**************************************************** **************************************************** *** *** *** THE PORTMORE WEBSITE NEWSLETTER *** *** *** **************************************************** **************************************************** Newsletter: Number 12 for 2005 Publication Date: March 30, 2005 Title: Legal Meeting Editor: Kennedy Reid Subscribers: 259 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 ======== 1. Editorial Chit-chat... what do you think? - Kennedy 2. Best Wishes from Africa - Jassette Francis 3. Summary of Highway 2000 Legal Meeting - Curn HArding 4. Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Portmore - N.Noble 5. St. Catherine Sports Extravaganza - Charmaine Scarlett 6. French student for Jamaica - Sébastien ARAMBOURG 7. municipal's office and Saturdays - Farrah Lumbley 8. The idea of a highway is wonderful - kwamenihashiti 9. RJR news 10. Together WE Can Make It Better - David Chen ############################################################ 1. Editorial Chit-chat... what do you think? - Kennedy ############################################################ Yesterday my kids found a snake in our backyard in Portmore. Now this is a rare event to see... a Jamaican snake! They called me all excited and raring to kill it! "No, no, NO!", I said, "please let it live and go free". "But daddy", answered my shocked daughter on the phone "it's a SNAKE!". "It won't harm you..." I replied, "Jamaican snakes are harmless". "But it's jumping and can bite.. anyway. bye daddy!" Later I learned to my horror that their mother (who is currently studying for a doctoral degree) permitted the kids to execute the "very pretty" little snake. It appears knowledge and understanding could not overcome fear! Indeed, the Helper locked herself in the house claiming that "dem travel in pairs!" There is a small secondary dry forest behind my house. It used to have many trees, but currently there is only one guangu tree left in it. There used to be a white owl, pigs, black birds, and mongoose resident there, but alas....MAN! This land is slated to be used for small business development and for the private hospital. While I welcome these institutions, I mourn the loss of the creatures, the cool mist, the noise of birds. Has anyone noticed the increase in dust in Portmore? It is not just because of the dry season you know. It is due to emissions from the Redi-Mix factory, the cane sooth, and the mining on the Portmore Henderson hills south of Bridgeport. Can anyone say who gave them permission to resume mining in a residential area? Now, on to some other issues... The Caribbean Court of Justice is a good idea that must be acted on, but it MUST be entrenched in our constitution and insulated from direct political interference. Both political parties must work towards these ends since this is best for Jamaica's future. The separation of the executive from legislative branch of government is a nice idea that I like, but it has failed to work in many countries (with the exception of the USA). Why? because directly elected leaders tend to become little dictators who often do not see the need to work with the elected officials. Thus in South America and Europe these governments fall prey to revolutions. On the other hand the parliamentary system ensures that the leader rules with the consent of both the people and her peers. If Jamaicans want a directly elected Prime Minister (president) then they must surround her with many controls and traditions. A strong judiciary is needed; just as in the USA. When the first president of the United States was elected, many legislators feared that they had "elected a king". thankfully, he acted appropriately and set the trend for his country. Do we have any Statesmen in Jamaica who will act appropriately? Will we allow our fears to conquer understanding? Or what is expedient to concour reason? How many more pretty little snakes must die in Jamaica? What do you all think? ADV. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 2. Best Wishes from Africa - Jassette Francis ############################################################ Subject: Best Wishes Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 17:09:45 +0200 From: "Jassette Francis" To: kennedyreid@yahoo.com Hello Mr. Reid, Just want to let you know that I have been very grateful to you for sending me the regular News letters. It is always good to know that no matter how far away one is from home, one can be updated on the happenings back home. This is very important as "Home is where the Heart is". It doesn’t matter how long we are out, we always yearn for home. I have been sharing these information with all my fellow Jamaicans here be they Portmorians, Kingstonians or where ever in Ja. they are from, I still share the news with them after all it's Jamaica. I am sorry I missed my Easter Bun this year, not to mention the good Red Label wine. My Co-worker will add his bit to the end my mail. Rohan Perry from Portmore Villas Sends love to all Portmorians. Special Love to my Member of Parliament Sharon Hay Webster. Also My Prime Minister The Most Honorable PJ Patterson. I am here in Botswana Africa working alongside Jassette Francis another Portmorian. Dumella [Hello] Nuff Respect to all. Regards, Jassette ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Thanks Jassette ############################################################ 3. Summary of Highway 2000 Legal Meeting - Curn HArding ############################################################ From: "Curn Harding" To: Date: Thursday, March 24, 2005 07:22AM Subject: Legal Opinion - Portmore Leg of Highway 2000 Kennedy: Sorry to hearabout your mother. I have been there so I have a pretty good idea what you andyour family are going through. I did not takeany pictures as I was busy with the contacts list. Here is asynopsis of Lord Gifford’s presentation: The Minister of Transport & Works has already designated The Causeway as a toll road under the Toll Roads Act. This was done by the Toll Roads (Designation of Highway 2000 Phase 1) Order 2002 on 12th March 2002. Section 8(1) of the Toll Roads Act confers wide powers on the Minister of Transport to designate any road as a toll road The wide power to designate a road as a toll road is subject to an important condition under section 8(2) of the Act: “No road shall be designated as a toll roadunder subsection (1)(a) unless in the area in which the toll road is to be established there is an alternative route accessible to the public by vehicular or other traffic” The provision of the toll road is mandatory under the Act and if the Minister were to designate a toll road without there being an alternative route it would be ultra vires and could be quashed by the Supreme Court Lord Gifford questioned whether the government’s designated alternative route, Mandela Highway, was in the area in which the toll road is to be established and concluded that it was NOT because if a circle was plotted using the beginning and end of the Portmore toll road as opposite points no part of the government’s ‘alternative route’ (Mandela) would fall within the circle. Lord Gifford concluded that the route via theMandela Highway was not an alternative route within the meaning of section 8(2)of the Act, since it is not in the area in which the toll road is to beestablished. He was also of the opinion that in designating a toll road withoutproviding for a lawful alternative, the Minister acted unlawfully. ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Mom is doing better thanks! ADV. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 4. Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Portmore - N.Noble ############################################################ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:11:03 -0800 (PST) From: "Nicky" Subject: Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Portmore To: webmaster@portmore.org, kennedyreid@yahoo.com Hello Kennedy, I recently added myself to the mailing list to receive the Portmore Newsletter. I appreciate the information I receive via the newsletter it keeps in informed. So let me extend gratitude for that. I have been perusing the website, and I must admit its quite information. I noticed however on the list of churches in Portmore that none of the 7 Seventh-day Adventist Churches were on the list. I assume this must have been an oversight. Here is a listing of the 7 Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Portmore Portmore Seventh-day Adventist Church Breaton Seventh-day Adventist Church Hellshire Seventh-day Adventist Church Waterford Seventh-day Adventist Church Gregory Park Seventh-day Adventist Church Tent City Seventh-day Adventist Church Newlands Seventh-day Adventist Church I will forward a listing with the Pastors name and church address and telephone number soon. Thank you so much Mr. Reid. N.Noble ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Thanks for the Information. I have updated the site with the information. I am waiting for a better list from the Portmore Ministers Fraternal. Since the list was published many more churches have moved in and many other pastors need to be listed. I encourage other browsers to help me to update the site by sending in relevant list, pictures, comments, etc. Thanks again. ############################################################ 5. St. Catherine Sports Extravaganza - Charmaine Scarlett ############################################################ Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 07:23:47 -0800 (PST) From: "christine allen" Subject: St. Catherine Sports Extravaganza To: webmaster@portmore.org Mr. Reid: Please see attachment, can you advertise it for me as a link in your website and kindly let your visitors know that they can contact me for further information at 984-5270/907-4056 (w), 329-6615(c). Feel free also to come and promote your website. Thanks. Charmaine Scarlett The Social Development Commission solicits your support and participation in the inaugural St. Catherine Sports Extravaganza and Business Exposition to be held at the GC Foster College on Saturday May 14, 2005. This is a unique opportunity for communities, businesses and other stakeholders to establish mutually beneficial relationships. Communities will participate in five events, football, track and field, basketball, netball and dominoes. Businesses will have the opportunity to set up promotional booths displaying products and services. Exposition spots will only be given to businesses that contribute to the days proceeding Please see proceeding pages for details Marvette BrisoceSports Manager – St. Catherine Dwayne VernonAssistant Regional Director – St. Catherine Date: May 14, 2004 Venue: GC Foster College Aims: 1. To provide an avenue for the expression of athletic talent in St. Catherine 2. To encourage positive social attitudes within communities 3. to facilitate a friendly environment for business development Concept: teams from the 392 districts, representing 464,734 people within St. Catherine will participate in five (5) events, running simultaneously on the day. · Football – six-a-side eliminations - enter as clubs · Track and field - teams to compete as communities (districts are grouped into 49 communities) in all standard track events as well as field events will be held. Winners will be determined by time finals and the farthest throw and longest/highest jump in the case of the field events. · Netball – rally format - teams can compete as clubs or communities · Basketball – 3 on 3 rally format - teams can compete as clubs or communities · Dominoes – rally format - teams enter as clubs or communities Sponsor benefit: · Expected turn out: approx. 10, 000 persons – excluding sponsors · Sponsors will be allowed to carry bunting, tables for exhibits, tents and other promotional materials. · Events sponsored will carry the title of the sponsor · Main sponsors (determined by the monetary value of contribution) have the option to be on 1000 posters, 3000 flyers and promotion on local television and national radio · Live outside broadcast on a popular radio station – focus on business expo (Irie Fm or Fame FM to be confirmed) Sponsorship Detail There are five (5) proposed sponsorship levels, each with different degrees of benefit – Packages are negotiable ############################################################ 6. French student for Jamaica - Sébastien ARAMBOURG ############################################################ te: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:41:56 +0200 From: "Pierre.Desoil@UTBM.fr" To: webmaster@portmore.org Subject: information request !!! I am currently a French student in computer science at the UTBM ( University of Techonology of Belfort Montbéliard, www.utbm.fr ). As part of this course, I am to do a six-month internship starting in September 2005 and aiming to develop an engineering computing project (Forth degree) in the fields of either : networks, database, software or multimedia design… I wanted to know if you receive students for a six-month internship and if you are interested in receiving one who is specialized in Computer Science. I would be also very grateful if you could give me some websites where I can find such companies. I would like to know also the names of internationnalcompanies in Jamaica. Please let me know if there is any information you require. I look forward to hearin from you. Yours sincerely, Sébastien ARAMBOURG ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Sébastien, I hope someone on this list can help.... I suggest that you contact the University of the West Indies or take a short visit to Jamaica before you decide. A stay in Jamaica can cost $20 US Dollars per day. More importantly, please ensure that an internship in Jamaica (or any other country) would boost YOUR career back home! A foreign stay may be romantic but can you earn a living after? Finally, when you write e-mails, do try not to state a common title that sounds like SPAM or VIRUS. For example don't give you mails the title "Hi!" or "Making Contact" or they will be deleted. I almost deleted your mail as garbage. When you e-mail put detail in the subject that ensures that the reader knows that you are addressing them.... for example "Questions about Portmore" or "A student with a question on Portmore". Good Luck! Kennedy ############################################################ 7. municipal's office and Saturdays - Farrah Lumbley ############################################################ Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:06:28 -0800 (PST) From: "Farrah Lumbley" Subject: municipality status To: webmaster@portmore.org I am enquiring if the municipal's office is open on saturdays and if not what are your opening hours. ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* This is a frequently asked question. No, they are not open on Saturdays. The opening hours are the same as offices all over Jamaica. The contact numbers are in the phone book. Call the Operator if you need assistance. They are located in the Portmore Pines Plaza. Kennedy Reid ADV. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lees Fifth Avenue 'Visit us online at' http://www.leesfifthavenue.com/ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ############################################################ 8. The idea of a highway is a wonderful - kwamenihashiti ############################################################ Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 07:19:23 -0800 (PST) kwamenihashiti wrote: It amazes how we still continue with the slavery mentality asking backra massa to provide everything apparently free for us. As an african living in the diaspora, I wish we could stop to really analyze situations rationally before we protest, or take actions in counter. The road situation in portmore is excessively poor and there is a great need for inprovement. The idea of a highway is a wonderful thing and to realize the dream into reality will take money.The money has to be provided by we the people by way of taxes or toll. Let me say it is not the government that will provide the money it will be the people so be it toll or raised taxes we will have to provide the money, noty the PNP government or any other It will be us. If people concider time as money and vise versa, then paying a small toll will surely overcompensate for the for waking up at 4:oo pm to reach somewhere @ 9:00. Think about portmorians, The cost for developement is high, If we want a better society ,then we cannot rely on manner from the sky or the benevolence of the backra, we have to do it ourselves, Let"s pay the tool, Save the legal fee money this could be chasing an elusive dream, the Brittons are thinking pay roads, why are the law lords there not protesting? For a better Jamaica ******************* Webmasters Comment ******************* Dear Friend, There is no one in Portmore who opposes the toll road or development. Can you name any? Interestingly, I recall that the backra massa was not a very reliable provider. There were periods of starvation in Jamaica at the height of slavery! For 300 years the white planters worked us to death without pay and sexually assaulted our women and children. We do not ask backra for anything we did not earn!!! Now that the backra is gone, are we going to work with each other or are we going to perpetuate coercion and subsequent rebellion?...a new massa and slave cycle? I think we should learn from the past. As the Prime Minister says, we should build a gentler Jamaica with a better set of 'values and attitudes' than the hog breath STD filled colonial masters. Before there is any 'Development' let us build a consensus based on respect for all and understanding for each other. Where mistakes are made, let us admit them instead of shouting.."thou fool!" to each other. Kennedy ############################################################ 9. RJR news ############################################################ RJR NEWS Story posted March 15, 2005 http://www.radiojamaica.com/news More legal action coming over Portmore Toll Road More legal action is coming against the Government concerning the controversial Portmore Toll Road. At a meeting Monday night, members of the Portmore Citizen's Advisory Council, PCAC, decided that the group will file a lawsuit against the Government within four weeks. Vice-President of the PCAC, Carol McLean told the RJR News centre that the decision was based on legal opinion received from the Association's lawyer, Lord Anthony Gifford. Miss McLean says the Association will be holding a meeting with Portmore residents next week Tuesday to advise them of the next move. In the meantime, the PCAC is getting support from Mayor of Portmore, George Lee. And lawyers for the Government say they are preparing to block the motion filed in the Supreme Court by a group of Portmore residents. The residents are opposed to plans to convert the Portmore causeway into a toll road. They contend that if this is done, a suitable alternative should be provided. Both sides are ready to lock horns. Lawyers representing the Government have commenced preparations to counteract the motion filed Monday seeking to stall the Portmore leg of the Highway 2000 project. Speaking with the RJR News centre Monday night, Solicitor-General Michael Hylton disclosed that the Government's team is awaiting additional information before making its move. But attorney-at-law Oswald James who filed the motion on behalf of the Portmore residents says the matter will be taken to the Court of Appeal immediately if the motion is thrown out. Mr. James says he expects to get a date this week for the hearing to begin. Lawyers representing disgruntled Portmore residents filed the motion seeking an injunction asking the Court to block the government from replacing the existing Causeway with a new main road. In the five-page document, the residents have asked the High Court to rule that the implementation of a toll road as part of the main road leading into Portmore, would be a breach of their constitutional rights. They have also asked the Court for an order restraining the government from implementing any toll for the use of the Causeway main road and any bridge constructed over the Kingston Harbour linking the parishes of St. Andrew and St Catherine. Story posted March 14, 2005 Toll issue heads to court Attorneys representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are to head to the courts Monday afternoon as they pursue legal action against the government on behalf of residents of Portmore. The RJR News Centre understands that the lawyers plan to file an injunction in the Supreme Court at about two Monday afternoon. Several weeks ago the JLP indicated that it would be going to court on behalf of the Portmore residents to challenge plans by the government to make the Causeway a toll road. The move has been strenuously opposed by residents who contend that they should not be required to pay to use the Causeway. Story posted March 23, 2005 http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/?id=15821 Portmore residents pressing case for toll alternative Attorneys for residents of Portmore will be relying on a clause in the Toll Roads Act to press their case against the government for the retention of the Causeway as an alternative route to the Portmore leg of Highway 2000. Attorney at law Lord Anthony Gifford who is representing the residents in the matter, outlined at a public meeting Tuesday night the legal process to be adopted. Addressing scores of residents who turned out at the Lions Civic Centre, Lord Gifford highlighted subsection two of section 8 of the Act which mandates the government to provide a suitable alternative route for the Highway in the same general area of the toll road. But according to him, the government had not adhered to the provisions of the legislation. Spurred by the thought that the legislation could work in their favour, the resolute group was adamant that it would not be subjected to a toll charge for passage in and out of the Portmore community. And in a surprising twist Lord Gifford revealed that the Causeway had already been designated a toll road by the government in a Ministerial Order from as far back as 2002 - long before any discussion had taken place with the residents. This means the government could go ahead with plans to have the Causeway converted to a toll road unless an action for judicial review is brought before the courts before too long. Responding to questions about the possibility of dialogue with the government before legal action, Chairman of the Portmore Citizens Advisory Council Reverend Barrington Soares said efforts to have a meeting with the Transport Minister since the first held in December have been futile. The question of a possible compromise in the event of a failed court action was raised by one resident. According to the PCAC, nothing less than a toll free two lane alternative roadway to the Causeway will be accepted in the event of a failed court action. At Tuesday night's meeting, just over fifty thousand dollars was collected from residents to begin the legal proceedings into the fight to save the Causeway. The residents have already indicated that they are prepared to go to the UK Privy Council to protect their rights. And Portmore's Mayor George Lee is batting for further negotiations ahead of any legal action regarding the government's plans for a toll road. He told the RJR News Centre that he will on Wednesday seek to have Transport Minister Bobby Pickersgill meet speedily with representatives of the Portmore Citizens Advisory Council to further discuss the matter. And while he supports the move by the PCAC, Mayor Lee believes there are other issues that should be included in the discussions. Meanwhile May 2 is the date set for the Supreme Court to hear the suit filed by the Jamaica Labour Party on behalf of a group of Portmore residents who want to prevent the government from going ahead with the toll road. ############################################################ 10. Together WE Can Make It Better - David Chen ############################################################ From: Chen241@aol.com Add to Address Book Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 10:56:20 EST Subject: Jamaica Positively To: webmaster@portmore.org Dear All www.voicingforjamaica.com would like to hear from ALL non government organisations interested to change the Negatives to Positives as to where Jamaica and the other caribbean islands are concerned. If you have a website and wish to exchange links with the www.voicingforjamaica.com project, please do not hesitate to contact us - with all relevant details. All the best - and as we say at www.voicingforjamaica.com "Together WE Can Make It Better. Regards David Chen www.voicingforjamaica.com ADV. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Jade Vine We have a wide assortment of gifts for your loved ones in Jamaica. Call 876-939-1656 or 876-704-9723 to place an order. jadevine@anngel.com.jm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ [--------------------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--------------------------------]