Jamaica News

The Jamaica Dairy Farmers Federation has reportedly been hauled before the revenue court, after its failure to pay over $14.3 million in outstanding PAYE deductions. The matter came before the Old Harbour Resident Magistrate’s court, where the matter was adjourned until October 23, and Resident Magistrate Simone Wolfe-Reece admonished the company’s representative to pay up by that time.

The company, which sells Century Farm Milk products, has reportedly owed the outstanding amounts since 2005. The Federation’s representative reportedly told the court that the company is undergoing a restructuring exercise, and that it is unlikely that it will be able to come up with the money by October 23. The Resident Magistrate emphasized that the company must pay a substantial sum by that date.

Employees at the company are also said to be disgruntled, as they have reportedly not been paid for the past three months.

The Denham Town CIB is investigating the circumstances under which fire, believed to be the work of arsonists, destroyed a section of the English Department Block at the St. Andrew Technical High School on Spanish Town Road over the weekend.

Police reports indicate that at about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, fire was seen coming from a section of the building. The police and fire brigade were summoned. One unit from the Trench Town Fire Department extinguished the blaze.

Following a check of the premises, it was discovered that someone had gained access to the building by breaking a window. A sum of money was reportedly stolen.

Damage is estimated at J$600,000. It is not yet known if the building is insured.

September 25, 1967 – Jamaica is one of 25 countries listed by World Bank president, George B. Woods, as having an economic growth of between 5 and 10 percent during 1966.

Members of the public are hereby advised that Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas, Attorney-at-Law, who last practiced from offices at 30 Dumbarton Avenue, in the parish of St. Andrew, has been struck from the Roll of Attorneys-at-Law entitled to practice in the several courts in the island of Jamaica. This order was made by way of judgment of the Disciplinary Committee of General Legal Council delivered on the 17^th of September 2009, such order being stated to have immediate effect.

The Disciplinary Committee of General Legal Council, after hearing evidence in the complaint brought by Mrs. Avis Smith against Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas made a number of findings against Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas, and in particular found that Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas failed to pay over to the complainant, any of the proceeds of sale in relation to property known as 3 Lyndale Avenue, Kingston 10, in the parish of St. Andrew and for which Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas had carriage of sale, and the evidence disclosed that Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas had received the proceeds of sale.

The Disciplinary Committee concluded that Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas is guilty of professional misconduct in that the evidence on the complaint disclosed that she had failed to maintain honour and dignity of the profession and had acted in a manner, which tended to discredit the profession to which she belonged.

Mrs. Antoinette Haughton-Cardenas is not entitled to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Jamaica and is not to be employed in that capacity by any member of the public.

Attorneys-at-Law are also reminded of Section 20(1) of the Legal Profession Act which reads as follows, “No attorney shall, in connection with his practice as a lawyer, without the written permission of the Council, which may be given for such period and subject to such conditions as the Council thinks fit, employ or remunerate any person who to his knowledge is disqualified from practicing as a lawyer by reason of the fact that his name has been struck of the Roll, otherwise than at his own request, or that he is suspended from practicing a lawyer.”

Dated the 23^rd day of September, 2009
Secretary, General Legal Council

The following video clip was taken from a recent Television Jamaica (TVJ) news broadcast. It shows an incident that was caught on camera in Papine Square, Kingston by the TVJ camera man … as a rastaman (allegedly a ‘loader’ of taxis) attacks a Taxi driver, chopping him multiple times. Passersby look on, but no one attempts to end it. Eventually the taximan manages to escape by driving himself away from the scene and to the hospital. Warning, the video below contains graphic scenes and is not to be viewed by children nor the ‘faint of heart’.

An Old Harbour Bay fisherman who was accused of sexually assaulting a four year old girl, was freed in the Old Harbour criminal court based on the results of DNA tests.

29 year old Ancle Abdul reportedly jumped from the prisoners’ dock, smiling happily, into the waiting arms of family members, after the resident magistrate had informed his lawyer that the DNA results were inconclusive, which made it impossible to convict Abdul on the charge of assault with intent to rape.

Jamaica’s leading poultry producer, Jamaica Broilers Group Ltd., wowed investors with stellar results for the first quarter ended August 1, 2009. Jamaica Broilers Group’s earnings per share more than doubled to J$0.36 from J$0.15.

All segments improved, especially the ethanol division, which contributed over 50% to net income. Profits from ethanol more than doubled and the poultry division also saw its earnings jump 22.73%. Additionally cost cutting measures bolstered the company’s bottom-line as distribution and administrative costs remained relatively flat.

Forty-eight year old Alvin Edwards died from injuries he sustained on Wednesday (September 16), when he fell from an ackee tree at his home on Savitri Road, Kingston 11.

According to police reports, at approximately 8 a.m., Edwards climbed the tree to pick ackees, when he lost his balance and fll to the ground. He sustained injuries and was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Hunts Bay Police are investigating.

Effective today, September 17, 2009, the Bank of Jamaica has further reduced the interest rates offered on its Certificates of Deposit by 100 basis points (1%), for a cumulative 450 basis points (4.5%) since July 24, 2009. The six-month benchmark rate will therefore move to 17% per annum from 18%.

The full schedule of new rates is displayed below:
30 days – 12.50%
60 days – 13.00%
90 days – 15.50%
120 days – 15.70%
180 days – 17.00%

‘Deal or No Deal’ is a popular television game show, where players choose from a selection of suitcases or boxes (that contain certain sums of money).

Now, Deal or No Deal is coming to Jamaica. NewComm in association with several local companies will be bringing ‘Digicel Deal or No Deal’ to Television Jamaica (TVJ), with the first episode set to air on Wednesday, September 23, at 8 p.m.

Hosted by Simon Crosskill, Digicel Deal or No Deal will allow contestants to play and deal for a top prize of J$1 million. It looks to be a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Each week, 26 beautiful Jamaican girls will hold sealed briefcases containing varying amounts of cash, ranging from a measly $1 to a whopping $1 million. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one and it is his/hers to keep (if he/she chooses) until its unsealing at game’s end.

The risk element kicks in when the player must then eliminate 25 other cases one by one, with each being opened and the amount of cash inside being revealed.