Moontown

These exclusive photos show a Jamaica Defence Force tank making its way to Hannah Street in Hannah Town, Kingston, yesterday. Minutes after pushing away an old car that was used to block the road leading into Denham Town, the tank was shot up by criminals. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

These exclusive photos show a Jamaica Defence Force tank making its way to Hannah Street in Hannah Town, Kingston, yesterday. Minutes after pushing away an old car that was used to block the road leading into Denham Town, the tank was shot up by criminals. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

These exclusive photos show a Jamaica Defence Force tank making its way to Hannah Street in Hannah Town, Kingston, yesterday. Minutes after pushing away an old car that was used to block the road leading into Denham Town, the tank was shot up by criminals. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

These exclusive photos show a Jamaica Defence Force tank making its way to Hannah Street in Hannah Town, Kingston, yesterday. Minutes after pushing away an old car that was used to block the road leading into Denham Town, the tank was shot up by criminals. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

These exclusive photos show a Jamaica Defence Force tank making its way to Hannah Street in Hannah Town, Kingston, yesterday. Minutes after pushing away an old car that was used to block the road leading into Denham Town, the tank was shot up by criminals. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

There were almost clear roads in downtown Kingston yesterday as the tension continues over the ‘Dudus’ extradition matter. Beckford Street (seen in photo) was free of the usual hustle and bustle of vendors and shoppers. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

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Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICA Defence Force (JDF) has called out the National Reserve after thugs in west Kingston yesterday underscored their stated intention to defend the ‘President’ when they opened fire on a team of soldiers attempting to enter Denham Town.

The members of the National Reserve have been asked to report for duty at 1800 hours today (6 p.m.) and be prepared to go into action as tension rises in sections of the Corporate Area.

Since Monday, thugs have blocked most of the entrances and exits to Tivoli Gardens and Denham Town in what they claim is an effort to prevent the security forces from getting to Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, also called ‘President’.

Coke is facing possible extradition to the United States.

The likely instability prompted National Security Minister Dwight Nelson to declare on Tuesday that the security forces are alert and equipped to take on any challenges at this time.

“The security forces are adequately resourced to deal with any form of intimidatory tactics being employed by criminals who are seeking to destabilise the country,” Nelson said.

But yesterday, members of a JDF team in an armoured vehicle faced the full force of the criminals as they attempted to enter Denham Town from Hannah Street.

After the JDF team used the armoured vehicle to push through a blockade at the entrance to Denham Town, gunmen opened fire at them.

Residents and our photographer scampered for cover as the high-powered weapons barked metres away from the Kingston Public Hospital.

When the barrage of gunfire ended, the armoured vehicle was seen being hastily driven out of the community with indications that at least one of its massive tyres had been damaged.

It appeared that no one was injured in the shooting, but up to late yesterday there was no official word from the JDF.

The police said while they could confirm that the JDF team was attacked, they were unaware of any injuries.

In the meantime, the blockades remain across several streets in west Kingston.

The police have reported that some of the barricades in west Kingston have been reinforced by barbed wires attached to high voltage Jamaica Public Service electricity distribution lines.

According to the police, liquid petroleum gas cylinders have been inserted into the barricades and law-abiding citizens are being prevented from leaving Tivoli Gardens and have had their cellular phones confiscated by criminals.

Leave dudus alone

But even as the police claimed residents of Tivoli Gardens were being held against their will, some persons in the west Kingston community faced the media yesterday to urge the State to leave ‘Dudus’, who is wanted in the US to answer gunrunning and drugs charges.

“A Presi we seh, a no Bruce we seh,” one woman told The Gleaner.

“We nah give up,” shouted another woman as The Gleaner team passed where she was standing on Industrial Terrace close to the main entrance to Tivoli Gardens.

“Leave Dudus alone! Leave him alone because we a go dead fi him inna Garden, and we mek up wi min’ fi dead fi him, woman and man and pickney. Him not going anywhere!” shouted another woman.

Elsewhere in downtown Kingston, most stores were open yesterday, but there was a noticeable reduction in the number of street-side vendors and shoppers.

Vehicular traffic was also reduced and policemen and women patrolling the streets appeared on edge with their firearms at the ready.

Last night, the Jamaica Labour Party issued a statement appealing for calm and restraint. The party said it noted with concern, and condemn, incidents that appear to be calculated to create fear and panic.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller is asking the prime minister to use his influence to diffuse the volatile situation in Tivoli Gardens and surrounding areas.
About the JDF Reserve

The Third Battalion the Jamaica Regiment, National Reserve (3JR NR), is a military organisation which consists of citizens of the country who combine a military career with a civilian career to support the JDF when called upon.

The Mission of 3JR (NR) is to always be ready to provide service to the country and promote nation building through the development of people. Such is driven by commitment, selflessness, volunteerism and the desire to serve.

In effecting its mission, 3JR (NR) has several roles and responsibilities which are tailored to suit the nation’s needs. The unit’s basic role, however, has always been to support the regular force in executing its duties. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Source — JDF website

Douglas

(CMC):

St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has joined the debate in the ongoing controversy surrounding the extradition request for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.

Two days after Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the attorney general would sign an order for the matter to go to the court, Douglas said it is the right thing to do.

“Let the court decision be your guide. Let the judicial system take over the matter, and once the court says ‘Yes, he has a charge to answer’, then he should be allowed to answer that charge,” said Douglas, in commenting on the case yesterday.

There is now an arrest warrant issued by the court to begin extradition proceedings against Coke, who is a major supporter of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party.

United States (US) law-enforcement authorities had requested Coke’s extradition since August last year, saying that he had been under surveillance since 1994.

They said so far nine co-conspirators have given information on Coke’s alleged involvement in drug- and gun-trafficking.

The Jamaica Government had in the past defended its decision not to extradite Coke, stating that it would not act hastily and violate the extradition treaty between the two countries.

But in his radio and television broadcast on Monday night, Prime Minister Golding, who asked for forgiveness over the entire matter, said the matter would be sent to the court.

He also revealed that he had offered to resign, but noted that following a series of consultations he decided to stay put.

While stating that it was for the people of Jamaica to decide on Golding’s fate, Douglas told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the situation reminded him of a similar request made by the US government back in the 1990s for the extradition of convicted criminal Charles ‘Little Nut’ Miller.

Back to crime life

He pointed out that Miller, who had earlier been freed by the US after agreeing to be part of their Witness Protection Programme, had returned to St Kitts and Nevis and got back into a life of crime.

“Once it was clear that he had started his criminal activity in St Kitts again and the Americans re-quested his extradition, I allowed the court system to have its way,” Dr Douglas told CMC.

“Once the court system determined that he should go to the United States to answer charges and he had exhausted his own efforts on the ground, he went,” Douglas said.

“We don’t hesitate on those things at all and so our own record can’t in anyway support that there is official support of criminal activity at that level in my country,” he told CMC.

The Kititian leader, who is in Nassau attending the annual meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank, said it was without hesitation that his government had moved to have Miller released into US custody. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Coke

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

West Kingston strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke is challenging the warrant which was issued on Tuesday for his arrest to face extradition proceedings in court.

Coke’s motion was filed yesterday in the Supreme Court by attorney-at-law Don Foote. The Gleaner understands that a team of lawyers will be retained to represent Coke in the matter.

Court officials would not disclose the details in the court document as they said it was a confidential matter.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne and the director of public prosecutions are defendants in the motion.

Coke, 41, is wanted in the United States to face charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana and conspiracy to illegally traffic firearms.

The request for Coke’s extradition has been pending since August last year. After months of controversy and debates, the minister signed the authority to proceed on Tuesday.

Representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions applied to the Resident Magistrate’s Court for the warrant of arrest, which was signed and handed over to the police. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, alleged by the United States to be a dangerous drug lord. - File

Phillips has argued that the Government’s previous pronouncement and machinations may have compromised the ‘Dudus’ extradition case. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

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Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

FORMER NATIONAL Security Minister Dr Peter Phillips has suggested that the Government may have ‘prepared the wicket’ for Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke’s court defence.

Coke, who has been accused by the United States of drug smuggling and gunrunning, is fighting extradition proceedings in court as a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

But Phillips has said the events leading to the Government’s decision to sign an authority to proceed against him may be part of a wider plot to prevent Coke from being extradited.

“The way in which it has been done has not only the potential of prejudicing the court hearing, because if he filed an affidavit a few days ago to say that it was not valid, and then proceeds on the course that he is proceeding - I don’t know how the courts will look at it: but whether by design originally or whether by chance, what he has done is prepared the case for Mr Coke and could contribute to further delay,” Phillips said.

Breach of constitutional rights

Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne on Tuesday signed an order to proceed with extradition proceedings against Coke, days after a defiant Golding insisted that it would have been a breach of Coke’s constitutional rights as material being used as evidence against him was illegally obtained.

Lightbourne and Golding have said that there were serious constitutional issues with the request because the US had breached the Interception of Communication Act, a law which specifies the circumstances under which a citizen’s constitution rights to privacy can be invalidated.

Coke’s attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, who has turned over responsibility in the extradition case to Paul Beswick and Jacqueline Samuels-Brown, has already indicated his client would be challenging the order on the basis that Lightbourne and Golding have already declared that they needed further and better particulars and that the wiretapping evidence obtained against him was illegally sourced.

The parliamentary Opposition has consistently argued that Lightbourne should have sent the matter immediately to court and let it determine the admissibility of the evidence. However, Golding said the justice minister is “not a lubricated conduit”.

“The minister of justice, in authorising extradition proceedings, has a duty to satisfy herself that they conform with the provisions of Jamaican law. As minister and, especially, as attorney general, she cannot authorise processes which she knows to be in violation of Jamaican law,” Golding told Parliament on March 2.

Golding also said that he was prepared to pay a political price for his stance and that he was determined to establish that “constitutional rights do not begin at Liguanea”, where the US Embassy is headquartered in Jamaica.

However, under public pressure, Lightbourne went to court seeking a declaration on her powers under the Extradition Act but the case folded as the presiding judge released the persons Lightbourne listed as defendants.

Phillips said Tuesday there were many questions which arose in relation to how the extradition issue was treated. He said he found it strange that Golding has “easily adjusted” his principled stance as “it was a matter which he was prepared to die politically for”. (Jamaica Gleaner)

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

Magistratre Christopher Birch has warned that couples are letting Facebook and other social media technology take the place of real communication in their relationship.s (File photo)

MODERN information technology has led to poor communication between couples, says a Bridgetown magistrate.

It was because, explained Magistrate Christopher Birch, couples now Tweet, Facebook and BBM instead of holding actual conversations with each other.

“We are now tweeting. We are now ‘facebooking’. We know how to send emails but we don’t know how to reach out physically,” Birch said.

“We can send messages via Blackberry but not one message contains those three words that set us apart from the animals.”

The magistrate was speaking as he dealt with a couple, one half of which brought an application for a protection order against the other, in the Bridgetown Traffic Court last Friday.

One of the accusations was that the woman caught her husband investigating her Facebook friends. Another was that he sent her messages on her Blackberry demanding to know where she was and with whom.

The husband conceded he spent much of his time on his computer but said it was because his wife ignored him and spent most of her time with her girlfriends.

After letting the couple get their grievances off their chests, Birch noted: “In all the protection orders, I was wondering how long it would be before Facebook would become an issue.

“Facebook at its best,” said Birch, “is a way to stay in contact with friends.

“At its best, it’s a way to meet people. At its worst, it has become a weapon for married couples and other couples to check up on each other.”

The magistrate mused that in moving into a digital world, where information could be sent and received at the touch of a button or click of a mouse, it would appear that people have forgotten how to be human.

“We are all technology and no heart. That is the problem ultimately,” he said, adding that the modern ways of communicating had led to “modern isolation”.

“Real isn’t Blackberry; real isn’t Facebook; real isn’t Twitter; real isn’t Myspace. Real does not come with dotcom attached.

“Real is looking across the three or four inches of pillow and remembering why you are wearing each other’s wedding bands,” Birch told the couple. (HLE) (Nation News)

Frances-Anne Solomon (left), chief executive officer of CaribbeanTales, listening while company principal Lisa Wickham shares some of the company’s future plans. (Picture by Cherie Pitt.)

BARBADOS IS SET to become the home of the first film distribution company in the English-speaking Caribbean. Last Wednesday, CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution Inc. was launched to present Caribbean film-makers to the international community.

CaribbeanTales was established to ensure that film-makers in the Caribbean could effectively have their work marketed and distributed.

Independent film producers have no centralised channel through which to market content, and content buyers have no centralised entity from which to acquire content.

Frances-Anne Solomon, chief executive officer of CaribbeanTales, said: “There is an explosion of products coming out of the region and there is a need for a focused distribution strategy to ensure that this content gets the best deals on the international market.”

Solomon emphasised the danger in not having avenues available for products indigenous to the Caribbean, where film review personnel might decide the work has no audience without taking time to invest in the product or understand the target market.

CaribbeanTales’ chairman Dr Keith Nurse, who is also director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, said the biggest challenge was that throughout the Caribbean there was the generation of content but no outlets for getting this content into the markets.

Nurse said the creation of a company that could distribute Caribbean films was important, since film-makers currently relied on people outside of the region to distribute their work. This, he said, caused the money to stay outside of the region as the most money could be made through distribution and marketing. (LK) (Nation News)

A SHARE OFFERING in their workplaces, a decent minimum wage and mutual shouldering with employers of any sacrifices are among the things labour would embrace in any moves to reposition the Barbados economy.

Labour leader Sir Roy Trotman made this clear yesterday during a meeting of business and academia leaders at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus.

The head of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) said labour could not be expected to make all the sacrifices needed to get the economy out of trouble.

According to Sir Roy, the union could not tolerate situations where some workers were laid off “without reason” and others were asked to “hold strain”, only to hear of companies taking “a whole board of directors” on a cruise.

Sir Roy also restated calls for business owners to offer their employees shares in the companies.

He said too that the issue of a decent minimum wage had to be addressed. “There has to be clear evidence that there can be a share in the ownership . . . ,” he added.

“We cannot in Barbados be talking about this great new society but be talking about having 40 per cent of our people getting $200 a week,” he remarked.

“There cannot be any justification for it in 2010, and yet, though we are conscious that people slip from that minimum wage level to a sub-minimum level and are only brought back by the next increase, we are still not doing sufficient about the change . . .”

Sir Roy complained that leaders were “talking to people about stabilisation” and correcting attitudes on the street and elsewhere “without understanding that many of the problems come from poverty” and from the feeling of alienation. (TY) (Nation News)

GUYANA’S HONORARY CONSUL to Barbados, Norman Faria, is a patient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Faria, who is also a journalist, is reported to be in a serious but stable condition.

The Guyana foreign ministry has been informed of his illness. (ES) (Nation News)

KEN KNIGHT (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe.)

EXCLUSION of the National Stadium from Grand Kadooment will see the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) losing about $15 000.

At a time when the NCF was talking about tight budgets, chairman Ken Knight said the elimination of the National Stadium as a judging point would result in a loss.

“When we did an analysis of the attendance within the Stadium, we’ve dropped from about 1 224 paying persons last year. Basically, you have to face reality. Given the numbers, there is a call for change, and hence the reason for advancing the review of the route,” he said.

Stands will be constructed in an area outside the Stadium for spectators to see the bands and where judges will be stationed. Bands will then follow the traditional route.

Noting that the budget for this year’s festival had been cut by about a half million dollars, Knight said the NCF had to find creative ways of making the festival better than in previous years.

“I believe that we will see a better product than we have seen in previous years,” he added. “I can assure you there will not be a watered down product; if anything there will be an enhanced product.”

Knight was speaking at a Press briefing at the NCF during which he reiterated there would be no increase in ticket prices this year. (YB) (Nation News)

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (left), in conversation with vice president, finance, of pharmaceutical company Biovail, Fitzroy Bardoville (centre), and executive director of the Barbados Employers’ Confederation, Tony Walcott, at the CEO forum yesterday.

CAVE Hill CAMPUS is in for a “complete” overhaul, which could include closure of some systems and departments.

Principal Sir Hilary Beckles announced the plan yesterday, saying it was to make the institution more relevant to 21st century educational needs.

The changes would see the University of the West Indies (UWI) developing programmes in medical technology and creating institutes for digital application.

“We are now planning, as we speak, to restructure the university completely in the next two years,” the UWI Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal told business leaders in the UWI’s CARICOM Research Building.

“We’ve gone through all of our departments and faculties one by one. We’ve stripped them down, looked at them . . . .”

The departments of computer science, physics and electronics, which fall under the Faculty of Science, will be affected by the changes.

“This is the digital age, and therefore computer science and physics and electronics must get together and form an institute for digital design and digital application and transform those disciplines, spin out industries out of the application of those disciplines,” Sir Hilary said.

“So we are going to put them together, close down some of the old systems, departments, and create institutes for digital application, so that that knowledge we have in computer science and physics can now serve the private sector in terms of the application of that knowledge to industrial development.”

Sir Hilary said the campus was looking for a professor of digital application.

“We are combining medicine with electronics,” he added. “We are going to develop programmes in medical technology. We’re not just going to use medical knowledge to create doctors.

“They’re going to spin that knowledge through physics, through electronics to create medical technology and medical technology applications.” (TY) (Nation News)