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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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CASE STUDENTS DISMISSED IN STANDOFF – 4/30/05
The College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland dismissed its entire student body after student protests erupted when the administration revoked the boarding rights of a male and female student cohabitating in a dormitory room. Calling the CASE administration ineffective and critical of the leadership of college Vice President Dr. Paul Ivey, over 100 students barricaded the campus entrance Tuesday. Told Sunday morning to vacate the campus by noon, students were dismissed until further notice, Jasher Mais, director of student affairs, announced. Final exams remain scheduled for May 9.
SESSION IS OUT FOR MANY MPS – 5/01/05
Absenteeism among Members of Parliament (MPs) at committee meetings, to include the Standing Finance Committee, Human Resource and Social Development and the Terrorism Prevention Act, is disruptive to state business and should be met with stiff penalties, Speaker of the House Michael Peart said. Critical of meeting attendance so spotty that quorums are not assembled, at times leaving invited members of the public to wait on meetings that never take place, Mr. Peart is asking for a significant increase in fines. MPs receive $300 to attend House meetings, but receive no remuneration for attending parliamentary committee meetings.
THREE COPS CHARGED IN CORRUPTION CASE – 5/02/05
Three Mount Salem police officers were charged for violating the Corruption Prevention Act last Wednesday in an effort to help restore public confidence in the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner announced. The solicitation of bribes by police in traffic violations was singled out for its erosion of public trust by ACP Gardner, who stated that he will seek community cooperation in his fight against JCF corruption.
BITU ABANDONS MOU – 5/03/05
The Bustamente Industrial Trade Union (BITU) is abandoning its commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government seeking salary increases and additional benefits for public employees, Opposition Senator Dwight Nelson, BITU vice-president announced Monday. Just last week Prime Minister P.J. Patterson praised the MoU three percent salary cap for stabilizing wages and for improved government relations with trade unions. The BITU abandonment of the MoU follows last month layoffs of 40 pilots, with threats of wholesale layoffs if greater concessions are not accepted by the Jamaica Airline Pilots Associaton (JALPA).
FLOODS MEANS NO ROOM AT THE RITZ – 5/04/05
Flooding in St. James forced the 420-room Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall hotel to close to guests on Wednesday for repairs until May 19. For the second time since the development of a nearby golf course. the five-star hotel was obliged to relocate guests due to flooding which caused significant damage to hotel telephone and electrical systems. Engineers will study a connection between the golf course and flooding, which is hurting local fishermen who complain of losing fishpots and nets with every rain. The hotel reported a 95 percent occupancy prior to the flooding.
FOX VISITS JA – 5/04/05
Mexican President Vicente Fox met with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson Wednesday to discuss proposals for reforms to the United Nations. Other issues discussed were the election of a new Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Fox later met with Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Opposition leader Bruce Golding.
COP KILLING LINKED TO KINGSTON DON – 5/06/05
Three Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) officers and two security guards received fatal gun wounds in separate incidences on Tuesday and early Wednesday in the Corporate area. Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas described the police sleighings as an apparent reprisal for the April 21 shooting of Devon Griffiths, known as 'Zion Train', in an exchange of police fire in West Kingston. A gun used in the shooting of Corporal Chandler Hewitt in St. Andrew Tuesday night is reported to be the service pistol of Senior Superintendent Lloyd McDonald. The weapon was stolen from McDonald’s police vehicle after he was fatally shot 14 months ago.
FRIENDLY SKIES FOR AIR JAMAICA AND JALPA – 5/06/05
After two years of discussions and an 18-hour bargaining session, Air Jamaica and the Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) reached a three-year agreement on Thursday. The agreement calls for the return of 40 Air Jamaica pilots layed-off in April, and greater job security for the remaining 180 pilots, in exchange for cuts to pay and benefits. Air Jamaica negotiator Noel Hylton praised the cost saving measures as a step towards making the government-owned airline a viable entity. Air Jamaica accumulated US$800 million in debt during 10 years of private ownership.
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SPORTS
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JA GIRLS SWEEP PENN RELAYS – 4/30/05
For the first time in four years Jamaica high school girls swept the 111th Penn Relays in the second day of competition at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With over 39,000 in attendance, Holmwood Technical High took the 4x400m and 4x800m relay events, while St. Jago completed the 4x100m out front in the Championships of Americas. This was the first shutout of US teams since Holmwood swept the Penn Relays in 2001.
CHANDERPAUL’S FIRST SERIES AS CAPTAIN ENDS IN DRAW – 5/04/05
The fourth and final Test of the West Indies Digicel Series against South Africa ended at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) Tuesday in a draw. Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 127 on what was the last day of the series, his second century since assuming the role of team captain. With competition in the first and final Test matches ending in a draw, South Africa took the series in a 2-0 victory. Batsman Christopher Gayle’s 317 score on the fourth day of the fourth Test was a highlight in what proved to be a difficult series for the Windies.
TWO FROM ARNETT GARDENS SIGN WITH USL – 5/04/05
Arnett Gardens’ second highest scorer Kevin 'Pele' Wilson signed with the Montreal Impact, one of two Arnett Gardens players to depart the island Wednesday to join the United Soccer League (USL) in Canada. It will be Wilson’s second season in an Impact jersey, scoring nine goals for the team in 1998, making him their third-best scorer for that year. Wilson will face former teammate Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, now of the Toronto Lynx, in the season opener on May 15.
FAREWELL TO CARGILL – 5/05/05
Encouraged by Avril Cargill, widow of former national player and coach Peter Cargill, to wear bright colors, family, friends and fans gathered Wednesday at Independence Park to pay tribute to the football hero who died April 16 in a vehicle accident. Opposition leader Bruce Golding and former national coach Carl Brown paid tribute to Cargill, as Reggae Boyz, Harbour View and Waterhouse players looked on in team colors. More than 1,000 mourners were in attendance.