http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ JamaicaObserver.com, the most concise and in-depth website for news coverage on Jamaica and the Caribbean. Updated daily 7 days a week, 24 hours a day en-us copyright Jamaica Observer, 2011 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/PNP-courting-Daren-Powell_10728749 MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Former West Indies fast bowler and recently elected president of the St Elizabeth Cricket Association Daren Powell is being considered by the ruling People's National Party (PNP) as a candidate in local government elections due by the end of March. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/44-hurt-in-Manchester-smash-up_10729558 MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Up to 44 persons, mainly students from schools in Manchester, were injured in a two-vehicle collision on the Pen Hill Road in the parish shortly before 7:00 yesterday morning. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Carjacked_10730388 A Kingston mother was subjected to one of the most frightening ordeals of her life yesterday when an armed man forced himself into her car in heavy drive-time traffic, fought with her, and eventually drove away with her baby who was strapped into a car seat in the back. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gov-t-carrying-out-islandwide-audit-of-arms--ammo_10729886 THE national security ministry has started an islandwide audit of guns and ammunition in police divisions in order to prevent them from being re-introduced into the society and ending up in criminal hands. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Jamaica-to-benefit-from-wastewater-management-project_10728660 JAMAICA is one of four Caribbean and Central American countries that will benefit from a US$15-million pilot project that seeks to reform and finance the management of wastewater in the region. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/No-Jamaican-among-Ontario-crash-victims--says-foreign-ministry_10729782 THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that no Jamaican was among the 10 migrant workers who died Monday in a motor vehicle crash in Ontario, Canada — one of the deadliest road accidents in the eastern Canadian province in more than a decade. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gov-t-to-help-drowned-students--family-with-funeral-costs_10730603 PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has instructed that financial assistance be given to the families of St Andrew College students, Demel Osbourne and Shane Burke, who drowned at a beach in Portland after a field trip to St Mary last week. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Introducing-the-Kingston-Interview-Waiver-Programme_10723068 THE United States Embassy Kingston's Consular Section is pleased to announce new expedited renewal procedures for certain nonimmigrant visas. The Kingston Interview Waiver Programme (KIWP) will allow certain qualified applicants to forego the personal interview stage. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/No-arrest-in-death-of-Jamaican-nurse-in-Cayman_10722676 DETECTIVES in the Cayman Islands are yet to make an arrest in the suspected murder of Jamaican nurse Kerran (Kerry-Ann) Baker. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Teacher-on-sex-charges-remanded_10729728 A high school teacher, who is facing several sex charges in relation to reported incidents with students, was yesterday remanded into custody in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court pending the conclusion of his bail application scheduled for February 14. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Electoral-staff-resign-amid-rejected-ballots-probe-in-St-James_10730684 THE Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) last night said it had accepted the resignations of two Electoral Office of Jamaica staffers who presided over voting in the East Central James constituency in the December 29, 2011 general election. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ex-cop-to-face-prelim-enquiry_10687432 WALTER Spike, an ex-policeman who fled the island after he reportedly shot and killed a girl, aged nine, in 2003, is to face a preliminary enquiry into the shooting on April 2. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Street-Scenes---February-6_10723009 Monday, February 6, 2012 Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/PJ-unhappy-with-pace-of-change_10711555 ROUND HILL, Hanover — Former Prime Minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson has registered his disappointment that after nearly two decades of dialogue, Jamaica is yet to make the transition from a Monarchical form of government to a Republican form, even as the nation celebrates its Jubilee Year. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Sculpture-honouring-Marley-erected-at-UTech_10723058 THE University of Technology (UTech) on Monday unveiled a sculpture of late Reggae icon, Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, at its Papine campus in St. Andrew. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Sagicor-Group-honours-Jamaica-50_10728408 SAGICOR Life Jamaica and Pan Caribbean Financial Services used their annual staff motivational meeting this year to recognise Jamaica's 50th year of political Independence. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Fire-rages-at-Riverton-landfill MINISTER of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill, is to meet with Minister of Local Government and Community Development Noel Arscott, regarding a fire that is now raging at the Riverton City landfill. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:57:53 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Teen-gets-life-with-possible-parole-in-killing Alyssa Bustamante, 18, pleaded guilty in January to second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the October 2009 slaying of Elizabeth Olten in St. Martins, a small rural town west of Jefferson City. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:53 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Pedal-cyclist-hit-by-JUTC-bus A pedal cyclist was rushed to hospital after he was struck by a Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Bus close to the Cocoa Industry Board along Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:44:54 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Closure-of-section-of-the-Palisadoes-main-road-suspended THE National Works Agency (NWA) has suspended plans to close a section of the northbound lane along the Palisadoes roadway in Kingston. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:35:28 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Blacks--shot-and-killed-in-Shanty-Town A man was shot and killed in the community of Shanty Town along Spanish Town this morning. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:25:23 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Defense-relentless-in-questioning-ex-Stanford-exec HOUSTON (AP) — Liar. Hypocrite. Adulterer. Fraudster. Coward. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:16:10 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Porus-fifth-formers-achieve-100-per-cent-sickle-cell-compliance FIFTH form students from the Porus High School have achieved 100 per cent compliance in the ‘sickle cell screening’ for the Manchester Project. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:04:31 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Hackers-post-cops-personal-info CHARLESTON, USA (AP) — Hackers affiliated with the Anonymous hacking group obtained more than 150 police officers' personal information from an old website for the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association and posted it online. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:03:04 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Mair-questions-Petrojam-pricing-system OPPOSITION spokesman for Industry, Commerce and Energy, Gregory Mair has expressed concern that the pricing mechanism of petroleum products sold by Petrojam may be flawed. Local News Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:49:46 GMT