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Published: Tuesday | September 29, 2015 Corey Robinson & Ruddy Mathison Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites is advising schools where children are affected by the hand, foot and mouth disease that it would be best if they remain closed until the children have recovered. "We are talking about infant schools and basic schools; there are 2,600 of them in Jamaica. Our reports from SERHA (South East Regional Health Authority) is that there is an outbreak in nine of those schools, so it needs to be put in that perspective," said Thwaites late yesterday. "What we do know is that it is very contagious and wherever there is an outbreak, the school would be better to suspend classes until the children are better." The painful hand, foot and mouth disease which causes fever and blisters on the tongue, cheek and skin, has been found among children in nine schools across the Corporate Area and St Catherine, forcing the closure of at least two of them. "The He...

BY VERNON DAVIDSON Executive editor — publications davidsonv@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, September 29, 2015     THE Rastafari M i l l e n n i u m Council (RMC) says it is opposed to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), arguing that the court system, particularly in Jamaica, needs to be repaired before any thought is given to full participation in the regional entity. “The justice system here, as reported by the justice minister and others, has one of the worst backlog of cases,” RMC Consultant Maxine Stowe told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. She pointed to her own experience with the estate of her late uncle, Clement ‘Sir Coxone’ Dodd, founder of the famous Studio One, which turned out some of Jamaica’s best recordings and became synonymous with ska, rocksteady and reggae. Dodd died in May 2004. “It’s been 11 years, and at least three family members have already died, so I have no confidence at all,” Stowe said. Inaugurated in Trinidad in April 2005, the CCJ ...

BY SIMONE MORGAN Observer staff reporter morgans@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, September 29, 2015     Jah Cure is the latest Jamaican artiste to face legal troubles in Trinidad and Tobago. Yesterday, the singer appeared in court in the country's capital, Port of Spain, to answer charges of accepting money to perform there and not showing up. JAH CURE... charged with accepting money to perform and not showing up. The 36-year-old singer (real name Siccature Alcock) was arrested by marshals of the Port of Spain High Court shortly after completing his performance at the O2 Park in Chaguaramas on Sunday night. According to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper, after lengthy discussions between Jah Cure's lawyer Mario Merritt and attorneys for the local promoter whom he owes over TT$83,000 in performance fees, the artiste was allowed to go free. The newspaper said Jah Cure paid US$6000 in cash to the court and agreed to pay the remainder Monday evening. I...

Monday, September 28, 2015     NEW JERSEY, USA (AP) — An eight-year-old girl received a one-day suspension from her southern New Jersey public elementary school for wearing a shirt that was the wrong shade of green. Kylie, 8 (left), was suspended from elementary school in New Jersey for donning a kelly green shirt The girl's mother told WTXF-TV that Winslow Township Elementary School Number 4 sent her daughter home last Tuesday for wearing a kelly green polo shirt, which was deemed to be in violation of the Camden County school's dress code. The school's dress code specifies that shirts and blouses may only be white, dark green, or navy. Winslow Township School's code on dress and grooming says "school attire can influence a pupil's behaviour and potentially impact the academic environment". Other parents have reported that their children were suspended for wearing wrong coloured shirts as well. The girl's mother called the suspension ...

BY KIMONE FRANCIS Observer online reporter francisk@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, September 28, 2015     EMBATTLED Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern Lisa Hanna was yesterday selected by delegates to return as the representative for the People's National Party (PNP) in upcoming parliamentary elections as the challenge mounted to her leadership fizzled amidst a quarrel over the voters' list. St Ann South Eastern MP Lisa Hanna (centre) is embraced by  supporters after she emerged as the winner of yesterday’s People’s  National Party candidate selection at Ferncourt High School in  the parish. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON) Hanna, whose stewardship of the constituency came under heavy scrutiny in recent months, was challenged by Councillor Lydia Richards (Bensonton Division). Of the 484 delegates who participated in the selection exercise, 468 voted for Hanna, 10 voted for Richards, while six votes were spoilt. A total of 1,056 delegates were eli...

Monday, September 28, 2015 via Jamaica Observer     NAME: Zakaya Flynn AGE: 14 years old Place Last Seen: In her community of Roadside District, St Ann Date Last Seen: Saturday, September 5, 2015 (L-R) Sherrika Davis, Zakaya Flynn, Tasheiba Clarke Description: Dark complexion, slim build and about 172 centimetres (5 feet 8 inches) tall. At the time of her disappearance she was dressed in a pink and white dress. NAME: Danna-Kaye Robinson o\c 'Bulla' AGE: 13 years old Place Last Seen: In her community of Ply Scheme, Retirement, Granville, St James Date Last Seen: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Description: Dark complexion and about 142 centimetres (4 feet 8 inches) tall. Danna-Kaye was last seen dressed in a white blouse, khaki and burgundy plaid skirt and a pair of black shoes. NAME: Morriah McKenzie (L-R) Georgia Whyte, Rea Daley, Tianna Campbell AGE: 13 years old Place Last Seen: At home in Meadows Vale, Granville, St James Date Last Seen: We...

Sunday, September 27, 2015     DURING recording sessions for The Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems 2015 album, producer Clive Hunt recalls a pivotal moment with veteran keyboardist Franklin 'Bubbler' Waul. "Him sey, 'Clive, yuh know why dis ting a work? Cause yuh doing nuthin new!'" said an animated Hunt. Clive Hunt, Producer 'One Drop Anthems' is a back-to-basics project to be released October 23 by Greensleeves Records, a London-based label that played a significant role in breaking artistes like Barrington Levy, Yellowman and Michael Prophet in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The compilation showcases mainly upcoming artistes such as Ikaya, Jah9, Jahvinci, Yahsha and Raging Fyah, as well as the established Luciano and Etana. Each of the 13 songs is produced by Hunt, rated as one of reggae's top producers. He said his main objective was to restore a sense of thought to the music. "No producer in reggae in Jamaica use an arra...

Sunday, September 27, 2015     Children from Epsom Basic School in Portmore, St Catherine were happy to receive books and stationery items last week from Crayons Count, sponsored by National Baking Company Foundation. The National Baking Foundation is currently distributing kits to 2,500 basic schools across the island. This is the fourth year of sponsorship for the Portmore school, which includes a specialist teacher and a mobile unit.

PENDA HONEYGHAN Observer writer  Sunday, September 27, 2015     LIVING in a household of 17 does not often allow quiet time or private study time. But for 17-year-old Andre Inverdale, it provided a team of strong support. INVERDALE... there will always be a time when you say to yourself, ‘mi caan bada enuh’, but find something that inspires you to be great Distractions, competing activities, noise, numerous visitors, notwithstanding, Inverdale attributes his academic success to the ever-circling presence of his extended family and his promise to them to always pursue excellence. The Ardenne High School student earned nine subjects in the 2015 sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) exams. He received grades ones in additional mathematics, chemistry, English A, French, history, information technology, and mathematics. He rounded out his scorecard with grade twos in social studies and biology. But the road to this achievement has no...

 BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer writer  Sunday, September 27, 2015     HAVING grown up in one of the world's most famous music families, Stephanie Marley is familiar with the attention afforded children of celebrities. Models from B’uniqk Modelling Talent Agency. Two years ago when she started the B'uniqk (pronounced be unique) Modelling Talent Agency, one of her goals was to prepare aspirants for a career in the spotlight. Even with a name as renowned as Marley, the daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley and his wife Rita said it has not been easy establishing the fledgling company. "We have been networking with ad agencies and production teams to get our company in the know. We still have to work on increased publicity; however, the response has been good as we have made it easier for agencies to locate and identify children with talent," she told the Jamaica Observer. Currently, B'uniqk has a full-time staff of three, which includes a booking agent. ...

BY HOWARD WALKER Senior staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, September 27, 2015   IT is so! The United States athletics team were even intimidated by a drink with Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt's image on the label. For long, rumours circulated that members of the United States team, which participated in the World Championships in Beijing, China last month, refused to even take a sip of the sport energy fluid Gatorade, all because Bolt advertises the product and the producers of the commodity proudly display the Trelawny-born's photograph on certain bottles. Usain Bolt takes a sip of Gatorade during a promotional shoot in Kingston. Now, the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) has confirmed earlier talk that the USA squad members flatly decided against even taking a sip. "That's a fact. It happened that way," the JAAA's Media Officer Dennis Gordon told journalists during a Jamaica Observer Press Club discussion...

Published: Friday | September 25, 2015 KINGSTON, Jamaica – The US dollar on Friday, September 25, ended trading at J$119.02, up by four cents according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily foreign exchange trading summary. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at J$88.55, down from J$89.15, while the British pound sterling ended trading at J$181.41, up from J$180.76. At the close of trading today, the Jamaican dollar averaged $119.02 to US$1, a record high.  The Jamaican dollar has fallen from $99.33 to US$1 on May 1, 2013, when Jamaica signed a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has stressed the importance of devaluation. While on a visit to the island last June, IMF chief Christine Lagarde, said the Jamaican currency was overvalued and has to endure further re-valuation although she did not indicate the acceptable level. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party and some manufacturers have campaigned against devaluation, saying it will re...

Friday, September 25, 2015     MORE than $100 million is to be spent for the renovation and expansion of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at the Linstead Hospital in St Catherine. Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson (right), addressing  a $76.4 million contract signing ceremony at the Office  of the Prime Minister for the renovation of the Accident  and Emergency Department at the Linstead Hospital.  Beside him is Member of Parliament for North West St Catherine and Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill. (PHOTO: JIS) Of the sum, $76.4 million, for which a contract was signed Tuesday, will be spent to renovate and expand specific areas, while the remainder of the funds will go toward equipping and installing a heating ventilation and air conditioning system in the department. The renovation works will result in the addition of a waiting area, parking area, nebulisation station, ex...

Friday, September 25, 2015 OCHO RIOS, St Ann -- The sacking Wednesday of the Prickly Pole Primary School board chair by Education Minister Ronald Thwaites yesterday won support from the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), even as residents in the St Ann community protested the action. Hanna… was a target of the protesters. At right: THWAITES…  accused of acting ‘expeditiously’ to dismiss Robb-Oddman "We wish to remind the minister of education and the National Council on Education of the critical role school boards play in the education system. Therefore, persons so appointed should have the education of the nation's children as their sole agenda," the JTA said in a statement. Thwaites revoked Vinnette Robb-Oddman's appointment after it emerged that she helped to organise a protest in Claremont last Friday which included students from the school. That protest was staged, the residents said, to demand an answer from Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna abo...

Published: Thursday | September 24, 2015 Shereita Grizzle Another foreign country has once again shown its respect for reggae music. On Saturday, the Eglinton West neighbourhood in Canada got a new 1,200 square foot mural, which not only pays homage to the genre, but serves as a reminder of the country's rich history with reggae music and its culture. The 1,200 square foot reggae mural erected in the  Eglinton West neighbourhood  in Canada. In a joint effort with the public arts organisation, The STEPS Initiative and The Laneway Project, Toronto-based artist Adrian Hayles and a group of young painters created the mural. According to numerous online sources, the mural is the latest effort by the area's councillor, Josh Colle, to highlight the country as a reggae hotspot. Last year, Colle helped rename a roadway off Eglinton Avenue and Oakwoods Avenue in the area as Reggae Lane. Along with the mural, Heritage Toronto also unveiled a historic plaque to commemorate the o...

Thursday, September 24, 2015    DANNY Glover, celebrated American actor, film director, political activist, and champion of reparatory justice, will be the guest speaker at a public forum at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Monday October 5, titled "Conversations with Danny Glover @ UWI". He will be presented by Vice-Chancellor of the UWI Sir Hilary Beckles. GLOVER… has gained respect for wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts. Glover, well-known for his performances in movies like The Lethal Weapon series, The Colour Purple, and Predator 2, and television shows ER and Brothers and Sisters, is an active supporter of various humanitarian and political causes. In 2005, he co-founded Louverture Films dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value, and artistic integrity. Glover has gained respect for wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts with pa...

BY HORACE HINES Observer West reporter SALT MARSH, Trelawny  Thursday, September 24, 2015     A year ago it would have been preposterous to even consider that this normally quiet, peaceful seaside community would be the number one hot spot on the Trelawny Police Division's radar. But the frequent onslaught by gunmen, which has left six people dead in recent weeks, has forced Commander of the Trelawny Police Division Superintendent Clive Blair to place the spotlight on the community located on the periphery of Falmouth, Trelawny's capital. REID... partially decomposed body was found in bushes  PLUMMER... peppered with bullets (R) "This community is the number one community that is of concern to me as the commanding officer. When I look at the parish and make a general assessment of the other communities that are termed as hot spots, this is the number one. Sad to say, but with the recent happenings in your community it has dawned on me to put more attention...

IRWIN, St James- Thursday, September 24, 2015     THE Mavis Allen Basic School in Irwin, St James, which has been plagued with a lack of water for several years, last week finally said farewell to their water woes, after receiving a donation of a 650-gallon water tank from telecommunications provider, Digicel. The school had been nominated in Digicel's social media-driven #TankMySchool initiative by Kareen Binns, a teacher of the sciences at the nearby Irwin High School. Regional Account Manager at Digicel Business, Olivia Tate  (right), officially hands over a 650-gallon water tank to principal  of the Mavis Allen Basic School Audrea Drummond, while pupils celebrate. "The school was really in need of a water tank and Digicel's initiative presented the perfect opportunity," shared Binns. "It was such a coincidence that the same day I sent in the nomination, the Irwin High School Science Club had been painting the basic school and the principal and I w...

Carol Kuruvilla Associate Religion Editor Published 9/22/15 Pope Francis has landed on Joint Base Andrews, marking the beginning of his first trip to the United States.  The pontiff landed at about 3:50 p.m. eastern time and was greeted by President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and top cardinals and bishops from the U.S. Catholic church, including Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. More than a hundred Catholic students, youth and lay church members, including the band from DeMatha Catholic High School Hyattsville, M.D., welcomed the pope with songs, screams and chants of "Olé, Olé, Olé!" Francis has a  rigorous itinerary in store  during his six-day trip to the country -- with stops in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. 

Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General, Faris al Rawi, has signed documents, clearing the way for extradition proceedings against former FIFA Vice President, Austin ‘Jack’ Warner. Jack Warner Warner is wanted in the United States on corruption charges.  The extradition case was heard in court today, but has been adjourned until Friday. Warner is among nine officials of world football’s governing body, along with five sports marketing executives indicted by US prosecutors.  He faces 12 charges related to racketeering and bribery.  US authorities have asked for him to be extradited in order to face the charges. The 72 year old Warner, the former president of CONCACAF, has denied all wrongdoing.

Headshot of Nick Visser Nick Visser Reporter, The Huffington Post Posted: 09/21/2015 04:46 PM EDT  The gross domestic product of the United States was  nearly $17.5 trillion  in 2014. That's enough money to buy all the planet's gold two times over. ANDREW BURTON VIA GETTY IMAGES The marshy tundra around Newtok, Alaska, which has seen some of its  permafrost thaw due to rising global temperatures. Now consider this: If the world's permafrost thaws, as a new study warns, humanity could be saddled with a bill that adds more than $43 trillion to the already massive climate-related debt the world will rack up in the next two centuries. $43,000,000,000,000. You can do the math yourself, but that's more than two-and-a-half times America's GDP and an economic death sentence "beyond conception," says  Kevin Schaefer , a research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center and one of the authors of the report. The report, published Mon...