Jamaica News

Desrene King, a 42 year old cane cutter from Frome in Westmoreland, died yesterday after she was reportedly struck by lightning.

Reports indicate that King was among a group of people who were planting cane on an estate, when lightning struck at approximately 3 p.m. King was reportedly struck by the lightning, and was rushed to the Savanna-la-mar hospital where she later died.

52 year old Carlington Parkinson, was electrocuted yesterday afternoon, after he became entangled in Jamaica Public Service Co. (JPSCo) high tension wires at his home in Belmont District, Westmoreland.

According to reports, at about 3 p.m. yesterday, Parkinson climbed a breadfruit tree in his yard, and was in the process of picking the fruit, when he became entangled with the wires. He sustained severe burns, and was taken to the Sav-la-mar Hospital where he died.

The police in Westmoreland are reportedly investigating a fraud matter, where a man impersonated Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, and fleeced unsuspecting Jamaicans living overseas of more than $1.5 million.

The alleged impersonator, hails from Bartlett’s childhood district – George’s Plain in Westmoreland, and is now said to be in police custody, but has not be formally charged as yet.

The man reportedly contact wealthy persons who were originally from George’s Plain, but now living abroad. It is being alleged that he pretended to be Bartlett, and solicited money that he claimed would be used for community development projects. The suspect, who is said to be in his early 40s, will face several identification parades soon.

According to Dr. Beverly Wright, of the Manchester Health Department, some vendors at the Mandeville Market in Manchester are using formaldehyde (a deadly chemical that is used to preserve dead bodies before burial) to prevent their fish from spoiling. Dr. Wright made the disclosure during a Board of Health meeting at the Manchester Parish Council yesterday.

According to reports, in March of this year, a resident became ill after eating a fish that had been purchased at the market. The Ministry of Health was alerted, and they instantly took nine samples of fish from various vendors in the market. The samples were sent to the Government’s laboratory in Kingston for testing, and all nine samples tested positive for the chemical formaldehyde.

Indications are that the police will be investigating the matter in order to determine how the vendors came in possession of the chemical. Secretary Manager of the Manchester Parish Council, Alfred Graham, and Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay, have reportedly summoned fish vendors who sell in market to a meeting at the council’s chambers some time next week.

At approximately 2:05 p.m. this afternoon, former Tivoli Gardens area don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke left the island on an aircraft which departed from the Norman Manley International Airport. He is on his way to the United States, where he faces various drug and gun-running charges. Earlier this morning, Coke waived his right to have an extradition trial in Jamaica, and issued the following statement:

I have, today, instructed my Attorneys that I intend to waive my right to an extradition hearing in Jamaica and to proceed directly to the United States under the terms of the Extradition Laws and treaty between Jamaica and the United States of America.

I have taken this decision of my own free will and have done so even though I am of the belief that my case would have been successfully argued in the Courts of Jamaica.

I take this decision for I now believe it to be in the interest of my family, the community of Western Kingston and in particular the people of Tivoli Gardens and above all Jamaica.

Everyone, the whole country, has been adversely affected by the process that has surrounded my extradition and I hope that my action today will go some way towards healing all who have suffered and will be of benefit to the community of Tivoli Gardens.

Above all I am deeply upset and saddened by the unnecessary loss of lives which could have been avoided, be it of members of the Security Forces and over eighty (80) residents of Tivoli or any other innocent Jamaicans that has occurred during this time.

I leave Jamaica and my family in particular, Patsy, with a heavy heart but fully confident that in due course I will be vindicated and returned to them.

Pray for me and God bless Jamaica.

- Christopher Coke

Questions are being raised in some circles, about the reasoning behind the police publicizing and circulating certain pictures (mugshots) that they took of captured Tivoli Gardens area don, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke’.

The pictures (featured below) show Coke wearing a wig, glasses and Gucci cap that were among the items found in the vehicle in which Coke was traveling when it was stopped by the police along Mandela Highway yesterday afternoon.

Reports indicate that the items caused much laughter among police attached to the Spanish Town Police Station (where Coke was initially brought after he was held yesterday). They allege that they were used as part of Coke’s disguise as he laid low since the manhunt started for him around May 24. The allegations did not miss the scrutiny of popular Jamaica Observer cartoonist, Clovis, who did two cartoons recently, showing Coke wearing a wig – cartoon 1 | cartoon 2.

Alleged drug kingpin and Tivoli Gardens area don, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who has been on the run from the police for several weeks now, was arrested by the police on Mandela Highway near the border between St. Catherine and Kingston earlier this afternoon. Coke was reportedly being driven by  influential evangelical preacher / mediator, Reverend Al Miller, when their vehicle was pulled over the police for a spot check.

Coke was identified and arrested immediately, despite indications by Reverend Miller that he was in the process of delivering Coke to the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, as Coke had indicated that he wanted to waive his rights to local extradition hearings. The 42 year old Coke is wanted for extradition to the United States on drug and gun trafficking charges. Miller said that associates of Coke had called him earlier that day, asking for his assistance in arranging his surrender at the embassy, because he (Coke) was worried that the local police would harm him if he attempted to surrender directly to them.

Indications are that Coke will face the Court soon (regarding his extradition), but that his role in recent civil disturbances and attacks on police stations and other crimes will be investigated. According to Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, “We are investigating all the attacks on our personnel and I am not in a position to make a definitive statement on that matter as yet.“

25 year old German-born Dustin Brown, whose mother is German and father is Jamaican, yesterday became the first Jamaican entry at Wimbledon since 1970, but lost his first round match 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to 16th ranked Jurgen Melzer of Austria.

Brown, who sports dreadlocks, bright yellow wristbands and an unorthodox forehand slice, has been at odds with Jamaica’s tennis federation (Tennis Jamaica) for several years now, and feels neglected in his country. In a recent interview, he said that he deserved a glimmer of the domestic fame enjoyed by compatriot Usain Bolt, and that Bolt probably has no idea that he (Brown) exists.

Interestingly, Brown who is now ranked 105th in the world, is reportedly considering switching nationalities to become a Davis Cup player for England. He may be able to do this, thanks to a British grandmother on his father’s side. Tennis Jamaica meanwhile, doesn’t seem to mind this, and has given the scenario their blessing.

June 18, 1985 – The Jamaican dollar drops two cents against the United States dollar, clearing at J$5.60 to US$1, a new low. The transaction rate for the US dollar in the commercial banking system as from today will be J$5.56 buying and J$5.60 selling.

Clive Grossette, a 53 year old lecturer at the HEART Trust NTA in Gordon Town, St. Andrew, was reportedly found shot to death in an office at the institution yesterday afternoon.

According to police reports, at approximately 5;35 p.m. yesterday, a co-worker discovered Grossette’s body in an office. He had been shot multiple times. The Major Investigations Task Force (MIT) is said to be investigating his death.