Jamaica News

July 8, 1943 – The newly formed Jamaica Labour Party is launched at the Ward Theatre in Kingston. The founding president is Alexander Bustamante. At the launch, the members formally accept the provisional constitution for the government of the party and its aims and objectives. A resolution pledging to work unceasingly for the progress, growth, expansion and successful accomplishment of the ideals and principles which the party sets out to achieve is unanimously passed.

July 8, 1957 – York Pharmacy opens in Half-Way-Tree by Commodity Services Ltd., a company that’s owned and operated by the Matalon family. In addition to prescription drugs, it also offers toiletries, perfumery, newspapers, magazines and cigarettes.

July 8, 1964 – Late Reggae Boy, Durrant ‘Tatty’ Brown, is born. He died in a motor vehicle accident in 2001.

Controversial dancehall deejay Desmond ‘Ninja Man’ Ballentine and his 21 year old son Jahniel, will return to the Gun Court section of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, where they along with two co-accused face charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of firearm in connection with the murder of one Ricardo ‘Ricky Trooper’ Johnson at his Marl Road home in Olympic Gardens (Kingston 20) earlier this year.

According to the police report, Ninja Man was among a group of men who drove up in a grey motor vehicle and shot Johnson as he swept his yard on March 16. Ninja Man surrendered to the police a week after the incident, while the other accused me were held in St. Ann in April.