Free Buju Banton

I am going to start off by saying how amazing it is that most of our entertainers end up in the United States Judicial system- sometimes warranted-sometimes not.
Yesterday reggae artist Mark Myrie popularly known as "Buju Banton" got a reprieve yesterday when it was revealed that juror Teri Wright had submitted the wrong computer for the forensic examination. Banton has been convicted of trying to set up a deal to buy 11 pounds of cocaine an sentenced to 10 years in prison.

I find it interesting that United States entertainers go free or do minimum to no time on drug related issues. Reports stated Banton's lawyers retained an expert who tracked down approximately 1.6 million internet records however none pertained to the time frame of February 14 to March 8.
 If in fact this new evidence results in a mistrial I hope Mr. Banton will consider lifestyle changes and companion changes and focus more on his music bringing Jamaica and the world the music we love.


More of the story here

Jamaican Athletes to Miss World Competition

I know that many of us, were saddened to hear about the 5 athletes who tested positively for methylxanthine at the national championships in June. Their names have not been made public.'



It is interesting because someone rumored that Usain Bolt was among the suspected athletes. I wonder if whoever started the rumor did not see the fact that it was stated, "none of whom won medals," had been added in the news coverage. I tell you any little bit of glory folks run to take it away.

Reuters News reported, "Based on what is going on, they will not be able to go to Berlin," Dr. Warren Blake, second vice president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA), told Reuters in an interview."

I think it is important they get a fair hearing and able to testify on their own behalf. I know that Jamaica has many herbs (no not ganja) that can imitate the affects of many drugs.

That is why Usain just better stick to eating his yam


*UPDATE*Caribworldnews

But the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport has identified the five as Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Sherry-Ann Brooks, Allodin Fothergill and Lansford Spence. Reports also indicate that the five athletes returned a positive result for Methylxanthine, a type of bronchodilator commonly used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Bronchodilators work by relaxing the airways, making it easier to breathe


Source: Reuters (first news source)

Students find Creative Ways To Smuggle Drugs

Well, I gotta give it to them, Students have found some really creative ways to smuggle drugs into the classrooms. The Star has reported that Students have brought illicit substances onto the school grounds in ties, inhalers, pens, even asthma pumps.

"The police say that several students in Schools in Portmore, St. Catherine, have been arrested and charged for possession and smoking of marijuana since January. Most of these arrests were made on school compounds or nearby."


"The police will have our support...We cannot allow one student with weed to infect the other students, we would want the police to have a zero tolerance...," he said."

The Bell Foot Pants War

I was reading the Jamaican Gleaner today and came upon an interesting story. It seems back in the late 60's their was a gang in Kingston known as the "Max Gang." The gang included Rastas and Bald head (non rastas). They operated in a place called,"Rosemary Lane." (Today that territory is called, "Tel Aviv and Soutside.)




The story goes that, Winston Green Aka as " Leliments, a member of the gang back then was walking down the street in Southside when suddenly trouble start up with members of the Max gang. This was back in 1969. Winston was a tailor and had on that day some pants known as "Bell Foot Pants," and a colorful shirt. Word is that one of Max men said, "Blood fire fe dem pants deh, only batty bwoy where dem pants deh." Green and his men retaliated for this remark and since then the area has never been the same. Out of this confrontation the gangs, Southside and Skull gangs were born.

You can read the rest of the story in the Jamaican Gleaner.

The sad part through this 10 and more years feud the people that have suffered is the community. Those gang members family members have taken over an now sticks are replaced with high tech guns. The killings in Central Kingston rival the most violent in many major cities in America (an more). Hopefully the current government will assist in getting rid of the guns and drugs in these areas. Giving people hope and away out of their poverty will help that community immensely.