Sunday December 4, 2005
 Over 50 families from Portland Cottage in Clarendon are to be relocated after losing their homes last year during Hurricane Ivan. The Office of National Reconstruction is presently building the new houses which should be completed in three months. In the meantime some of the residents are to be given temporary houses which are being built by Food for the Poor.

 Mayor of May Pen, Milton Brown has declared that the council will not permit vendors to sell on the streets of May Pen during the Christmas season. Venders are expected to utilize a section of the May Pen municipal market which has been refurbished in time for the holiday period.

 Another police Corporal has reportedly been beaten by colleagues within a two week period. Woman Corporal Carmen Lewin who was clad in uniform was beaten last Friday in May Pen Clarendon when she tried to quell a situation in which two men were brutally beating another. When she attempted to intervene Corporal Lewin was assaulted by the two men. After being attacked she followed the two men who turned out to be policemen attached to the Area Three Police Flying Squad based in Mandeville, Manchester. The Office of Professional Responsibility OPR is investigating.

Monday December 05, 2005
 A Honduras fishing vessel carrying 115 Hondurans was apprehended on Saturday by the Jamaican Defense Force Coast Guard for fishing illegally in Jamaican waters. The vessel and crew were taken into the Kingston Harbour where they were handed over to the Marine police.

 Plans to return 100 Haitian refugees over the weekend had to be postponed when the Haitian authorities refused landing rights to the flight on which they were to arrive in Haiti. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now speaking with officials in Haiti re the repatriation of the Haitians. Since last year an increasing number of Haitians have been fleeing from Haiti following the departure of President Jean Bertrand Aristide. The 100 Haitians which were scheduled to have left Jamaica this past weekend landed in Portland last month.

 On Monday an advisory was issued by the police advising the public not to give toy guns as presents to children for Christmas gifts. The police believe that the toy guns, many of which looks like real guns, pose a direct threat to the lives of children especially in volatile communities were shoot outs are the order of the day. The public are also being reminded that it is illegal to have firecrackers or any other explosive devices in their possession.

Tuesday December 06, 2005
 Donald “Zeeks” Phipps, Matthews lane area leader was once again denied bail on Monday and will have to spend the Christmas holidays in police custody. His trial which was scheduled to begin on Monday was put off as his lawyers were not ready to proceed. The lawyers did however once again request that Zeeks be granted bail on the grounds that the Downtown Kingston area has been unstable since his arrest. The Prosecutor, Paula Llewlyn reminded the court that the stability of the country or any area was the responsibility of the Police Commissioner and the Head of the Jamaica Defense Force.

Wednesday December 07, 2005
 The Flankers main road in Montego Bay, St. James which is the sole entry and exit point between the airport or Montego Bay city center and most of the majors hotels such as Half Moon, Ritz-Carlton, Sandals Montego Bay to name a few, has been badly damage by the recent heavy rains. As a result traffic has been severely affected. Visitors have missed flights as well as cruise ships have been delayed because passengers were not back on board on time. The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) is calling on the National Works Agency (NWA) to fast track repairs to the roads in preparation for the winter tourist season.

 The Nation Prayer vigil committee held a press briefing on Wednesday morning to outline plans for the National Prayer Vigil planed for Sunday night between 9:00pm and 12:00 midnight at the Claude Stuart Park in St. Mary. The event is in an effort to combat the increase in gun violence across Jamaica. Funds collected will be used to purchase equipment for the Kingston Public Hospital.

 An amnesty on transfer tax payable on death which allows the estate of persons who died prior to June 01, 2005 to benefit from the new reduced estate duty is now being offered by the Ministry of Finance and planning. Effective June 01, 2005 the first 100 thousand dollars of the value of the estate is exempt from tax. The balance is subject to 7.5 percent tax. The public should contact the taxpayer audit and assessment department by December 31, 2005.

Thursday December 08, 2005
 On Thursday morning another area leader of August Town was shot and killed by gunmen. Dead is Richard Green otherwise known as “Ritchie Ganster” of Goldsmith Villa in August Town. Reports are that residents heard explosions after 10:00 am Thursday and called the police. On their arrival the police found Mr. Green’s body with gunshot wounds to the head. It is believed that the murder is in reprisal for the recent killing of another area leader Neil Wright of Jungle 12 also in August Town.

 With the expected increase in visitors to the island for the upcoming winter season the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association has expressed concerns that there are insufficient immigration officers at the islands two international airports. The Ministry of National Security will be meeting with those involved in the Tourist industry to share its plans to ensure all is in readiness. Plans include an additional 34 new immigration officers and 12 mobile units at both international airports to help cope with the increase in tourist traffic.

 On Thursday forty nine residents from several of the troubled inner city communities in Kingston graduated from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s (JCC) six weeks youth leadership training programme. The programme which is held in conjunction with the University Collegeof the Caribbean (UCC) is aimed at teaching participants conflict resolution techniques, entrepreneurial skills, family values and more. The top male and female performers Fenton Plummer and Sashana Jarrett received scholarships to pursue the diploma programme of their choice from Trish Steger, the executive director of the UCC Foundation in the United States..

Friday December 09, 2005
 Three officers from overseas will be joining the Jamaica Constabulary Force as Assistant Commissioners by early next year. National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips on Friday morning said contracts have been sent to the selected officers. The officers whose nationalities have not yet been disclosed are being recruited to assist in the operations of the police force.

 The Government on the Cayman Islands is offering a two week amnesty for immigration offenders. Person residing illegally in the Cayman Islands have between Friday December 09 and Friday December 23, 2005 to leave that country or face the consequences. The penalty for overstaying could be as high as $20,000.00 Cayman dollars and up to five years in prison. Work permit offenders can be charged between $5,000.00 and $15,000.00 Cayman dollars and up to one year in prison.

 The Jamaica Air Traffic Controllers Association is to meet on Friday morning with the Labour Ministry after yet another breakdown in wage negotiations with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The meeting follows the referral of the matter to the Ministry by the CAA for reconciliation. The Air traffic controllers are still holding out for two items in their wage agreement, a special loan arrangement and an improved executive group blue cross plan. Any action by the Controllers at this time would adversely impact the upcoming holiday traffic in and out of the island.