Thursday, March 18, 2010

Local News

Thursday, March 11th, 2010


Patrick Robinson

Patrick Robinson

By RON FANFAIR

Law will remain an area of underachievement in Jamaica once it's in the imperial embrace of the British Privy Council, says International Criminal Tribunal president Patrick Robinson.

Like most of the British Commonwealth, the Privy Council has been the final court of appeal in Jamaica and most Caribbean countries since 1833. The Caribbean has its own final appellate court - the Caribbean Court of Justice - which only adjudicates cases from Guyana and Barbados.

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Monday, March 15th, 2010


Tamara Gordon

Tamara Gordon

By RON FANFAIR

Tamara Denise Gordon is living proof that anybody can overcome despite their challenges.

The once aspiring professional basketball player suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury in February 2002 while on a high school downhill skiing trip. She sustained spinal cord and brachial injuries that have left her paralyzed from the waist down and without the use of her dominant left hand.

Despite the obstacles and setbacks, Gordon graduated from high school on time with honours, and from York University last year. She was also recognized as a Member of the Dean's Honour Roll.

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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010


Mark Josephs and mom Glenor

Mark Josephs and mom Glenor

By RON FANFAIR

The family of late Greater Toronto Area (GTA) businessman Leslie "Ameen" Josephs has established a scholarship in his name for students pursuing Business Studies at Jamaica College.

The academic award was launched last Saturday night at the Jamaica College Old Boys' Association of Canada's (JCOBAC) 22nd annual fundraising banquet in Brampton.

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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Samuel Getachew

Samuel Getachew

By RON FANFAIR

Almost everything that Samuel Getachew's Zambia-based mother, Aster Admassie, puts her hand on seemingly turns to gold.

It's for that reason that the 33-year-old Ethiopian immigrant filed his nomination documents on her birthday last February 18 to run in this October's municipal elections.

He's challenging Paul Ainslie in Ward 43 (Scarborough East).

"She's very lucky and I hope some of that runs off on me," says Getachew, who in 2006 unsuccessfully attempted to become an Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustee.

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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010


Gerry McNeilly

Gerry McNeilly

By RON FANFAIR

The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) has received nearly 760 complaints against the province's police officers since it was launched five months ago.

The majority of the grievances have been filed against officers from Toronto Police Service (TPS) and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) which are the largest law enforcement forces in the province.

The OIPRD was created in response to an exhaustive review conducted by former Superior Court Justice Patrick LeSage who recommended a new independent body to deal with public complaints against police.

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010


Prof. Rex Nettleford

Prof. Rex Nettleford

By RON FANFAIR

He was expected to be front and centre at last Saturday night's University of the West Indies (UWI) inaugural gala to celebrate distinguished Canadians, charitable and corporate entities and raise funds for the university's regional endowment fund's scholarships and bursaries.

But vice-chancellor emeritus Rex Nettleford, who had been the face of the university for decades, passed away a month ago while on a visit to Washington to garner much needed financial support for the Caribbean institution of higher learning he had been associated with for 58 years.

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010


Leonard Braithwaite, Mairuth Sarsfield and Arthur Downes

Leonard Braithwaite, Mairuth Sarsfield and Arthur Downes

By RON FANFAIR

Wazee is Swahili for wise old persons. Octogenarians Mairuth Sarsfield, Leonard Braithwaite and Arthur Downes are sage leaders who have created indelible footprints in Canada, their birth country. Last week, they were presented with Wazee awards that recognize their longstanding commitment to African-Canadians and to Canada.

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010


Pat Howell

Pat Howell

By RON FANFAIR

Social worker and Markham African Caribbean Association (MACA) vice-president Pat Howell has been appointed to Ontario's Consent and Capacity board.

The independent body, which was created by the provincial government, conducts hearings under the Mental Health, Health Care Consent and Substitute Decision Acts.

The board, which comprises psychiatrists, lawyers and public members, has the authority to hold hearings to deal with a range of issues, including reviewing whether a young person (ages 12-15) requires observation, care and treatment in a psychiatric facility.

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Dan Hill

Dan Hill

By RON FANFAIR

The late Dr. Daniel Hill III was a brilliant man and he set very high standards for his children.

The Howard University and University of Toronto graduate was a lecturer, the Ontario Human Rights Commission's first full-time director and Commissioner, a provincial Ombudsman, Ontario Black History Society's co-founder, a prominent writer and a community activist.

He was also appointed to both the Orders of Ontario and Canada before his death in June, 2003.

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Dr. Nigel Harris

Dr. Nigel Harris

By RON FANFAIR

There can be little debate that the institution that has contributed the most to the intellectual, cultural, social and economic development of the English-speaking Caribbean in the latter half of the 20th Century is the University of the West Indies (UWI), says vice-chancellor Dr. Nigel Harris.

The university was established in 1948 as the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) in a special relationship with the University of London.

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