**************************************************** **************************************************** *** *** *** THE PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER *** *** *** **************************************************** **************************************************** Newsletter: Number 01 for 2005 - Edition 1 Publication Date: January 04, 2005 Title: Appy Nu Year! (KR) Editor: Kennedy Reid Subscribers: 156 Sign up: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/portmore_newsletter/ Reply to: webmaster@portmore.org Web site: http://www.portmore.org Phone: 876-320-7343 CONTENTS ======== 0. Appy Nu Year 1. What is the Government doing about crime - BRENDA LAWRENCE 2. Garveymeade Citizens Association - Angela Spencer 3. Portmore's Development and HW2000 - Jerome Moodie 4. Portmore changed - CHARMAGNE 5. Human life worth less than US$500 - Yvonne McCalla Sobers 6. Justice vs Crime & Violence - Sr. M. Amora Binnom 7. Looking for Father - patrick 8. ja'can brother - Leon Wilson 9. picture of dorraine and allan magnus - vievene 10. Highway 2000 Protest - Ann Bowen 11. About Portmore United Church - Charmaine Hyatt-Kelly ############################################################ 0. Appy Nu Year! ############################################################ Hello everyone..... ready for 2005? The Portmore website has been updated with data on Highway 2000... have a look http://www.portmore.org and see what most people think about the toll road. For example, Portmore people are willing to pay $30 to travel on the highway! As for me... I think that we should make enough noise so that the toll is set MUCH lower than other places. (After all, they are REPLACING our free road) As I said before, things gone bad already and we do neeeeed a better road. It turns out that most of us are willing to pay for that better road. Please have a great year and enjoy this newsletter. ############################################################ 1. What is the Governement doing about crime - BRENDA LAWRENCE ############################################################ Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 10:58:17 -0800 (PST) From: "BRENDA LAWRENCE" Subject: Re: [portmore_newsletter] Responses hi kenny thanks for the news letter ave recieved 2 day, but i ave one big problem,what is the goverment intended tto do about the crime rate that is taking over jamaica. ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Friend, I can not speak for the government. For my part, I feel that the level of selfishness, frustration, and corruption in the society is so widespread that no authority can effectively contain the resulting high crime and accident rate. Wickedness a go kill wi aff! Can the police or government control a people who refuse to applaud and embrace what is upright? Everyone seems to want to get away with something and they are suspicious and angry at everyone else.... even when your intentions are pure. We must change the way we think if crime is to be reduced. And blaming politicians alone will not help. As a "small fry" politician myself I have come to see that the people are equally part of the problem. But change must first start at the top. I hear the Prime Minister speaking of 'values', but is he willing to pay the dear cost to restore values to Jamaica? Is he going to hold his people accountable? Is he going to insist that they pay the price for failing to manage public resources and trust properly? Will he, without fear or favour, send tax evaders and the corrupt to prison... just as we all want to send the gun man? People do what they see not what they hear! What of the Opposition leader... will he continue to "oppose" at any cost? Each year he paints a picture of gloom, despair and hopelessness…. Does he not understand that people become what they accept as true about themselves and thier circumstances! What about the church leaders... will they do more than speak and point fingers? What about those of us who bribe the police or public authorities? What of those who take contracts and do no work? What of employers who don't pay well; or employees who don't work properly? What of the many cases of domestic abuse, animal abuse, and environmental abuse!!!! Is anyone willing to stand up and say… “I will do what is right… even if you kill me!” until then, don’t look for the murder rate to fall. I say, we all need to change in order to stop crime! **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fifth Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ############################################################ 2. Garveymeade Citizens Assciation - Angela Spencer ############################################################ Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 18:58:50 -0800 (PST) From: "Angela Spencer" Subject: Re: FW: UPDATED INFORMATION REQUIRED Hi, Further to my earlier mail, I advise details of the newly elected executive body (AGM 28/11/04): President - Judith Dunkley Vice President - Ruth Estrine 2nd. V/President - Donnel Barnett Treasurer - Angela Spencer Secretary - Jennifer Hart Asst.Secy/Treasurer - Bevan Brown Senior Citizens' Representative - Cecile Brown Youth Representative - Deigo Eccles Public Relations Officer - Junior Dillon Our main focus remains unchanged, with an emphasis on youth development. We plan to raise $5M to build a civic centre to facilitate communal meetings and sporting activities. Thanks for your time and assistance. Regards, Angela ############################################################ 3. Portmore's Development and HW2000 - Jerome Moodie ############################################################ Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 13:59:31 -0800 (PST) From: "Jerome Moodie" Subject: Portmore's Development To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Hi Kennedyreid, Thanks for this outlet. I have been living in this community since 1988 and I am all for its development. I believe however that development must take place with the involvement of the most important of all stake holders(the people). I am angered by the fact that the Government of the day chose to construct a portion of Highway 2000 (which was not part of the original plan) to include Portmore upon the request or should I say the Demand made by the Contractor. To add insult to injury, they sold our birthright to the Causeway main road to the Port authority without our knowledge or consent. What is this? The introduction of Communism 21st century style? I do not have a problem with the construction of the Highway, but to take what we rightfully own, sell it and force us to use a Road at a cost designed to suck our pockets dry in light of the so called MOU, inflation and escalating gas prices.This in my view is a big rip off. I am waiting to see how many of us are going to allow pride to cause us to become poorer and the French contractor richer. We need a viable alternate route and that is the Cause way. Stand up people of Portmore we are no longer in slavery. We must not allow the Government to bully us into doing what they want. Without the toll station in Portmore there would be no contract for Highway 2000 as this is where they intend to make the bulk of their earnings. I believe in standing up for your rights and this is the time to stand up. And to those who seek to make this into a political matter, Shame on you if you can not distinguish between the rights of citizens, victimization and politics. Mr. Mayor Sir, We need your Representation, You were elected to represent this community not the Government. Much said. On to a more pleasant matter, I am proposing that the open lot along the Portmore Parkway in the vicinity of the Edgewater roundabout (on the right driving toward Bayside) be made into a Park like the Emancipation park in Kingston. I am seeing it can you? By the way thanks to those who decorated the Edgewater roundabout with the lights. Thanks. There is more but next trip. Fimiyahd ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* I agree with much of what you are saying... but I do think that things have gone too far already and that the government had good intentions. We need a road solution in Portmore and the government felt that this was a good way out. Mek wi si nuh? As far as I know, the Mayor believes that the Highway is needed and is standing by his convictions. He however is concerned about the traffic flow in Kingston at the end of the toll road... will it be blocked by exit traffic. Yes, I would LOVE to see an "Emancipation Park" in Portmore. I was hoping that the Matalon family would have donated their Casting Yard as a botanical garden, but alas dem sell it! Write the proposal anyway, EFJ may go for it! Kennedy ############################################################ 4. Portmore changed - CHARMAGNE ############################################################ Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 19:45:14 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: First Page entry From: chamslewis@yahoo.com WHEN WE MOVED TO PORTMORE IT WAS A DUST LAND BACK THEN IT WAS FUN TO BUT AFTER MOVING TO THE USA AND CAME BACK I SAW THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED I MISS THE OLD PORTMORE AND PORTMORE WILL ALWAYS BE HOME TO ME CHARMAGNE 113 CANAL STREET WESTPORT ############################################################ 5. Human life worth less than US$500 - Yvonne McCalla Sobers ############################################################ From: "Yvonne McCalla Sobers" To: Undisclosed-Recipient@, Subject: FAST Forward #32: Human life worth less than US$500 Date: Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:59:50 -0800 FAST Forward no.32 Human life worth less than US$500 If a Jamaican policeman steals property the odds are against him; however, if he kills a citizen, the odds are decidedly in his favour. A cell phone can therefore have more value than a human life. For example Corporal Clive Lawrence, popularly known as Karate Georgie, was immediately taken in custody November 10 2004 when a stolen cell phone (worth about US$500) was found on him. On the other hand, killing at least two men (allegedly in shootouts) had only enhanced Karate Georgie’s reputation as a crimefighter. He was named the Western Mirror’s ‘Man of the Year’ once, and was nominated twice for the Gleaner’s Honour Award. No policeman has been convicted for in any of 650 instances since 1999 where policemen killed civilians. A policeman charged with 11 killings (seven at Braeton and four at Crawle) had his arrest and bail so timed that he was never taken into custody. He was charged after a 30 month-process of investigation followed by ruling followed by inquest followed by further ruling. The Otis Simms, Basil Brown, and Andrae Morris cases show why policemen can expect to kill with impunity. Juries have so far found no one criminally liable for the deaths of Simms and Brown, killed by police in 2003. The inquest into Morris death is due to begin in January 2005, 41 months after police killed Morris. The odds continue to go against police being held accountable, as coroner’s courts have found police criminally liable in only 3 of the past 350 inquests. Coroner’s inquests almost invariably result in exonerating the police because: 1. Hearings with respect to police killings belong in criminal courts and not coroner’s inquests. Coroners are expected to inquire into circumstances surrounding a sudden or unnatural death. The circumstances are clear as regards the sudden deaths of Simms, Brown, and Morris – police bullets put an end to their lives. The question is whether or not the killings were in self-defence, and this seems a matter for the criminal courts to decide. 2. Delays increase the chances of injustice. Systems appear designed to frustrate relatives of deceased persons. Witnesses forget, lose interest, migrate or die; exhibits can be lost or mislaid or eaten by rats or burnt in fires. Andrae Morris’ case, for example, has taken well over three years to reach the coroner’s courts. 3. Crime scenes are contaminated and manipulated from the start. Crime scenes cannot be reconstructed for the benefit of the court. The first persons on the scene of a police killing are the police shooters who ignore (without facing penalty) the regulations prohibiting their touching potential exhibits. The original scene may therefore be adjusted to simulate a shootout. The Simms and Morris crime scenes, as is routine, were reportedly stage-managed and then left unprotected. 4. Spent shells are usually not produced in evidence. Police shooters routinely pick up and dispose of their own spent shells. The court therefore cannot tell how many shots were fired, or where the police shooters were located when they fired the shots. No spent shells were produced at the Otis Simms inquest. 5. Police shooters routinely “find” weapons allegedly used by the deceased. Courts routinely accept these “finds” without challenge or substantiation, despite evidence that police have recycled guns in the past. Police shooters “found” weapons on Simms and Morris. 6. Police shooters routinely wash blood from the crime scene. The court cannot therefore learn the positions of the shooters and exact spot and manner of death from pools and splatters of blood. In the Simms and Morris cases the community alleges that police shooters washed away blood. 7. Civilian witnesses are reportedly ignored or intimidated. In the Morris case, police investigators took statements from none of the four civilians present in the house where Morris was shot dead. Other civilian witnesses in the Morris case have not been summoned to attend court, even though the inquest has begun. In the Brown and Morris cases, listed witnesses were not summoned. In the Brown and Simms cases only one eyewitness, allegedly from a crowd of eyewitnesses, was called to testify in court. In the Brown case, that sole civilian witness reported that he received threatening phone calls (as many as 20 in one night) before and after he gave his testimony. 8. The quality of investigations is severely limited. The police investigator in the Simms case did not produce in court his professional notebook, photographs or measurements of the crime scene. Under pressure from the coroner, this police investigator admitted that he had relied on one of the shooters to supply the information as well as the firearms supposedly related to the case. 9. Firearms registries are not checked to verify weapon assignment. In the Otis Simms case, the investigator failed to prove links between the police shooters and the police weapons on exhibit. Nonetheless, the court did not demand that the investigator verify the weapons assignment with evidence from the firearms registry. 10. No credible attempt is made to prove that the deceased held/fired a gun. Weapons are never checked for fingerprints. In Otis Simms’ case, no gunshot residue evidence was produced in court. No ballistics evidence was presented to prove whether the weapon could have been fired on the day in question. No bullets were shown to prove that any firing took place as was claimed. No photographs were shown to indicate where the bullets fell or what they hit. 11. Investigators are generally not generally regarded as impartial, objective, or effective. Civilian investigators from Police Public Complaints Authority are not obliged to participate in inquests – the results of their investigations were not apparent in the Brown, Simms or Morris cases. Police investigators continue to give cause for suspicion that they are covering up for their police colleagues. 12. Forensic reports, when available, invariably favour the police “shootout” version. Forensic experts are employed within the police force (fingerprint, ballistics, gunshot residue) or within the ministry under which the police force falls (pathology). No post mortem evidence was presented at the Otis Simms inquest. The court was therefore unable to tell whether the “shootout” claim was supported by the range and the angle and number of the shots fired by the police. 13. Undue reliance is placed on eyewitness evidence. In the Otis Simms case, the coroner directed the jury to base the verdict entirely on eyewitness evidence, and on an assessment of which eyewitness seemed the more credible. The sole civilian eyewitness who testified was a 17-year-old girl who was flustered and tearful under rigorous cross-examination from the attorney representing the police. She had not refreshed herself from the statement 21months earlier when she was 15 years old, and she contradicted herself in one detail because of faded memory. On the other hand, the sole police eyewitness was the police shooter who wrote his statement himself. The investigator had allowed him to direct the police investigation, and the judge had allowed him to sit in court while other witnesses testified. He was evidently familiar with courtroom processes, and he underwent no rigorous cross-examination as no attorney represented the Simms estate in court. The jury, not surprisingly, decided the police shooter was the more credible witness and so he and his colleague were found not criminally liable. 14. Jury selection is open to question. A cadre of professional jurors is known to appear time after time in coroner’s courts. In addition, relatives and attorneys for the estates do not have the chance to challenge jurors suspected of bias toward the police or of association or kinship with the police shooters. Police impunity for killing civilians is virtually guaranteed when crime scenes are not protected, forensic evidence is poorly collected if at all, eyewitness evidence takes priority over forensic evidence, and incompetent investigative practices permit interference of police shooters still on duty. In Jamaica, an alleged police thief is immediately locked up, but an alleged police killer can feel confident he will walk free. A human life in Jamaica is evidently worth less than US$500. Yvonne McCalla Sobers Chairman Families Against State Terrorism (FAST) November 27 2004 ******************* Webmasters Answer ******************* The police can NOT be treated as criminals! The Job is a dangerous one and we need them to use their weapons without fear or favour. We can not treat then as criminals once they do so, but we MUST hold them accountable. This is why some police are dangerous; because they do not want to be questioned. I hope the system changes for the better as you/we keep the pressure up. My prayers are with you. Kennedy ############################################################ 6. Justice vs Crime & Violence - Sr. M. Amora Binnom ############################################################ -----Original Message----- From: Sr. M. Amora Binnom [mailto:smasmsm@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 1:56 PM To: Hermine Salmon Subject: Re: Tuesday's Forum to Kennedy Reid, Ptmr --- "Sr. M. Amora Binnom" wrote: To Kennedy Reid at:webmaster@portmore.org or rhouse@cybervale.com All citizens invited! Forum: Justice vs Crime & Violence Date: 30 November, 2004 Time: 7:00PM Venue: Church of Reconciliation, Bridgeport Topics for Panel Discussion: Root causes of crime and violence Roles of the Police and the Citizens Role of the Media Mediation Approaches to Resolutions of Violence Panelists: Dr. Barry Chevannes Mr. John Maxwell Dr. Wendell Abel Fr. Jim Webb, SJ Sopt. Cornelius Walker, Jamaica Constabulary Violence plaguing Portmore and Spanish Town Let's strive together for peace and justice in our community! __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Meet the all-new My Yahoo! - Try it today! http://my.yahoo.com ******************* Webmasters Answer ******************* Sorry Sister... I was too busy to publish at the time. Please send us some notes! ############################################################ 7. Looking for Father - patrick ############################################################ Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 18:59:59 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: First Page entry From: patrick_rhi@peoplepc.com Add to Address Book I am searching for anyone by the last name of Espuet. I am searching for my father and any other family members out there. please e-mail me with any info.. ############################################################ 8. ja'can brother - Leon Wilson ############################################################ Date: Wed, 1 Dec 2004 14:14:12 -0800 (PST) From: "Leon Wilson" Add to Address Book Subject: nice web site To: webmaster@portmore.org Hey you've a nice web site going.what database are you using? Have you heard of mysql, if not i can give you some pointers, all you have to do is to give me a holla. Curious ja'can brother in New York. ############################################################ 9. picture of dorraine and allan magnus - vievene ############################################################ Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 00:09:47 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: First Page entry From: vievene@hotmail.com Add to Address Book your site is very good i enjoy everything that was shown it takes me back to jamaica however i would it very much if you could send me a picture of dorraine and allan magnus they used to be my favourite radio personality before i left jamaica to mygrate to canada **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fifth Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** ******************* Webmasters Answer ******************* Visit the RJR site.... ############################################################ 10. Highway 2000 Protest - Ann Bowen ############################################################ Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 23:32:09 -0500 (EST) To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: First Page entry From: annbowen2@hotmail.com Add to Address Book What information do you have on the current saga with the Portmore Community and the Toll Road. Are we coming together to fight it. ******************* Webmasters Answer ******************* For those of us who are willing to protest... I just called one of the leaders to get an update. But she is not sure. She will let me know and then I will you know! There have been large committee meetings on the matter and they broke into committees for placards, transportation, communication, etc. ############################################################ 11. About Portmore United Church - Charmaine Hyatt-Kelly ############################################################ rom: "Charmaine Hyatt-Kelly" To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: Portmore United Church Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 17:33:10 -0500 What about the Portmore United Church situated @ corner of Eberle Dr & Bridgeport Road. This is a union of the Presbyterian, Congregational & Disciples of Christ Churches, and fall under the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The now Minister is Rev. L. Christopher Mason - 939-1900. ****************** Webmasters Answers ******************* Yes, I need an updated Church list from the Portmore Ministers Fraternal! **************************************************** ***AdVT.******************************************** *** *** *** Lees Fifth Avenue *** *** *** *** 'Visit us online at' *** *** http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ *** *** *** *** *** ********************************************ADVT.*** **************************************************** **************************************************** [--------------------THE END OF ENTRIES-------------------] Legal Notices - Please read 1. This newsletter makes NO guarantees of accuracy nor authorship. 2. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, and do NOT represent the views of any Political Party or Community Organisation. 3. Commercial publication of this newsletter needs the express consent of the webmaster in writing. 4. Copy Rights are owned by Kennedy Reid General Notes - Please read 1. Please copy this newsletter to as many persons as you may, However, please do not alter the contents. 2. To read our past newsletters go to http://www.portmore.org/newsletters/index.html 3. This newsletter is an open forum so please feel free to send us your contributions. We do NOT edit your letters, but may delete sections that can not be published. Deleted sections will be noted. Private e-mail addresses are deleted from letters and, if you ask, we will delete your name also! The Webmaster may comment on your contribution, but reserves the last word for you. Write to webmaster@portmore.org or rhouse@cybervale.com 4. Comments made in this newsletter should be taken in a light manner as the style of this newsletter attempts to be humourous. "Why be ordinary?" - KR [--------------------------THE END--------------------------------]