Man to be sentenced for crack possession
published:
Saturday | April 12, 2008
PORT MARIA, ST MARY:
A man who police arrested after 27 packets of crack cocaine were found on his person pleaded guilty to charges of possession and dealing in the substance when he appeared in the Port Maria Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
The accused, Winston Reddie, 47, unemployed resident of Hunts Town district, near Gayle, St Mary, was ordered return to court on May 6 when he will be sentenced.
According to reports, about 2 p.m. last Saturday, the Port Maria police went on an operation in the area when they saw the accused in a board shop. Reports are that the accused man was searched and the crack cocaine found.
He was arrested and charged by the police for possession and dealing in crack cocaine.
- Nedburn Thaffe
High achievers awarded
PORT ANTONIO, PORTLAND:
The Titchfield Old Students' Association (TOSA) on Thursday awarded 70 outstanding students in the areas of academics and extra-curricular activities at a luncheon held at the Tim Bamboo hotel in Port Antonio.
Acting Principal Richard Thompson, who commended the achievers for their outstanding contribution, boasted that the school continues to produce students of the highest standard nationally.
According to Thompson, despite the negative publicity and to a lesser extent disruptive behaviour by a minority in the school, there were many positives to note.
Students who were awarded in the area of academics maintained an 'A' average, while those awarded in the area of extra-curricular activity maintained a 'B' average and contributed to the success of their respective teams or sporting disciplines.
The acting principal noted that TOSA should be commended for its effort in staging the awards. He also recommended that TOSA should try to make the awards an annual event.
- Gareth Davis
Police enforce copyright laws
PORT MARIA, ST MARY:
Two persons who were arrested by the police for selling illegal DVDs are to return to the Port Maria Resident Magistrate's Court for sentencing on April 17.
Police reports are that on February 8, Michael Reynolds, 35, vendor of Annotto Bay, St Mary, was arrested and charged for breaching the Copyright Act after he was seen offering 300 DVDs in the town of Port Maria. Reynolds was arrested and charged. When he made his appearance on March 13, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was summoned to return to court on April 17 for sentencing.
On Saturday, March 22, police on foot patrol in Port Maria also arrested Kevin Bennett, 35, conductor of Frontier district, Port Maria. The arrest came after Bennett was seen with a handcart loaded with over 200 DVDs for sale. Bennett is also to return to court for sentencing on April 17 after his guilty plea was accepted.
Acting commander in charge of operations at the Island Special Constabulary Force headquarters in Port Maria told The Gleaner they were moving to clamp down on persons in breach of the Copyright Act.
She said the law would also be coming down heavily on persons found purchasing CDs or DVDs on a commercial scale without the copyright owners' permission. Those found in breach can be imprisoned for up to five years.
- Nedburn Thaffe
Farming women shine
SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE:
The Jamaica Agriculture Society showed its appreciation for women in farming with a conference in Linstead where 125 women from St Catherine were recognised on April 9.
The conference, which was held under the theme, 'Maintaining Your Desirability Through Health and Wealth', saw 22-year-old Deloris Copeland getting an award for her continued contribution to farming in St Catherine.
Copeland praised the effort of the JAS and said he hoped more young people would find themselves pulling the soil.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer for the JAS, Camille Beckford, said the inaugural activities are one that has been thought of for several years, bearing in mind the marginalisation of female farmers.
Janet Pullen, parish manager at JAS, St Catherine, echoed the views of Beckford.
Several female farmers told The Gleaner they were pleased with the recognition.
It was the consensus of those who spoke that the event be made an annual one.
- Rasbert Turner
Cuba to assist Ja's agriculture
Jamaica's agricultural sector is soon to benefit from technical assistance from the Republic of Cuba.
Following his recent visit to Cuba, Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton said the Cuban authorities have agreed to provide technical assistance in various areas, including extension services, research, protected agriculture and lobster casita development, which involves the placement of man-made shelters on the seabed to increase the baby lobsters' chances of survival.
Dr Tufton pointed out that this assistance, to be provided to the ministry's extension services, would strengthen its capacity in the areas of soil preparation, organic farming, irrigation and water-use management.
Cooperation in protected agriculture, including the construction of affordable greenhouse models, tailored to tropical conditions, would also form part of the programme.
A team of Cuban technical experts is due to visit Jamaica between April 14 and 27 to conduct an assessment of the sector's training needs ahead of the official signing of a cooperation agreement.
