Prosecution rests in robbery case

The Crown closed its case yesterday after calling more than 50 witnesses to testify at the trial of the policeman and two civilians charged with the series of robberies of returning residents five years ago.

The trial is to resume on November 30 when defence lawyers will begin to make no-case submissions.

The accused are 38-year-old Constable Horace Roberts, 30-year-old carpenter Robert Hurd and 30-year-old labourer Richard Ewart. They are charged jointly with 30 counts of robbery with aggravation.

The offences were allegedly committed between May 2004 to October 2005.

Health minister calls final morgue meeting

Health Minister Rudyard Spencer has called a final meeting with the Jamaica Workers' Union, which represents the five workers who were interdicted after the discovery that the body of a newborn baby was missing from the morgue at the Mandeville Regional Hospital.

The five workers, officials from the health ministry, the Southern Regional Health Authority and the management of the hospital are expected to be in attendance.

"We have to resolve the issue now. We cannot keep putting it off and so I have called the parties together once again for us to have a final discussion," Spencer said. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Teachers, Gov't happy

The nation was yesterday spared widespread disruption in the education system, which has threatened the new academic year.

Both Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles and President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Michael Stewart, emerged from yesterday's crucial meeting clearly satisfied with the outcome.

"I was very pleased with the attitude of the teachers and their response to the presentation made to them in relation to the state of the economy and the projections going forward," Charles told The Gleaner following the meeting.

For his part, Stewart revealed that he has been given a "satisfactory" offer to take back to the public-school teachers.

Ronaldo praises Bolt

( l - r ) Bolt, Ronaldo

Sprint king Usain Bolt has one of the world's best footballers in his camp.

"He is the best speed racer in history, I am a fan of his," said Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese striker who recently switched from English club Manchester United to Real Madrid in Spain.

The two recently met at the offices of Spanish newspaper Marca.

Bolt, who holds the world records in the 100m and 200m, has also expressed his best wishes for Madrid's candidature for the 2016 Olympics, which he thinks is "working very well, as no one can doubt its capacity".

"The city is dedicated and has facilities," he said.

Tighter Cuba ties

Jamaica's Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh and new Cuban ambassador-designate to Jamaica, Yuri Gala Lopez, have agreed to forge stronger relations between the two countries.

Lopez has succeeded Ambassador Gisela Rivera, who completed her tour of duty at the end of July.

He said he would focus on strengthening cooperation in areas other than education and health. One key aspect of the Jamaica-Cuba cooperation programme that the new ambassador is keen to see become a reality is the proposed eye care centre which is to be established in Kingston.

Lopez, a career diplomat, was the assistant director for socio-humanitarian affairs in the Multilateral Affairs Department in the Cuban foreign ministry.