#JaVotes2016: St Thomas Eastern identified as hotspot
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has revealed that eastern St Thomas is one of the areas singled out for special attention. The Gleaner team came up on a contingent of JDF personnel at the Airy Castle Post Office in the Port Morant division of eastern St Thomas, but they were quick to point out that it was just a roving patrol. “Any area that holds more than one polling station; the larger ones we felt that those needed some attention and also tips from the police on areas that they deem as hot spots or concerns raised by their own intelligence. We factored that in too as to where we put soldiers,” Major Everton Morgan said. “St Thomas eastern is one such area and we have chosen around six polling stations where we have had static soldiers from start to finish.” Morgan said he and his team has been visiting the polling stations in the constituency that are not being manned by soldiers. “We are making sure that everything is OK as it relates to security and citizens can feel free to come out and vote and things are orderly and the rule is maintained and there is no congregation at the entrance of the polling station,” Morgan said. “We are pretty satisfied with what we have seen so far.”
While CARICOM heads have embraced the recommendation and resolved to ensure its implementation, the WICB, headed by controversial president Dave Cameron, has rejected it as an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”. The board also slammed the report as “limited in scope”, arguing that the panel’s investigations had “triggered findings and recommendations … which are not supported by the facts”. “The dissolution of the board is simply not a viable, legal or practical option and carries a major financial risk, which the panel either ignored or was unaware of,” the WICB told CARICOM in a written response earlier this year. Last month, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said CARICOM was soliciting advice on the “legal position” of West Indies cricket. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC): Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Joel Garner has hit out at the CARICOM-commissioned Governance Panel’s controversial recommendation that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) be dissolved. Garner, the legendary former West Indies fast bowler and a current WICB director, questioned the practicality of the proposed move, contending that all the boards which comprised the regional governing body were legitimate legal entities and, therefore, they could not be simply struck down. “My questions are: Is the BCA, which was constituted by an act of Parliament in 1933, an illegal entity and my selection as president of the BCA an illegal act?” Garner queried, while speaking at the BCA’s quarterly meeting here Thursday. “So I have to ask the question: is the GCB (Guyana Cricket Board) an illegal entity? Is the Jamaica Cricket (Association) an illegal entity? Is the Leeward Islands Cricket Association an illegal entity? Is the Windward Islands Cricket Board an illegal entity? Is the TTCB (Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board) an illegal entity?” He continued: “If they are so, they have all been established in countries in which the prime ministers are making noise and they have to tell the public of the region if these entities are illegal, how they were able to remain vibrant for so long.” In proposing the dissolution of the WICB, the Governance Panel, headed by UWI Cave Hill Principal Eudine Barriteau, also recommended the appointment of an interim board, “whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework”. UNNECESSARY DEMAND
Jamaica Sunshine Girls have two of the most talented and highly rated goal shooters on the planet in Romelda Aiken and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid. But no matter how excellent a team’s goal shooters are, they need players to complement them in order for the team to become successful.In goal attack Anna-Kay Griffiths, the Sunshine Girls have that player.Griffiths is expected to be the main supply line to the shooters, as well as provide backup shooting, but the Sunshine Girls, who has already played at the World Cup, is ready to play her part in the quest for gold Down Under.”I am very much ready, as ready as I can be. This year is different, the focus and the team bonding has helped us to gel together and it’s a beautiful feeling,” she told The Gleaner before the team’s departure on Thursday. “I am quite comfortable with the girls and I don’t have much to focus on more than to go out there and execute.”I gained some experience from my first World Cup, so my experience from the first one I will be applying it to this one,” she stated.Stronger, more confident”My game has improved a lot and I am stronger mentally and physically and I am more confident,” she added.The St Catherine Racers player, who took a two-year hiatus from international netball before returning to the squad last year, says, at first look, an opponent or spectator might underestimate her ability. However, she said, after seeing her on the court, one normally gets a total different impression, and she insists upon being ready to play her best in her supporting role to Aiken and Fowler-Reid.”I am a silent killer. People will look at me and say that I cannot do that, but when they see me do it they don’t believe. So I am a conservative person, but when I go out on the court I give it my best,” Griffiths remarked.”We have been training together and we have been doing a lot of passing (combination plays) in to Romelda and Jahniele and we seem to understand each other inside the circle, so that part of it is good.”The environment that we are in has been perfect, so that has been a plus for us. It’s for us to go out and execute. I am just focused and I know I will get the support from my coaches and my teammates, I’ve just got to go out and do my best,” she said.
LONDON (AP): Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho faces more trouble from the English Football Association after being sent to the stands as the champions’ poor Premier League form worsened yesterday with a 2-1 loss at West Ham. On a day when London rivals Arsenal went provisionally top of the standings, Mourinho was red-carded at half-time after Cesc Fabregas had a goal disallowed for offside moments before Chelsea teammate Nemanja Matic was sent off for a second bookable offence. The Chelsea manager watched the second half from the stands before leaving his spot eight minutes from the end. His assistant first-team coach, Silvino Louro, was also dismissed when Matic was red-carded. Mourinho will almost certainly face repercussions from the Football Association as the incident follows a suspended sentence from earlier this month. Mauro Z·rate gave West Ham the lead before Fabregas thought he had equalised. Gary Cahill then levelled for Chelsea 10 minutes into the second half, before Andy Carroll headed the winning goal in the 79th. In Saturday’s late match, Arsenal beat Everton 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to go top of the Premier League ahead of today’s games. Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny scored in the 36th and 38th minutes for Arsenal, before Ross Barkley’s deflected strike before half-time gave Everton hope of a comeback. But Arsenal held on against Roberto Martinez’s side, which had Gareth Barry sent off in stoppage time. “I was bit edgy because I thought the last 20 minutes could be difficult and we could not score the third goal,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. Wenger’s side leads the table with 22 points, ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday. City, on 21 points, face United, with 19 points, at Old Trafford. Chelsea, meanwhile, are 15th on 11 points from 10 matches and bookmakers have made Mourinho the second favourite to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked. The current favourite is Aston Villa’s Tim Sherwood. Villa lost their sixth league game in a row in a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea as the pressure intensified on Sherwood. Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy took his scoring form to nine goals in seven games as Leicester beat Crystal Palace 1-0. Norwich lost 1-0 at home to West Brom and Watford won 2-0 at Stoke.
POWERFUL OPENER PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC): Captain John Campbell struck his first half-century of the tournament as Jamaica Scorpions overcame a dodgy start to their run chase, to edge ICC Americas by a single wicket in the final-round game of the Regional Super50 here yesterday. In pursuit of a tricky 254 at the National Cricket Centre, Scorpions stumbled to 23 for two in the third over before recovering to reach their target in the 46th over. The left-handed Campbell was behind the recovery, stroking a top score of 82 off 74 balls and anchoring two successive half-century stands. He put on 55 with AndrÈ McCarthy, who scored 24, and added a further 70 for the fourth wicket with Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, who made 30. Brandon King hit a crucial 27 before tail-ender Marquino Mindley weighed in with an invaluable unbeaten 24 in a 39-run, unbroken last-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas (14 not out), to see their side over the line. Off-spinner Nitish Kumar finished with three for 50, while fast bowler Hammad Shahid had (2-32) and Muhammad Khan (2-46). The victory drew Scorpions level with Barbados Pride on 14 points and put pressure on them to win their day-night encounter against unbeaten title-holders Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in order to qualify for the semi-finals. Scorpions themselves were put under pressure by an impressive display from the Americas batsmen, who racked up 253 for eight off their 50 overs for their best total of the tournament. Opting to bat first, they were powered by opener Ruvindu Gunasekara’s 87, while the in-form Srimantha Wijeyeratne carved out 45 and Nitish Kumar, 43. Hamza Tariq then unleashed a whirlwind 14-ball 35 at the death to pile even more headache on Scorpions. They started shakily with Steven Taylor (9) and Akeem Dodson (6) removed with 51 runs on the board in the 15th over. The left-handed Gunasekara then led the revival, stroking eight fours and three sixes in an innings requiring 121 balls. Kumar followed suit, hammering three fours off 62 deliveries. Together, they added an entertaining 99 for the third wicket. Both fell within three overs of each other, but the Americas refused to let up, with Wijeyeratne pummelling six fours and a six off 28 balls and Tariq playing fearlessly as well. West Indies left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell picked up three wickets, but gave up 57 runs off his seven overs, while pacer Mindley was also expensive, taking two for 69. Scorpions were then rattled early, with opener Jermaine Harrison (4) and Guyanese Trevon Griffith (8) falling cheaply with 23 runs on the board in the fourth over. They recovered well through Campbell’s enterprise, the opener striking eight fours and two sixes in an attacking knock. Cruising at 148 for three, Scorpions lost three quick wickets for 34 runs to slide to 182 for six in the 30th over. King and Devon Thomas (21) then put on a crucial 35 for the seventh wicket, before the innings was plunged into more turmoil when three wickets tumbled in the space of seven balls without a run added. Tottering on 218 for nine in the 36th over, the odds were against the Scorpions, but Mindley and Aldaine Thomas held their nerve well.
“I’m happy with the time, I’m happy with the performance, and I’m just happy to be here at Drake. I always have a good experience here, so all is well.” On a chilly day at Drake Stadium, James showed little negative effects from the weather. Running out of lane five, with Merritt in lane four, James held a narrow lead heading into the final 100 metres and managed to hold on despite Merritt nearly pulling level. The win came against the backdrop of James’s impressive 44.36 run at the Bahamas Invitational in Nassau two weeks ago, and sent a strong warning to his rivals, with attention already on the Summer Olympics in Rio. James, who dominated the London 2012 event but finished third at the Beijing World Championships last year, said he was much more prepared for this year’s showpiece. “Now is a lot different. I understand the event a lot better. I know the athletes more,” he said. “It’s a lot more technical … people look out for you to perform, and that’s part of it.” DES MOINES, Iowa, (CMC): Grenada’s Olympic champion Kirani James produced a world-leading time to win the men’s 400 metres at the Drake Relays here on Friday night, and continued his fine start to the new international season. The 23-year-old stormed to 44.08 seconds – the second fastest time ever run in the first four months of a year – to edge American nemesis, former World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, who was timed at 44.22. James’s fellow countryman Bralon Taplin claimed third in 44.92. “It shows that I’m on course to do some great things so long as I don’t take anything for granted and keep on doing the right things for the rest of this season,” James said following the performance. Good experience
Former champions Charlie Smith High were forced to battle hard to defeat a resolute Mona High 2-1 in a spirited ISSA-FLOW Manning Cup football game at Mona High playing field in St Andrew yesterday. Goals from Tyrick Reid and Kemar James in the 43rd and 88th minutes of play were enough to see off Mona’s second-half penalty. Goalscorer James credited his team’s determination as key to victory, despite being outplayed by Mona in the second half. “I feel good to score. I did it for the team and my school. It was great that we held on and fought to the end of the game, even though it was not a very easy game or good field to play on,” he told The Gleaner. It was James’ seventh goal in three seasons. “I hope to score more,” he stressed. While both teams attacked along the flanks and created scoring chances, the finishing was off target and Reid cleverly slipped onside to stab home a deft Omario Fisher cross, which deceived the Mona defence and the advancing Jordan Hoilett in goal, giving the visitors the first-half lead. STRONG SECOND HALF Mona, comfortable and fearless at home, began the second half strong, robbing Charlie Smith of space to play and dominated much of the ball possession. They broke the deadlock when unmarked substitute Njerie McKenzie, free as a bird, was brought down by goalkeeper Shamarley Clayton. Milton Harris stepped up for the home team and slotted home a cool penalty to the right of the goalkeeper to give them a fighting chance. Following the game, Charlie Smith’s coach, Jerome Waite, said his team – which was missing some players because of registration issues – will get better. “It was a good fight. We missed a couple of chances, but we will have some guys in for our next game, which will help us improve and play a better all-round game.”
‘A GREAT FEELING’ “I never knew I would ever do this, so it’s a great feeling to have accomplished this feat also and to let people be in my life and get to understand who I am and to really be inspired by this movie because that is what I want them to do,” Bolt told The Gleaner last night. “When I watched the movie, it was so good, I could feel the emotions all over again,” Bolt added, while sharing his approval of the work done by directors and brothers Benjamin and Gabe Turner. “It’s like I was reliving my life again and that’s why I am so pleased about what they have done. They have captured everything and I know when people watch this they will understand. I want people to see the struggles and the pain; just the stress and have more insight in my life.” Bolt, who noted that he is looking to continue serving track and field in another capacity once he retires next summer, also notes that he will also commit more time to his charity work once that time comes. The triple world-record holder is clearly already in the departure lounge – one eye on closing his career on top and the other on life without the obligations of professional competition. It’s a topic, like many others, that he discusses quite freely in his movie. Nonetheless, Bolt assured that there is no lack of obsession where winning is concerned as he explained his decision to run for another year, despite his summit at the Olympics. “It’s mostly for the fans, but this year there is no pressure. I am much more relaxed. My coach and I will discuss it and we will change my training regime so it won’t be as intense as usual. It’s mainly because of my fans why I am coming back. There are a few people like some friends, and so forth, who have never really seen me compete, so I am giving people a chance to come see me competing at my last championships, or maybe in Jamaica when I run there for the last time and stuff like that. So it’s mainly for the fans,” Bolt said. “I’ve always said London is a good place to untie my shoes. I came (for) the Olympics and it was just magnificent, so I know the energy that they are going to bring to the World Championships and I am looking forward to it. It’s a good place to retire, I don’t know if it was somewhere else if I would go but it’s in London and that’s a good thing,” he added. “I never want to lose even in a simple board game, but even though I say I am just going out there for my fans, I still want to go out there and do my best. I just won’t be under so much pressure, I have to win, but there is less stress and less pressure,” Bolt said. “I am always going to be prepared, no matter how relaxed I might be I am still a competitor and I still never want to lose so I’m definitely going to train hard. We are just going to find a less hard way to work and be more efficient.” Bolt, who started training three weeks ago, is heading to Germany for his usual pre-season assessment with Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt, and is due in Monaco later this week for the IAAF Athletics Awards, where he is one of three finalists for the Male Athlete of the Year Award. I Am Bolt is now available for digital download and can also be seen on Blu-ray and DVD. LONDON, England: Usain Bolt described last night’s premiere of his I Am Bolt documentary as a special accomplishment, and is hoping that the film, which is already receiving positive feedback, will give an insight into the work behind his success. The sprinter also used the occasion to explain his decision to continue his career into next season’s World Championships, while noting that he will approach the year with less burden on his shoulders. Bolt, who also said that he is looking forward to a much more relaxed season in 2017, warned his rivals that this is not an invitation for them to get too confident as he looks forward to closing the curtain on his career at next year’s World Championships in London. I Am Bolt, the all-access documentary, was fully introduced to the world at a star-studded premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square cinemas in London’s West End, with some of Britain and the world’s biggest hitters in television, music, and sports sharing the red carpet with the nine-time Olympic champion.
LONDON (AP): Three months after losing his dream job as England manager, Sam Allardyce was back in football yesterday and facing a familiar task: keeping a struggling team in the Premier League. Allardyce was hired as the manager of London team Crystal Palace, which fired Alan Pardew on Thursday with the club lying in 17th place in the 20-team standings. The 62-year-old Allardyce will look to rebuild a reputation that was damaged by an ill-fated 67-day spell with England’s national team, which ended in humiliating fashion in September when he was forced out because of unguarded comments he made to undercover reporters posing as businessmen. He has never been relegated from the Premier League as a manager – a record that will have attracted Palace as the club looks to halt its downward momentum and stay in the most lucrative league in Europe. Palace has been the worst-performing team across all four leagues of English football in 2016. “We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly,” Palace chairman Steve Parish said, “and fortunate that someone of Sam’s calibre and experience was available.” Palace’s hierarchy has reportedly been in contact with Allardyce for weeks. In his last firefighting role in the Premier League, he joined Sunderland in October 2015 when the team was next-to-last in the league and preserved its place in the top flight. He has established Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham as Premier League teams during his 25 years in management. Palace became an expansive, attacking team under Pardew, who was backed in the transfer market by the club’s board that is fronted by Parish and has also contained American businessmen David Blitzer and Josh Harris since they became co-owners in December 2015. However, defensive problems plagued Pardew’s side – especially at set pieces – and Parish said Thursday: “Now we’re going to wind the dial back the other way.” With Allardyce known for his pragmatic approach, he fits the bill. He will take training today and his first game in charge is away to Watford on Monday, the first of three games in nine days for Palace over the festive period.
Event chairperson Nicola Madden-Greig says that this year’s Kingston City Run Half Marathon 5K and 10K will seek to build the image of Kingston as a tourism destination. The event will take place on the weekend of March 10-12 and will seek to showcase the city’s musical and culinary offerings before the road races on the final day. “It’s a full weekend of activities, and we definitely want people to bring family and friends from out of town, and from overseas, to join us in Kingston to celebrate everything that is Kingston City,” Madden-Greig said. Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams agrees, saying that it is easy to endorse the event as it enhances the image of the city. “We want to make Kingston a prominent city in Latin America and the Caribbean, and, indeed, on the world stage,” Mayor Williams said. “Our vision for the Kingston City Run is to really bring it to the ultimate level, where it is in keeping with our vision for Kingston, which means that we must make it a truly international event that will enhance the image of the city.” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says that the event mirrors the Government’s plans FOR making Kingston a cruise ship destination. “We’re going to make marathons happen in Kingston that will traverse the attractions of the city,” Bartlett said. “Nicola (Madden-Greig) says she wants to have a full marathon in time. That’s where we must go.” The 5K events start at 6:15 a.m. on Trafalgar Road and will take runners through New Kingston and nearby roads. The 10K starts at 6 a.m. and will take a similar route. Proceeds from the run will go towards the Open Arms Drop-in Centre, a homeless shelter located in downtown Kingston. – R. P.