It remains share joys, thrills, dancing and singing, as Hanoverians and the wider Western region are still in celebratory mood after Rusea’s stormed to an 11th hold on the prestigious ISSA/Flow da’Costa Cup Schoolboy Football title.
Entering the showdown as underdogs, the Vassell Reynolds-coached institution hoisted the title for the first time since 2011, with a stunning come-from-behind upset win over overwhelming favourites, Clarendon College.
Cheered on by a jam-packed stadium, the nippy Daniel Reid and an emotional Leonardo Fogarty, with an exquisite strike in the 80th minute, were the scorers for Rusea’s as they upset the form book.
In classic celebratory mood on Monday morning at the school, the team paraded before their peers in grand style, showing off the trophy and rapping with the student population.
The Championship Trophy
In the classic, fast-paced contest on Saturday, Clarendon were merciless in their attacks, but lacked the killer instinct in the finish, before taking the lead midway the first half.
Rusea’s, despite not being on the score sheet, maintained their shape and battled back, leveling things at 1-1 ten minutes into the resumption through Reid, who darted past three defenders before uncorking a shot which lodged into the corner of the net.
With ten minutes to go, Fogarthy, emotional throughout after being reminded of accomplishments of his beloved father for Rusea’s in his glory days, capitalized on a defensive lapse, before darting into the 18-yard box and uncorking a stunning, unstoppable shot into the back of the net, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Vassell Reynolds said the victory was sweet for his troops and very rewarding.
“I have won other trophies (speaking of his time at Wolmer’s Boys in Kingston) but this one is special”.
He said: “Work on the boys, physiologically, was a great help and worked wonders”
The police have released the identity of the man shot and killed along East Street in Montego Bay last Friday.
He is 31-year-old Marlon Rose, a resident of Rose Heights.
Reports indicate that Rose was seated at a section of East Street in the city at about 2:50 p.m., when he was pounced upon by unknown assailants who opened fire, hitting him several times in the head.
The men made their escape in a motor vehicle in the area. Rose was later transported to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
Firefighters tackle the blaze on Gunns Drive, Granville, St. James, on Tuesday morning. Three houses were destroyed between Monday and Tuesday under questionable circumstances.
Residents fleeing their homes
Within a 24-hour span, three houses in close proximity were destroyed by fire in Granville, St. James, as the violence affecting the community has resulted in several persons fleeing the area and abandoning their homes.
The first fire, which occurred on Monday morning on Gunns Drive, reportedly started after a barrage of gunfire was heard.
Information reaching the Western Mirror is that about 7:05 a.m., firefighters responded with two units and managed to put out a blaze on Gunns Drive before it could spread to other houses. However, the house, said to have been constructed with board and zinc was destroyed.
Loss is estimated at two million dollars.
The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire as the occupants had moved out earlier. Unconfirmed reports say they moved out following another fire in the area that also resulted in the destruction of several houses.
The second fire occurred on nearby Gordon’s Crescent later that day, about 10:14 p.m. Two units from the Freeport station responded and managed to extinguish the blaze but not before leaving at least an estimated seven hundred thousand dollars’ worth of damage. This house too had no occupants at the time of the blaze.
On Tuesday morning, the Fire Brigade was again summoned to attend another fire on Gunns Drive. It was a similar case as the first as no one was occupying the space at the time of the blaze.
The Brigade related that when they arrived on the scene shortly after 9 a.m., they found the house completely engulfed. An operation quickly ensued and the fire was brought under control but not before destroying the house.
The Fire Brigade is still working to ascertain the causes of the three fires and investigations continue.
Superintendent Gary McKenzie (centre), along with Detective Corporal Ricardo Lattibeaudiere (left) and Corporal Oral Jenkins, display the massive gun find during a press conference on Saturday. KT photo
The police in St. James are basking in the success they reaped on Saturday with the seizure of four high-powered weapons and several rounds of ammunition in Roehampton.
They also have in custody five men in connection with the early morning seizure.
The guns and ammunition find came during an operation led by Gary McKenzie, Superintendent in charge of Operations in the St. James Police Division, just before daybreak in an area of the community called Four Road in which several houses and densely bushed areas were searched.
The weapons include an AK rifle with serial number #SMI164, an Action Arms Uzi semi-automatic rifle, one Super Black Hawk .44 Magnum and one .45 Master Piece Arms Mac Submachine gun.
Just over 230 rounds of ammunition to include sixty-eight .38 cartridges, thirty-one .40 rounds, one twelve-gauge cartridge and seventy-two .45 rounds were also found in bushes at the back of the suspects’ house.
Superintendent McKenzie said the operation was carried out in the hope of finding wanted men and other criminals.
He also revealed that since the start of 2017, the police have removed over 160 illegal firearms from the streets of St. James.
“Since the start of the year, the parish has recorded over 300 murders, the guns have featured in over 90 percent of these killings,” he lamented.
McKenzie also divulged that lotto scamming paraphernalia were also seized during the early morning raid
It was a bloody Sunday in St. James with four persons, including a woman, shot and killed and two others seriously wounded in separate incidents within hours of each other.
The onslaught began shortly after 8 a.m. with the killing of 21-year-old Romaine Robinson, otherwise called ‘Blacks’ of Rough Road in Glendevon.
The police report that about 8:15 a.m., Robinson was found shot to death in an area of the community called Dappa Lane, shortly after residents heard rapid gunfire.
The police, who were called to the scene, found his body lying along a road with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
More than ten spent shell casings were reportedly found near his body.
About an hour later, detectives were called to Miriam Way, a short distance from where the security forces involved in the Zone of Special Operations in Mount Salem, are based.
This time, 44-year-old Raymond Dias of Hendon, Norwood, was the victim.
It is reported that about 10 a.m., he and another man were standing in front of a gate on Miriam Way, near Barnett Oval, when men in a black Audi motorcar approached and opened gunfire, hitting them both.
They were rushed to hospital where Dias succumbed to his injuries and the other man admitted for treatment.
Whilst detectives were processing the scene, they were called to the Salt Spring main road where 55-year-old Derrick Bucknor, popularly called ‘College’ of Robert Reid Drive, Glendevon, was killed by a lone gunman.
Reports are that about 10:30 a.m., Bucknor was walking along the Salt Spring main road shortly after exiting a popular Cash Pot shop when he was surprised by a man, reportedly known to him, who shot him twice in the head before calmly tugging the gun in his waist and walking away.
Bucknor, a former taxi operator, was reportedly a popular figure in the community.
Red Dirt in Flanker was the scene of the other murder. This time, 22-year-old Sherice Martin of Hog City, was the victim.
About 11 a.m., Martin and a male were at a section of the Red Dirt community when they were pounced on by armed men who opened fire at them.
The two were hit, Martin fatally. The male was taken to hospital for treatment.
In all cases, the police have no motives but are continuing their investigations
The authorities are urging persons who tested positive for HIV this year in Western Jamaica to come forward for treatment.
With more than 4,000 HIV tests conducted by Jamaica Aids Support For Life, JASL, in Western Jamaica, 40 persons returned reactive (result showing HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection) and the agency is calling on those affected to come in for treatment.
Tyrone Ellis, Western Regional Programmes Manager of JASL, explained that 80 percent of those found to be reactive have complied with the requirements for treatment, while the other 20 percent are not coming forward.
He further indicated that of the 40 persons found to be reactive this year, 80 percent (32) are on treatment, while they continue to reach out to the other 20 percent (8) who have avoided coming in for laboratory confirmation and subsequent treatment.
“We are still reaching out to those who have failed to come in for laboratory tests and confirmation with the hope that they will come and receive treatment. There is a list that we work with and we continue to make contact with and to encourage them, so it is a process with everything so we just have to give people time,” Ellis indicated.
He said 200 persons were tested last Wednesday in Sam Sharpe Square as part of the activities to mark World AIDS week, with four persons returning reactive results.
Mr. Ellis further explained what reactive means:
“The results would have shown that they have the HIV, however, because this was a kit test, we would have to take these persons into the laboratory for confirmation.” On confirmation, they will be further counselled and receive the requisite treatment.
Mr. Ellis indicated that 117 persons are being treated at its centre in Montego Bay, and the centre was happy to see a high viral suppression rate.
“So, this year, we are seeing a viral suppression rate of 35 percent among those persons being treated which is a good sign and over 90 percent of the clients are on medication.”
The Western Regional Office offers three clinic sessions for the week: Tuesday morning and evening, Thursday Clinic and every other Saturday Clinic.
In Jamaica,it is estimated that 32,000 persons are living with HIV and as many as 50% are unaware of their status.
The parish of St. James has the highest cumulative rate of 2094.6 HIV cases per 100,000 persons.
Dr. Janet Steele, Director of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication at George Washington University in the United States, is pictured here leading discussions at the UWI Mona – WJC National Journalism Week Western Jamaica Forum.
-Phillip Green photo
Michael Nattoo Staff Reporter
National Journalism Week Western Jamaica Forum
The Press Association of Jamaica, on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, partnered with the University of the West Indies, Mona – Western Jamaica Campus (WJC), and the US Embassy, Kingston, to continue its celebration of National Journalism Week under the theme “Media Accountability in the Digital Age”.
The observance of the week of activities, which began on Sunday, November 27, delivered in this Western edition a lecture at the Western Campus, in which the topic: “Who’s Watching The Watchdog? Media Regulation in Jamaica and Elsewhere” was explored. This discussion was led by Dr. Janet Steele, Director of the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication at George Washington University in the United States, who facilitated lively conversations with students and prominent figures in media Lloyd B. Smith, CEO of Western Publishers Limited and Editor-in-Chief of the Western Mirror, and veteran Journalist and President of the Press Association of Jamaica, Dionne Jackson Miller.
In a forum which saw a number of points being raised, the prevailing discussion, led by Dr. Steele, centred on freedom of the press, with a particular interest in how such a powerful estate, charged with maintaining balance and transparency, holds itself to the same standards. Such conversations brought to the fore certain ideas the PAJ had been entertaining, particularly that of establishing a Press Council or a Complaint Council. This body, which would ideally be independent, would be charged with ‘watching the watchdogs’, mediating cases of public grievances with the media, particularly for issues that cannot be legally challenged, but violate certain ethical guidelines media practitioners should be abiding by.
President of the PAJ, Jackson Miller, added her voice to that conversation, stating that such a body would help to drive further accountability among local, and particularly young journalists, whom she believes are not being informed enough. The PAJ President further explained that such a body would also act as a data reservoir for the public, supplying information on certain areas (defamation for example) that the public, as well as journalists, may not be aware of.
‘FAKE NEWS’
Of note is that though there were discussions being had regarding a council to regulate certain elements of the media, Dr. Steele was quick to point out that Jamaica consistently ranks high on the list of countries that enjoy true freedom of the press, ranking this year at 19, two places above the US, 21. In explaining why a country such as the US, whose First Amendment prevents any encroachment upon the rights and freedoms of the press, places lowly in the international rankings, Dr. Steele said this is owed to the recent attack on the press by President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has weaponized his use of the term ‘Fake News’. Steele went on to explain that this misnomer, ‘Fake News’, has vilified journalistic work in the US, especially any work that seems to disagree with the President. “Calling certain entities ‘Fake News’ is a disingenuous position to take by the president, and is deliberate misinformation. Clearly, disagreeing with someone’s point of view does not make the information they produce incorrect or inaccurate,” Dr. Steele offered.
Despite this threat to the press, Steele revealed that the US media landscape remains skeptical of any external body that may suggest regulating the press’ power in any way. If Jamaica is to undertake such a move to establish a Press Council, as was done in places like Malaysia and Indonesia, Steele suggests due research be done to decide the relevance of such a body in the Jamaican context, as well as how such would be funded.
Patrick Prendergast, Director of the UWI Mona – WJC, who chaired the programme, offered his thoughts on the discussion, and brought attention to the need for self-examination among journalists. Prendergast commented on the need to question our own biases, especially within the context of a Press Council, and that subjecting ourselves to that level of introspection will force us to consider more than just the Code of Ethics as journalists in the Digital Age.
HONOURING PHILLIP GREEN
The discussions culminated in the honouring of one of Western Jamaica’s premiere Photo-Journalists, the Western Mirror’s very own Phillip Green, who was presented with a citation by Lloyd B. Smith, documenting his over 40 years of stellar service to the Jamaican journalism landscape. Green is set to be honoured in Kingston at a special luncheon today at the Courtleigh Auditorium, where he will officially receive his citation from the PAJ.
National Journalism Week ends on Saturday, December 2, 2017.
The house in which the bodies of four persons were found following last Friday's fire in Broughton, Little London, Westmoreland
Police investigators in Westmoreland are awaiting DNA results to determine the true identities of the four persons whose charred remains were discovered in the aftermath of a house fire in Broughton district, Little London, last Friday.
Post mortems are also to be conducted to ascertain the causes of death.
Firefighters are also yet to determine the cause of the blaze.
The four-bedroom dwelling was occupied by 32-year-old farmer Alwayne Clarke and his wife, Susan.
Reports are that about 4:45 p.m., residents saw fire coming from a section of the building and summoned the police.
On the arrival of the lawmen, the charred remains, suspected to be that of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, Wayne Thompson, 42, labourer of Broughton and an unidentified male, were found inside the building.
Between last Friday and Monday of this week, 12 lives were snuffed out in St. James.
Another nine persons were injured during the attacks which kept crime fighters extremely busy.
Crime scenes were recorded right across the parish including Market Street and the Transportation Centre in the heart of downtown, Montego Bay; Rough Road and Leonie Avenue in Glendevon; Tucker, Granville; Cambridge, Long Hill; Mud Valley and Blue Hole.
A popular restaurant operator, 52-year-old Leroy Salmon, also called ‘Second’ and his common law wife 48-year-old Ella Daley, a vendor, both of Blue Hole, Montpelier, were shot dead in their vehicle last Thursday.
Residents reportedly heard explosions and upon enquiry, found the couple in a white Noah mini-van, reportedly owned by Daley.
Later in the day, about 8:30 p.m., gunmen struck in Mud Valley, Granville, killing 30-year-oldKemoy Malcolm.
He was reportedly among five people playing cards when men alighted from a vehicle and opened fire. Malcolm was shot in the chest and died on the spot. The other four were taken to hospital where they were treated.
The weekend fared no better as between Friday and Monday, nine persons, including a teenager and an American national, were murdered.
Those killed have been identified as 30-year-old Brian Lewis, otherwise known as ‘Not Nice’, unemployed of Pitfour; 23-year-old Oshane Reid; 27-year-old Cassell Todd, also known as ‘Lance’, both of St. John’s; 15-year-old Jahiem Dussard, a student of Leonie Avenue, Glendevon; Aon Salmon of Ducketts, Cambridge; 29-year-old Ryan Wilson of Queen’s Street Sav-La-Mar; 52-year-old Dorothy Brown, also known as ‘Chubby’ and 26-year-old Desiree Hyacinth Gibbon, unemployed of Queens, New York and an unidentified man.
The double murder in St. John’s occurred about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night, when Reid and Todd were shot and another, said to be the shop owner, a 20-year-old, was shot and wounded.
It’s reported that the three were at a business establishment in their community, when a group of men, armed with high-powered weapons, pounced upon them and opened fire.
The three were hit and subsequently taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where Reid and Todd were pronounced dead, while the shop owner was admitted in a serious condition.
Police say no motive has been established for the deadly attack.
About 9 a.m., Lewis was standing in a section of the Transport Centre when he was pounced upon by armed thugs who opened fire, hitting him in the head and other parts of the upper body.
He was assisted to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
TEEN CUT DOWN
In the meantime, about 10:15 p.m. on Sunday (November 26), Dussard was shot dead at his home on Leonie Avenue.
Police reports are that the teen was at home with other family members when his mother heard strange sounds coming from outside. The mother made a check and saw masked men at her window. The door to her son’s room was then kicked in and the men entered and opened fire.
Dussard was reportedly shot seven times in the head. His body was found in his bed in a pool of blood.
As the rampage continued, four, including two women, one a teenager, were shot in Ducketts, Cambridge.
According to the information received, about 4:50 p.m., Aon Salmon was among a group which was attacked by unknown assailants.
The Police reportedly responded to explosions coming from the area and when they arrived, Salmon was found with several gunshot wounds to the upper body.
The others received shots to the wrist, leg and side and were taken to hospital where they were treated.
And, a man remains unidentified after being shot dead in New York Heights, Granville, also on Saturday.
Police say they responded to a barrage of explosions from the area and subsequently found the body of the man with wounds to the upper section.
Rough Road in Glendevon was the scene of another killing, leaving Wilson dead.
Reports are that he and his girlfriend were walking along the roadway in their community when they were attacked by unknown bandits and Wilson shot. The female escaped unhurt.
William Street in the heart of the city was also the scene of a shooting which left a 3-year-old unemployed man of Hendon, Norwood, wounded after he was shot in the neck.
Brown was along Market Street packing out her goods when she was heard screaming. She later resumed her packing before collapsing to the ground.
She was rushed to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where she died while being treated. Stab wounds were observed to her neck and right shoulder.
AMERICAN
Meanwhile, the blood-soaked body of Gibbon was discovered in bushes on Saturday morning.
The Anchovy Police report that about 9:15 a.m., passersby stumbled on the body along the Long Hill main road with the throat slashed.
Unconfirmed reports are that the deceased arrived in Jamaica more than a month ago and was seeking employment in the island.
This photo highlights the reality of business owners as they try to regain their footing following the devastating floodwaters which wreaked havoc on the city last Wednesday.
Barrington Flemming Staff Reporter
Small business operators in downtown Montego Bay say it will take them up to a month before they can resume normal operations, following last week’s devastating flood rains.
The comments from the business operators contradict statements issued on Thursday by T’shura Gibbs, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, citing that small businesses were back in operation a day after rains pummeled the city, leaving many businesses swamped with floodwaters, mud and debris.
Supermarkets, haberdasheries, restaurants, cyber cafes, clothing stores and other businesses were all affected.
When the Western Mirror visited downtown Montego Bay on Friday, the small business proprietors related tales of financial woes.
Iesha’s Ice Cream Shop and Bar at North Gully was swamped, with music boxes, other equipment damaged, beds, other household items and food and liquor smashed and washed away. The operators said the damage runs close to eight million dollars and they are uncertain as to how soon they would be able to reopen.
Linton Beckford, operator of the popular Becky’s Cheers Bar at 1 William Street, said it was the worst flooding he has experienced in his 17 years at that location, leaving him with millions in losses.
“It was very bad. The water rushed in and turned over the fridge loaded with liquor smashing everything; other drinks were lost, slot machines, music boxes. My loss is estimated at 2.5 million for the goods from the bar. I also lost my Rav4 which the water washed away. It was worth 1.5 million,” he explained. He said that he could not put a timeline on when he would be able to recover and reopen.
Sabbioso Restaurant, operated by Sandrene Sancroft also took a beating, with the young university graduate now wringing her hands in despair, as she contemplates how to secure a loan to replace stove, pots, pans, food supply and other equipment she used in the restaurant.
“I will have to start all over and right now I do not know where or how to go about that,” she said.
BLEAK CHRISTMAS
Ewen Fung said his GP Wholesale on St. James Street could not reopen until a month’s time, leaving him stranded for the lucrative Christmas period. Similar sentiments were echoed by the operators of Yong Long Haberdashery on St. James Street.
Mark Sutherland, proprietor of Sutherland’s Wholesale, while he opened his establishment, he was only able to operate at 50 percent.
“My staff and I had to leap through the window when the water began to flood the shop to save ourselves from drowning.”
The raging flood waters also made things bad for Wesley Downer, a tailor with his shop at Long Lane (adjacent to Corner Lane), who now has nothing in his shop as every piece of clothing was either washed away or stained chocolate brown from the muddy waters which invaded the shop, rising to at least eight feet.
“I had so many people’s clothes now there is nothing. The sewing machine is not working and I don’t know what is the next move,” he lamented.
The situation was not as bad for North Street Cafe as Garnett Reid, who operates the restaurant, says he should be back in operation today if the road is properly cleaned.
The water came and swept away rice, flour and even overturned a pot of rice that was being cooked at the time.
The collective sentiment by the business operators was that they were now cautious, hoping and praying that the weather improves as another rain event could prove to be utterly devastating.
