Tuesday, February 19, 2019

TUESDAY

$75

FEBRUARY 19, 2019 | VOL 185 NO 50 43

PAGES: 60 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com

GCT INC.

Barita believes in Jamaican excellence

1 DAY TO GO

As one of the long-standing pillars of the financial industry in independent Jamaica, we at Barita feel tremendously privileged to be able to invest in building Brand Jamaica – not only in a literal sense via our unit trust and other investment products, but also by supporting endeavours that incentivise and encourage excellence. We believe that Jamaica has significant potential as we continuously punch above our weight in the financial industry, athletics, music and in helping to shape world culture. WeshareGovernorGeneralSirPatrickAllen’s sentiments that“there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right

withJamaica”.Weareexceedinglybullishabout the futureofJamaica.Webelieve inexcellence. We believe in Jamaican excellence. We, therefore, publicly commend the RJRGLEANER Communications Group for building this storied institution called the Honour Awards.We would also like to con- gratulate the winners in this year’s staging. To those who were nominated and to future nominees, we say thank you for being what is right with Jamaica. Dianne Wallace Head of Marketing Barita Investments Limited

The RJRGLEANER Honour Awards pro- gramme,started in1979,recogisesthe initiative,accomplishmentandcourage of individualsororganisationsthathave contributed significantly to improving Jamaica’s quality of life, at any time in the preceding 12 months, or is likely to bring about such a change in the immediate future.

INSURANCE HAZARD Study finds most motorists driving without coverage

Carlene Davis/Gleaner Writer M ORE THAN half the vehicles in Jamaica are uninsured, a statistic that is of huge con- cern to road-safety officials and one which the police consider “frightening”.

tractors, trailers and trucks, 52 per cent had no insurance policies. Peter Levy, president of the IAJ, disputes those numbers, arguing that his organisa-

tion estimates that a little more than two-thirds of vehicles are insured. “We believe that the range of uninsured vehicles suggested in the [research] is higher than the actual figure. Our estimate is in the region of 30 per cent,” the insurance honcho told The Gleaner , adding that IAJ data indicate about 350,000 insur- ance policies. “This is still too high in our opinion. That is why we are working with eGov Jamaica to

A study conducted by the Jamaica National Group, based on data culled from Tax Administration Jamaica and the Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ), shows that up to 57 per cent of vehicles were not covered by an insurer in 2016. Of a gross figure of 609,086 vehicles registered, only 259,269 were insured.

Musical notes blare from a bugle played by Michael Johnson (right), a member of the Eagles Drum and Bugle Corps, as his bandmembers, alongwith two other bands, joined in giving a lively send-off to the Eagles Drumand Bugle Corps bandmaster. The service for Caroletta Goulbourne was held at the Kingston Seventh-day Baptist Church on Charles Street in downtown Kingston on Sunday. GLADSTONE TAYLOR/MULTIMEDIA PHOTO EDITOR

LEVY

bring online a database of insurance informa- tion for vehicles, to aid in enforcing the law and PLEASE SEE HAZARD, A3

But other data which the researchers gleaned from TAJ and IAJ are in conflict with those statistics, indicating a slightly lower variation. That analysis shows that of 537,449 motor cars, motorcycles,

Cops lose appeal in INDECOM ruling

Nickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer

the sentence imposed on each of the appellants could not be said to be man- ifestly excessive. The appellants argued that the verdict was unfair as the trial judge did not give sufficient regard to their constitutional right to counsel. It was argued that if they had attended the video identification unit (VDU), they would have been deprived of that right.

THE COURT of Appeal has upheld the conviction of eight former members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) who were found guilty on July 28, 2014 of failing to comply with a requirement of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) without lawful justification or excuse. Gerville Williams, Kenneth Daley, Francis Rennals, David Hutchinson, Devon Noble, Marcel Dixon, Petro Green and now-deceased Orrett Williamson were sentenced by then Parish Court Judge Georgiana Fraser to serve six months behind bars or to each pay a fine of $650,000. Despite paying the fine, the cops moved to mount an appeal against their conviction and sentences. A recent ruling handed down by appeal court Justices Patrick Brooks, Almarie Sinclair-Haynes and Paulette Williams said the learned Parish Court judge con- ducted a careful analysis of the evidence and the issues involved in the case. Subsequently, it stated that she arrived at a conclusion that was consistent with the evidence. It also stated the verdict should not be disturbed and Psych evaluation ordered for accused baby snatcher

They also argued that the sentence from the Parish Court judgewas unreasonablyharsh in light of the evidence adduced. Charges were laid against the former cops after they failed to obey a notice issued by INDECOM for them attend at the VDU on September 14, 2010 to provide the oversight body with a statement. They were also to answer questions relating to occur- rences in the vicinity of Tredegar Park, Lauriston, Brooklyn and Spanish Town, in the parish of St Catherine, between August 12 and 13, 2010, including the circumstances that led to the death of Derrick Bolton and Rohan Dixon.

Regina and Peabo thrilled at Red Rose For Gregory. B7

Nine-to-five jobs are redundant – Dr Eric Deans. A7

RSPL footballers call for new union. A7

nickoy.wilson@gleanerjm.com

PARISH COURT Judge Vaughn Smith has ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Peta-Gaye Ffrench, who is accused of stealing a

Officials at the agency became suspicious after shegave conflicting information about the child’s birth. The alleged baby snatcher was

taken into custody by the police and later charged with child stealing. The infant was sub- sequently returned to his family after the results from a DNA test confirmed that he was

day-old baby from the Victoria Jubilee Hospital on January 9. The evaluation was requested by Ffrench’s a t t o r n e y R a c h e l Donaldson. Ffrench, 28, was arrested on February 5,

FFRENCH

when she attempted to register the infant at the Registrar General’s Department in Twickenham Park, St Catherine.

the stolen child. Ffrench was remanded and is scheduled to return to court on March 13.