News

Lawyers upset as judge points to BB messages in Kartel trial

A supporter of entertainer Vybz Kartel poses yesterday with a placard on King Street across from the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston, where the high-profile murder trial is taking place. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

JUSTICE Lennox Campbell yesterday drew the ire of defence attorneys when he told jurors that the author of a damning BlackBerry message which told of Clive 'Lizard' Williams being chopped up 'fine fine' and that his remains would never be found, must have known that he would not be seen again. Just ... Read More

WEBBER… chaired the former HAJ board HAJ Board Sacked
THE entire board of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ) was last evening told to resign as the Gover ... Read More

MAIR… fails to get support of colleagues Mair left at sea
A lack of support from Opposition members of Parliament for a motion from their colleague, Gregory M ... Read More

(L-R) Students’ Loan Bureau Executive Director Monica Brown, Chairman Tony Lewars, and Public Relations Officer Analisa Allen make light of a comment during this week’s Monday Exchange with Jamaica Observer editors and reporters at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue head office in St Andrew. (PHOTOS: NAPHTALI JUNIOR) SLB seeks law to ensure loan repayments
FACED with a delinquency rate of 30 per cent of its overall portfolio, the Students' Loan Bureau (SL ... Read More

Lifeline Portland coast

BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate editor -- features thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com | Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

The view of San San Bay and Pellew Island from Alligator Head

LIKE he has been doing for years, Portland fisherman Dennis Nichols swam out into the famous Blue Lagoon Sunday morning hoping to spear a catch. But by the time he had reached San San Bay, half a mile later, he had nothing to show for his troubles. "Mi swim all the way an when mi reach yah so, mi nuh shoot one fish," he said, pointing to San San Bay. "Dat mean say di environment really gone bad." In years gone by, the same journey would have netted an "unlimited" number of fish, according to N ... Read More

Tax rules are the same for citizens, Green Card holders

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

Your worldwide income is subject to US income tax, regardless of where you reside.

Q: I am a United States citizen currently living in Jamaica. Do I have to file a US federal tax return? A: If you are a US citizen or a Green Card Holder, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or in Jamaica. Your worldwide income is subject to US income tax, regardless of where you reside. Income taxes are managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is an arm of the US Treasury Dep ... Read More

SLB applications more than doubled in six years

BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate editor - features thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com | Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

BROWN... we now fund approximately 30 per cent of the students who are enrolled in universities and other tertiary institutions (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)

THE number of students seeking to access government loans to finance their tertiary education has more than doubled in the six years since 2007, the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) has said. The bureau's executive director, Monica Brown told the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that it received more than 15,300 applications for the 2013/2014 academic year, compared to 6,600 in 2007/08. "This has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of funds disbursed by the SLB. In 2006 (we) disbursed ... Read More

How proposed changes to citizenship rules will affect you

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

The purpose of the proposed changes in Bill C-24 is to strengthen the residency requirements and address citizenship fraud.

Dear Mr Brown: You assisted me with admission to Seneca College and my study permit. I am enjoying the school experience and I thank you for all you have done for me. I have also met many other students whom you have assisted. However, I have been reading about proposed changes to Canadian citizenship rules. Please let me know how these changes will affect my plans as per your previous advice. I want you to specifically touch on whether these changes will make it harder to become a Canadian cit ... Read More

Defence lawyer brings up rarely mentioned allegedly forged letters

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

BAILEY… said the letters were created some time in 2007 or after 3 NEWS THE DAILY OBSERVER Wednesday, March 12, 2014 twitter.com/jamaicaobserver www.jamaicaobserver.com KNIGHT… tried to create doubt over the creation date of letters

THE defence in the Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) pension fraud trial appeared ready yesterday to deal with the four allegedly forged letters that are at the centre of the year-long trial of three former ATL executives on fraud charges. Defence lawyer K D Knight, QC brought up the letters yesterday, one of the rare times that any of the three main defence attorneys touched the subject, on which the prosecution has built its case. Knight made a last-ditch effort to create doubt over the creati ... Read More

Sandals hosts free health fair for employees

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

Team member Maurice Linton is deep in conversation with Royale Pharmacy’s Carol Muschette during the health fair at Sandals Whitehouse.

SCORES of team members were recent beneficiaries of a health fair hosted at Sandals Whitehouse with the resort dedicating the day to health awareness, testing and prevention for its employees. Sandals Whitehouse, through its partnership with key health care entities including the Ministry of Health, Executive Ground Ambulance Services Limited, Royale Pharmacy Savanna-la-Mar, Tourism Product Development Company, and Omega Medical Services were able to provide a wide range of services with no exp ... Read More

Street scenes

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

ON THE HUSTLE Fully clothed in black, this vendor hustles past a man pushing his bicycle as she hunts sales in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, yesterday.

HAND IN HAND A woman hold tightly onto the hands of her two young charges as she accompanies them to school on Bay Farm Road, St Andrew, yesterday. (PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON) AAHH, COOL This woman is in heaven as she gulps down coconut water, her respite from the heat, in downtown Kingston yesterday. ON THE HUSTLE Fully clothed in black, this vendor hustles past a man pushing his bicycle as she hunts sales in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, yesterday. KEEPING IT 'WHEEL' A young woman glances i ... Read More

Jamaican among 40 criminals held in US raid

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

WASHINGTON, DC, United States (CMC) — A Jamaican national was arrested along with over 40 "at large criminal aliens" during a five-day law enforcement operation in Virginia last week. The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) agency said agents from its Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested the unnamed 40-year-old Jamaican at his residence in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The immigration agency said the Jamaican national had been convicted in the Virginia Beach Circ ... Read More

PAHO: Kidney disease rising among seniors with diabetes, hypertension

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

Diabetes and high blood pressure, together with ageing, are the main risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease.

WASHINGTON, DC, USA—  Diabetes and high blood pressure, together with ageing, are the main risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease, which affects an estimated one in 10 adults globally, according to studies. The Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) is calling on healthcare providers to test high-risk patients for signs of kidney disease, particularly those with diabetes and hypertension, and is calling on individuals to maintain healthy lif ... Read More

CSEC January passes up marginally — exam body

Wednesday, March 12, 2014    

Overall performance trends from 2010 to 2014

THE Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is reporting an overall improvement in the performance of candidates in the January 2014 sitting for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. It improved slightly when compared to 2013. According to the regional examination body, 50.6 per cent of subject entries achieved Grades I - III — the acceptable grades at CSEC — compared with 49 per cent last year. "This year's result continued the upward trend in overall p ... Read More



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