Bahamas PM calls crisis meeting on crime
The murder of a mother and son late Tuesday night triggered Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie to convene a crisis meeting on crime early on Wednesday, at which he ordered the leaders of law enforcement agencies to proceed with a sense of urgency in addressing the escalating level of violence in New Providence.The double murder brought to 20 the number of murders that have taken place in The Bahamas since the Christie administration came to office on May 7. In total, 21 murders were recorded in May, the largest number ever in a single month in the country’s recorded history.
Three murders have been recorded so far for June. The murder count for the year stands at 65, up from 57 this time last year. In 2011, the country recorded a record 127 murders.
The crime crisis meeting was attended by key people in the fight against crime: National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage; Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell; Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson; Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis; Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade; Commodore of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Roderick Bowe and head of the National Security Council Clifford ‘Butch’ Scavella, The Nassau Guardian was told.
The Nassau Guardian understands that Christie ordered an immediate increase in police resources on the streets, and heightened intelligence gathering.
Additionally, the Office of the Attorney General intends to give priority to cases involving prolific offenders, who authorities say continue to terrorize communities.
The Guardian understands that the prime minister has directed that defence force officers take over some of the functions of police, to free police officers up to hit the streets.
But there reportedly is no directive at this time for defence force officers to participate in saturation patrols, although that option was left open.
This week, Greenslade acknowledged the manpower challenges facing the police force.
While the prime minister has previously sent signals about the importance of forcefully cracking down on the criminal element, his message on Wednesday was intended to underscore the urgency of upping the war on crime.
Christie asked the heads of the various law enforcement agencies to blur the lines that separate their agencies and mount a single anti-crime effort.
The prime minister has labeled crime as the single largest problem facing the country at this time.
While in opposition, he and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) claimed repeatedly that the Ingraham administration had failed to keep Bahamians safe. The party erected controversial signs pointing to a record number of murders under the former government.
Courtesy of the Nassau Guardian
Another executive member of the ruling NDC has added his voice to the PM Money Scandal
Another executive member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has added his voice to the ongoing debate on cash received by the party’s leader, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, from a foreign donor.
Treasurer Bernard Isaac said Tuesday that some of the remarks about the Prime Minister’s action are “intentionally malicious.’’
The opposition New National Party first accused an unnamed “top government minister’’ of receiving US$150,000 from a donor in Saudi Arabia, with suggestions that it was to be channel to the NDC.
The accusation was denied by the Prime Minister, and the General Secretary of the NDC also told reporters that he was unaware of any cash being received from overseas for the party.
However, a statement from the Prime Minister’s press secretary said that “a friend of Grenada, who does not wish to be publicly identified, and whose place of corporate residence is the British Virgin Islands,’’ made the donation to Thomas as NDC leader.
“At every stage,’’ said press secretary Richard Simon, “it was the understanding and belief of Prime Minister Thomas, that these funds were intended to assist the NDC and for no other purpose.’’
On Monday, former Works Minister Joseph Gilbert, who sits on the NDC’s executive, said the party ought to look into the matter of the money transfer to the private account of the prime minister.
“How is it,’’ he asked, “a person receives money for his party and fails to make the disclosure to that party five months and numerous meetings thereafter?’’
Isaac, however, has said that “from time to time,’’ Thomas collects money for the NDC and the cash is delivered to him, as treasurer, “to pay bills in the name of the party.’’
Isaac said he reported on some of the payments at last general council of the NDC that held in Carriacou in March.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Glen Noel is accusing the local press of not understanding their responsibility.
He made the charge in reaction to reports of a pending reshuffle of government ministers.
The government-friendly MTV News broke the story on Monday evening, saying that “in the coming days’’ there will be a reshuffle.
The station said the reshuffle includes planned changes in the portfolios of South St. George MP Glynis Roberts and MP for St. Andrew South-West, Sylvester Quarless.
Noel said no media had called him to discuss the matter of the reported cabinet shake up, nor had he been “officially informed’’ of any pending government reshuffle.
“I don’t know anything about it,’’ Noel said.
However, other sources close to government maintain that discussions have taken place with ministers about a pending reshuffle.
Mega investment projects to stimulate growth in Jamaica
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said the three mega investment projects to be implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, will stimulate growth and generate employment opportunities in Jamaica.
The projects are: the North-South link of Highway 2000; modernisation of the Kingston Container Terminal, and development of a new container terminal at Fort Augusta.
Making her contribution to the 2012/13 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tueasday, the prime minister noted that the North to South leg of the Highway 2000, which began in 2007, entails construction of a toll highway linking Mandela Highway to the Linstead bypass, which then leads to Mount Rosser to Moneague, and on to Ocho Rios.
“The construction of the toll way will open up several development opportunities in the central part of the country. In addition, this will significantly cut travel time and save energy. We are talking about an investment which will result in over US$720 million being pumped into this economy,” she said.
Additionally, she said discussions with the investors include the development of housing and commercial areas served by the corridor.
Turning to the modernisation of the existing Kingston Container Terminal, Simpson Miller said it will allow Jamaica to leverage its geographic position and take advantage of the expansion of the Panama Canal.
“We will negotiate to get the best deal for Jamaica, as we will not allow this significant opportunity to pass us by,” she said.
The prime minster noted that the third mega project relates to the proposed further development of a new container terminal on lands at Fort Augusta.
“These lands will be used for the expansion of the Kingston Container Terminal and will be twinned with the planned establishment of a Free Zone facility on lands at Caymanas,” she said.
Simpson Miller said that the government is committed to working closely with international partners, including members of the private sector from France, China, Brazil, as well as traditional partners from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
“I invite all of us in this House and across Jamaica to support these projects. I encourage our private sector to be prepared to take full advantage of these opportunities,” she said.
In the meantime, she said partnership with the Jamaican Diaspora is critical to opening doors and enabling participation in investments at home.
“We are now actively engaged in negotiations for many other projects in the ICT and tourism sectors. The respective portfolio ministers will elaborate on these opportunities in their presentations during the sectoral debate,” the prime minister said.
Government ministers bat for Grenada PM
Two National Democratic Congress (NDC) political party executive members, who are also Grenada government ministers, have brushed aside suggestions that there was something untoward in Prime Minister Tillman Thomas receiving a cash contribution from a foreign donor in his capacity as leader of the ruling NDC.
Deputy leader and minister of finance, Nazim Burke, and former NDC chairman Glen Noel, have also both reaffirmed their confidence in the honesty and integrity of the prime minister.
“My belief in him and his integrity is unwavering,” information minister Noel told Byron Campbell, host of the CC6 Wednesday evening television program, You Decide.
Earlier in the day, on the Grenada Broadcasting Network’s To the Point radio show, Burke also backed Thomas, saying there are “many people in Grenada and elsewhere” who contribute financially to the NDC and the opposition New National Party (NNP) and do not want to be identified as donors.
“They may fear recrimination,” Burke said.
Revelation of a money transfer was first made public last month by opposition leader and head of the NNP, Dr Keith Mitchell, who claimed that a “top government minister” had received US$150,000 from a Saudi Arabian donor through a local bank.
That charge of a US$150,000 Saudi donation has been denied by the prime minister. According to his press secretary, an individual with “corporate residence” in the British Virgin Islands made a US$50,000 contribution and “at every stage, it was the understanding and belief of Prime Minister Thomas, that these funds were intended to assist the NDC and for no other purpose.”
Some NDC executive members have said publicly that they were unaware of the donation to the party.
Burke said there have been previous occasions when cash or equipment is received by the relevant “custodians” of the party and he never enquired on exactly what is received and how much.
Noel added that it is a “lie” and “simple political mischief” for any executive member to assert ignorance of the money.
He referenced NDC treasurer, Bernard Isaac, who said that he reported to the NDC’s general council in March on money he had collected from Thomas “to pay bills in the name of the party.”
Noel said the prime minister was right in denying receiving or having knowledge of a US$150,000 donation from Saudi Arabia.
The burden of proof that such a sum was received is on the opposition leader, said Noel.
The Information Minister said he believes that “very soon,” Thomas “will speak to it and close the matter” of the money transaction.
Meanwhile, none of the so-called Grenada 17 has the moral authority to get involved in politics, said one of the group convicted for the murder of Revolutionary Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, while appearing on one of Grenada’s leading television news programmes, MTV News.
Christopher Stroud, who spent a little over 25 years in prison, said he was passionate about politics when he joined the New Jewel Movement (NJM) as a young man. However, he said that he has lost interest and does not see himself going back into it. He included most of his colleagues in his assertion that they have no moral authority to be there (politics).
For the majority of his colleagues that seems to be the sentiment, except for one who recently made certain statements on national television putting him in total support of a rebel faction of the ruling NDC headed by recently resigned tourism minister, Peter David, who is thought to be aligned with the hardliners that eclipsed the Grenada Revolution on October 19, 1983, killing Bishop and several other people.
Stroud is confident that this individual concerned – Selwyn Strachan – speaks for himself.
Stroud said he would continue to make his contribution to Grenada by working with young people in and out of prison.
LeBron James scores 45 points as Heat force Game 7 vs. Celtics
LeBron James refused to let another season end in Boston.
The Eastern Conference finals, and his chase of an NBA championship, are headed back to Miami for a Game 7.
James had 45 points and 15 rebounds, overwhelming the Celtics and leading the Heat to a 98-79 victory Thursday night that forced the decisive game.
Pushing away elimination right along with every defender who tried to stop him, James shot 19 of 26 from the field and finished four points shy of his playoff career-high while playing 45 minutes, not sitting down until the victory was long secured.
"He was absolutely fearless tonight, and it was contagious," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "The way he approached the last 48 hours, and not only LeBron, but everybody else. Nobody likes getting dirt thrown on your face before you're even dead. He showed great resolve."
Dwyane Wade added 17 points for the Heat, who need a victory at home Saturday to return to the NBA Finals.
Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 10 assists for Boston. Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass each scored 12 points, but Paul Pierce had only nine on 4-of-18 shooting.
In the site of some of James' biggest disappointments, the only disappointed ones Thursday were the thousands of fans who hoped to see a celebration but instead filed out of the TD Garden midway through the fourth quarter, just before the league MVP called it a night.
Miami barely won Game 2 before dropping the next three games, but this one was never in doubt. James was a one-man force on what's supposed to be a Big Three, carrying the Heat in the first half while Wade made only 1 of 6 shots.
The Celtics were hoping to complete a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, as Oklahoma City did, and advance to face the Thunder in the NBA finals. But they missed 13 of 14 3-point attempts and will have to win a second straight game in Miami to play for the title.
James' season was twice ended in Boston while playing for Cleveland, the Celtics emerging as the winner in a Pierce-James duel in Game 7 of the 2008 East semifinals, then beating the Cavs in Game 6 of the second round two years later.
Bolt pips Osafa in Diamond League
Usain Bolt was pushed all the way in the 100m before powering home to take victory at the Diamond League in Oslo in a time of 9.79 seconds.
The world record holder finished clear of Asafa Powell, who came second in 9.85 seconds, his best time of 2012.
Team GB's Marlon Devonish finished sixth but Mark Lewis-Francis was disqualified following a false start.
Jessica Ennis, who was taking part in the 100m hurdles, also paid the price for leaving the blocks early.
Euro 2012 ready for kick-off
After weeks of anticipation, speculation and debate, Euro 2012 finally gets under way on Friday when co-hosts Poland take on Greece in Warsaw.
The tournament sees 16 of Europe's best footballing countries compete for the Henri Delaunay Trophy, with the final taking place in Kiev on 1 July.
The home nations are represented by England - who begin against France on 11 June - while Republic of Ireland are also in action.
Football fans will see 31 games over the next three weeks, as Spain look to defend the title they won in Vienna four years ago.
Eight stadiums across Poland and Ukraine are being used for the tournament, from the smallest in Lviv which holds just under 35,000 fans, to the colossal 70,000-seater Olympic Stadium in Kiev which hosts the final.
Other fancied teams this time around are the Netherlands - who are in the 'group of death' alongside the Germans, Portugal and Denmark - while Russia could spring a surprise from Group A.
England - who failed to qualify for the last tournament in Austria and Switzerland four years ago - have never won the European Championship, with their best result in recent memory a semi-final defeat by Germany at Wembley in 1996.
Their build-up to the tournament this time has been hampered by the loss of several first-team players to injury and suspension.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will miss the first two matches of the tournament after he was sent off against Montenegro last year, while Frank Lampard, Gary Cahill and Gareth Barry all picked up injuries in the last few weeks.
As well as players missing out on the trip, the usual hordes of England fans may be absent after thousands of tickets were returned to Uefa.
The Football Association was given around 7,500 tickets for the games against France and Ukraine, and 9,000 for the Sweden fixture.
But only 3,000 tickets were sold through England's official membership group for each of the group games.
It is believed that the current economic climate, coupled with the high costs of travel and accommodation, have put many off, while former England defender Sol Campbell warned fans to stay away last month after a Panorama programme highlighted incidents of racism in Ukraine.
Maria Sharapova beats Petra Kvitova to reach final
Maria Sharapova booked a place in her first French Open final and moved up to world number one by overcoming Petra Kvitova in straight sets in Paris.
Second seed Sharapova produced the more assured play to steer herself to a 6-3 6-3 victory over the fourth seed.
The result also keeps the Russian on course to achieve the career Grand Slam by winning the one major tournament which has eluded her.
Sharapova will play Italian 21st seed Sara Errani in Saturday's final.
The new number one, who will displace Victoria Azarenka on Monday, will be a huge favourite to beat surprise finalist Errani, especially considering the manner of her victory against left hander Kvitova.
Sharapova was contesting her third French Open semi-final and had high hopes of victory at Roland Garros having come into the tournament on the back of clay court wins in Stuttgart and Rome.
The Russian had beaten Kvitova on the way to victory in Stuttgart and, after saving break points in both her opening service games, Sharapova grew in confidence and consistency to break her rival in the fifth game.
Kvitova's power and precision had helped her beat her opponent to claim the Wimbledon title last year but Sharapova had the answer to anything the Czech could throw at her.
The blustery conditions on court Philippe Chatrier were an issue but the Russian dealt with them better.
Some heavy blows were being traded and Sharapova regularly came out on top before going on to win the first set.
Kvitova exerted more pressure on Sharapova early in the second set, although like the opener she failed to take a break point and lost her own serve in the following game to go 3-1 down.
This time around, however, the number four seed broke back to level, although any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished.
Sharapova was controlled and concentrated and again broke her more wayward rival before a second serve ace secured victory.
Rain dents Windies hopes of last Test revival
Rain wrecked the opening day of the third and final Test between England and West Indies at Edgbaston here yesterday, forcing play to be abandoned without a ball bowled. Persistent rain ensured that ground-staff were forced to keep the playing area covered through the day and also prevented captains Darren Sammy and Andrew Strauss from spinning the toss or declaring their final XIs. Lunch was taken half-hour early at 12:30 pm but steady rain continued into the afternoon and umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Tony Hill eventually called off play at 3:30 pm, just minutes before scheduled tea interval.
“As a team we’re disappointed. We said if we could win a Test in England it would be an achievement for the team so we needed as much as play as possible,” a frustrated Sammy said afterward. “We’re quite disappointed the weather has intervened for the entire first day.” Rain has been a feature of the Windies wretched tour, ruining the opening three-day tour match against Sussex at Hove early last month before also washing out the last day of the two-day warm-up game against Leicestershire at Grace Road last weekend.
Trailing the three-Test series 0-2 after losses at Lord’s and Trent Bridge, West Indies are aiming to salvage some pride by winning the contest but Sammy admitted the weather had now dented those hopes. "That’s what we’ll be trying to do—go all out in trying to win—but it all depends on the weather and it’s something we have no control over,” Sammy lamented. “The weather forecast for the next few days doesn’t look too good … so we’ll keep our fingers crossed. Whatever cricket we get, we’ll just look to win those sessions.” CMC
Top reggae acts for Sumfest 2012
Several top reggae acts are set to ignite the Reggae Sumfest stage when the event dubbed, 'the greatest reggae show on earth', returns to Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, for its 20th staging from July 15 to 21.
It was this week revealed that entertainers like Damian Marley, Third World and Tarrus Riley were expected to deliver explosive performances in the Second City.
The Grammy award-winning Damian Marley is set to rock the audience with his hits such as Affairs of the Heart, Set Up Shop and Mek It Bun Dem while Third World will return to the Sumfest stage for a sizzling display of their musical prowess.
Reggae staples such as Now That We've Found Love, 96 Degrees In The Shade, Try Jah Love and Reggae Party are a few of the favourites from their catalogue.
Although there are more artistes to be announced, Tarrus Riley, Chris Martin, Konshens, I-Octane, Popcaan and Aidonia will be among those lighting up the stage as well.
The week-long festivities kick off with a beach party on Sunday, July 15.
musical celebrations
The high-energy Reggae Sumfest vibe continues with a 'Vintage Night' which will commence the musical celebrations on July 18, in addition to the already steaming Dancehall and International Night.
Reggae Sumfest, in its 20th year, will celebrate Jamaica's 50th year of Independence with a musical journey through the decades. This will prove to be extremely symbolic - a great time for individuals to experience the show's unique effervescence. In addition to a vibrant musical experience, fans may expect to indulge in various products of Jamaican cuisine and art pieces.
Leading to the showcasing of this year's staging, the organisers, Summerfest Productions, have created a buzz on the social media platform (primarily through Facebook) with a rhythm, T-shirt and poster competition. The three winners: Reynado Harrison (The rhythm competition), Alray Campbell (Winner of the poster competition) and Jason Lopez (winner of the T-Shirt competition) were the recipients of VIP tickets for the show.
With the strong sponsorship of Red Stripe, Pepsi, Jamaica Tourist Board and Digicel, the 2012 staging of Reggae Sumfest will mark another year in the Jamaican history books.