A total of 92 of the 154 people on board AA flight 331 on December 22 were injured when the aircraft overshot the runway in driving night rain, busted through a perimeter fence, crossed the Port Royal road and ended up on the beach across from the Norman Manley International Airport.

The aircraft broke into three, but there were no reported fatalities. Tim Wagner, the airline’s senior public relations manager, told the Observer that several passengers on the ill-fated aircraft had filed legal action against the airline resulting from the crash.

He said he could not give details as it was not airline policy to comment publicly on legal matters against it.

Efforts by the Observer to get comments from the Chicago-based law firm, Ribbeck Law Chartered, which is said to be representing victims of the crash, were unsuccessful as the firm did not return messages left on its voicemail.

Claims for damages against the airline could run into million of dollars, legal sources said.

Meanwhile, the probe into the cause of the accident is still underway.

Both AA’s Wagner and Keith Holloway of the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed they were continuing to assist with the investigations being undertaken by Jamaican authorities at the country’s Civil Aviation Authority into the matter.

The NTSB’s Holloway said analysis of the plane’s flight recorder had already been completed. But he said that neither the agency nor himself could comment on the findings at this time. The flight, which had originated in Washington, DC, had stopped in Miami, Florida before the final leg of its journey to Kingston.

It was reported that the pilot opted not to utilise a mis-approach, as suggested by local air traffic controllers.

The mis-approach option, which would require the pilot to circle and make another landing attempt, was offered as the Boeing 737-800 approached the runway with a tailwind and in heavy rain.

The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority had indicated that its preliminary investigations did not reveal any mechanical failure of the commercial jet.

Jamaica’s Transport Minister Mike Henry, speaking at a press conference a few days after the crash, said the airline crew had contacted the Jamaica Air Traffic Control to request the Instrument Landing System approach for Runway 12, the designated runway broadcasted by the Automatic Terminal Information Service for arrivals that night.

They were, however, advised of tailwind conditions on Runway 12 and offered a circling approach (or missed approach) for landing on Runway 30.

The crew repeated their request for Runway 12 and were subsequently cleared to land on that runway with the controller further advising the crew that the runway was wet, Henry said.

The pilots, said the minister, reported that after descending through the cloud cover they made visual contact with the runway at between 1,000 feet and 700 feet above ground level.

The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) recorded that the aircraft was travelling at the Vref (landing) airspeed of 148 knots, with ground speed of 162 knots, that is with a tailwind component of 14 knots, when the wheels made initial contact at about 4,000 feet down the 8,900 foot runway.

The FDR further indicated that the aircraft bounced once, then settled onto the runway, Henry said, adding that during the landing rollout the aircraft veered to the left of centreline and departed the end of the runway at a ground speed of 63 knots.

The FDR, the minister said, did not indicate any anomalies or malfunctions with the operation of the brakes, spoilers or thrust reversers, adding that it also indicated that the rate of deceleration appeared normal for a wet runway.

According to the legal experts, the seal document could contain a super-ceding indictment, implicating influential Jamaican officials. Since last week unconfirmed reports have been circulating that some high ranking public officials and prominent businessmen implicated in drug running are wanted by Uncle Sam

Source: Sunday Herald

The car was taken from an upscale home at Hillcrest Avenue, St Andrew, believed to be owned by Elephant Man, whose real name is Oneil Bryan.

While the car was being placed on a tow truck, Elephant Man, who has done several collaborations with R&B stars in the United States, remained inside the house with his advisers and did not speak to reporters gathered outside.

Director of communications for the IRD, Meris Haughton, did not release the delinquent’s name, but confirmed that its special enforcement team, supported by the St Andrew North police, “conducted an operation to seize an asset of a taxpayer for outstanding taxes”. Haughton would not divulge how much money is involved.

Could Face Charges

Haughton explained that in cases where property is seized, delinquent taxpayers have 10 days to pay off their arrears or the confiscated asset would be auctioned. She said if the proceeds from the auction do not cover the debt, the taxpayer could face criminal or civil charges.

Police sources told The Gleaner that the IRD’s special enforcement team first swooped down on Elephant Man’s mansion overlooking Havendale, also in St Andrew, but nothing of significant value was identified.

However, one source involved in the operation said the team learnt of the Hillcrest Avenue home while searching the first residence.

Elephant Man, popular for his colourful hairstyles and zany performances on stage, shot to fame in the 1990s with the dancehall group Scare Dem Crew. He then went solo and recorded a string of hit songs, including dancing anthems Pon Di River, Gully Creepa and Sweep.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

Golding had said the brand would be retained by Jamaica and would be made available to Jamaican investors who may want to start up an airline in Jamaica. The finance minister says under the agreement with Caribbean Airlines, the carrier has been given exclusive right to use the name Air Jamaica, along with other trademarks for an initial period of one year.

Shaw says at the end of that period, the right to continue using the trademarks will be automatically renewed every year. Shaw also says the government still has a right to use the name Air Jamaica, but not to undertake any activity which competes with that of Caribbean Airlines.

He also says Caribbean Airlines will lose the right to use the name Air Jamaica if it fails to do so for six months.

The Trinidad carrier will also lose the right to use the brand Air Jamaica, if its assigns or attempts to assign the rights to some other entity and if the Trinidad Government owns less than 50.1 per cent of Caribbean Airlines.

Caribbean Airlines could also lose the right to use the Air Jamaica brand if it fails to continue to run the Jamaican operations to the minimum service level outlined in the Shareholder Agreement and if the carrier breaches any of covenants of the deal and fails to correct the breaches within 30 days.

More than two months ago, the Jamaican Government sold the national carrier to the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines.

The sale means that Jamaica will save millions of dollars in subsidies to Air Jamaica, which was losing more than US$10 million a month at one period.

Adopted from Go Jamaica

According to Tufton, the Lion Fish –which is notorious for preying upon other fish species –originated in the Pacific Region but got to the Caribbean Sea and in around the Jamaican coastline by way of an accident which resulted in their release in the Florida waters.

Not only do the predatory fish reduce the fish stock, but they also prey upon the fisherfolks’ catches.

At the same time the Lion Fish population has been able to soar as they are not preyed upon because they are armed with venom which they carry in spawns on their backs.

Not only do the predatory fish reduce the fish stock, but they also prey upon the fisherfolks’ catches.

At the same time the Lion Fish population has been able to soar as they are not preyed upon because they are armed with venom which they carry in spawns on their backs.

Source: Jamaica Observer

It is reported that Carlington Parkinson, the deceased, was at home with other family members before he went outside to pick the breadfruit. Further reports are that Parkinson got a large Bamboo Stick and climbed up into the tree.

As he tried to pick the fruit, he apparently pushed the bamboo stick too close to the high tension JPS electric wire; the current pulled the stick and immediately electrocuted the 52 year old man.

A family member rushed outside after hearing Parkinson making strange noises. The relative, it is said, at one point thought Parkinson was laughing. The family member then discovered that Parkinson was dead. An alarm was raised and after fighting relentlessly, they managed to pull him free and he was rushed to the Savanna la mar Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At least three members of the security forces have been slain in gunfights and 14 others injured in two days of wide-scale violence that has swept western Kingston and other areas where rogue alliances exist.

Up to press time last night, the Constabulary Communication Network reported that seven law-enforcement personnel were injured in the latest phase of operations. Six of the seven were shot, one succumbing to his injuries. That fatality was a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldier.

One soldier was reportedly injured in an undeclared accident. A soldier reportedly lost a leg, The Gleaner also learnt.

civilian casualties unknown

An undetermined number of civilians have been killed, with many of those believed to be among the gunmen who had engaged the security forces in fierce gun battles.

A source at Kingston Public Hospital said 23 persons had been admitted with gunshot wounds and three bodies delivered. A soldier told The Gleaner last night that many bodies were in Tivoli.

Hundreds of lawmen were yesterday hunting alleged drug kingpin Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, who is wanted in the United States to answer to drug and gun charges. There have no reports whether Coke was nabbed or killed in the assault.

The security forces decided yesterday that the time to appeal to Coke supporters to clear the many barricades they had erected had expired.

But the armed thugs were not prepared to surrender, and police and soldiers had to take back the streets – barricade by barricade, block by block.

For most of the day, the sound of gunfire echoed across the south-eastern city where commercial activity had come to a standstill.

‘Ground zero’ was the area around Tivoli Gardens stretching from Darling Street in the east, Industrial Terrace in the west,

Spanish Town Road to the north and Marcus Garvey Drive in the south.

But other areas, including the Fletcher’s Land neighbourhood beside The Gleaner’s North Street offices, Denham Town, East Queen Street in the vicinity of the Central Police Station, and sections of Hannah Town also saw major gun battles.

The writing was on the wall from early yesterday morning when sources in the security forces told The Gleaner that the time for talk was over and efforts would be made to take back the streets.

By mid-morning when gunmen attempted to storm the Central Police Station, the order was issued for the police and soldiers to use deadly force to repel the criminals.

A short while later, a massive deployment from the JDF was seen on Harbour Street with soldiers taking up strategic positions.

“Time to take back the streets,” said a motorist as he drove past the JDF team. And that was obviously the intention of the security forces.

Persons ran for cover – even those several metres away – as the sound of high-powered weapons rocked buildings in west Kingston.

The police and soldiers sealed the entrances and exits to Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town and Hannah Town, barring all non-essential personnel.

Even members of the media were firmly and politely told that they would not be allowed on to the battlefield.

From every possible vantage point, reporters struggled to get a peek at the firefight but most had to make do with a look at the thick, black smoke which billowed from inside the battleground – reportedly from the Coronation Market which had been set ablaze by gangsters.

Dwellings on Crooks Street and in Whitfield Town in the western end of the city were also razed.

Three persons were injured in the fire that destroyed two dwellings at Whitfield Town. No one sustained fire-related injuries at Crooks Street while the firefighters were unable to respond to the blaze at Coronation Market – Jamaica’s main market – because of the wicked stand-off in the area.

But even those journalists several metres away at the intersection of Waltham Park and Spanish Town roads came face to face with the violence as random bullets struck at least one spectator.

Persons watching the drama from the neighbouring community of Rema also had to duck for cover as bullets whizzed by. Two bystanders were reportedly shot in the area.

As darkness descended over Jamaica’s capital city, explosions were still being heard, sparking fears that the body count could be much higher when the tallying begins this morning.

According to men claiming to be members of the gangs, they are being paid by Coke, who is currently battling, in the Supreme Court, his pending extradition to the United States on drug- and gun-running charges.

Sections of the West Kingston area of the Jamaican capital have been plunged into unrest since last week Tuesday after it was announced that a warrant had been issued for Coke’s arrest.

Barricades were immediately mounted around Coke’s stronghold of Tivoli Gardens, followed later by a mass demonstration, by mostly female residents, appealing for the security forces to “leave Dudus alone”.

Police officers with expertise on gang operations told the Observer in March, two months before the current violence erupted, that thugs aligned to the PNP would join forces with the Tivoli hoodlums, who are affiliated with the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, should an attempt be made to take Coke into custody.

Signs of that cross-party alliance emerged on Sunday when gunmen from the Jones Town area, close to Maxfield Avenue, blocked a section of Spanish Town Road in the vicinity of the St Andrew Technical High School, as the security forces surrounded Tivoli Gardens before launching their offensive to capture Coke.

Yesterday, as that operation was in full swing, heavily armed men were busy blocking sections of Maxfield Avenue, from Wellington Road. Heavy gunfire was reported in the vicinity of Fitzgerald Avenue and the lower section of Maxfield Avenue where a woman was shot and injured.

A house was reportedly torched along Whitfield Avenue.

“A whole heap a gunshot a fire down Whitfield Avenue,” a resident told the Observer yesterday.

Residents have also reported that the heavily armed men are making no effort to conceal their weapons, as they walk around in broad daylight, ready to unleash mayhem, despite the imposition of a limited State of Emergency.

Source: JamaicaObserver

n an address to the nation a short while ago, Golding begged the nation to forgive him for dragging out the extradition issue and for his involvement in the matter.

“The Minister of Justice will sign the authorisation for the extradition process to commence,” Golding said.

Golding’s head has been on the chopping block since last Tuesday’s announcement in Parliament that he had personally sanctioned his party’s decision to seek the assistance of United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to negotiate with the Barack Obama administration in the contentious extradition matter.

Calls from all sectors of society for Golding to resign led him to rally his party’s top brass to high level talks on the weekend.

“In hindsight the party should have never got involved in the way it did,” he said in tonight’s broadcast. “I must accept responsibility for it and the way it was handled and I must express my remorse. I ask for your forgiveness.”

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He argued that such a twinning relationship could be mutually beneficial to both countries. “There are best practices that we could share with each other. Maybe there is something in a local authority in Cuba that we are not doing in Jamaica and there maybe ways and things that we are doing here in Jamaica that they are not doing in Cuba, so we can share our best practices together,” the mayor explained.

Moore who is also Chairman of the Westmoreland Parish Council was speaking at the Petersfield Community Park at the Jamaica Cuba Friendship Association (Westmoreland Chapter) 5th annual Bay of the Pigs celebrations on Saturday.

He lauded the Cubans for their outstanding contribution to the island over the past 25 years and praised former Prime Minister Michael Manley for his role in fostering the friendship between both nations.

” Michael Manley was the one who paved the way for us to have such a friendship with the Cuban people and I am quite sure that whatever we do in Jamaica today, we must remember what the Cubans have done for us, and are still doing,” Mayor Moore said.

He pointed to the construction of the Jose Marti Technical High School in St Catherine; the Cubans serving in the medical field and the education sector; as well as the number of Jamaican students studying in the neighbouring island, as noteworthy.

Custos of Westmoreland Owen Sinclair also praised the Cubans for their contribution to the country.

He recalled that the name “Cuba” in the 1970′s was a “dirty word” but he said over time, the Cubans have established themselves and have gained much recognition and friends because of their hard work, their diligence; their patience and understanding of human suffering. “For this we should remain eternally grateful,” he said.

Chairman of the Westmoreland Chapter of the Jamaica Cuba Friendship Association, Matthias Brown spoke of the many “struggles” to get Jamaicans to accept the Cubans in the 1970s.

” I can remember some of the demonstrations that we had in Westmoreland……. because some people did not like the Cubans around so they demonstrated and we had to have counter demonstrations, and I had to lead them because I know that they were doing a good job,” Brown told the gathering consisting of Cubans working on the island, as well as locals.

He said however that he is now heartened by the fact that the present government and the general public are now embracing the Cubans.

Saturday celebrations which included a rich cultural package accompanied by generous servings of food and liquor also saw several other speakers praising the Cubans.

The Bay of the Pigs celebrations is an annual event, aimed at sensitising, educating and strengthening the ties between the Cubans and the people of Westmoreland. Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Yuri Gala Lopez in his address said the celebrations show the kind of love and generosity between the people of Cuba and Jamaica.

He also pointed to the strengthening of ties over between both countries over the past year and pledged his continued support in further improving the relationship.

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