New York Liberty Star

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

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NEW YORK’S CARIBBEAN D AIL Y NEWSP APER DAIL AILY NEWSPAPER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

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Copyright © 2006, New York Liberty Star

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 181

ENTERTAINMENT KARTEL TO END FUED WITH MOVADO Page 14

VYBZ KARTEL says he is willing to put aside differences with his archmusical-rival to call for an end to violence with the Gaza/Gully feud.

Page 20

SPORTS

SOUTH AFRICA TOPS WEST INDIES

WEST INDIES plunged out of the first ever CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 cricket tourney.

SEE STORY, PAGE 4

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

CONTENTS PM TILLMAN THOMAS

WEATHER

STANFORD

TODAY Mostly Sunny High: 51° Low: 35° TOMORROW PM Showers

High: 43° Low: 34°

GOV’T NO SHOW BUST

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Grenada Prime Minister says his government is seeking to get to the bottom of an embarrassing incident.

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The IRS says it is seeking the names of US taxpayers who have foreign accounts with Stanford companies.

QUEEN IFRICA

COLD WEATHER

10 Even when temperatures dip, your CARE FOR YOUR CAR

IRS WANTS NAMES

15 Angus Taylor speaks with artists about THE INTERVIEW

vehicle’s coolant system works hard to her life and her mature sounding keep the engine cool and running. second album for VP.

Black Princess Has Positive Effects This photo released by East New York Preparatory Charter School shows Tykeisha Crockrell. ‘When I heard that Tiana was going to be an African American princess that made me more proud to be black,’ said Crockrell.

Rev. Al Sharpton’s Ex-Wife , Daughter Arrested Over Traffic Stop Dispute

Rev. Al Sharpton

NEW YORK, NY -- Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton’s ex-wife, Kathy Jordan, and daughter, Dominique (pictured left), were cuffed by

New York City cops last week Friday night over a traffic dispute. Dominique, 23, was driving in Harlem and allegedly sped through a steady red

Al Sharpton’s daughter Dominique and ex-wife Kathy Jordan enter court.

Queens Woman Arrested For Filing Phony Insurance Claims NEW YORK, NY — A Queens woman faces up to seven years in prison if she is convicted on charges that she forged more than 50 insurance claims that she submitted to her health insurance company.

Regine Leconte, 33, of 48th Street, Long Island City, was arrested by the Special Prosecutions Division of the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown following an investigation by the New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau.

Investigators said Cigna Insur-

ance Company paid Leconte $3,800 after she submitted the phony claims for health care treatments she never received.

Leconte is accused of making up invoices that appeared similar to invoices for genuine treatments she received earlier and then faxing them to Cigna for payment.

Leconte was charged with grand larceny, forgery and insurance fraud.

A hearing will be scheduled in Queens County Criminal Court. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Buccieri.

light. Unbeknownst to her, the young woman flew right past a parked patrol car and was immediately pulled over by “New York’s finest.”

According to police reports, Jordan, 53, was called by her daughter and rushed to the scene only moments later.

When Jordan arrived, she discovered Dominique handcuffed in the back of a cop car. Sources state that as the officers tried to issue the young woman a citation, the pair allegedly tag teamed the officers with heated arguments, trying to defend Dominique’s actions that she was only trying to get around a vehicle that was moving way too slow.

Police state that Dominique was the more vocal of the two and argued more passionately than her mother against the summons. The futile arguments only wound up in the arrest

of the two women for charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration charges.

The pair were issued desk appearance tickets and allowed to go home.

What is Rev. Al saying about his family’s legal brouhaha? The Rev. is pretty peeved about the entire incident and Tweeted the following: “I cannot imagine how two unarmed women, with no record, could be taken in cuffs from a traffic dispute with NO personal or property damage involved.

No drugs or drinking at all.” He added, “Well, this is what we deal with every day. We will never accept unfairness.”

Rev. Al met Jordan when she was a backup singer for the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. They married in 1980, divorced in 2003 and have two grown daughters, Dominique and Ashley, 22.

Senate Rejects Gay Marriage Bill ALBANY, NY -- Lawmakers across New York state have rejected a bill that would have granted marriage rights to gay couples.

The state’s senate voted against the legislation by 38 votes to 24.

Several Democrats opposed the measure.

The bill legalising same-sex marriage had earlier passed easily in the heavily Democratic state assembly.

Gay rights activists had hoped New York would join Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hamp-

shire and Vermont in legalising gay unions.

Gay marriage is a controversial issue in the US, where many states have statutes banning same-sex unions.

Voters in Maine repealed their state law legalising gay marriage only last month. And last year, Californians also overturned an earlier decision by the state’s Supreme Court to allow gay couples to wed.

Governor David Paterson had supported the bill, saying he would sign it if the senate were to pass it.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

Consul General James of Grenada and Consul General Price of Barbados among onlookers to the flag raising ceremony outside of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall.

Barbadians In NYC Celebrate 43rd Independence Day NEW YORK, NY -- Barbadians celebrated their 43rd Independence Day, Monday, with a flag-raising ceremony at Brooklyn’s Borough Hall.

Grenadain Consul-General Derrick James joined the Caribbean’s diplomatic community for the historic event.

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Brooklyn Borough President, Yvonne Graham; Consul General of Barbados, Lennox Price and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Dr. Christopher Hackett.

The Grenadian diplomat also participated in an Independence Church Service at the United

Methodist Church at New York Avenue on Sunday.

In a message to Barbadians, Prime Minister David Thompson called upon his nationals to become more enterprising, to spot niches in the market place and to capitalise on them “In the midst of our Independence celebrations this year, I therefore want to ask to all Barbadians at home and abroad to revisit and draw strength from the Barbadian vision. It is a vision of victory, of relentlessly struggling against the odds, of facing each new hurdle with confidence...... until we win the gold,” Thompson stated.

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Skerrit Clears Air On Dual Citizenship ROSEAU, Dominica -- Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has admitted being in possession of a French passport but that did not prevent his nomination among over 50 candidates to contest the December 18 general elections.

President of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) Edison James told a public meet-

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

ing in Morne Prosper, north of here on Tuesday night that Skerrit was a “citizen of a foreign land” and as a result was not eligible to be nominated to contest the general election.

“Under our constitution if a person become a national, a citizen of a foreign land and is under allegiance to that foreign country and that he became a citizen of that country by his own free will…it is not his parents who did it for him then that person cannot be eligible to be a candidate,” James, who served as prime minister from 1995-2000 told supporters.

But Skerrit, 37, who led his Dominica Labour Party (DLP) into victory in 2005 and is seeking a repeat later this month, has brushed aside James’ remarks, confirming that he is the holder of a French passport.

“I have been a citizen of France since June of 1972, so this foolishness that Edison James

is seeking to perpetrate and propagate will not work,” he said. “I shall get nominated today and I shall appear on the ballot paper so that the people…can continue to vote for me and for progress in an overwhelming manner.”

The Prime Minister said he did not acquire the French passport or citizenship while he was an adult when he moved from the rural village of Vielle Case to the French island of Guadeloupe with his parents. He said he returned to Dominica to live with his grandparents. “These are the facts of the matter,” he said.

The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has nonetheless accused Skerrit of showing “utter disregard for the rule of law.”

It said that his statement on the dual citizenship issue “strongly suggests that he is prepared to do anything to remain in power even if it means violating the Constitution.”

The party quoted Section 31 (1) of the Dominica Constitution which states that “a person shall not be qualified to be elected or appointed as a Representative or Senator [in the Parliament) if he is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state” “The Dominica Freedom Party urges the Electoral Commission to investigate whether Roosevelt Skerritt is eligible to be a candidate in the December 2009 General Elections in keeping with Section 32 of the Constitution,” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, electoral officials said that 50 persons, including Skerrit had been nominated to contest the elections. The ruling DLP is the only party con testing all 21 seats while the UWP is contesting 17 and the DFP 11 seats. There is one independent candidate.

Jamaicans Remember Ambassador Johnson Members of the diplomatic corps and the Car- held at Howard University’s Rankin Chapel, Washibbean communities in New York and Washington ington D.C. starting at 4 p.m.

D.C. will pay tribute to the late distinguished JaJamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, His maican Ambassador to the United States, the Hon. Excellency Anthony Johnson, in underscoring the Keith Meredith Johnson O.J. significance of the tribute, said that Ambassador Johnson, Jamaica’s first Consul (Keith) Johnson was one of the earlier General to New York, recently passed Caribbean Heads of Mission in Washin October at his home in Brooklyn. ington, who set the tone of excellence Ambassador Johnson served his counto which all Ambassadors from the retry outstandingly for more than forty gion aspire. years in various Diplomatic assignSecretary of the National Coalition ments, including Ambassador to the on Caribbean Affairs and member of the United States and Permanent Repreplanning committee, Leopold Edwards, sentative to the United Nations. said that Ambassador Keith Johnson On Sunday, December 6th, 2009 was “a diplomat’s diplomat.” a Memorial Service and Tribute will “He became recognised as the Carbe held in Johnson’s honor at The The late Ambassador ibbean region’s most outstanding AmCommunity Church of New York, 40 Keith Johnson bassador, in terms of his achievements,” East 35th Street, between Madison he noted. and Park Avenues at 4:30pm. A reception will folHe served as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the low.

United States from 1981 until 1991, when he reIn Washington, the service, scheduled for Sat- tired from the service. He passed away peacefully at urday, is being organised by representatives of vari- his home in New York on October 1, 2009 and was ous Jamaican and Caribbean organisations, under buried on October 15, 2009, following a funeral in the auspices of the Embassy of Jamaica, and will be Kingston.

(Left to right): Lorna Hawthorne, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill; Kathryn Soman, Health Plus; Jon Dohlin, New York Aquarium; Gary Bagley, New York Cares; BP Markowitz; The New York Aquarium Walrus. Photo by Kathryn Kirk.

New Yorkers Urged To Donate Coats BROOKLYN , NY – New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagley, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham Thursday urged Brooklynites to donate coats to the 21st Annual New York Cares Coat Drive.

Brooklyn students from Believe Northside and Southside Charter High Schools in Williamsburg and Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School in BedfordStuyvesant placed coats that they collected at their schools into the drop-off box at Borough Hall. Representatives from Presenting Sponsor Health Plus, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium, and Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill were also on hand to help with the donations.

The New York Cares Coat Drive is an annual citywide tradition that collects approximately 70,000 winter coats for men, women and children

in need throughout the City.

“This winter will be especially difficult for New Yorkers in these challenging economic times, and I call on all Brooklynites to bring their new or gentlyused winter coats to Borough Hall or any of the dropoff locations now through December 31st for the 21st annual New York Cares Coat Drive ,” said Borough President Markowitz. “I can’t think of a better way to show the true spirit of the holidays than by helping our neighbors in need, so this year let’s not only give holiday warm wishes—but warm coats.”

“The economic crisis continues to hit low-income families especially hard, so the need for coats is especially great this year. We’re grateful to Borough President Marty Markowitz and our other Brooklyn partners for their leadership in collecting coats,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

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Clarendon Shootout Leaves One Suspect Dead

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Gunmen travelling in two cars attacked each other along the Hayes main road in Clarendon, Wednesday, leaving one suspect dead, another in police custody and two on the run.

Police intercepted the two vehicles after receiving reports that shots were being fired in the area. The driver of one of the cars, a Toyota Yaris, reportedly lost control and crashed.

One suspect died in the incident and another was detained by the police. According to reports, two handguns were recovered from that vehicle.

“Lawd, this mawnin’ mi believe dat it was police and gunmen in a gun battle. The two men with M16 just firing shots. Is afta di crash dat we realised dat a criminal dem,” a female onlooker at the Lionel Town Hospital told the Gleaner.

Her amazement at the incident was not unique.

“The gunmen have no respect for life as, if you check, you realise that several schools are along the road,” another resident Marvin Black stated.

The other vehicle involved in the incident, a Toyota Altis, was intercepted by Police at Cockpit district, along the Salt River road, where the occupants engaged the police in a shoot-out before fleeing into nearby bushes. They abandoned the car, along with an M16 rifle with live rounds.

According to reports, police and soldiers were still scouring bushes in search of the criminals on Wednesday.

Patrick Murdock, Operation officer for Clarendon, Deputy Superintendent, praised the police for their quick response.

“Although I am not on the ground, I have been keeping in touch with the happenings and I am very proud of the operation,” said Murdock.

The identity of the dead man has not been revealed. The police were also said to be interrogating one of their own in relation to the incident.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada -Prime Minister Tillman Thomas says his government is seeking to get to the bottom of an incident deemed as embarrassing for Grenada and one that has also sparked calls for the sacking of country’s Tourism Director William Joseph.

Last Tuesday, the Canadian airline Sunwing launched weekly scheduled services to the island but no official welcoming mat was rolled out for its officials on arrival at the Maurice Bishop International Airport.

In response to mounting criticism being leveled at the Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) following the incident, Thomas revealed on Thursday that an investigation had started into why no ceremony was held to herald the inaugural flight with 90 passen-

PM Seeking To Get To Bottom Of Embarrassing Episode gers, including Grenada’s Consul General to Canada, Jenny Gumbs and top officials of the Canadian airline.

“The Board of Tourism is now in the process of carrying out an investigation and then they will present a report to us,” Thomas told reporters in St. George’s. “When we receive the report, we will look at it and deal with it accordingly. We have not received the report as yet.”

Board Director Richard Strachan has confirmed the investigation and says it could finish before the end of the week.

“Let me hasten to say that the recent happening surrounding Sunwing sunrise’s first flight into Grenada is an unfortunate source of disappointment and slippage and concerns me greatly,” he said during a tourism

marketing conference in St. George’s this week.

“There have been calls for some reaction from some quarters and while the board of directors does not wish to rush to unfair judgment we have requested a full report so that a decision can be made by the end of this week.”

A statement from the GBT has blamed the airport ground handling company and the early morning arrival of Sunwing for the lack of a welcome ceremony.

However, the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA) has dismissed the reasons provided as “lame”. Sunwing has plans to increase its services to twice weekly during the peak Christmas, Easter and Carnival seasons.

Murder Toll On The Rise Child, Policeman Among Latest Victims Of Crime KINGSTON, Jamaica – A seven-year-old girl and a policeman are among the latest victims of a worrying crime wave that has gripped Jamaica, resulting in over 1,500 murders so far this year.

Police say young Colby Lewis was hit once in the chest and twice in the back by gunmen who opened fire in the tough inner city community of Drewsland.

The victim was travelling with her uncle and brother on a motorcycle at the time of the attack.

But while her brother escaped without injury, Lewis had to be rushed to hospital where she died.

Her uncle was also shot in the back and had to be hospitalised following Wednesday’s shooting incident which police say may be linked to an ongoing feud between factions in Drewsland and the nearby community of Maverley.

In the other incident, a policeman was attacked by a man who demanded to see Prime Minister Bruce Golding at Jamaica House – the administrative seat of the government.

When the man was refused entry, a knife was used to slash the policeman’s throat.

The injured officer was taken to hospital where he was treated and discharged. His attacker has been taken into police custody.

Following the incident, Information Minister Daryl Vaz said while security at Jamaica House was not compromised, there was need for a review of the current protection system.

Since the start of 2009, Jamaica has recorded over

1,500 murders. Listed among the major hot spots are the western parish of St. James, the central parish of St. Catherine and sections of the corporate area – areas where police have stepped up patrols in recent weeks.

More Than A man demanding a meet with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding slashed a policeman’s throat at Jamaica 200 Children House.

With AIDS In Fire Destroy Warehouse At Jamaica’s Wray & T&T Schools Nephew, But Rum Stocks Safe For Christmas

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Education officials Wednesday confirmed that more than 200 children with the deadly HIV virus were attending schools in Trinidad and Tobago.

Chief Education Officer Peter O’Neil told a symposium on HIVAIDS here that the 204 students were at schools which he did not disclose.

“Our children and our teachers must not face the added burden of stigma,” he said.

According to the education official, figures released by the Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health for the period December 2008 and June this year, showed that 204 students had contracted the deadly virus.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica’s Ministry of Transport and Works on Tuesday opened up the Portmore Toll Road to toll-free traffic up to midnight, to reduce congestion in the Spanish Town Road area of Kingston created by a major fire at the Wray and Nephew plant.

The fire started at about 6 pm and was still in progress four hours later.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Minister responsible for Information, Daryl Vaz, were among a number of Government Ministers who rushed to the scene.

But, Vaz confirmed, three hours later, that despite the size of the fire it did not affect the operations, or

rum storage at the plant, as it was restricted to a warehouse used to store barrels.

“All the emergency services are here, including ODPEM. The fire brigade has brought the fire under control. The operation is definitely not affected, but we will keep the tolls open until about midnight,” Vaz said.

At least seven fire units from the York Park and Trench Town stations battled the flames. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained and there were no reports of injury to anyone.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) advised the public of the fire and reported that “emergency re-

sponders” were on the scene.

ODPEM urged motorists travelling out of Kingston to Portmore and other rural areas via the Mandela Highway to continue to use the Toll Road to Spanish Town instead, as Spanish Town Road, between Three Miles and Six Miles, remained inaccessible.

The police had earlier asked residents of surrounding communities, such as Headley Avenue, White Wing and Ashoka Road to take precaution, in case the fire spread.

Wray & Nephew’s products include Appleton Special and Estate rums and the popular White Overproof rum.

Schoolteacher Meera Millington says she is upset because, while her name appears on the list of persons to whom the T&T Government gave financial aid, she received no such assistance.

T&T Gov’t Corruption Begins To Unfold Schoolteacher Meera Millington said Wednesday the Government of Trinidad and Tobago gave neither her nor the University of the West Indies (UWI) in St Augustine, where she studied, any money for her tuition. She said despite this, her name appears on the list of people the Ministry of Culture gave financial assistance to in 2004 to pursue tertiary studies.

While Millington, who graduated from UWI in 2007 and now teaches at Fatima College in Mucurapo, admitted she wrote to the ministry requesting financial aid as she had started her degree program two years before the Government Assistance for Tertiary Education (GATE) came on stream, she said UWI has no record of any part of her tuition being paid via a Government grant.

Last year, Minister of Culture, Marlene MacDonald, confirmed that the ministry had given out some $46 million in financial assistance between 2003 and 2007, but said she could not reveal the names of those who received the financial aid.

However, ITEC, headed by Devant Maharaj, moved to gain access to these names under the Freedom of Information Act in July last year and finally got the document late last month.

Ramlogan is alleging that the financial aid was in fact ’political scholarships’ for people associated with the PNM. Among those who have been given assistance is one present Government Senator, Laurel Lezama, who received $454,650 in assistance for studies in England from 2004-2006; Paige De Leon, who is the communications manager at the Office of the Prime Minister, and journalists Jerome Lewis (I95FM), Curtis Williams (CNMG) and former TV journalist Odeka O’Neil.

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US Seeks Names Of Holders In Stanford Accounts

Stanford Financial chairman and CEO Sir Robert Allen Stanford (C) leaves the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston, Texas.

DALLAS, Texas – The IRS says it is seeking the names of US taxpayers who have foreign accounts with companies owned by indicted Texas billionaire Sir Allen Stanford.

According to court papers filed on Wednesday, the IRS asked a US federal judge to order the court-appointed receiver, Ralph Janvey, now running Stanford’s companies, to identify American investors who held foreign accounts in Stanford entities from 2002-08.

The revenue service said it has evidence suggesting that some

European Company Dismisses Workers, Threatens To Pull Out ST GEORGE’S, Grenada – An European-based company, citing the Grenada government’s delay in approving the construction of a new tourism project, has fired most of its workers and is threatening to pull out of the island.

Volker Stevin Construction Europe is involved in the construction of the EC$300 million (US$112.3 million) St. George’s Renaissance project that involves the construction of a major road network, a cruise ship terminal, and a casino.

“That is true we are coming to the end of the project … and so far nothing else has come up so we got no other choice than to at least lay off some 80 per cent of our people, “said project manager Rudolph Goosens.

The company, which employs 100 workers, said it is retaining a small staff to complete the final phase of a marina to be delivered to the British company Camper and Nicholson before Christmas. Government officials have complained that the country has lost about US$800 million in foreign direct investment and that at least six multi-million dollar tourism related projects have been put on hold as a result of a number of factors.

Despite concerns in some quarters here over casino gambling, the company says it was hoping that the Tillman Thomas government would have approved the new tourism project which it said would have secured work for another three years.

“For many months we had hoped that The Renaissance Project with Zublin will give us some more work in the near future but that has not materialised” said Goosens. “So we have no other choice .I think Grenada needs a project like this at the moment. If people see things are happening in Grenada they will come back.”

A previous attempt by Zublin to secure a casino license under the previous Keith Mitchell-led administration failed and several months ago, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas repeated his opposition to casino gambling.

Stanford investors were underreporting their income or evading taxes.

IRS agent Daniel Reeves said he has “a reasonable basis to believe United States taxpayers, with undisclosed offshore accounts with Stanford International Bank, are not in compliance with internal revenue laws.”

“The Internal Revenue Service has long been concerned with the growing problem of United States taxpayers evading the reporting or payment of United States taxes by concealing assets in offshore jurisdic-

tions,” he added in court papers.

The US government has accused Stanford in civil and criminal charges of running a US$7 billion Ponzi scheme involving his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank (SIB).

Reeves said the IRS would audit some of the Stanford foreign-account holders once the agency learns their identities. In addition, he said the IRS wants to determine if Stanford’s American clients filed Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, which are required if the value of any foreign account exceeds US$10,000.

Health Workers Get New Agreement KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica government is expected to pay out over J$430 million (US$5.2 million) to nurses following the signing of an agreement on Tuesday.

A government statement said that the agreement between the Nurses Association of Jamaica and the Bruce Golding administration will result in additional salaries and allowances to the health workers.

The new agreement will cover the twoyear period, April, 2008 to March, 2010, and became necessary because the NAJ, which represents registered nurses, did not participate in the negotiations on MOU3, the Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) that was signed in April.

The NAJ has been negotiating outside the umbrella of the JCTU since 2006. However, its members will receive the same 15 per cent increase on salaries which was paid to other public sector workers under MOU3.

The nurses had submitted a 42-point claim, 35 points of which were agreed upon, including salaries and allowances such as uniforms, meal, taxi and housing allowances.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles, said the settlement was a compromise made between the government and the nurses, whom he praised for “carrying on a job which is most vital to our country”.

He said the country could not afford to pay them more for their sacrifices and praised NAJ president Edith Allwood-Anderson as a “tough negotiator, a fearless fighter, (and) a person who has represented her constituents very well.”

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said that while the settlement might not have been what the nurses wanted, it was a matter of “giving and taking” in the context of what the government could afford in the current economic crisis.

Jamaica is negotiating a US$1.2 billion Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Spencer also assured the nurses that a team will meet with Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, to discuss implementation of the wage package.

The NAJ president said she was confident that the membership would accept the agreement.

Caribbean Consulates In New York Antigua & Barbuda 610 Fifth Avenue, Suite 311 New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel. 212-541-4117 Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, NY 10017 (212) 421-6420 Barbados 800 Second Avenue, 2nd Fl. New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-867-8435 Belize 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400G New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-599-0233 Cayman Islands (Dept. of Tourism) 420 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10170 (212) 682-5582 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel. 212-768-2480 Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400K New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-599-0301 Guyana 866 UN Plaza, Room 304 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-527-3215 Haiti 271 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor New York, N.Y. 10016 Tel. 212-697-9767 Honduras 80 Wall Street, Suite 415, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10005 Tel. 212-269-3611 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10017-2993 Tel. 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel. 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel. 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel. 212-840-2450 Puerto Rico 666 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, N.Y. 10103 Tel. 800-223-6530 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel. 212-535-1234 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel. 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Ste. 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 733 Third Avenue, Suite 1716 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel. 212-682-7272

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Condoms In Jamaican Schools KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Like so many other areas of critical discourse in Jamaica, the suggestion that condoms be distributed in school has put us in a moral, if not ethical and social bind.

Still, it’s good that we can discuss such a potentially explosive topic at all. We can still remember a time when it would have been taboo just to mention ‘condom’ and ‘school’ in the same sentence, and when ‘birth control was a plan to kill out Black people’.

We suspect that the suggestion to have condomdispensing machines in school might have come at the end of a long, fruitless night of trying to find solutions to end the scourge of teenage pregnancies that have so blighted the lives of too many of our students, many very promising ones among them.

And just as the debate began to heat up in February last year, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, gave an unequivocal ‘no’ to the suggestion, offering instead the revised health and family life education programme in secondary schools as the means through which students would be empowered to make healthy lifestyle decisions.

The prospect of putting condoms in schools is always going to be a difficult one. Even in the United States — wherein places like New York, a city mandate requires high schools to have health resource rooms, staffed by trained teachers, with condoms available to students for at least 10 periods a week — the for/against debate rages on.

It is worthy of note that Avert, an international AIDS charity, contends that studies into condom effectiveness have shown that if a latex condom is used correctly every time one has sex, this is highly effective in providing an 80% reduction in HIV incidence.

In addition, it noted that correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea and syphilis.

United Nations agencies such as UNAIDS, WHO and UNFPA also proffer the view that: “The male latex condom is the single, most efficient, available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”

A survey of more than 4,000 adolescents attending Massachusetts high schools concluded that “making condoms available in high schools does not increase adolescent sexual activity, but it protects those who are already sexually active from some sexually transmitted diseases… a highly positive result,” according to Dr Susan M Blake of the Department of Prevention and Community Health at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services in Washington, DC. It appears to us that Jamaicans who shy away from the idea of condoms in schools do so not because they are not convinced about its efficacy against unwanted pregnancies and STIs, but because of the implied suggestion that it’s okay for students to be sexually active.

We agree that the suggestion is implied, even if not intended. Furthermore, it would force teachers or other school staff who are against the idea for reasons including religion, to have to dispense condoms to students.

In the case of New York, for example, the city mandate calls for all teachers, starting with those who staff the socalled health resource rooms, to be trained to give condom demonstrations, and “must do so when students ask for condoms”.

We are not likely, in Jamaica, to get agreement soon, but let’s keep talking as a nation.

Cold Weather Care For Your Car (ARA) - Baby, it may be cold outside, but inside your car’s engine it’s hot as blazes. Even when temperatures dip, your vehicle’s coolant system works hard to keep the engine cool and running smoothly. It’s important to take care of your cooling system, whatever the weather.

Antifreeze helps keep a car engine running smoothly, despite the temperature outside. When a car engine starts, coolant is pumped around the engine to either warm it up or cool it down. In addition to keeping the car at the ideal temperature, many antifreeze products on the market today, such as PEAK Long Life Antifreeze and Coolant, also have extra additives to help prevent corrosion and expensive engine breakdowns.

Because it’s an important part of keeping your engine running smoothly, it’s essential to take care of your antifreeze. It’s not too difficult a task and you can even save a few bucks by doing it yourself.

Here are 10 easy steps to change your own antifreeze: * Clean the radiator. As you drive, the cooling system of your car sucks in air, bugs, dirt, leaves and other debris along with it. It’s important to clean it so air can easily pass through the radiator. * Place a drip pan under the car. Antifreeze is not meant for ingestion, either by humans or animals. Using a drip pan will allow for easy disposal and keep the process safe. * Remove the radiator pressure cap. When the engine has cooled, place a rag on the radiator cap and twist off. You’ll need to press down firmly with the heel of your hand, and perform two quarter turns to the left, one to unlock it, and another to remove the cap. * Inspect the pressure cap and hoses. The radiator cap helps keep the coolant properly pressurized. If it is rusting or dried out, replace it with a new one. Also look at the radiator hoses and check for leaks, cracks or soft and mushy conditions. Replace if necessary. * Drain the radiator. On the bottom of radiator, release the valve and let the fluid spill into the preplaced drip pan. Pour the drained antifreeze into a container that meets disposal regulations for your area. * Flush the radiator and cooling system. This may be the easiest and most fun step of the process.

Simply take out the garden hose and flush out the system. For the first “flush,” collect the rinse and dispose of it with the used antifreeze. Continue rinsing until the drained water is clear.

* Add the coolant and water mixture. The ideal mix is 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent distilled water. You can either mix them by filling the radiator half way with one and topping it off with the other, or pre-mix the two together in a separate container. * Bleed the system. Replacing the coolant often creates air pockets in the fluids that should be removed before going out for a drive. To even out the levels, run the engine for about 15 minutes. At the same time, turn the heat on high to help circulate the coolant. Upon completion, carefully check the coolant levels and top them off if needed. * Replace the pressure cap. Line up the tabs on the cap with the cutouts of the fill spout and press down firmly. Twist the cap to the right to secure it. * Clean up. Coolant is essentially a toxic chemical, so it is important to clean up appropriately. Use a hose to dilute any spills and dispose of the old antifreeze according to your area’s EPA guidelines.

Newton “Stibby” Miller, owner of Stibby Auto Repairs, changes a filter on a customer’s car.

Miller says giving your car a regular check up can help prevent car failure and accidents.

Advertise Your Business, Product or Event in New York Liberty Star. Special Holiday Rates Now Available.

Call 718-785-9722

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

U.S. - CARIBBEAN CURRENCY EXCHANGE

STIBBY AUTO REPAIRS 720 East 98 Street, Brooklyn, NY (Bet. Ditmas & Thomas Boyland Blvd.)

(718) 272-7842

Antigua & Barbuda.........$2.70 Bahamas...........................$1.00 Barbados..........................$2.00 Belize...............................$2.00 Cayman Islands................$0.83 Dominican Republic........$36.20 (Pesos) Grenada ..........................$2.70 (EC) Guyana ............................$194.80 Honduras..........................$18.89

Jamaica ..........................$86.95 Martinique......................$4.36 (FF) St. Kitts & Nevis.............$ 2.70 (EC) St. Lucia..........................$2.70 (EC) St. Vincent & The Grenadines...$2.70 (EC) Trinidad & Tobago...........$6.28 EC = Eastern Caribbean Dollars FF French Frank

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Time For Tires? Buying Basics For Tire Shoppers

Tire Mechanics Trini, Noel and Rick from Reliable Tires, Inc. In Brooklyn.

It’s one of the most important vehicle-related purchases you can make, yet a whopping 62 percent of women and nearly half of all men think it’s difficult, according to a recent survey.

What is this process that so many American car owners consider a hassle? Buying new tires.

“Most people barely have time to do what they need to do every day, let alone find extra time to shop for tires, but driving on worn-out tires is a safety hazard and replacing them should be a priority,” says Lauren Fix, the “Car Coach,” a nationally recognized automotive expert who travels the country talking to people about their cars.

Though close to 85 percent of American women are responsible for the maintenance of their vehicles, many don’t know when it’s time to buy new tires or what they need to know to buy the right ones for their cars, the national survey by TireBuyer.com revealed. The survey also showed that 21 percent of men admit they don’t know as much as they think they should about buying tires.

For all those American motorists who aren’t sure when their vehicle needs new tires and how to go about purchasing them when it does, Fix offers a few simple tips: A penny really can save “One penny can spare you a dangerous blowout,” Fix says. It’s a tried and true test of tire tread – stand a penny on its edge in a tread groove. Make sure Abe’s head is pointing down, into the tire tread. If you can see the top of his hair or any of the penny background above his head, it’s time to replace your tires. If you can’t see the hair on top of his head, your tire treads should still be OK to drive on. And remember, tires don’t wear evenly so repeat the test on several spots on the tire.

Keep the manufacturer’s advice in mind Most manufacturers will give you an estimated amount of miles their tires will be safe for. Be sure you know what their recommendation is for your tires and vehicle, and keep a close eye on tire tread depth as you approach that mileage limit. If you’re buying a used vehicle, be sure to have your mechanic check the tire treads and find out from the current owner when he or she last replaced the tires.

Well-cared-for tires are safer tires The quality and condition of your vehicle’s tires directly affect your safety on the road. Visually inspect tires at least once a month, looking for excessive or uneven tread wear, cracks or bulges on the sidewalls or tread, tread separation, and signs of punctures, or nails, screws, glass or stones imbedded in the treads.

Check for proper inflation at least once a month. Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure, and can impact how your car handles and its fuel efficiency. Refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual or the sticker on the inside of your car’s door jamb for proper tire pressure.

Exceeding passenger and cargo load ranges is the second leading cause of tire failure. Check the code on your tire’s sidewall and your owner’s manual for the maximum load range for your vehicle and don’t exceed that range. Finally, replacing all four tires at the same time ensures maximum safety, performance and efficiency.

What to do when it’s time to buy Go online. The TireBuyer.com survey showed that both men and women like the idea of buying tires online, citing the convenience, ease of purchase and the opportunity to see prices before buying in a pressure-free environment. Online purchasing is also appealing, survey respondents said, because they can instantly view the selection that would fit their car. They also liked the ability to have the tires shipped free from TireBuyer.com to the certified dealer of their choice.

The easy-to-navigate site allows buyers to browse from an inventory of more than 3 million tires and wheels, narrow their search to products that fit their car, and use 3-D imaging to see how any tire or wheel combination will look on their vehicle. Once they choose a tire, they can purchase online and pay for the tires and installation – done by the certified local tire dealer of their choice.

“Driving around on worn-out tires isn’t safe,” says Fix. “Tires are the only point of contact cars have with the road. If you want to keep your car longer than usual because of the economy, then the best investment you can make is regular maintenance and buying new tires when you need them.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

WHAT’S PLAYING AT THE MOVIES? New Releases ARMORED BROTHERS EVERYBODY'S FINE SERIOUS MOONLIGHT TRANSYLMANIA UP IN THE AIR THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON THE BLIND SIDE 2012 OLD DOGS DISNEY'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL NINJA ASSASSIN PLANET 51 PRECIOUS FANTASTIC MR. FOX THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS

The ‘Teacha’ Says Peace Talks Belong In Schools

ST. CATHERINE, JA -- Despite reports that Dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel has rejected rival deejay Mavado’s olive branch by turning down his birthday party invitation, Kartel maintains that he is willing to put aside differences with his arch-musical-rival to call for an end to violence associated with the Gaza/Gully feud, particularly among high school students.

Both artists have been slammed by the local media, as reports of increasing violence at local schools between fans of the Portmore, or ‘Gaza,’ Empire led by Vybz Kartel and the Gully Squad led by Mavado continue to flood the news, causing even the government to be concerned about mounting social tensions stemming from the feud between the two entertainers.

On Friday, the Jamaica Star newspaper reported that Mavado was calling for an end to the Gaza/Gully war by inviting Vybz Kartel to attend his birthday party at Temple Hall on December 5th. The paper stated that Mavado’s management said they wanted to publicly invite Kartel to make peace once and for all, as a show of unity to the nation.

“I will not be able to attend (Mavado’s event) due to previously planned engagements,” states Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer invitation, citing commitments to Usain Bolt’s 9.58 SuperParty and an event in Linstead on the same night. “What I think is the best way to solidify in the minds of the children that this Gaza/Gully feud is merely music, is not to accommodate a historic ‘burning of the peace pipe’ at a commercial, adult oriented event, but rather in the high schools where bouts of violence due to our feuding are most prominent,” states Kartel “When a date for that is set, I will readily appear.”

Vybz Kartel has repeatedly spoken out against violence within the island’s schools, condemning the sale of ‘Gaza buttons’ and other paraphernalia depicting violent images of the feud in Corporate Area Schools earlier this month. This year, Vybz Kartel has released the singles “Teenage Pregnancy” with Portmore Empire artist Gaza Kim, and the “Schooler’s Anthem” with Gaza Kim and fellow Empire artist Jah Vinci, bringing awareness to social issues affecting teens and encouraging them to stay in school.

VYBZ KARTEL IS READY TO END GAZA/GULLY VIOLENCE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Armored A crew of armored truck guards execute a meticulously planned robbery of their own security firm, but when their seemingly foolproof plan unravels, the men turn against each other as they desperately try to save themselves.

Up in the Air Ryan Bingham, is a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams.

52nd Annual Grammy Nominees Fierce & Fearless Beyonce and Taylor Swift, as expected, were the leading nominees for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards. Beyonce received 10 nominations; Swift pulled in eight. Both women are up for the “Big Three” awards-Album, Record and Song of the Year. But so, in a surprise, is dance/pop sensation Lady Gaga. The Recording Academy, which bestows the Grammys, has been slow to embrace mainstream dance/pop in the past. Madonna didn’t receive a nomination in one of the “Big Three” categories until 1999, after 15 years of hits, when she was cited for her Ray Of Light album and single.

The other big surprise in the nominations was the poor showing, at least in the marquee categories, of Kanye West. West’s first three albums were all finalists for Album of the Year, but his fourth release, 808s & Heartbreak, was passed over for that award. (It didn’t even get a nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. West’s first three albums won as Best Rap Album, but this one was slotted in the pop field.) West’s smash “Heartless” was also passed over for Record of the Year, despite covers by The Fray and Kris Allen, which boosted its profile. West clearly seems to have been hurt by his widelycriticized rudeness toward Swift at the Video Music Awards.

Swift is the youngest individual artist ever to be nominated for Album of the Year. (She’s in the running with Fearless, which is the year’s best-selling album.) Swift will be 20 years and one month when the Grammys are presented on Jan. 31. The former record holder as the young-

est individual nominee in that category was Janet Jackson, was 20 years and nine months on Grammy night in 1987, when she was nominated for her breakthrough album, Control.

Swift is also nominated for Record and Song of the Year for her crossover smash “You Belong With Me.” Swift is the first female country solo artist to be nominated for each of the “Big Three” awards since Shania Twain scored 11 years ago with Come On Over and her crossover smash “You’re Still The One.” Beyonce is nominated for Song of the Year for co-writing “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” But that iconic smash wasn’t submitted for Record of the Year. She was instead nominated in that category for her mid-tempo, pop-leaning ballad “Halo.” This is the fourth time that Beyonce has been nominated for Record of the Year. She made the finals with “Say My Name” (as part of Destiny’s Child), “Crazy In Love” (with Jay-Z) and “Irreplaceable.” But this is the first time she’s been nominated for Album of the Year. She made the finals with her third solo studio release, I Am...Sasha Fierce.

Black Eyed Peas received six nominations, which puts them in a tie for third place for most nominations with Maxwell and Kanye West.

DJ David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga each received five nominations.

The Peas are nominated for Record of the Year for the third time with “I Gotta Feeling.”

They were previously nominated for “Where Is The Love?” (with Justin Timberlake) and “Let’s Get It Started.” They also received their

first Album of the Year nomination for The E.N.D. Kings of Leon were nominated for Record and Song of the Year for their stirring rock anthem “Use Somebody.” They would doubtless have also been nominated for Album of the Year, but their Only By The Night album was released before the start of the eligibility period (Oct. 1, 2008 through Aug. 31, 2009).

Beyonce (pictured in October) topped the list of nominees for the 52nd Grammy Awards, leading the way with 10 nods ahead of teenage country star Taylor Swift with eight.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

Interview With Queen Ifrica Queen Ifrica (born Ventrice Morgan, March 25, 1975) is the daughter of the ska and rocksteady legend Derrick Morgan, but was raised by her mother and stepfather in a Rastafarian community in Montego Bay. She kick-started her career in the 90s having caught the attention of vocalist, producer and Rebel Salute festival founder Tony Rebel and is now one of Jamaica’s brightest stars. Angus Taylor spoke to her in the United States about her life and her mature sounding second album for VP, named after the place from which she hails.

It’s been a very successful time for female singers lately – are the ladies taking over?

(LAUGHS) I wouldn’t say taking over because I would not want to take over personally!

I think there’s more recognition and I’m happy to be one of those sisters that can say, “I stood the ground” to make these little sisters have the courage and help encourage them along. The first time it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t as easy for women to be recognised. But I think that for anyone to be recognised, male or female, you have to have that determination, that focus as to what you really want, and then most naturally you’ll get the attention that you really want.

Tell us about your new album Montego Bay. It’s going to be done for VP records. It’s going to have 12 or 13 tracks. It’s got a whole lot of message, there’s also fun, there’s a little about love from a relationship point of view.

And it’s just Queen Ifrica presenting herself once more in the form of this beautiful project.

How do you feel it compares to your previous album Fyah Muma? Does it represent a progression?

Yes I would say so. Fyah Muma is very much loved and appreciated, henceforth the reasons for Montego Bay. Because that’s where Fyah Muma, Queen Ifrica is from you know?

So it’s Fyah Muma from Montego Bay, so it’s like a continuation.

What was life like growing up in that part of Jamaica?

Well I was not raised in the resort area [of Montego Bay]. I was raised in somewhat of an outskirts community called Belmont. And it was up in the hills, among birds, so it wasn’t really an attraction. But we were all involved in the communities of Montego Bay. We were always in town. So we know where the attractions are and we know where the locals hang out and stuff like that. So we were very much educated as to the runnings of Montego.

And who were your favourite singers and deejays when growing up?

My favourite singers and deejays would have been… Tony Rebel, Garnet Silk, Anthony B, Luciano. Those cultural acts that were coming up in the nineties. And Capleton, Sizzla.

Those early songs that they came out with were very much appreciated by the Rastafarian community that I was a part of. So it was natural to gravitate to these type of artists that were coming with a conscious message.

And what first inspired you to make music yourself?

I was chosen to do music. I must say so. I was always forced into doing it. Forced in the sense of my friends. [They] Would always encourage me to take it seriously because they recognised that I have a voice that sound beautiful when I sing you know? So they were always encouraging me. But it was when I met Tony Rebel at a stage show in Montego Bay that was commemorating the death of Garnett Silk. I went on stage and sang one of Garnett Silk’s songs and I was introduced after to Tony Rebel by one individual who was at the company at the time. And it was his telling me how much I reminded him of Garnett Silk that really brought it home to me because Garnett Silk was like my overall favourite artist when I heard him you know? To hear him speak that way, to compare me with Garnett and the whole energy. And he invited me to Flames and that’s where I’ve

Queen Ifrica been ever since. So I found my niche you know?

Are you primarily a singer or deejay?

I was always known to be singing. Deejay came about as an accident really. Not a bad accident! (LAUGHS) No one died! But I did a song when Rebel did Just Friends. We did a version of it, myself and Lady G. And so it was when he took me to England for the first time and I was supposed to perform the song without Lady G that I ended up having to deejay Lady G’s part of the song. The response of the crowd was… overwhelming! Because they were so shocked when they heard me deejay. And that’s where the whole deejay thing was born.

But most of the songs I recorded in the early stages for Flames and for other producers were singing songs. But both of them came naturally and so they have now become an item!

(LAUGHS) You chose to work with a variety of different producers this time. How did you decide which tracks to include?

It became based upon the energy that you get from the tracks themselves. We wanted to make sure that all the tracks were good to listen to and the rhythms makes a difference too. Because when you are writing and there’s a connection with the lyrics and the rhythm it makes it better to understand the song and to understand the rhythm itself as it tells a different message. All so that brings it to one you know? So it depends on the energy you are getting at that moment from the rhythms so when you put all these songs together you hear the sequence in which they come together: whether it’s the topics or the way the rhythms are flowing. It’s a contrast and when you get the contrast correct then the finished product is what you have there.

The rhythms you use are a mix of one drop, Rasta drumming and dancehall styles.

Do you feel happy with any style of track? Is there a favourite type of rhythm you like to work with?

There’s no particular favourite. I just did a combination with Bobby Sinclair from Europe.

He’s a house musician. That’s beautiful because that’s a whole other genre of music right there.

My thing is, the rhythm is what accommodates the message you’re trying to send. They both work together. So my focus is on the lyrics that go around these rhythms, not so much the rhythm. Because the rhythms is spirituality, likewise the words, so when you match it equally then you get something that’s overwhelming and beautiful. So the rhythms are what we need whatever rhythm it is, and then the lyrics we put around it is what makes the difference.

Now let’s talk about some of the songs on the album. You choose a very cultural track to be the first song on the album. Tribute To The Pitfour Nyabinghi Centre. Tell us about this decision.

Yes. Montego Bay is the title of the album, Montego Bay is where I grew up, and my Rastafarian roots is there. Nyabinghi Pitfour Centre is where all my knowledge of Rastafari grew you know? That’s the foundation. So I thought it would be fitting to do a tribute to that part of my life that is responsible for my consciousness.

Bob Marley’s Songs Added To Grammy Hall of Fame

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Recording Academy on Tuesday added songs by James Brown, Bob Marley, the Beach Boys, Louis Armstrong and others to its Grammy Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of titles in the collection to 851.

The latest batch of 25 recordings added to the list includes Brown’s 1966 “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Marley’s 1973 album “Catch a Fire,” which the Jamaican reggae great recorded with his band The Wailers, the academy said.

Also on the list was the Beach Boys’ 1965 song “California Girls,” jazz master Louis Armstrong’s 1931 “Lazy River” and the 1972 comedy album “Class Clown” from George Carlin, who died last year. The 25 recordings added to the Grammy Hall of Fame will be displayed along with the rest of the collection at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Obama To Create More Jobs For Blacks

By Hazel Trice Edney

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AfricanAmerican joblessness – nearly twice the national rate - is quickly becoming the first showdown between Black leaders and the nation’s first Black president as national Black and civil right leaders raise their voices telling the Obama Administration it’s time to end the jobs crisis in the Black community.

“We’re sending a strong message to the president and Congress that we need to step up. We need immediate jobs – not some time six, eight and 10 months down the road,” National Urban League President Marc Morial said in an interview with the NNPA News Service. “African-American leaders are not just saying do something. We’re offering solutions.”

Morial has sent a letter to the Obama Administration and Congressional Leaders outlining specific recommendations for job creation as President Obama prepares for a job summit this week in the wake of national unemployment numbers that grew into double digits – 10. 2 percent - in October.

In his letter, dated Nov. 24, Morial reminds the Administration that the Black community has suffered double digit jobless rates for well more than a year.

“While I applaud the Administration for publicly acknowledging the gravity of our nation’s employment situation, I would add that double-digit unemployment has been a reality for communities of color since last summer – for African Americans since August, 2008, and for Latinos since February, 2009,” he writes. “As President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream, I have firsthand knowledge of the tremendous obstacles these families have been facing, not just since national unemployment reached 10.2 % in October, but for over a year now.”

Morial’s strongly worded letter came on the heels of a Nov. 17 statement issued by leading African American civil right groups, the NAACP, headed by Ben Jealous, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, headed by Wade Henderson, and other major civil rights organizations.

“Despite an effective and bold recov-

ery package we are still facing a prolonged period of high unemployment.

Two years from now, absent further action, we are likely to have unemployment at 8% or more, a higher rate than that attained even at the worst point of the last two downturns,” said the joint statement, which was issued in conjunction with a forum sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Economic Policy Institute. “Joblessness on this scale creates enormous social and economic problems—and denies millions of families the ability to meet even their most basic needs. It also threatens our nation’s future prosperity by casting millions more children into poverty, foreclosing educational opportunities for many, limiting the investment and innovation that will fuel future growth, and dimming long-term labor market prospects, especially for younger workers.”

The joint statement credits the Obama Administration for prioritizing the economy as its first major action, pushing through a $787 billion stimulus package approved by Congress and already creating more than a million jobs. But the groups are pushing for greater action.

Despite the issue of health care, still very much on the front-burner as it is slated for Senate debate this week, the jobless crisis is demanding equal attention as it boils to the top. House leaders hope to vote on a jobs bill by mid December while Senate leaders have indicated they would take up a jobs bill after the health care debate. ‘’Make no mistake – this is the civil rights issue of the moment,’’ said LCCR President and CEO Wade Henderson, in a statement posted on the organization’s website, Civilrights.org. ‘’Unless we resolve our national job crisis, all of our other priorities – from reforming health care and fixing our broken immigration system, to stemming home foreclosures and expanding economic opportunity for all Americans – are in real jeopardy.’’

The joint statement, also signed by the AFL-CIO, the National Council of La Raza, the Center for Community Change, and the Economic Policy Institute, indicates that the crisis-level concern is escalating as the numbers grow out of control – and with racial disparity.

“Nearly 16 million Americans who are able and willing to work cannot find a job.

More than one out of every three unem-

President Obama ployed workers has been out of a job for six months or more. The situation facing African American and Latino workers is even bleaker, with unemployment at 15.7% and 13.1%, respectively,” said the statement, titled, “An Urgent Call to Action to Stem the U. S. Job Crisis”.

At a White House press conference last spring, President Obama fielded a question about rising Black unemployment by saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” meaning as he addresses unemployment overall, Black unemployment will also be addressed.

But, economists and civil rights leaders say general economic remedies will not be enough to rescue unemployed people who have nearly sunk to the bottom in their struggle to find work.

“A rising tide lifts all boats for those that are in the boats,” Morial said. He says reported unemployment percentages only reflect those that are still looking for work; not those who have all but given up after repeated rejections.

“The real overall unemployment rate is something like 17 percent. And it’s higher than that in the Black community,” he said.

How To Cash In On Recession-Driven Travel Deals (ARA) - Travelers are finding the silver lining of the current economic climate is the availability of some incredible travel values. Hotel, airfare and vacation package prices are all down significantly from last year, helping to make travel more affordable than it has been in years.

You can spend the same amount and get more - for example, choosing to extend a vacation or trading up your hotel choice or you can pocket the savings.

With a little planning, even the most budget-conscious can find affordable trips this fall and winter. Tim MacDonald, general manager of Expedia.com, offers some advice for ways to get the most value out of your next vacation: Plan ahead and book with confidence In many cases, scheduling travel in advance helps you secure the lowest airfare and hotel rates. Though there’s always a chance for last-minute sales, waiting could increase the likelihood that you will pay higher prices.

This frequently happens during peak times, like the winter holidays, when there are fewer options for flights and hotel rooms.

While airlines and hotels may charge penalties, Expedia.com has eliminated change and cancel fees for hotels, cruises, car rental and most flight reservations. With fewer change and cancel fees to worry about, travelers have the flexibility they need to book in advance with confidence.

Book together - Booking airfare and hotel accommodations at the same time not only simplifies the vacation planning process, but also can help substantially reduce the overall costs of vacation travel.

“Booking travel together is one of the easiest ways to save money and get the most value when planning a trip. That’s because when you bundle your air travel and hotel together and book them at the same time, Expedia.com is able to pass substantial savings onto you,” says MacDonald. “Last year Expedia.com customers saved $248 million by booking their air travel and hotels together.”

Trade up - Although some people may be looking to scale back travel plans or follow a vacation budget more closely than in the past, for others there are opportunities to get more for their money this year. For

roughly the price of a three-star hotel stay last year, travelers can now book at a fourstar hotel. In fact, the average daily rate of a four-star hotel is $143 per night, 22 percent lower than the average for 2008.

“We’re seeing incredible values for luxury hotel properties this year,” says MacDonald. “For some travelers, this may be their chance to stretch their dollars and upgrade to hotels that have previously been out of their price range.”

Be flexible and try something new Take time to look for current travel deals to help choose a vacation destination. Look for exclusive special values and promotional rates to popular destinations including Mexico, Las Vegas, New York City and Hawaii, as well as deals on all-inclusive resorts and cruises. All-inclusive options have always been good values because they include meals and many activities in the upfront price. What’s more, this year the average daily rates for all-inclusive properties are even lower than last year - for instance, average daily rates for all-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas are 16 percent lower this year from last year.

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Clarke Participates In Newly Launched National Girls Initiative BROOKLYN, NY -- While women comprise 50% of the nation’s population, statistics reveal that they comprise just 17% of those serving in Congress. This and other gaps seen for women’s political participation in the U.S is the genesis of a newly launched national initiative, Girls Rock the House (GRTH).

GRTH reaches 8th grade girls in political districts across the country that have elected women to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Locally, Representative Yvette Clarke has signed on to launch the program in New York’s 11th Congressional District.

Local GRTH groups will be formed for a six-week hands-on learning experience, culminating with a national bill writing competition. One winner from each district will travel to Washington, D.C. for two days in June 2010, which includes meeting their Congresswoman.

Organizers are currently reaching out to local middle schools and community-based programs to recruit teams and enlist volunteer instructors.

Including Rep. Clarke, nearly 30% of the women of the House have committed to participating in the program and additional com-

Rep. Yvette Clarke mitments are expected in the weeks to come.

“Women in politics play an important role in our country,” says Mary Tribble, president of Tribble Creative Group and founder of GRTH. “Girls Rock the House will encourage young girls to dream big dreams and will give them the tools to achieve them.”

AT&T is the founding Presenting funder and BAE Systems has joined as a national supporter as well.

Teen Life Sentences, Unfair Punishment For Blacks

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson In 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court took a huge step toward joining nearly all nations on the globe when it banned teen executions. But it was only a step. The U.S. still locks up more juveniles for life without the possibility of parole than all nations combined. The High Court will rule on two Florida cases where juvenile offenders got no-parole life sentences. In those cases as well as tens of others, the juvenile offenders received life without parole sentences for crimes that did not involve murder. The offenders ranged in age from 13 to 16 years old.

There are about 100 juvenile offenders incarcerated for life in eight states with no chance for parole. Nineteen states in all still have noparole sentences for juveniles on their books.

The 100 offenders who are serving the draconian no-parole sentences though are only the tip of a more terrifying iceberg. A year ago Human Rights Watch found that more than 2,000 juvenile offenders are serving life without possibility of parole sentences. A significant number of the juveniles sentenced to no-parole sentences did not actually commit murder but were participants in a robbery or were at the scene of the crime when the death occurred. The majority of the teens slapped with the sentence had no prior convictions, and a substantial number were age 15 or under.

The stock argument against a blanket prohibition against no-parole sentences is that violence is violence no matter the age of the perpetrator, and that punishment must be severe to deter crime. Prosecutors and courts in the states that convict and impose no-parole life sentences on juvenile offenders have vigorously rejected challenges that teen no-parole sentences are a violation of the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Hollywood sensationalism and mediadriven myths about rampaging youth not to mention the very real horror stories of gang violence and young persons who do commit horrendous crimes also reinforce the popular notion that juveniles are violent predators. This has done much to damp down public sentiment that juvenile offenders can be helped with treatment and rehabilitation and deserve a second chance rather than a prison cell for life.

This is not to minimize the pain, suffering and trauma, juvenile offenders cause with their crimes to the victims and their loved ones. However, a society that slaps the irrevocable punishment of life without parole on juvenile offenders sends the terrible message that it has

thrown in the towel on turning the lives of young offenders around. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy hinted at just that in his majority opinion that scrapped teen executions.

Kennedy noted that, “the punishment of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is itself a severe sanction, in particular for a young person.”

Kennedy acknowledged, as have legions of child violence experts, that juveniles don’t have the same maturity, judgment, or emotional development as adults. Child experts agree that children are not natural-born predators and that if given proper treatment, counseling, skills training and education, that most juvenile offenders can be turned into productive adults.

In a report on juveniles and the death penalty, Amnesty International found that a number of child offenders sentenced to death suffered severe physical or sexual abuse. Many others were alcohol or drug impaired, or suffered from acute mental illness or brain damage.

Nearly all were below average intelligence.

Some of the juvenile offenders were goaded, intimidated, or threatened with violence by adults who committed crimes and forced them to be their accomplices.

Then there’s the issue of race. The no-parole sentences are hardly race neutral. Black teens are 10 times more likely to receive a noparole life sentence than white youths. They are even more likely to get those sentences when their victims are white. This was the case in the two Florida cases the Supreme Court will look at. They are often tried by all-white or mostlywhite juries. Those same juries seldom consider their age as a mitigating factor. The racial gap between black and white juvenile offenders is vast and troubling. The rush to toss the key on black juveniles has had terrible consequences in black communities. It has increased poverty, fractured families, and further criminalized a generation of young black men.

The Supreme Court in its decision to ban juvenile executions recognized that a civilized nation can’t call itself that if it executes its very young. The Supreme Court should recognize that a nation that locks up its very young and tosses the key away on them also can’t be called the same. It should scrap the no-parole life sentences for juveniles too.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) will be released in January 2010.

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W E E K LY W O R D S E A R C H

Let The Healing Begin

By Bishop Gregory M. Davis, Sr.

GOOD AND BAD

ABOMINABLE, ADEPT, ANGELIC, ATROCIOUS, AUSPICIOUS, AWFUL, BAD, BENEFICIAL, BETTER, CORRECT, DEPLORABLE, DIRE, DREADFUL, EVIL, EXCELLENT, EXPERT, FAIR, FINE, GOOD, HONEST, HONORABLE, HOPELESS, HORRENDOUS, INCOMPETENT, JUST, LAMENTABLE, MALEVOLENT, MEDIOCRE, MONSTROUS, PITIFUL, RESPECTABLE, RIGHT, SAFE, SECURE, SKILLED, SOUND, TERRIBLE, VIRTUOUS, WELL, WICKED, WORSE, WORTHY, WRONG.

S

U

D

O

K

U

A little more than a year ago, the conversation in our country was focused on the declaration of a Recession that would result in the increase in unemployment, unprecedented housing foreclosures, the loss of retirement and investment accounts, and the closure of banks. Before the year could fully begin and a new President could be inaugurated, the conversation had the Swine Flu pandemic added to it, with children dying all over the country from it, and not enough vaccine in production and available to quickly curtail it.

The war in Iraq saw a decrease in wounded and dying soldiers while the war in Afghanistan presented an increase in deaths with expectations of more soldiers being sent to that country. Schools failed our students and suicides, murders and random shootings captured the headlines of newspapers and the “breaking news” on television.

Through all of this, only now has the voice of the Christian Church been heard, declaring with a new fervor, “Let the healing begin.” We can only say this because the Word of God had already declared that these things would happen and no where in the Word does it say that Believers will be exempted. Yet, the consolation that we have is that God has made Himself available to begin a healing of the land, when many in the land had almost come to accept destruction as its fate.

The Word of God declared: “If my people who are called by name would humble themselves and pray

Bishop Gregory M. Davis, Sr. is the pastor of River of Life Church in Wilmington, De. and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I would hear from heaven and heal the land” (II Chronicles 7:14). It is interesting and notable that the text uses the word “heal.” It means to “restore to soundness, integrity, or value” and it suggests that regardless of what may have been loss, in fact, substance will be regained.

Throughout the Bible, God has shown Himself ready to heal His People. He does not promise that there will be no pain, heartache, sickness, or trouble; but He does promise to heal. In Jeremiah 30:17, it reads: “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord…”

When the prophet Hosea ex-

plained to Israel why their sins had caused so much wrath to come upon them, he provided consolation by declaring: “Come, • let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.”

The prophet Jeremiah provided closure to the plight of the people of God when he said: “Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.”

The prospect of the promised healing of God did not escape those who followed the ministry of Jesus, because Luke 9:11 says: “When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.”

John the Revelator made it emphatically clear in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 22:2: “…through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Finally, the Church understands and the world must come into agreement that God has never left His People defenseless or without all they needed to prosper. We are not left without a source or an agent for healing. I Corinthians 12:28 confirms this assurance that we all have: “And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Let the healing begin.

COMICS

SOLUTION

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SPORTS

CHRIS GAYLE

Serena Williams Fined $82,500 For US Open Tirade

South Africans Eliminate Windies From CLOBI Masters BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – West Indies plunged out of the first ever CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 cricket tournament Wednesday night when South Africa beat them by 10 runs at Kensington Oval.

Needing a win to stay alive in the series, West Indies could only muster 154 for five off their 20 overs in reply to the South Africans’ total of 164 for three off their 20 overs.

The result represented a rebound for the South Africans, who revived their hopes for a spot in the final after losing to Sri Lanka over the weekend.

West Indies were going down to their second consecutive loss and tumbled out of the race for the US$50,000 first prize.

Electing to bat, South Africa Masters lost openers Neil Johnson (11) and John Cummins (15) to pacer Curtly Ambrose and leg-spinner Rawl Lewis, respectively, and slipped to 35 for two in the eighth over.

But captain Dale Benkenstein and Dave Callaghan linked up with rapid half-centuries for a 109-run third-wicket stand that rallied the innings.

Benkenstein smashed 58 off 35 balls with three fours and three sixes and Callaghan thumped a top score of 69, off 44 balls, with six fours and two sixes.

Ambrose returned the best West Indies bowling figures of one for 18 off four overs, while spinners Lewis (1-27) and Carl Hooper (1-26) shared two wickets.

West Indies started their reply positively but their run-rate lagged after Gordon Greenidge (16) retired hurt and Stuart Williams (20) and Carl Hooper (1) departed.

The 58-year-old Collis King (37) and Jimmy Adams (42) led the scoring but the West Indies Masters, who beat Sri Lanka and then lost to England in their previous games, fell short in the end.

Fast bowler Fanie deVilliers produced a match-winning bowling effort of two for 17 off four overs, and supported by Alan Dawson (124), Lance Klusener (1-37) and Claude Henderson, whose four overs cost only 21 overs, the South Africans were able to restrict the Caribbean side below the target.

The series continues Thursday night with Sri Lanka facing England.

By Howard Fendrich

Marlon Samuels hopes to return to West Indies team after completing two-year ban.

Samuels Eyes Windies Future KINGSTON, Jamaica – Marlon Samuels is eyeing a return to West Indies colours once he finishes a two-year ban for links to an Indian bookie.

Samuels was found guilty of sharing team information with Mukesh Kochar prior to a Oneday International against India in Nagpur on January 21, 2008.

The Jamaican’s ban expires on May 9 next year, and he hopes to add to his 29 Tests and 107 ODIs. He added: “Most definitely my intention is to return to the West Indies team,” he told website Cricinfo. “I have trained very hard and been very disciplined while I have been out of the game. The two years will be over soon.”

“I want to bat number four for West Indies.

I am very much looking forward to batting again with guys like Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan. I think I could have a positive impact.”

He added: “It’s always hard to see your team lose. I’m a West Indian and that will always be my team. I hope Chris Gayle will pick up his troops and take them to bigger and better things.

“I watch a lot of games and a lot of tapes. It has been very frustrating sitting and watching cricket all this time, but I am hoping to come

back better than before. I will definitely come back with a stronger frame of mind.”

Reflecting on the original case, Samuels said: “I don’t want to go into too much detail, but it really has been one man against the World.

“An appeal would not have worked. I had a lot of telephone conversations with all kinds of people, and they told me an appeal would be a waste of time.”

He noted: “There have been past players come out and say things about me when they have done the same things themselves. The entire World has seen my case and know that I am innocent.”

Chairman of West Indies selectors Clyde Butts feels there is a place for Samuels in the Caribbean side’s line-up, as he looked ahead to Test series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

“Once Marlon’s suspension is over and he’s playing cricket again, he will be considered,” he said.

“Of course, the performances have to be there. When Marlon was suspended, he was just starting to score a lot of runs, and looked the part. He’s someone who could strengthen the middle order and he also offers part-time offspin.”

Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 for her tirade at a U.S. Open line judge and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another “major offense” at any Grand Slam in the next two years.

Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock’s ruling was released Monday, and he said Williams faces a “probationary period” at tennis’ four major championships in 2010 and 2011. If she has another “major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament in that time, the fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from the following U.S. Open.

“But if she does not have another offense in the next two years, the suspension is lifted,” Babcock said in a telephone interview from London.

He said Williams is handing over $82,500 right now to the Grand Slam committee, already far more than the previous highest fine for a Grand Slam offense. In 1995, Jeff Tarango stormed off the court at Wimbledon and accused the chair umpire of showing favoritism to certain players in exchange for their friendship.

Tarango was fined a total of $43,756, which was reduced to $28,256 on appeal, and barred from Wimbledon the next year.

Williams lashed out at a lineswoman after a foot-fault call at the end of her semifinal loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters at the U.S. Open in September. It was a profanity-laced, finger-pointing, racket-brandishing display in which Williams approached the official with what U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley called at the time “a threatening manner.”

“I am thankful that we now have closure on the incident and we can all move forward,” Williams said in a statement released Monday by her publicist. “I am back in training in preparation for next season and I continue to be grateful for all of the support from my fans and the tennis community.”

She earned $350,000 by reaching the U.S. Open singles semifinals, part of her more than $6.5 million in prize money in 2009, a singleseason record for women’s tennis. Her career prize money tops $28 million.

The American is an 11-time Grand Slam singles champion and ended the 2009 season at No. 1 in the WTA rankings.

Williams’ outburst drew a $10,000 fine from the U.S. Tennis Association in September - the maximum onsite penalty a tennis player can face. But because it happened at a Grand Slam tournament, Babcock was charged with investigating whether further punishment was merited.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

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Woods Apologizes, Says He Let His Family Down

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Tiger Woods said he let his family down with “transgressions” he regrets “with all of my heart,” and that he will deal with his personal life behind closed doors. His statement Wednesday follows a cover story in Us Weekly magazine that reports a Los Angeles cocktail waitress claims she had a 31-month affair with the world’s No. 1 golfer.

“I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves,” Woods said on his Web site. “I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.”

Woods did not offer details of any alleged relationship.

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart,” he said. “I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves,” Woods said. “For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.”

The cocktail waitress, Jaimee Grubbs, told the magazine she met Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub the week after the 2007 Masters - two months before Woods’ wife, Elin, gave birth to their first child. Grubbs claims to have proof in 300 text messages.

About three hours before Woods’ statement, the magazine published what it said was a voicemail - provided by Grubbs - that Woods left on her phone on Nov. 24, three days before his middle-of-the-night car crash outside his home in Florida.

Woods has been subjected to more media headlines during the last week than when he first won the Masters in 1997 and set off the first wave of Tigermania. He has spoken only three times through his Web site, although this was his longest posting.

“Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means,” Woods said.

“For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives.”

And he continued to say accounts that

Tiger Woods physical violence played a role in his Friday morning car crash were “utterly false and malicious.”

“Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect,” he wrote.

His statement came one day after the Florida Highway Patrol closed its investigation into the accident - without Woods ever speaking to state troopers. He was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record.

The story soon shifted from a patrol investigation to sordid allegations into his personal life.

In the voicemail released by the magazine, a man says to Grubbs: “Hey, it’s, uh, it’s Tiger. I need you to do me a huge favor. Um, can you please, uh, take your name off your phone. My wife went through my phone. And, uh, may be calling you.

If you can, please take your name off that and, um, and what do you call it just have it as a number on the voicemail, just have it as your telephone number. That’s it, OK. You gotta do this for me. Huge. Quickly. All right. Bye.”

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR

Burton, Byfield, Score In English League One LONDON, England – Former Jamaica internationals Deon Burton and Darren Byfield sustained their scoring form as their teams notched victories in the English League One on Tuesday evening.

Burton logged his ninth goal of the season and set up Charlton Athletic’s 2-0 win over Brighton and Byfield claimed his sixth of the current campaign for Walsall to thump Yeovil 3-1.

Title-chasing Charlton Athletic opened the scoring near the half-hour mark at Withdean Stadium through a header from Burton and Scott Wagstaff further hurt the Brighton home fans when he scored eight minutes before the break.

Against the run of play, the 33-year-old Burton, Jamaica’s 1998 World Cup qualifying scoring hero, got in between two defenders to head home a free-kick by Nicky Bailey in the 29th minute.

The win moved second-placed Charlton up to 39 points and within six of League One leaders Leeds United (45) in the table.

Byfield also netted a header, scoring in the fifth minute to give Walsall their platform for

Deon Burton victory at Yeovil’s Huish Park Stadium.

Steve Jones made it 2-0 in the 20th minute and although Jonathan Obika (30th) pulled a goal back 10 minutes later, Walsall made the game safe when Sam Parkin scored in the 89th minute.

Walsall are seventh in the standings with 30 points.

Jamaican Graham Puts Caledonia Into FA Semis PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Kevin Graham made a timely save to hand defending champions Caledonia AIA a 6-5 victory on penalties over Ma Pau on Monday at the Marvin Lee Stadium that sent them through to the semifinals of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation FA Cup. With the two teams tied at 5-5 in the shootout, following a 1-1 score-line after full time and extra time, the Jamaican goalkeeper stopped Sayid Freitas’ spot kick to allow the defending champions to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Ma Pau were leading, when Dwane James netted in the 39th minute, and thought they had the match sewn up as full time drew closer, but Daniel – a second half substitute – rescued Caledonia with a low shot in stoppage time.

Advancing into the semi-final stage along with Caledonia were W-Connection, Petrotrin, and Joe Public.

A hat-trick from Hughton Hector and a goal each by Christian Viveros and Jose Carlos Diaz gave Connection a 5-1 win over Valtrin in the first match at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

In the second match, Petrotrin registered a 3-1 over Siparia Spurs with Luis Andre Lima, Gary Glasgow ,and Kennedy Hinkson hitting the mark for the Oilmen.

Triple Crown champions Joe Public, playing in the second clash at the Marvin Lee, stumped their Eastern Football Association team 6-0 led by a beaver-trick Kerry Baptiste.

The draw for the semi-finals will be announced later on Tuesday by the T&TFF.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009 * NEW YORK LIBERTY STAR *

Usain Bolt

Johnson urges Bolt to run 400 KINGTSTON, Jamaica – Michael Johnson feels Usain Bolt should seriously consider running the 400 metres.

The American track & field legend is in Jamaica to film a BBC documentary with Bolt, and feels the Jamaican megastar has what it takes to lower his World record over the distance.

“He is good enough to run 42 seconds, but he will have to develop his strength-and-speed endurance,” said Johnson, whose record stands at 43.18 secs.

“Nobody is ever going to hold the World record at 100m, 200m, and 400m again if he (Bolt) does it.”

Bolt has shunned the 400 because of the type of training it demands, and Johnson agrees that he would definitely have to change his training regime.

“The training is going to be much more significant for the 400m than the 100 and 200,” he said.

“That natural ability and gift that he has, has helped him to be great at 100 and 200, but at 400 that gift is still there and is still important. But the longer the distance, the less it becomes.

“Training, endurance, and most important speed-endurance becomes a more important factor.”

Johnson could not however, predict how fast Bolt could run the 100 and 200.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t think anyone knows – not even Usain knows. But most people would agree that he can run faster, but how much faster, no one knows.”

Johnson felt if Bolt can get a few flaws in his technique corrected, then he was going to be invincible for a much longer time.

“The main thing I see is his technique,” said Johnson. “I think his technique can be improved. . .It has gotten better, but is still not perfect.

“The fact that he is so young and he still has a lot more races that he can run and learn about the race, I think it just means there is no limit as to what he can do.”

He noted: “His upper body, his arm movements, arm motion, is not as clean as athletes you compare him to.”

But Johnson concluded such flaws are common in athletes 21 to 23 years old.

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SPORTS

SERENA WILLIAMS GETS HEFTY FINE P. 20

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