The Portland police are sifting through clues to determine the circumstances that led to the murder of 61-year-old German, Elmott Stynner.

His body was found with multiple stab wounds along the Spring Bank road in Portland about 1:15 a.m. yesterday.

Stynner is the owner of the Jamaica Heights Resort.

Chairman of the Portland chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Vincent Holgate, said the murder has shocked the tourist sector in the parish.

The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision until July 4 in the case brought by St Ann businessman Norris 'Deedo' Nembhard, Police Corporal Herbert, Henry and four other men, against their extradition orders.

They are wanted in the United States to face charges for conspiracy to export cocaine to the US between 1998 and 2004.

During yesterday's hearing, attorneys for the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments in the case.

Health Minister Rudy Spencer yesterday warned that health-care workers soliciting payments for services in public facilities could face disciplinary action.

On April 1, user fees were abolished in public facilities across the island, except the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Spencer said his ministry received a report that a patient who used her health-insurance card at a facility was asked to pay an additional $40,000 for a surgical operation.

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has submitted reviewed reports outlining the payments due to employees to a team of consultants for further fine-tuning.

This follows an agreement signed with the unions representing the workers on Tuesday for the payout under a job reclassification.

The payment is to be made on May 30.