nothing but kind words about Campbell, who reportedly returned to live in the island in the late 1990s after spending approximately 50 years working in the United States of America.

He’s been described as friendly, kind, helpful and a person who likes to give advice and a listening ear.

His grandson Kemar Campbell told the Observer that these qualities may have led him to stop when flagged down by a stranger around 8:45 on that fateful Friday night.

Speaking of Campbell’s kindness, Kemar said that whenever there was a shortage of water in the area, Campbell would allow people to catch the commodity from his tank, free of charge.

Residents said that on occasion when he was leaving his house in the morning and saw children on the road he would pack them into his van and take them to school.

“I always watch it on TV and my heart would sink,” Campbell’s sister, Gracelin Wilson, said in relation to news reports of murders, “but I never knew it was coming right at our door.”

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Returned resident"s shooting a contract killing, say police

Police on the hunt for four men who robbed Chinese residents

News

Friday, August 23, 2013

POLICE were still, trying to find four men who were involved in the robbery of a group of Chinese nationals Wednesday afternoon in Hope Pastures, St Andrew.Fitz Bailey, head of the St Andrew Central Police Division said the police have since launched a search for the men who remain on the run.“To my knowledge, none of the suspects have been held [as yet],” Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. He, however, gave an assurance that the police would intensify their manhunt for the robbers.The Constabulary Communication Network — the police’s information arm — reported that about 2:40 Wednesday afternoon, the men, posing as employees from a utility company, gained access to a residence on Hope Boulevard, after which they brandished guns and robbed the Chinese nationals of household appliances and an undetermined sum of money.They left in a motor car which was waiting for them near the gate to the premises.The police gave assurance to members of the Chinese community that this matter was getting the full attention of the investigators and appealed to members of the public to share whatever information they have about the incident.The robbery came just hours after the Xinhua news agency reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in a meeting with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, asked the Jamaican Government to implement more favourable policies and take effective measures to protect the safety and legal interests of Chinese citizens and companies here.In the meantime, the police have asked individuals, particularly Chinese nationals, to exercise extreme caution when conducting business of any nature, and that they contact the police if they have doubts.The Jamaica Observer reported recently that Chinese were targeted by criminals, as well as rogue members of the constabulary, because a number of them carry around large amounts of cash as they do not use the banking system.A number of Chinese business operators are involved in he operation of wholesale establishments that specialise in the trading of food and drinks.The police are again assuring members of the Chinese community that this matter is getting the full attention of the investigators and are appealing to members of the public to share whatever information they have with them.

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Police on the hunt for four men who robbed Chinese residents

20 inner-city residents complete leather craft course

TWENTY residents from the inner-city communities of Central Village, Lauriston, and Shelter Rock in St Catherine are now better equipped to earn a livelihood, after completing a two-month intermediate leather craft and business development skills training programme, conducted by the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

The initiative, which was undertaken in partnership with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) at the JBDC’s Incubator and Resource Centre, on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston, now enables the participants to produce a range of leather products, including belts, wallets, and purses.Funding, to the tune of $1.4 million, was provided by the Japan Social Development Fund Grant for the undertaking, which saw the participants being taught a range of techniques in leather craft. These included rawhide preparation, measuring and cutting, edge finishing, pattern making, cutting and assembly, surface decoration, and stud setting. The training sessions were facilitated by JBDC’s trainers,The participants were presented with certificates, start up leather craft kits, and course material, to help them kick-start their business operations, during a graduation ceremony at the JBDC’s Resource Centre last Friday.Speaking with JIS News following the ceremony, JBDC Technical Services Manager Colin Porter underscored the importance of the training programme in equipping the participants with not only the basic skills, but the concept of entrepreneurship which, he argued, can make the difference between a good and a great product.“It’s one thing to make a leather product, but it’s another thing to make a leather product that has the design value to it… that has some appeal. So the design value has to be of such that it can be compared to any other product coming from any other country,” he said.In this regard, Porter had high praise for the participants’ recognition of this and commended their positive approach to the programme, noting that they were prepared to work together to ensure its success.“They helped each other out. If someone had a difficulty (with any of the programme’s concepts), someone (else) who would have picked up on the concept earlier would join the instructor and help their colleagues…It showed that they grasped the idea of not just gaining skills, but of camaraderie,” he said.Porter expressed confidence that the participants will do well in their future endeavours, adding that follow-up visits will be conducted with them to keep abreast of their progress and provide assistance, where possibleSpeaking on behalf of the participants, David Ormsby, in expressing gratitude for the intervention, said much was learnt during the two-month course. He noted that while the training has ended, “this is the start of something new and the essence of something great, and is the start of a (new) beginning in the lives of the (participants)”.

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20 inner-city residents complete leather craft course

Ellington moves to calm fearful Linstead residents

COMMISSIONER of Police Owen Ellington yesterday assured residents of Linstead, St Catherine, that there will be continuous security presence in the community to restore law and order following the recent spate of murders, including the killing of two men yesterday.

The men who were killed in separate incidents in the community are Tyrone Murray, 28, and Garth Parkes, 42, both of Bottom Cedar Lane in Banbury.Reports from the Linstead Police are that about 2:00 am, three men gained Access to Murray’s home and chopped him several times.About 6:30 am the lawmen were summoned to another area of the community, where residents reported hearing explosions. Parkes’ body was found in a room of his home with several gunshot wounds.Following the incidents Ellington, along with the commanding officer of the St Catherine North Division and senior investigators, toured sections of the community.A statement from the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) later said that investigations have revealed that an internal gang feud has developed over the sharing of the proceeds from criminal activities. This dispute between the warring factions, the CCN alleged, has resulted in three murders, including the two yesterday morning.Commissioner Ellington, meanwhile, said that there will be a significant increase in police presence in the area until those who are responsible are caught and brought to justice.He said that the police are convinced that residents of the affected communities have information about those who are involved in the crimes being committed and is appealing to them to share such information with the police.Detectives from the Major Investigation Task Force and the St Catherine North Division are investigating the murders and, Ellington said the residents will be informed of the progress being made.In addition, the commissioner is beseeching the family members and friends of the perpetrators to co-operate with investigators to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.He also urging persons behind the murders to turn themselves in to the Spanish Town or Linstead police.In the meantime, detectives from the St Catherine North Police Division have listed 18-year-old Lavar Najaite Reid, otherwise called ‘Var’ of Commodore district in Linstead, as wanted.Reid is of dark complexion, slim build, about 185 centimetres (6 feet 1 inch) tall and has a scar above his right knee.He is wanted for robbery with aggravation and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, the police said.

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Ellington moves to calm fearful Linstead residents

Portland residents run illegal power wires under sea

Latest News

Monday, July 29, 2013 | 8:00 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says it has made a “shocking discovery” of electricity theft by residents in Portland’s capital town.According to the power company, residents living along the shoreline, in the squatter settlement by the Old Port Antonio Marina fishing village, have run illegal connections to the JPS grid under the sea.The existence of the connections came to light after fishermen in the area complained that they were receiving shocks in the water. Investigations by JPS crew uncovered wires, one lying at an estimated 15 feet, and another 35 feet into the sea. The illegal wires supplied power to over 20 houses, JPS said. The JPS crew surmised that the wires were in the water for an extended period as they were overgrown by seaweed.Two arrests were made following the discovery.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Portland residents run illegal power wires under sea

McGregor Gully residents continue protest over police killing

Latest News

Thursday, July 25, 2013 | 10:56 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Angry residents in McGregor Gully, East Kingston have again taken to the streets in protest over the shooting death of a man by the police in their community on Wednesday.The man, 38-year-old Omar Young was shot and killed during an alleged shootout.Police said that a 9 mm firearm was recovered during the incident.But irate residents blocking roadway on Wednesday have contradicted the police report.“Murder them murder the youth a contract killing them carry out,” claimed one female protester.She was among several people who used debris to again block roadways in the community Thursday morning.-Kimmo MatthewsLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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McGregor Gully residents continue protest over police killing

Palm Grove Court residents protest lack of water

News

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 12:31 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica- Residents of Palm Grove Court on Brotherton Avenue in Kingston 13, this morning staged a peaceful protest against what they claimed is a lack adequate of water supply to the community since January.The Palm Grove Court is a housing scheme that was constricted by the previous administration under the inner city housing project and is controlled by the National Housing Trust.Residents say a defective pump has been the cause of their woes and took to the streets to air their grouse.“Seven months now we don’t get no water, we have to be going over to people’s house and begging water and carrying water up to the third and fourth floor,” one woman said.Another man who clanged two pot covers together loudly expressed worry that diseases would soon break out in the community because of a lack of water. “It’s summer now and there are a lot of children in the community, we are afraid of cholera and other diseases. We need water now,’ the man said.

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Palm Grove Court residents protest lack of water

Palm Grove Court residents protest lack of water

Latest News

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | 12:31 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica- Residents of Palm Grove Court on Brotherton Avenue in Kingston 13, this morning staged a peaceful protest against what they claimed is a lack adequate of water supply to the community since January.The Palm Grove Court is a housing scheme that was constricted by the previous administration under the inner city housing project and is controlled by the National Housing Trust.Residents say a defective pump has been the cause of their woes and took to the streets to air their grouse.“Seven months now we don’t get no water, we have to be going over to people’s house and begging water and carrying water up to the third and fourth floor,” one woman said.Another man who clanged two pot covers together loudly expressed worry that diseases would soon break out in the community because of a lack of water. “It’s summer now and there are a lot of children in the community, we are afraid of cholera and other diseases. We need water now,’ the man said.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Palm Grove Court residents protest lack of water

New Haven residents fear flooding again

Latest News

Thursday, July 11, 2013 | 11:28 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Residents of flood-prone New Haven in St Andrew are again concerned Thursday as a Flash Flood warning has been issued by the Meteorological Service.“From last night we a get heavy rain and right now we worried as the drains in the area want to clean and we not getting no help,” Jonathan Whyte, a resident in the area close to the Duhaney River told the Observer.Whyte was among a group of men who this morning stood at a shop in the community sheltering from the persistent rain.Randy, another resident agreed.“We really worried but we a keep our fingers crossed that things no get too rough with this rain,” he said.The Flash Flood Watch comes after the Met Service discontinued a Tropical Storm Watch for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Chantal degenerated to a strong tropical wave.The Met Service nonetheless warns that periods of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms could still affect Jamaica, especially in eastern parishes.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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New Haven residents fear flooding again