65 new AIDS cases in Clarendon

Sixty-five new HIV/AIDS cases have been reported in Clarendon for 2002, increasing the total number of reported cases in the parish to 455.

The 65 new cases represent a 12.3 per cent increase or eight more than the 57 new cases reported for the previous year.

Sexually transmitted infections contact investigator for Clarendon, Nurse Lasmine Hines-Scaffe, who made the disclosure, said that of the new cases, 35 were females and 30 males. She noted that this represents a reversal of the previous trend where more male than female cases were recorded.

Fire destroys Burnt Savannah house

Fire of unknown origin on Sunday destroyed a six-apartment dwelling house, at Spring Garden, near Burnt Savannah, St Elizabeth, leaving eight persons homeless.

According to the police, the occupants of the house were in the yard, at the rear, when they discovered smoke coming from a room at the rear and realised that it was on fire. Before long, the entire house was engulfed in flames. They could only manage to retrieve two beds and a dresser from the building which was made of concrete.

One unit from the Santa Cruz Fire Station responded to the fire, but was only able to contain it.

The house and contents which were owned by 78 year-old Edna Dennis, were valued at $2.5 million. Neither was insured. The occupants expressed amazement at the cause of the fire, as they reported that no fire or naked flame was present in the house at the time. One occupant also reported that there was no electricity at the house.— Lincoln Ward

J’cans in Toronto urged to help in crime fight

General manager of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Earl Jarrett has challenged Jamaicans in Toronto, Canada to “get engaged” and help with the fight against crime in Jamaica.

Speaking at a recent crime prevention forum at the Jamaican Canadian Association in Toronto recently, Jarrett said “crime in Jamaica is internationally linked and Jamaicans in Canada have a significant role to play in helping to take back the country”.

And noting the positive impact of the society’s part-sponsored Tools for Development Programme and its wholly owned subsidiary, JN Micro Credit Ltd in promoting entrepreneurship in the island, he also told Jamaicans present that they could further assist the process by investing more in the country.

Cops kill two in alleged shoot-out

TWO men, one of whom was said to be wanted in connection with a January 26 double murder in St James and last Saturday’s attempted murder of a police officer in Hanover, were yesterday shot and killed during an alleged shoot-out with the Area One police in Trelawny.

The 10-member team of police officers, who were on operations in the area at the time of the incident, also recovered an Intra-Tech 9mm Luger pistol with one magazine with five live rounds.

The deceased are 33 year-old Anthony Martin and a man known only as “Fleshman”, both of Rose Heights in St James.

According to the police, “Fleshman” was wanted in connection with last Saturday’s wounding of Sergeant Michael Beadle and last month’s slaying of Anthony Dawkins and his pregnant common-law wife, Nadine Williams, 19. Their bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds at their home in Rose Heights.

Area One crime chief, Superintendent John Morris said that to his knowledge Martin was not wanted in connection with any crimes. But the crime chief said once under fire, the lawmen had to defend themselves.

“Let’s put it this way, it was a matter of self-preservation. (And) this man (Fleshman) shot a police officer last Saturday,” Superintendent Morris told the Observer from the Falmouth police station.

Whitmore’s fate in jury’s hands

THE fate of national footballer Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore now lies in the hands of a seven-member jury who will decide if he is guilty of the January 2001 death of his team-mate Steven “Shorty” Malcolm.

The crown closed its case in the Trelawny Circuit Court yesterday, after two days of testimony by seven crown witnesses.

Today, Justice Lloyd Hibbert who is presiding over the proceedings is likely to give instructions to the jury after Whitmore’s attorney, George Thomas addresses the panel.

The footballer was arrested and charged last June, after asix-member jury found him criminally responsible for Malcolm’s death during a car accident.

The fatal car crash has been shrouded in controversy as conflicting stories have emerged about who was driving the ill-fated vehicle.

Boycott off

THE Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) yesterday decided to call off its boycott of the labour ministry, after Labour Minister Horace Dalley gave an undertaking to look at improvements needed in the ministry.

At a meeting yesterday, both parties agreed that the training of ministry personnel and the provision of adequate financial resources were critical for improving the ministry’s functions.

The parties, which agreed to set up a joint committee to look on what actions will follow, also decided that a tripartite committee outside of the Labour Advisory Council comprising the JCTU, employers and the ministry should be established to initiate the objectives agreed on.

“In the final analysis, what came out was the understanding that the three social partners (labour capital and the government) need to sit down over two days or so and engage in a social dialogue that seeks to come up with some recommendations as to how we prepare and position ourselves to meet with the challenges of globalisation through labour market, reform,” Danny Roberts, vice- president of the National Workers Union told the Observer.