http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/ JamaicaObserver.com, the most concise and in-depth website for news coverage on Jamaica and the Caribbean. Updated daily 7 days a week, 24 hours a day en-us copyright Jamaica Observer, 2011 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gang-conflicts-raging- POLICE Commissioner Owen Ellington yesterday reported that there are currently 42 gang conflicts raging across the island. Speaking at a special Post Cabinet press briefing called by Security Minister Peter Bunting yesterday, Ellington said the security forces were working hard to contain the violence. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:41:49 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/This-school-needs-help_10845363 FOR more than a decade Banister New Testament Basic School has been educating children ages three - six inside the church that bears its name. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Arrant-nonsense---JLP-lashes-Bunting THE Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has dubbed Security Minister Peter Bunting's accusation that the party failed to implement a crime policy drafted in 2007 as rubbish. Bunting made the claim at during a press briefing at Jamaica House yesterday and drew the ire of the JLP. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:15:11 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/5-year-crime-plan_10856644 A National Security Policy to tackle the country's ballooning crime rate with an intent to reduce murders from the current three per day to less than one over the next five years is to be made public next month, National Security Minister Peter Bunting announced yesterday. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ask-the-US-EMBASSY--How-to-get-athletes-to-the-Penn-Relays_10850374 Q: I'm a coach planning to take a group of athletes to the US to compete in the Penn Relays from April 26 to 28 this year. How can I make the visa application process as easy as possible for my team? Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Drug-Court-success_10823864 FIVE recovering drug addicts started a new chapter in their lives two weeks ago when they graduated from a substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation programme run by the Corporate Area Drug Treatment Court. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Walker-pleads-not-guilty_10849925 FORMER Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker yesterday pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching the Contractor General Act when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gov-t-pouring-US-50-m-from-JDIP-into-JEEP_10855540 THE Government has earmarked US$50 million from the US$400-million Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) to fund the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP), which is to begin in next month. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Gov-t-chops--22-b-from-budget_10854591 SOME 30 departments and agencies of the State have seen cuts or reallocations from their recurrent and capital budgets after Government slashed the spending plan put forward by the previous Administration by $22.3 billion. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Storm-over-Patricia-House_10852994 CONTROVERSY is rocking the Government-funded drug rehabilitiation centre Patricia House, with public calls being made for the resignation of its board of directors. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/POCA-being-strengthened_10850272 THE Government intends to go after the assets of criminal facilitators under a new national security policy now being crafted, minister of national security Peter Bunting said yesterday. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Swim-coach-on-murder-rap-remanded_10850051 THE swimming coach who is accused of stabbing to death a University of Technology student last month, during a dispute over a woman, was again remanded into custody when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ignore-science-at-our-peril_10846291 ADJUNCT Professor at The Mico University College Arnaldo Ventura has sounded a stern warning that Jamaica must boost science education and practice, or fall woefully behind the rest of the world. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Suitcase-infant-couple-fit-to-stand-trial_10851405 THE Toronto couple whose infant son's decomposing body was found in a suitcase inside their Kingston home have been declared fit to stand trial. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Horsing-around-_10855731 Not these men, who that seriously their job of giving these race horses early morning exercise at Caymanas Park in St Catherine. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Peek-a-boo_10855250 These five little girls, students at Banister New Testament Basic School in St Catherine, are in a playful mood during their snack break on Monday. The story of the challenges facing the small school is published on Page 7. (Photo: Karl McLarty) Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Man-hauled-before-court-for-stolen-car A man implicated in the robbery of a motorcar last June was on Tuesday offered $150,000 bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:24:25 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/300-pounds-of-ganja-seized-in-Burnt-Savannah THE Lacovia Police, yesterday seized three hundred pounds of ganja, following an operation in Burnt Savannah, St Elizabeth. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:56:31 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-3-million-worth-of-detergent-stolen GUNMEN yesterday stole a container loaded with $3.8 million worth os soap powder from a garage on Spanish Town Road in Kingston yesterday. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:49:05 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Magazine--ammo-and-ballistic-vest-seized-by-St-Ann-cops A Glock magazine containing fourteen 9mm cartridges and an army fatigue ballistic vest were seized by the Police yesterday on Swansea main road in St Ann. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:24:58 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/11-children-removed-from-home-in-abuse-case DAYTON, Texas (AP) — Texas authorities said yesterday they removed 11 children from a crowded home where a registered sex offender lives after they found eight confined in a small, dark bedroom with restraints tying some to their beds. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:15:46 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/French--US-journalists-killed-in-Syria FRANCE identified two Western reporters killed in Syria today as veteran American war correspondent Marie Colvin of Britain's Sunday Times and freelance French photojournalist Remi Ochlik. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:29:56 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Men-arrested-for-uttering-forged-cheques THE Westmoreland Police have arrested and charged two men for uttering forged cheques. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:40:47 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Cops-seek-witness THE police are appealing to members of the public to assist them in locating a witness in a case that is now before the court. Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:36:16 GMT http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/This-Day-in-History---February-22_10803800 Today's Highlights Local News Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:00:00 GMT