Ex-nurse convicted of hiring hitman to murder Jamaican husband
Several Immigration Bills recently introduced into the US House of Representatives could result in mass deportations. The Enforcement Act H.R. 2406, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authorization Act, introduced by Republican Bob Goodlatte and the Davis-Oliver Act, H.R. 2431, introduced by Republican Republican Raul Labrador, while purporting to secure and protect Americans from dangerous criminal Immigrants and “job stealers”, would among other things, criminalize “unlawful status”, making it a crime to be in the U.S. without current legal immigration status and also make drunk driving a deportable offense.
A Caribbean American ex-registered nurse in Brooklyn, New York has been convicted of hiring a hitman to murder her Jamaican-born husband in 2013 after having made two failed attempts at the victim’s life. The gunman was also convicted of murder. On Wednesday, it took a jury less than three hours to convict Alishia Noel-Murray, 29 — whose father, Andrew Noel, was born in Grenada, and mother, Pauline Noel, also a registered nurse, was born in Guyana — of having her husband, Omar Murray, 37, killed to cash in on a US$900,000 life insurance policy.
The People Profile awards will honor veteran actor/comedian Oliver Samuels with a lifetime achievement award during its annual event at the Bailey Hall in Broward County this Saturday, June 17. Awards will be also made to 14 other individuals including teachers, students, cosmetologists, broadcasters and sports personalities. There will be performances from Samuels, King Yellowman, Ity and Fancy, Papa Michigan and Tanto Metro and Devonte.
And in Sports
IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe believes Usian Bolt could be hard pressed to keep his crown before he retires from the track after this summer’s London World Championships. The 30-year-old sprint legend vowed to retire from the sport later this year, following the London meet, where he will look to end his career undefeated in the 100 and 200 meter sprints. Coe said in London Bolt will be challenged as he’s a little bit older, but Bolt has an inestimable quality going for him. “He knows how to go through the rounds and he knows more about it than anybody else,” Coe said.
Here’s What’s Trending.
San Francisco police are trying to determine why a UPS driver shot and killed three co-workers before turning the gun on himself Wednesday at a sorting and delivery center in San Francisco. The gunman was wearing his brown UPS uniform when he opened fire during a morning meeting at a company warehouse. The victims were three male co-workers of the shooter ages 46, 50 and 56-year old respectively. Two other workers were als injured in the attack. Police said after killing and injuring his co-workers shot himself in the head.
For Tomorrow’s weather forecast
It will be mostly cloudy with showers likely in Broward Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties with a high of 88 and a low of 73 degrees.
Grenadian Lindon Victor is NCAA field athlete of the year
Texas A&M senior Lindon Victor was named National Field Athlete of the Year for a season that included breaking the collegiate record in the decathlon twice, along with defending his titles at the SEC and NCAA Championships.
It’s the second consecutive year that the Grenadian has won the award.
National Athletes of the Year for the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor track and field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Victor first broke the 11-year-old collegiate record in the decathlon with a score of 8,472 points to become Texas A&M’s first Texas Relays decathlon champion. He bettered the previous collegiate and meet record of 8,465 set by Trey Hardee in 2006.
While breaking the collegiate record, Victor also produced the best first-day score in the decathlon by a college athletes. His first day tally of 4,516 bettered the previous score of 4,500 set by Oregon’s Ashton Eaton in the 2010 NCAA Championships.
During the SEC Championships, Victor improved his collegiate record to a score of 8,539 points and generated the best-ever second-day score by a collegian with his total of 4,174 points, which topped the previous best of 4,145 by Arizona’s Jake Arnold at the 2007 NCAA meet. Victor also improved his collegiate best in the decathlon discus to 181-2 (55.22).
With a pair of collegiate records and a successful SEC title defense, Victor defended his NCAA title with a score of 8,390 points, the seventh best performance on the collegiate all-time list.
Victor also became just the fifth individual to successfully defend an NCAA decathlon title and on the all-time collegiate list his performances rank Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. His average score among the three decathlons he has contested as a senior in 2017 is 8,467 points.
Haitian President meets with Mike Pence in Miami
Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse has held talks with United States Vice President Mike Pence on deepening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Moise arrived in Miami earlier this week to attend the Investment Summit of the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida that ends on Saturday.
He met with Pence on the side-lines of the conference on Thursday where they discussed issues that had been raised with US Secretary for Homeland Security John Kelly when he visited Haiti last month
“This important meeting was held in the framework of the strengthening of the bilateral relations between the two countries. The focus was on foreign direct investment to create jobs in the country so that Haiti instead of being a humanitarian destination becomes an investment destination with a new leadership devoted to the well-being of the people Haitian.
“The issue of strengthening of Haitian institutions was also discussed. Vice President Pence promised to help Haiti strengthen its National Police, including the Coast Guard unit,” according to a statement issued following the talks.
Impropriety at ISSA?
Old Boys Associations calls for audit of Association’s financial records
The Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has come under intense scrutiny after an alliance of old boys’ associations of five prominent Jamaican high schools lodged a better complaint to the Ministry of Education about the operation of the school sporting body.
The old boys’ associations of Calabar, Jamaica College, Kingston College, St. George’s College and Wolmer’s Boys’ School, submitted to the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information outlining a number of concerns.
The letter dated June 2 was addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Deanroy Bernard, and copied to a number of individuals in various government ministries, including Education Minister Ruel Reid and Sports Minister Olivia Grange.
The letter stated that the various associations have no confidence in ISSA’s desire to develop and protect student athletes and demanded an immediate forensic audit of ISSA’s financial records for the last five years.
Dr. Walton Small, Principal of Wolmer’s Boys’ School, is the President of ISSA.
Below is the letter addressed to the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information:
As an alliance comprising the Old Boys Associations of Calabar High School, Jamaica College, Kingston College, St. George’s College and Wolmer’s Boys’ School, we hereby write to bring to your attention several concerns that we have in relation to the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA).
These concerns are primarily rooted in the grave lack of transparency, accountability and governance in how ISSA conducts its operations as well as the exploitative nature of aspects of ISSA’s handling of student athletes. We have approached ISSA through their president in the past and have found their response to be quite dismissive.
ISSA has always been described by its Executive as a non-profit organization, and they have repeatedly insinuated that a large portion of the funds that they generate and collect are given back to the schools that participate in their events.
We find these assertions difficult to reconcile with the fact that our research indicates that ISSA currently receives in excess of Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200 M) per annum from corporate sponsors alone, yet its total contribution to one of the leading participating schools for last year was under a million dollars.
The members of the ISSA Executive have also described their positions as being voluntary in nature. However, we have been reliably informed that this is far from reality.
It is our understanding that Executive Members do indeed receive monetary payments from ISSA, in addition to the Association paying for their foreign travel and accommodations when they represent and act – sometimes only putatively – on behalf of ISSA.
It has also come to our attention that some members of the ISSA Executive are Directors of Greenfield Media Productions Ltd. (GMPL), a joint venture between ISSA and Grace Kennedy, the major sponsor of Boys and Girls Championships.
Student athletes are the products from whom ISSA ultimately derives its income; these students sacrifice class time to compete in ISSA’s competitions, while placing themselves at risk of injury in the process.
It is for these reasons that many of these athletes are in dire need of far more remedial classes and critical emergency medical care. However, it is past students and the respective alumni associations like ours that, largely, fund these crucial needs. It would appear that ISSA has taken a decision to resile from contributing in these areas. Accordingly, we have little confidence in ISSA’s desire or ability to develop and protect our student athletes.
Furthermore, very little information on ISSA is made available to the public and attempts by alumni associations such as ours to access even basic documentation about that entity quite often run into roadblocks.
Meanwhile, ISSA’s accountability/reporting framework remains unclear to us. It is not clear to whom ISSA reports in the Government bureaucracy, or whether it is currently being made to report to anyone at all. What does seem more apparent is that this body is operating without any robust governance structure, without properly established checks and balances, or guidelines for sound oversight.
As an entity that coordinates and hosts sporting activities for secondary schools that are funded from the Consolidated Fund, we believe that ISSA, too, should be subjected to the Corporate Governance Framework for Public Sector Bodies of Jamaica.
This is a major area of concern as our Old Boys’ associations have always been significant stakeholders in the development of our schools, and our efforts have borne fruit in many ways, including improved academic performance and sporting excellence.
Our associations contribute to the welfare and learning of current students through scholarships, mentoring, feeding programmes, etc.
Millions of dollars are spent annually on medical bills, physiotherapy, nutrition and hydration, feeding programmes, training camps and athletic equipment and gear.
The harsh reality is that these costs are borne by the alumnae of each institution. A rough estimate puts the yearly expenditure of each school on its athletic programme above that of any single sponsorship package we have heard announced. In essence, this makes Calabar, JC, Wolmer’s, St George’s and KC, collectively, the largest financial contributor (read: sponsor) in making ISSA events successful. Yet, they refuse to even engage us in dialogue. (And, à la Shirley Chisholm, if they don’t give us a seat at the table, we are prepared to bring a folding chair!)
In light of the above, we consider the following questions germane:
1). Should ISSA be allowed to collect funds year after year without providing proper financial statements? Who is responsible for conducting financial and operational audits – if any – of ISSA? If audits have been done, when was the most recent one and are audit reports available for scrutiny? Does ISSA submit its accounting records, bank statements and audited financial statements to the Ministry of Education (MOE)?
2). Should ISSA be allowed to keep large sums of money on fixed deposit, when many schools are having challenges meeting the requirements of participating in ISSA-run events because of financial constraints? Is the MOE or any other government ministry, agency or department keeping track of ISSA’s various current, savings and investment accounts?
3). If many of the costs associated with the schools’ sporting programmes are already being borne by the schools, parents and alumni, shouldn’t ISSA have more funding available to remit to the schools?
4). When one considers the fact that athletes have to sacrifice study time and classroom contact hours in order to put in the work required to achieve the world class standards of athletic performance at the annual Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, is it morally or ethically right for ISSA not to bear the burden of replacing these lost contact hours, especially when, for many of these athletes, they are unable to afford extra or remedial classes on their own?
Shouldn’t ISSA have in place some sort of remedial summer or weekend-class program for example, to put back what the student athletes have lost in order to make the Championships the wildly profitable and internationally renowned event that it is?
5). If the persons who comprise the ISSA Executive owe their places on that Executive solely to the fact that they are all employed to the MOE as principals of high schools, then should such persons be allowed to accrue financial gain from their participation in ISSA? Would such a situation not, almost inevitably, result in obvious conflicts of interest?
6). Are ISSA Executive Members who sit on the board of Greenfield Media Production Ltd (GMP) receiving any direct financial benefits from that joint venture? Are they members of GMP in their individual capacity or as officers of ISSA? If they are, wouldn’t such a situation also result in further conflicts of interest?
We are of the view that answers to the above questions will serve to enlighten the public on the potential for funding assistance and greater academic support for participating schools in future events.
This financial aspect touches on the governance structure that ought to be required for a body such as ISSA, which impacts significantly the sporting performance and the development of athletes in Jamaica. Events such as the annual Boys & Girls’ Athletic Championships, the Manning Cup and DaCosta Cup football competitions are always of great national interest and importance.
Accordingly, to address these issues we would like to respectfully recommend the following:
1). An immediate forensic audit of ISSA’s financial records for the last five years be carried out and the findings made known. Particular scrutiny should be directed at payments and benefits that have been given to Executive Members.
2). ISSA’s company documents, financial records and meeting records should be open and available to all key stakeholders (i.e., PTA, Alumni Associations, Coaches Association, MOE).
3). Full financial and personal disclosure requirements for all ISSA Executive Members ought to become mandatory.
4). Consideration should be given to diversifying the make-up of the ISSA Board to allow for representatives from the alumni associations, the Coaches Association, National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) and the MOE.
5). Term limits for all ISSA Executive Members established and enforced based on guidelines for similar public funded bodies.
6). Establishment of an oversight body for the ISSA, together with a clear and unambiguous reporting structure.
7). Establishment of strict and transparent guidelines governing payments and remitting of funds to the participating schools.
8). Consideration be given to setting restrictions on how ISSA may spend its net financial resources; specifically, this should be confined to direct reinvestment in the schools, especially in the area of student-athlete academic support.
9). Promotion of greater probity and integrity in ISSA’s management and execution practices through random audits of ISSA sporting events.
10). Conduct within ISSA be guided by a code of ethics, which would, inter alia, prohibit Executive Members from using their positions for personal financial gain.
In light of the fact that all of current ISSA Executive Members are employees of Government-run schools who ought to submit Statutory Declaration of Assets, Liabilities & Income pursuant to the Corruption (Prevention) Act, and that the MOE has an obligation to the public to ensure that those in its employ conduct themselves in a manner that is always unquestionably above board, we are seeking your direct intervention in his matter.
We anticipate receiving an acknowledgement and a timely response.
Thief flees from crime scene after being caught red-handed
A tool thief fled from a crime scene after he was confronted by the victim, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.
The burglar was seen on surveillance video holding $180 worth of tools in a tote bag that was stolen from a van about 8 a.m. June 1 at Martin Precise Products in the 2300 block of Northwest 30th Street in Oakland Park.
Surveillance video shows the man smiling as he walked by the camera.
After taking off, the burglar decided to stop one more time to grab something from the Dodge Sprinter he’d just burglarized, deputies said. That’s when the victim took notice of the burglar and chased him.
A struggle took place between the victim and the burglar, but eventually the burglar dropped the pilfered saw he’d taken from the van and drove off.
In the end, the intended victim managed to keep his hacksaw, although his other tools were stolen.
The burglar is described as having a goatee and was last seen wearing dark shorts, a light colored T-shirt and a medallion.
Coe believes Bolt faces big challenge to keep his crown
IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe believes the King of sprinting could be hard pressed to keep his crown before he retires from the sport at this summer’s London World Championships.
The 30-year-old Bolt has vowed to retire from the sport later this year, following the London meet, where he will look to end his career undefeated over the distance at a world meet.
A host of sprinters, including the United States’ Justin Gatlin, rising Canadian sprint star Andre De Grasse and his Racers Track Club teammate Yohan Blake will be looking to spoil the send off.
Bolt faced his biggest challenge at a major games at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, managing to beat Gatlin by just one-hundredths of a second. The 23-year-old De Grasse a bronze medallist at the last three major games has eyed a move to the top of the table this time around, while a resurgent Blake, once thought to be Bolt’s natural successor will also have thoughts of proving his worth.
“This year, it could be as tight as 2015,” Coe told I News.
“There will be challenges this time, he’s a little bit older, but the one thing he does have going for him is that inestimable quality,” he said. “He knows how to go through the rounds and he knows more about it than anybody else.”
NetSpend refunds coming
NetSpend Corporation is providing refunds to settle FTC charges that people couldn’t get access to the money they had put into their NetSpend account.
Here’s how the refunds work. NetSpend is sending notices by email and mail to people who are eligible for a refund. The emails tell you how to request a refund using an online form. The paper notice gives you a printed form to return. You have to apply to NetSpend to get your money back. And you have to apply by October 7, 2017.
If you get a notice, please respond as soon as you can: NetSpend will mail your refund check within 30 days after you make your request. The refund is for all of the money you lost, and we want to be sure you get it back.
If you think you should have gotten a notice from NetSpend and didn’t — or if you have problems getting your money back, please let the FTC know.
Remember: you never have to pay to get a refund in an FTC case. Anyone who asks you to pay for a refund is a scammer.
Karate instructor arrested for kissing 12-year-old on her lips
A karate instructor is accused of kissing a 12-year-old girl, who was his student, on the lips, then asking her to keep it a secret.
Jonathan Vega, 22, was arrested Tuesday on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior.
Pembroke Pines police said Vega confessed to kissing the girl when confronted about the allegation.
According to an arrest affidavit, Vega was an instructor at Premier Martial Arts, where the girl was a student.
Police said Vega initially denied the incident, but he later admitted to kissing her and said he asked her to change his contact name on her cellphone so that her parents didn’t know they were communicating.
According to the report, Vega told police that he “is attracted to children and that he doesn’t trust himself around children.”
“He advised that he doesn’t seek out children and that it just happens,” the report said.
Police said Vega confessed that he “may not have the strength to resist another child.”
Police said that Vega told detectives that he had another inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old when he was 18 and that matter was resolved within the families.
Bond was set for Vega at $50,000. He was ordered by a judge not to have any contact with the victim or any other child.
“You cannot go back to your job at that karate studio,” the judge said. . “You cannot be within 500 feet of where children might be.”
Portia Simpson Miller and Omar Davies to resign their seats on June 30
An era in Jamaican politics will end at the end of this month when two political stalwarts, former Prime Minister and leader of the People’s National Party Portia Simpson Miller and her party colleague and minister in past PNP administrations, Dr. Omar Davies official resign their parliamentary seats. Simson Miller previously resigned as PNP leader and Leader of the Opposition earlier this year. The resignation of both politicians will be effective on June 29.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has condemned the attack and robbery of a popular Roman Catholic priest, who has been working with young people to help in the fight against crime and violence in the twin island republic. Rowley said the attack on Father Harvey “by able-bodied, gun-toting men sadly represents the worst that exists within our communities. A statement issued by the Archdiocese of Port of Spain noted that Father Harvey was tied up and robbed by three men who threatened to kill him.
Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam, in collaboration with SEIU Florida and Florida New Americans, will host a citizenship drive on June 16 and 17 to help residents living in Miramar and Pembroke Pines become US Citizens. Mayor Messam is encouraging permanent residents who are interested in becoming citizens. Residents can also apply for a waiver to avoid paying the citizenship application fee if they currently receiving public benefits by bringing their DCF benefits letter on Saturday. Low income residents may bring their last Tax Return to qualify for a chance to obtain a fee reduction.
And in Sports
The Theodore Whitmore coached Reggae Boyz lost their friendly encounter against Peru 3-1 in that South American nation on Wednesday. The Jamaicans seemed out of sorts and may have been affected by the high altitude at which the match was played. Peru raced into a 3-0 lead through goals from Edison Flores, Renato Tapia and Paolo Guerrero, while Jermaine Johnson scored Jamaica’s consolation goal through a 86th minute penalty.
.Here’s What’s Trending.
Washington DC was in shock yesterday following the shooting attack on Congressional Republicans participating in baseball practice in a Virginia park Wednesday morning. House of Representative Republican Majority Whip, Congressman Steve Scalise was injured in the attack along with an aide and underwent surgery, but is in stable condition. The shooter was shot and killed by US Capitol police.
For Tomorrow’s weather forecast
It will be mostly cloudy with showers likely in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Counties with a high of 88 and a low of 73 degrees. Today’s news was brought to you by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, who encourages you to Protect Your Baby, Vaccinate On Time, Every Time. They remind you that Immunizations are SAFE, PROVEN PROTECTION. For more on these and other stories visit us at caribbeannationalweekly.com Make sure to pick your copy of Caribbean News weekly at your nearest Caribbean American outlet.
Caribbean American ex-nurse convicted for murder of Jamaican husband
A Caribbean American ex-registered nurse in Brooklyn, New York has been convicted of hiring a hitman to murder her Jamaican-born husband in 2013 after two failed attempts at the victim’s life.
The gunman was also convicted of murder.
On Wednesday, it took a jury less than three hours to convict Alishia Noel-Murray, 29 — whose father, Andrew Noel, was born in Grenada, and mother, Pauline Noel, also a registered nurse, was born in Guyana — of having her husband, Omar Murray, 37, killed to cash in on nearly US$900,000 in life insurance claims.
Both of Noel-Murray’s parents are separated and reside in Brooklyn. Pauline Noel, a born-again Christian, who strongly opposed to her daughter’s actions, testified against her daughter at trial.
Jurors found Noel-Murray, who was fired by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, guilty of murder, attempted murder and weapon possession in the February 23, 2013 assassination of her husband.
“She’s a real monster,” Murray’s Jamaican-born mother, Eunice Ashley Henry, 59, a home health aide in Brooklyn, told reporters after the verdict. “I’m ecstatic. I’m overwhelmed, but I’m still missing my son.”
Describing Noel-Murray as “the devil,” Eunice Ashley Henry said her daughter-in-law had “tried so many times to kill my son.”
Prosecutors said Noel-Murray plotted with her lover, Dameon Lovell, to hire a hitman for US$3,500 to kill Murray, so she could collect on three life insurance policies.
Lovell cooperated with prosecutors in exchange for 15 years to life in prison, according to the Daily News.
It said the assailant, Kirk Portious, 29, murdered Murray in their Lott Avenue, Brownsville, Brooklyn home.
Noel-Murray was convicted of first-degree murder following a jury trial before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Neil Firetog, and Portious was convicted by a separate jury of first-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Each defendant faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole when they’re sentenced on June 29, according to Brooklyn Acting District Attorney, Puerto Rican-born Eric Gonzalez.
“These defendants engaged in a calculated and cold-hearted plot to kill an innocent man,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “Their heinous scheme was exposed, and a jury has now held them responsible for these reprehensible crimes.”
The acting district attorney said that, according to trial testimony, Omar Murray, was shot dead inside his home, located at 204 Lott Avenue in Brownsville, about 12:58 pm on February 24, 2013.
The investigation led police to Lovell, who told investigators that his girlfriend had asked him to find someone to kill her husband after her attempt to poison him had failed, Gonzalez said.
The first person shot at the victim on February 6, 2013, but missed, according to the testimony. Lovell then hired Portious and provided him with a US$500 down payment and the gun, which he received from Noel-Murray, the evidence showed.
The gunman was promised a total of US$3,500, Gonzalez said. He said Noel-Murray had taken out nearly US$900,000 in life insurance on her husband before the murder and attempted to cash out the policies within days of his death.
Lovell had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for a promised sentence of 15 years to life in prison, Gonzalez said.
Rain forces One Day series draw between Windies and Afghanistan
Persistent showers in St Lucia washed out the deciding One Day international between the Windies and Afghanistan and forced a split the series on Wednesday.
The touring Afghanistan team had won the toss and opted to bat first but the rain was relentless, with the series evenly poised at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
The Windies – who swept the Twenty20 series – forced a deciding game three after claiming a four-wicket win on Sunday.
Controversial immigration bills Pending in congress could lead to mass deportations
In the midst of all the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and his erupting daily scandals, the Republican held Congress is quietly busy behind the scenes devising legislation based upon Trumps mandate to crack down on Immigrants and reduce overall immigration.
With most news coverage focused on the Russian investigation and Trumps daily tweets, even controversial legislative efforts aren’t garnering much attention these day, which is the case with several Immigration Bills recently introduced into the House of Representatives.
The Enforcement Act H.R. 2406, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Authorization Act, introduced by Republican Bob Goodlatte and the Davis-Oliver Act, H.R. 2431, introduced by Republican Republican Raul Labrador, while purporting to secure and protect Americans from dangerous criminal Immigrants and “job stealers”, would among other things, criminalize “unlawful status”, making it a crime to be in the U.S. without current legal immigration status (even overstaying a visa), make drunk driving a deportable offense, and result in deportation of millions of Immigrants. The legislation would further substantially increase both federal and local immigration enforcement, encourage States and local law authorities to act as Immigration enforcement forces, mandate social media vetting for Visa applicants and increase Visa refusals.
You can read the Bills and articles about the proposed legislation by visiting www.Immigratetoday.com and clicking on the Immigration Newsletter link.
Shark bites off tourist’s arm in the Bahamas
An American woman lost part of her right arm after a huge shark attacked her in the Bahamas.
The woman was snorkeling in waters near Athol Island around noon on June 2 when the attack took place. She was transported to shore and taken to hospital where she was admitted in serious condition. She is scheduled for surgery on Friday in preparation for the fitting of a prosthetic arm
North Carolina residents Tiffany and James Johnson were reportedly enjoying the last stop of their cruise vacation when the mother of three encountered the shark while snorkelling in a shallow reef.
“I wasn’t in pain, it just felt like I had bumped into something so I just casually turned to my right to look to see and that’s when I was face-to-face with the shark,” Tiffany Johnson told WSOC.
She recalled seeing the shark’s mouth clamped onto her right arm. She struggled with the beast for a few minutes before it tore her arm off.
“I kept trying to yank my hand back and the last time I yanked he had cut it clean off so I was able to actually get free,” Johnson told the news station.
Her husband jumped in to help when he heard her scream, and she was helped ashore and rushed to hospital.
Doctors in the Bahamas stopped the bleeding and administered emergency treatment, but her return to the United States was said to have been delayed because of passport and customs issues.
Reggae Boyz lose 3-1 to Peru
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, lost 3-1 to Peru in an international friendly in Arequipa Tuesday night.
The Theodore Whitmore coached Reggae Boyz is preparing for this summer’s Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup.
They were outclassed by the high-pressing Peruvians who opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Christian Cueva played a through ball to Paolo Guerrero who shot at goal. Goalkeeper Andre Blake parried the ball and the rebound fell to Edison Flores, who made no mistake from close range.
Jamaica took a long time to settle and was guilty of wayward passing in the first half. The hosts would double their lead in the 44th minute after Renato Tapia, who was left unmarked on a corner kick and headed the ball past Blake.
Peru continued to press in the second half forcing Jamaica to concede several corner kicks. It didn’t take long for the pressing to pay off as Paolo Guerrero, who after coming off because of a bloody nose, returned to the field of play and was almost immediately put through to slot home past Blake to make it 3-0 in the 59th minute.
Jamaica’s consolation came from the penalty spot in the 86th minute.
Owein Gordon drove into the box and was hit in the face by an errant arm from Nilson Loyola. The referee showed Loyola a yellow card and awarded Jamaica a penalty. Jermaine Johnson then calmly put the ball past Jose Carvalho.
Jamaica will turn its attention to the Caribbean Cup in Martinique where they play French Guiana in the first semi-final on June 22 at 6:00pm while Curacao will take on Martinique at 8:30pm.
The title will be decided on June 25 at 7:30pm.
Venezuela holds talks with Haitian president
Venezuela says it will continue providing assistance to Haiti in the socio-economic development of Haiti.
“I am completely satisfied with the cooperation with Haiti. We are going to improve it and we will keep the path of cooperation. We have always been together and we will stay together and continue to walk along the same path of dignity and independence,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodrígue, following talks with President Jovenel Moïse on Monday.
The meeting was described as part of the celebration of 153 years of bilateral diplomatic relations initiated at the time of independence, when Alexandre Pétion bring his support to Simón Bolívar for the expedition of Keys in 1816, which allowed him to enter Venezuela.
Caracas has supported its cooperation with Port au Prince through several mechanisms including PetroCaribe, the oil agreement Venezuela has with several countries and the training of Haitian medical students in Venezuela.
Doctor convicted of Michael Jackson’s death said working illegally in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago health authorities are investigating reports that Dr Conrad Murray, who was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of King of Pop Michael Jackson eight years ago, has been practicing medicine in Trinidad and Tobago without a license.
This follows a revelation by the Trinidad Newsday newspaper that Murray was attending to patients at a private medical facility in central Trinidad.
According to the Sunday Newsday, when it called the Rampersad Medical Centre and Private Hospital last Friday and asked for Dr Murray, it was told that “Murray was available for appointments at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.”
However, the newspaper said that when a team went to the facility on the same day and requested to see the doctor, the hospital’s receptionist said he was there but was not “interested” in speaking to the media. Efforts by Newsday to speak with the hospital’s owner also proved futile.
According to the newspaper, it was informed by an administrative official of the medical board last Friday that Dr Murray, a Grenadian who was raised in Trinidad, was registered to practice in the twin-island republic in 1999, but last renewed his license in 2004.
The official said Dr Murray applied to have his licence renewed two years ago, but because he had not done so in more than ten years and had practised outside of the country, he was asked to provide valid licences and letters of good standing from the medical boards in the places he last worked. The official said Murray was unable to do so and was not granted a licence.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram is now investigating the claim that Dr Murray is working without a licence.
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, the medical board said: “The Ministry of Health wishes to advise members of the public that it has been made aware of the allegation that Dr Conrad Murray is attending to patients at a local private medical facility without the required medical licence.
“Pursuant to the Medical Board Act, Chapter 29:50, the Council of the Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago is responsible for the registration/ licensure of medical practitioners and the enforcement against persons who are who are not duly registered/ licensed but purport to practise medicine.”
Dr Parasram said the new council which was approved by Cabinet last week, would examine the matter at its first meeting in another two weeks.
The health ministry said it would “liaise directly with the Medical Board to verify whether he does or doesn’t have his licence to practice. And, if he does not, through our legal department and the Medical Board we will take the necessary action to deal with the issue in order to protect the health of the public at large.”
Dr Murray was arrested, charged, and found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in November 2011, following a six-week trial.
During the trial, the jury heard how Dr Murray: abandoned his practice to work exclusively for Jackson for US$150,000 per month; ordered gallons of the surgical anaesthetic propofol in response to Jackson’s complaints about insomnia as he was preparing for a new world tour; administered propofol on the morning of Jackson’s death; and – according to the prosecution – was directly responsible for delivering the final, lethal dose on June 25, 2009.
He was sentenced to four years in prison but he only served two years after he was released early due to a California state decision to reduce prison overcrowding
T&T’s dismal World Cup qualification continues with 2-1 loss to Costa Rica
Trinidad and Tobago’s dismal World Cup CONCACAF qualification run continued on Tuesday when they were beaten 2-1 by hosts Costa Rica at the Estadio National.
The result gave the Costa Ricans sole possession of second place on 11 points, three behind Mexico (14) and three ahead of the United States (8). T&T remains in last place on three points, losing for a third consecutive match.
Francisco Calvo gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in just the first minute, when he headed home from the edge of the six-yard box off Joel Campbell’s in-swinging corner kick from the right.
The Trinidadians leveled in the 35th minute as Joevin Jones rolled a pass from the left across the top of the penalty area to Kevin Molino, who took a touch before slapping a left-footed effort from 20-yards out that beat a diving goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
In the 44th minute, a moment of brilliance from Bryan Ruiz proved to be the difference. The 2016 CONCACAF Player of the Year received a pass from Marco Ureña, eluded a defender and then – from the top-left side of the 18-yard box, sent an effort with the outside of his left foot past diving goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and into the right side of the net.
Costa Rica snapped a three-game winless streak in hexagonal qualifying play with the victory.
Portia Simpson Miller, Omar Davies to retire from politics
An era in Jamaican politics will end at the end of this month when two political stalwarts, former Prime Minister and leader of the People’s National Party Portia Simpson Miller and her party colleague and minister in past PNP administrations, Dr. Omar Davies official resign their parliamentary seats.
Simson Miller previously resigned as PNP leader and Leader of the Opposition earlier this year. The resignation of both politicians will be effective on June 29.
Leader of Opposition Business in the House Phillip Paulwell announced yesterday that Simpson Miller and Dr Davies would both submit letters of intent to resign to Speaker of the House Pearnel Charles on June 29, effecting their formal resignation on the same day.
Paulwell noted that, in accordance with the nation’s laws, such resignation letters, once handed to the speaker, become immediately effective.
“Today we are witnessing the beginning of a historical changing of the guard, when two sitting members of adjoining constituencies shall simultaneously take their bow on June 29, 2017, and so we wish them good health and strength in their retirement years,” Paulwell said.
He added that, at a future date, Parliamentarians would pay tribute to both members, for their services to the people of Jamaica, the Parliament and the nation.
Simpson Miller, Jamaica’s only female prime minister, first held that post for 18 months, succeeding former Prime Minister P J Patterson, who resigned during his third term in office in 2006.
Eleven killed, others injured in Haiti crash
At least 11 people were killed and several others injured following a vehicular accident in the south of the country on the weekend.
The Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) said the accident occurred in the department of Cavaillon, killing 11 and injuring 15.
The DPC said that exact circumstances of the accident are unknown .
And the police also reported that on Saturday night, three boys aged between 12 and 14 were killed after they were struck by lightning while playing football. Four others were also wounded.
“The injured were taken care by the health center nearby and one of them had to be transferred to the University Hospital of Mirebalais,” the authorities added.
Grace hosts four Jamaicans for cultural internships
GraceKennedyLimited, one of Jamaica’s leading private sector businesses, will host four university students from the Jamaican Diaspora for a month-long professional and cultural internship.
Tianna Thomas of Brock University in Canada, Menelik Graham from Princeton University, Matthew Robinson of Georgetown University and Cleveland Douglas of Imperial College in the United Kingdom, will participate in a July 5-August 7 program designed to immerse them in the Jamaican culture.
“A big part of the success is the support we receive from our partners. We are excited to announce that Caribbean Airlines has agreed to come on board this year as the official airline partner. This will ensure that our Birthright Interns start their cultural immersion from the minute they board the flight,” said Caroline Mahfood, Executive Director of GraceKennedy Foundation.
The GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright Programme is a cultural and professional internship designed to reconnect second and third generation Jamaican university students living in the USA, Canada and the UK with their Jamaican heritage.
It started in 2004 and after a break in 2008, was reinstated in 2014 with four interns arriving in Jamaica in July, 2015. There were more than 48 applicants this year.
Andrea Delcita Wright returns to South Florida with Corpral Del
There will be good ole’ Jamaican drama in South Florida this Father’s Day weekend as Sunshine Theatre presents the return of Andrea `Delcita Wright in her new hit play Corpral Del.
It is the sequel to last year’s hit production, Border Patrol. The two shows are scheduled for: June 17th at 8:00pm – North Miami Beach Performing Arts Center (17011 NE 19th Ave, N Miami Beach) June 18th at 7:00pm – Coral Springs Center for the Arts (2855 Coral Springs Dr. Coral Springs).
Corpral Del follows Delcita after she is kicked out of the police force. She finds love and has marital hopes. It’s rib-tickling roots theater at its best. Wright wrote and produced Corpral Del which co-stars Christopher McFarlane, Deon Silvera, Trudy Campbell and Ruschiene Diedrick.
It is directed by David Tulloch.
Pre-show entertainment will come from singer Sasha Dias whose song Borrowed Time topped Jamaican music charts recently.
Tickets for Corporal Del are $50 VIP, $45 reserved seats and $40 for general seats. They are available from select West Indian outlets in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, the Coral Springs Box office or online at www.sunshinetheatrecompany.com.
Bolt’s invaluable advice is icing on the cake for DeGrasse
Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse has labelled sprint King Usain Bolt as a valuable source of advice and inspiration as the world’s fastest man looks to call it quits following this summer’s London World Championships.
In recent weeks the up and coming Canadian sprinter has targeted spoiling the decorated Jamaican’s retirement party by securing a victory in London. However, the 22-year-old who claimed a bronze medal at the last two major championships, has pointed out that a lot of his confidence has actually come from speaking to the 8 time Olympic and 11 World Championship gold medallist.
“It’s always good to talk to Bolt,” De Grasse told the IAAF website.
“See what he’s up to and how he manages his schedule. I need to be prepared. He’s a multiple Olympic champion, and that’s somewhere I want to be some day,” he added.
“When the best in the world is telling you that you could be one of the best, it gives you a lot of confidence. Whatever he says, it’s like icing on the cake. I just try to go out there and prove to myself and prove to everybody that I belong and I could be one of the best.”
South Regional Broward County Library hosts Anancy Festival
The South Regional Broward County Library will host their annual Anancy Festival on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 1”00 PM.
The program will feature Caribbean and African cultural experiences including a drumming fingers demonstration, games, songs, arts & crafts, face painting, storytelling, refreshments and more.
The Anancy Festival, named for Anansi the Spider, the West African trickster of folklore, is a celebration of Caribbean-American culture that’s geared toward children and teens. The festival provides a unique way for youngsters to learn about their cultural heritage and experience a rich collection of stories, music and dance.
The South Regional – BC Library is located at 7300 Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines,
Mosquito spraying for West Palm Beach
Workers from the Palm Beach County Mosquito Control Division will be doing aerial spraying on Tuesday night, June 13.
The planned coverage area is 270,000-acres in targeted location west of Military Trail out to the glades.
Chris Reisinger is the environmental analyst with the mosquito control division.
He said workers will be using a Huey helicopter to do the aerial spraying, which is necessary to control the mosquito population that has increased during and after the recent rains.
Reisinger said their traps have a lot of mosquitoes in them and a lot of them are salt marsh mosquitoes that come up Miami-Dade county.
The aerial spraying should begin around 930 p.m.
There is a hotline to call to find out when and what areas will be sprayed.
That number is 561-642-8775.
