KINGSTON – The Montego Bay police confiscated a number of United States dollars valued at J$195 000 following the interception of a motorcar at Harbour Street on Monday.
Three men have since been charged with possession of counterfeit notes and obtaining credit by fraud. Their identities are being withheld pending an identification parade.
The police said a man went to a bar on Sunset Boulevard in the city, where he placed an order and then tendered a US$100 note to the proprietor. He then left the establishment. The proprietor was however suspicious of the note’s appearance, and raised an alarm.
Officers later intercepted the vehicle and a total of US$1 900 in US$100 notes; US$400 in US$50 notes; and US$40 in US $20 notes was found. (Jamaican Observer)
Co-accused to testify against Banton
KINGSTON – United States authorities have removed reggae singer Buju Banton to another holding facility following the revelation that one of his co-defendants has decided to testify against him.
Banton, James Mack and Ian Thomas are facing charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilos or more of cocaine.
The move was confirmed by Banton’s lawyer David Markus.
Markus told the Observer that after news surfaced last week that Thomas had struck a deal to testify against Banton, the authorities removed Banton from the Pineolas County Jail to the Citrus County Jail which is situated north of Tampa, Florida.
He said Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, will be transported back to the Pineolas County Jail before his trial starts in Tampa on Monday.
“He was moved for a week as they wanted to keep him and Thomas in separate facilities,” Markus told the Observer.
Banton was arrested at his Tamarac home in South Florida hours after Thomas and Mack were busted attempting to purchase cocaine from Drug Enforcement Agents in December last year. (Jamaica Observer)
EC$1m boost for banana farmers
ROSEAU – The government of Dominica is making EC$1m available in the first instance to banana farmers so as to boost production.
The new loan and grant facility, available at the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (DAIDB), was announced at the Financial Centre recently with the Ministry of Agriculture making the funds accessible as part of the Banana Recovery, Sustainability and Diversification Plan’s Phase 1.
Minister of Agriculture, Matthew Walter said: “The ministry is considering a programme which should target 48 per cent, that is, the top 161 farmers of the active farmers producing about five tonnes per acre per year and increasing their acreage from 507 acres to 805 acres.”
The programme will include rehabilitation, replanting and expansion of the crop based on farmer needs assessment at a time when the sector is plagued with under production and a decreasing farmer population. The average acreage of the top 161 farmers is approximately 4.5 to 5 acres. There are fewer than 350 banana farmers on the island.
As such $2 918 will be granted for two acres for rehabilitation; $8 911 for two acres for the purpose of replanting and $4 455.50 for one acre to be used for expansion.
The total investment for the top producing 161 farms amounts to $2 621 805.50.
According to the minister, the banana sector is currently under-producing, with the average weekly production standing at approximately 8 300 boxes.
Officers sent on immediate leave
PORT-OF-SPAIN – Thirty five officers assigned to the Repeat Offenders Programme Task Force (ROPTF) were on Monday sent on administrative leave with immediate effect by Acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams.
The Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU), headed by Acting Senior Superintendent John Martinez, was then given full control of the ROPTF. Martinez and Acting ASP Sahadeo Singh, of the Besson Street CID, were then mandated by Williams to conduct a full scale investigation into allegations of gross misconduct against ROPTF officers.
Speaking with the Express after the promotion of 79 officers, Williams confirmed a probe had been launched into the allegations, highlighted in an exclusive Sunday Express article over the weekend. (Trinidad Express)
The required volumes for the British market includes 13 000 boxes, and 5 000 boxes for the regional market.
Prime Minster and Finance Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said agriculture was critical to the country’s economic prosperity adding the investment was vital while resources were scarce. (NP)
