A JAMAICAN lawyer who made a habeas corpus application for his client to be released or charged before the court told Resident Magistrate Carol Edwards that he served a writ on the Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, on Wednesday of last week.

Attorney-at-law, Everton Bird, told the court on November 22 that, since October 30 this year, his client, Juliet Elliot, had been in custody of the police. She had been picked up by the police during operations at the same time that gangleader, Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett was killed.

He said that family members were told that she was being held at the Central Village Police Station in St. Catherine. He added that further investigation revealed that an officer with the investigative branch went to the station on November 15 and removed Elliot.

Having heard this, the RM made an order that Elliot be charged or released within the next 24 hours.

­ Rasbert Turner

Earlier this week, the Ministry of National Security transferred of 18 of the 21 Haitians, who landed in Hectors River, Portland, to the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston.

The group, which comprised 16 males and two females, was transferred at 11:00 a.m Thursday, along with three Haitian children who had been accommodated at the Port Antonio General Hospital.

Inspector of Police in Port Antonio, Wilfred Penn, said the three Haitian children are to be housed at a facility provided by the Stella Maris Church in St. Andrew.

­ Gareth Davis

The Santa Cruz Rotary Club continues to broaden its area of contribution in its drive to fulfil its annual objectives through maintaining the essence of its motto: 'service above self'.

Recently, the club donated 30 computers to six schools in the Santa Cruz community. These computers were given to the club by Michael Dockery, in collaboration with New Castle Under Lyme Rotary Club and the Jamaica Aid Organisation.

According to its members, the Rotary Club intends to outfit as many schools as possible with computers.

­ Analee Bernard

Flooding associated with heavy rainfall in the parish of Trelawny has displaced 48 families, consisting of more than 140 persons.

Parish disaster coordinator, Diane Hilton, told JIS News that flooding has been occurring in the Wakefield area of Falmouth.

The communities affected are Congo Town, Moorefield district and Blist Pastures. One family is in shelter at the Lord's Chapel in the Blist Pastures community. The remaining 47 families have sought refuge in the homes of their friends and relatives.

­ JIS News

The Montego Bay division of the Salvation Army is this year expecting to raise $1 million from its annual Christmas Kettle Appeal, which was launched on Thursday in Sam Sharpe Square. This year's appeal is being held under the patronage of Clarence Nelson, Custos of St James.

This year, 10 kettles will be placed at prominent supermarkets and banks in Montego Bay including the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) in Sam Sharpe Square, Sangster International Airport, Extra Value Supermarket, Shoppers Fair Supermarket at the Westgate Shopping Centre, Blue Diamond Shopping Centre, and all branches of Superplus Supermarket.

­ Tashieka Mair

Residents of Harmons are calling on the Government to act quickly to save life and property from the damaging effects of the continual rise in water in the community. Experts believe that the water is emanating from underground aquifiers.

The water has become a source of entrepreneurial activity for young men in the community, but businesses and homes are being submerged by rising waters. Pit latrines have been flooded, and mosquitoes rule the air with ferocious glee. Some residents have begun to blame the local bauxite interests.

But councillor for the Porus division, Pheneas Campbell, says that the bauxite company is not to blame He said the company has even rendered great assistance to the community by bankrolling the construction of a bypass road in Hampton area.

­ Christopher Lynch

As the island's south coast positions itself for further development, another hotel has been established in Treasure Beach.

The new property is Taino Cove which has 12 rooms, a large swimming pool, several relaxing balconies, as well as an excellent panoramic view of the wider Treasure Beach area.

Speaking in an interview with Across the Nation this week, Winnie Hilton, owner of Taino Cove, said she had heeded the call from many of her friends to build the property. "As a part of the management team here, I will be focusing a lot on the preservation of community tourism," Mrs. Hilton said.

­ Rayon Dyer

The Ministry of Agriculture is revitalising its fruit tree crop project, a programme to establish traditional but non-orchard fruit trees, excluding papaya.

Traditional, non-orchard fruits such as naseberry, guinep, jackfruit, cashew, breadfruit, june plum, soursop and ackee are reportedly some of the fresh fruits in demand by the cruise ships and the tourism sector as well. Tamarind, june plum and soursop have captured a very large share of the market as juices. Hence, this new initiative should help boost the island's tourism product.