Sunday December 18, 2005
Commanding Officer in charge of the St. Catherine North Police Division, Superintendent Kenneth Wade on Sunday said that there will be increased police presence in St. Catherine during Christmas. The heightened security presences is as a result of a promise made to the business community of Spanish Town by Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas at a meeting between the Commissioner along with his divisional commanders and the executive members of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce last month. Superintendent Wade also warned residents to be on full alert for any illegal activities occurring in their community

With 170,000 cruise ship passengers expected to arrive at the Ocho Rios Pier during December and January the upcoming winter tourist season is looking good for the resort town of Ocho Rios. According to Dennis Richards, the terminal manager at the Ocho Rios Pier, so far this month they have had over 33,000 cruise ship passengers with an expected 80,000 to 85,000 by the end of the month. At least one cruise ship is scheduled to arrive in Ocho Rios every day up to the end of January 2006. Preparations are under way to ensure that adequate transportation is availability to transport visitors to attractions and shopping areas.

Follow up:

Monday December 19, 2005
Following a meeting on Monday involving health officials and the police the Old Harbour Health Centre in St. Catherine will reopen on Tuesday. Deputy Superintendent of police with responsibility for administration in the St. Catherine south division, Anthony McLaughlin, said new security measures will be implemented at the facility. The health centre was closed last Wednesday after a man armed with a knife entered the building threatening staff members then slashed a tyre on a car owned by a nurse. The man who was reprimanded by the police has since apologised.

The Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights (IJCHR) has signed a contract with the European Union for $24 million Jamaican dollars to promote rehabilitation alternatives to the death penalty in Jamaica. Over a two year period the five main areas of focus will be advocacy in death penalty cases, advocacy training, research on the death penalty in Jamaica, criminal justice reform and the establishment of a branch of the IJCHR in Montego Bay. The IJCHR plans to increase its preparation of petitions to the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights. There is also plans to launch a Human Rights Journal for the Caribbean aimed at issuing articles on human rights issues regionally.

In an effort to address the problem of overcrowding in our local prisons the Department of Correctional Services is to reopen the New Broughton Sunset Adult Correctional Centre in Manchester. The facility can accommodate 33 inmates. The Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre that can accommodate 50 inmates is also set to reopen shortly.

Tuesday, December 20 2005
During 2005, the police conducted twenty-two curfews and just over 14-thousand raids in Jamaica which lead to the seizure of 436 firearms and just over 13-thousand other offensive weapons. Six thousand eight hundred and eighty-five persons have been detained with 642 arrests made for various crimes as well as the execution of five thousand and twenty-five warrants.

Senior Superintendent of police Reneto Adams, Corporal Patrick Coke and Corporal Shane Lyons were all freed on Tuesday afternoon when the 12 member jury returned a not guilty verdict on all four counts of non-capital murder after deliberating for five hours and thirty five minutes. The three policemen were on trial for the fatal shooting of four persons in Kraal, Clarendon on May 07, 2003. Fifty-three witnesses gave evidence of which 40 were prosecution witnesses.

$261 million from the Capital Development Fund which is funded by the bauxite levy it to be used in government investments to benefit communities located near mined out bauxite lands over the next few years as part of the Bauxite Community Development Programme. Since the beginning of the programme in 1996 about 200 million has already been spent on development projects such as agricultural projects, business development activities, infrastructure and water supplies and skills training in communities that have been dislocated by bauxite mining operations.

Wednesday December 21, 2005
The group of Honduran fishermen who were caught fishing illegally in Jamaican waters by members of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard on December 3 is now slated to return home on Wednesday courtesy of a charter jet. After pleading guilty and paying their fines the fishermen were still being held in jail up to one week without being told of arrangements for their repatriation . The boat which the men had used to fish would remain the property of the Jamaican government.

The Area One police in Westmoreland removes two more illegal guns from their streets. In an operation on Tuesday a Beretta pistol, a Lorcin pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition were found in a box in bushes in the Retirement area. No arrest were made in connection with the find.

Thursday December 22, 2005
The 25-year-old Jamaican international footballer Marlon King will be moving to Watford in January to complete a half a million dollar permanent move to English championship side Watford, from Nottingham. Since moving to Watford on loan at the start of the season King has become the championship's leading scorer, with 12 goals for Watford. Watford are third in the table, 14 points behind second placed Sheffield United.

Legal sand mining in the Yallahs River near Easington, St. Thomas is causing great concerns to both residents and environmentalists. Residents of St. Thomas claim that sand mining in the parish is threatening their homes and if not addressed may even cause lost of lives. A sewage system in the Yallahs Housing Scheme was recently washed down the river. Residents claim that this was caused by the over-mining of river beds. Environmentalists are concerned because sand mining results in increased channel flow which erodes river banks and causes flooding. The Ministry of Land and Environment has issued licences to about five quarries in Yallahs, all of which are operating in accordance with the licences issued to them. It is being suggested that the authorities cut back on the number of licences being issued, until they have someone examine the state of the river beds.

Friday December 23, 2005
The National Blood Transfusion Centre is short on all types of blood and is appealing for persons to make blood donations. Sandra Brown, Communications Officer for the Voluntary Blood Donor Programme, said that the situation severely restricts the ability of the Blood Bank to respond to demands which may arise over the Christmas holidays.

Operators of some villas and apartments say that despite the increase in tourist traffic for this winter tourist season, they are yet to see any real signs that they will benefit significantly from the increased. Chairman of the Jamaica Association of Villas and Apartments, Vana Taylo on Friday said that small properties are reeling as a result of the country's crime problem as many tourists are not keen on staying at these properties.

Thirty nine foreigners including twenty two Jamaicans living illegally in the Cayman Islands have so far taken advantage of an immigration amnesty and left the country without facing prosecution. The amnesty which was initially scheduled to end Thursday December 22, 2005, has been extended to January 6, 2006. Employers in the Cayman Islands of illegal immigrants have also been warned that they will be prosecuted. The Cayman authorities claimed that there were 1,500 Jamaicans living illegally in that country. Robert Hamaty, the Jamaican Honorary Consul in Cayman, has requested a list of names of Jamaicans who have overstayed but so far this has not been provided.

In an effort to increase its existing fleet's flying time Air Jamaica has announced that effective February 23, 2006, a new non-stop service will be introduced from New York's JFK International Airport to St. Lucia. The flights are expected to operate on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, departing New York at 7 a.m and arriving in St. Lucia 12:35 p.m.