Workers attached to the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) remove garbage from a section of the Spanish Town bypass that has been an eyesore for months. The NSWMA through the St. Catherine Parish Council, plans to put up 'no dumping' signs and beautify the area. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Williamsfield, MANCHESTER
A policeman stationed at the Williamsfield Police Station in Manchester was formally charged with lying under oath earlier this week.
Constable Lincoln McLean had been in custody since Tuesday, June 21 when he was arrested after admitting during a murder trial in the Mandeville Circuit Court that he had lied in a statement he had given previously.
McLean, who was stationed at Spaldings, at the time had given a statement that on the day of the murder he had seen a large crowd in the square, and that he had seen a man running with a knife with what appeared to be blood on it. In the statement, he said he had given chase, but the man dropped the knife and escaped. He took up the knife and went to the police station where he again saw the man.
On Tuesday, when he came to give evidence in court, he gave a different version. The constable, who was sweating profusely in the witness box, said on the day of the murder, he saw a crowd. He picked up a knife with bloodstains and said it was not the man in the dock whom he had seen running with the knife. He then admitted that he had lied.
Byron McDaniel
Black River, ST. ELIZABETH
Mark Golding, a senior partner in the investment bank Dehring, Bunting and Golding, has labelled "corruption as Jamaica's number one problem today." He has suggested that the problem can only be addressed "from the top" if the country is to be rid of it.
Mr. Golding was speaking at a prosperity forum put on by the Dr. Omar Davies-led 'Campaign for Prosperity' team at the Invercauld Hotel in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on Thursday.
"After nearly 50 years of Independence, Jamaica needs a period of prosperity where everyone can live well, and I think Dr. Omar Davies is the best person to lead the country into that period at this time," Golding told the audience of mostly People's National Party delegates.
Rayon Dyer
Junction, ST. ELIZABETH
There will be an internal run-off to select a new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker for South East St. Elizabeth on Sunday, July 24, in Junction in the parish. The announcement came out of a meeting with JLP Deputy Leader, Dr. Horace Chang, and other members of the party in western Jamaica last week.
Among the four aspirants who are vying for the caretaker position is former JLP Member of Parliament for the area, attorney-at-law Cecil July. The others are businessman Earl Powell, who has represented the National Democratic Movement twice in the constituency; Franklyn Witter, who lost to Lenworth Blake of the People's National Part in the last general election, and Gregory Myers, a school teacher.
South East St. Elizabeth was one of the constituencies the JLP lost by a slim margin of 79 votes in the October, 2002 general election.
Rayon Dyer
Falmouth, TRELAWNY
Mayor of Falmouth, Jonathan Bartley, is calling on Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, to expedite the signing of the contract with the Chinese for the building of the stadium to host the opening ceremony of World Cup Cricket 2007 at Greenfield, Trelawny.
The mayor complained that although an announcement had been made, the deadline had expired and still there had been no signing. He said he was hoping that the Prime Minister would have kept his word to the people of Trelawny or at least made some official statement as to why the signing has not happened. He added that he is concerned that almost all the stadiums to be used in the Caribbean have already started, yet Trelawny has not. He noted that if there are difficulties the people should be told.
Richard Morais
Spanish Town, ST. CATHERINE
The Spanish Town police are now investigating a series of robberies taking place in the Sligoville Road area of St. Catherine. According to senior investigators, the modus operandi of the men involved, has been to approach unsuspecting businesses pretending to be purchasing goods, then they would pull guns and commit the robbery.
Detective Sergeant Paul Thomas, sub-officer in charge of crime for Spanish Town, said that the last of such robberies was on Saturday, June 25 about 9:00 p.m. Businessman Desmond Gooden was reportedly at his business place along the Sligoville main road when three men approached, ordered cigarettes, brandished guns and proceeded to rob him of $4,000 cash and $14,000 in phone cards. Sergeant Thomas said that several dragnets have been set up for the men but they have managed to elude the police so far.
Rasbert Turner
Spaldings, CLARENDON
Over 800 residents of Silent Hill, Moravia, and surrounding communities in north-west Clarendon, received medical and dental attention last week during a one day health clinic hosted by a group of doctors and dentists from various health institutions in New York, United States.
The one-day clinic which was held at the Silent Hill Community Centre last Monday saw the group of 25 health practitioners attending to students of basic and primary school age as well as adults, giving them check-ups, doing extractions and issuing medication for various ailments, free of cost. Residents from the various communities welcomed the health clinic and praised the team of U.S. health officials for the professional way in which they attended to them and for the good advice they received towards improving their health.
George Henry
Spaldings, CLARENDON
The Spaldings High School in north-west Clarendon will be phasing out the two-shift system which has been in place since the early 1970s.
Speaking at the 2005 graduation and prize giving ceremony on Thursday, principal of the institution, Alphansus Davis, said that Spaldings High is now in a position to move away from the two-shift system because it is now able to accommodate students with the additional classrooms that have been constructed over several years.
George Henry
Lyssons, ST. THOMAS
Elroy Flowers, a senior manager at Jamaica National Building Society presented Marcia Haughton, principal of Port Morant Primary and Junior High, with eight computers as part of a project dubbed 'Computers in School'.
The presentation was made during a special ceremony held at school grounds. Students provided entertainment with a wonderful selection of songs and poetry. Mr. Flowers, in his speech, highlighted that the project is aimed at assisting schools which are associated in some way with JNBS. Lyssons Primary also received computers.
Marlene McPherson
