News

Mandela Highway homeless man needs surgery

This photo taken last September shows Basil Parchment sitting on his makeshift bed on the sidewalk on Mandela Highway.

THE health of Basil Parchment, the 74-year-old homeless man who has been sitting on the sidewalk on Mandela Highway for years, is getting worse. "Right now ah facing a situation where I need surgery," Parchment told the Jamaica Observer recently. "The doctors say I have a skin situation and before ... Read More

(L)SHAW… we are here being concerned about remuneration and I'm concerned about enumeration (C)WARMINGTON… moved motion in the House & (R)PRYCE… their work go far beyond public perception Shaw raps Electoral Commission
OPPOSITION Member of Parliament Audley Shaw yesterday urged the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ ... Read More

BROWNFIELD… Jamaica must be mindful of international drug treaties US official cautions Jamaica on ganja legalisation
WASHINGTON, DC, USA — The United States Government has signalled some discomfort with Jamaica' ... Read More

Santoya’s classmates wore sad expressions yesterday. In tribute, a rose is placed on the desk behind which Santoya would normally sit. ‘The school community is in pain’
FROME, Westmoreland — The normally lively chatter and smiles in the classrooms and within the ... Read More

PHOTO: A timely donation

Thursday, January 29, 2015    

A timely donation

President of Guardian Life Limited Eric Hosin (second left) is joined by University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) CEO Dr Cecil White (left); Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson (right); South East St Andrew Member of Parliament Julian Robinson (third left); Professor Newton Duncan (second right), head, Department of Surgery at the UHWI; and Janice Smith, clinical nurse manager, Main Operating Theatre, at yesterday's official handover of medical equipment to the UHWI by Guardian Life. The ... Read More

Accused lottery scammer to be extradited to US

Thursday, January 29, 2015    

A man believed to be a member of a criminal organisation that fleeced millions of dollars from American citizens in the lottery scam yesterday became the first Jamaican to be ordered extradited to the United States to answer charges related to the illegal operation. The order was made after 28-year-old Damion Barnett of Hendon, Norwood in St James, waived his rights to an extradition hearing when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court before Senior Resident Magistrate Ju ... Read More

Former PM Patterson says Ralston Smith's passing a personal loss

Thursday, January 29, 2015    

PATTERSON… he helped to pioneer the field of corporate communication in Jamaica

FORMER Prime Minister of Jamaica P J Patterson says the passing of public relations icon, Ralston Smith represented a personal loss to him. In a personal reflection on the life of Smith who died January 14, 2015, aged 76, Patterson remembered the "long, loyal and distinguished communication advisory service" provided to him and the ruling People's National Party (PNP) by the PR giant. Following is the full text of Patterson's tribute: The passing of Ralston Smith CD, pathfinding communicator ... Read More

JAZZ AND BLUES 2015 - Cornell Campbell delights as the tributes flow for John Holt

Thursday, January 29, 2015 10:50 PM    

Cornell Campbell giving his tribute to John Holt earlier tonight at the Jazz and Blues 2015 (PHOTO: PHILLIP LEMONTE) 

FLORENCE HALL, (Trelawny), Jamaica - The smooth singing Cornell Campbell received a warm reception from his many fans at Jazz and Blues 2015 now underway at the Trelawny Stadium. The 'Boxing Around' singer easily connected with the patrons with his long string of hits such as 'The Gorgon',  'I'll Mash You Down', 'Mash You Down' and 'Queen of the Minstrel'. He passed the musical baton to George Nooks who is now performing. Read More

Pro-ganja lobby endorses changes on eve of Senate debate

By Balford Henry, Observer Senior Staff Reporter | Thursday, January 29, 2015 7:21 PM    

University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Archibald McDonald also chairs the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task Force 

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As the Senate prepares to debate the new Bill amending the Dangerous Drugs Act to relax laws on the use of ganja (cannabis) tomorrow, the initiative has been endorsed by supporters of the changes at a two-day investors summit which ended at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, today. Speakers called on the Government to continue full speed ahead with the reforms, and disregard apparent threats from a United States Government official reported as cautioning ... Read More

Businessmen arrested for outstanding taxes

Thursday, January 29, 2015 5:15 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Two businessmen, who Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) described as "delinquent taxpayers", were recently arrested in separate operations conducted by the Special Enforcement Team of the TAJ and the St Thomas police, for outstanding taxes amounting to $28 million. A release from the TAJ Thursday said the arrests were made on warrants of disobedience after Jeremiah Walker, principal director of St Thomas Cable Network Limited, failed to appear in court on a summons served by t ... Read More

Forex: J$115.81 to one US dollar

Thursday, January 29, 2015 5:09 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US dollar on Thursday, January 29 ended trading at J$115.81, up two cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily foreign exchange trading summary. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar closed at J$93.55, up from J$93.19 while the British pound sterling ended trading at J$174.61 down from J$175.41. Read More

JUTC 'regrets' death of physically challenged man

Thursday, January 29, 2015 5:04 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has expressed regret at the death of a physically challenged man whose wheelchair was hit by a JUTC bus near to the University of the Hospital of the West Indies today. “We express our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the victim whose identity we have not yet ascertained,” the bus company said in a release. The incident occurred about 1:00 pm Thursday while the man was reportedly t ... Read More

PHOTO: JUTC bus crushes man 

Thursday, January 29, 2015 4:15 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Policemen on the scene of a crash where a Jamaica Urban Transit Company bus reportedly crushed a physically challenged man on Thursday. The man's wheelchair is seen to the right of the bus. See story here. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)   Read More

57-y-o police imposter for court tomorrow

Thursday, January 29, 2015 3:37 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 57-year-old man accused of impersonating a police officer was yesterday charged after he was positively identified by a witness at an identification parade. The accused, Derrick Thompson of Alaman Terrace in Kingston, was arrested on Wednesday, January 14 on reasonable suspicion of obtaining money by false pretence and impersonating police. Thompson, who was reportedly on bail at the time for a similar offence, was spotted by detectives of the Major Organised Crime ... Read More



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