Opposition Spokesman on Tourism, Edmund Bartlett (left), chats with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (centre), while Dr. Wykeham McNeill, State Minister for Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, joins in following the Prime Minister's address at the opening of the three-day 2007 Jamaica Product Exchange (Japex) held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, last Sunday. - Photo by Noel Thompson

MONTEGO BAY, St. James

After being postponed in March for discrepancies with members' voting rights, the second effort at the Hanover Parish Development Committee's (HPDC) Annual Election almost did not get underway earlier this week, as members questioned the fairness of the new voters list.

Former chairman of the committee, Nerris Hawthorne, on Tuesday expressed concerns that there were several vital organisations that had been left off the list.

These included the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, the Lay Magistrate's Association and the Jamaica Library Service.

-Western Bureau

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine

A St. Catherine resident who intimidated a 14-year-old girl and, along with another man, sexually assaulted her, was given a five-year prison sentence in the St. Catherine circuit court.

On March 9, 2005, the child was at Windalco Sport Complex where a sporting event was taking place. It is said that the accused walked up to the complainant and showed her an object under his shirt that looked like a gun. He, along with the other man who is being sought by the police, carried the child to nearby bushes and raped her. He was subsequently caught by the lawmen.

- Rasbert Turner

SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine

Detective from CIB headquarters, along with police personnel from the Spanish Town Police Station, have taken a man and woman into custody following the discovery of more than 20 pounds of ganja and a motor vehicle on May 2.

According to the police, the operations started about 2:00 a.m. and took them to several areas in and around Spanish Town. When they went to Sydenham, the ganja was found in a large barrel. Further checks by the investigators also led to the seizure of a Honda Accord motor car. The man and the woman were taken to the Spanish Town police station and later transferred to Kingston where further investigations will continue.

- Rasbert Turner

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann

The SuperClubs group is investing heavily in Latin America with plans to make available over 800 new hotel rooms in Brazil and Panama by the end of 2009.

Following its successful entry into the Latin American market in 2000, with the opening of the 324 rooms Breezes Costa Da Sauipe in Bahía, Brazil, the group is scheduled to open two more resorts in Brazil and another in Panama.

John Issa told delegates at the just concluded JAPEX tourism trade show that the first Starfish resort outside of Jamaica will open in Brazil late next year.

The 203-room Starfish Santa Luzia will feature facilities for children, three restaurants and convention facilities.

- Devon Evans

MONTEGO BAY, St. James

The tourism room stock is expected to go up by 366 on May 18, with the opening of the Iberostar Rose Hall Bay Resort in St. James.

The hotel is the first of three being built and opened in Jamaica by the Spanish hotel chain by 2008.

General manager for the property, Philipp Hofer, said the finishing touches were currently being put on for the scheduled opening.

- JIS

Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth

The preliminary enquiry into the fraud case against a man who was practising as an attorney-at-law and who is accused of defrauding several of his clients is to begin on June 12 in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court.

Dalwin Smith, originally from Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, is accused of defrauding his clients of more than $10 million.

The trial was scheduled for last Thursday, but had to be rescheduled because the accused's lawyer was absent while all the witnesses were present.

- Michael McLean