THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 13 - MARCH 15, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS MISSED 7 [ NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ] Usain Bolt. FILE Jeffrey Shuttleworth, pastor of Tarrant Baptist Church. FILE Bolt considers escalating SSL issue to recover his US$6.2m TRACK AND field legend Usain Bolt says he will not remain silent for much longer after waiting two years without any clarity on the status of US$6.2 million (J$950 million) that was defrauded from his company’s account at investment firm Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL). The world record holder in the men’s 100m and 200m sprints has also expressed disappointment that the Jamaican Government, as he puts it, has not done more to ensure he recovers the funds invested under his holding company Welljen, given his contribution to Brand Jamaica. Recalling that he was in the middle of a personal care session, Bolt said his manager and close friend Nugent Walker contacted him with the news that left him shell shocked. The sprint icon is among more than 30 clients defrauded at the problem-plagued firm, which had come up on the state-run Financial Services Commission’s radar for several infractions that were never brought to the public. The multimillion-dollar fraud and irregularities which were uncovered at the company in January 2023 ballooned past US$30 million, or J$4.7 billion, with a probe into SSL’s affairs determining that more than 200 accounts were impacted. BOLT’S COMPANY initially invested the US$6.2 million, which reportedly grew to US$12.7 million. to create and implement policies to reduce the prevalence of child labour in the country, has also been impacted by the shutdown. “Uncertainty is not a nice feeling; it’s uncomfortable not knowing what lies ahead of you. That’s how I am feeling now, seeing that USAID NGO projects have been suspended mid contract indefinitely,” a local correspondent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted. “We can only pray and hope for the best going forward. In this situation where these contracts are suspended, there are field staff in vulnerable communities [who] were expected to be paid on a weekly basis [who] are severely impacted negatively.” Other non-governmental organisations, including EveForLife, Jamaica Aids Support for Life, and the Jamaican Network for Seropositives, have also been impacted. In an Instagram post, EveForLife noted that it remains open and is offering its suite of services. Efforts by The Gleaner to reach representatives for the respective NGOs were unsuccessful. ‘NOBODY COMING TO OUR RESCUE’ The Ministry of Health and Wellness did not immediately respond to questions raised by The Gleaner in an email about the number of its programmes impacted by the halt in US aid and its intended response. During Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, said Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is expected to speak on the USAID development. Still, she said the United States of America, and any other country for that matter, maintains a sovereign right to make decisions that suit them. “The prime minister has consistently spoken about economic resilience and us not being dependent on anyone. That is important because, as an independent country, we need to be able to stand on our own two feet. It’s very important to remember that there is nobody coming to our rescue. We have to be independent,” she said. kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com USAID Continued from, 4 Local pastor says truth will come out in church land dispute PASTOR JEFFREY Shuttleworth says the “truth” will come out in a legal battle between him and the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) over the ownership of the Tarrant Baptist Church (TBC) property in St Andrew. “The matter will be manifestly aired in the court and then the truth will come out,” he said Monday on TBC’s radio station. He was speaking as church members protested the purported decay in social and Christian values in Jamaica outside Emancipation Park in New Kingston. The firebrand pastor, known for his radical and ultra-conservative preaching, triggered alarm with revelations in court documents that he intends to apply to the National Land Agency to have the property at 51 Molynes Road registered in his name. “There are no proprietary rights in the JBU over the property,” he said in his affidavit. He asserted that century-old Tarrant Baptist Church “was” a member of the JBU and that he “has been the pastor there and exercising all rights of ownership over the land and building”. According to the Tax Administration Jamaica website, the one-acre lot has an undeveloped value of $50 million and is owned by the “Baptist Church”. Churches are exempt from property taxes. Gov’t approves bill to make Portmore a parish despite Opposition’s robust protest THE GOVERNMENT has successfully pushed through legislation to establish Portmore as Jamaica’s 15th parish despite strong objections from the Opposition during Tuesday’s debate in the House of Representatives. The bill, which amends the Counties and Parishes Act of 1867, was passed using the Government’s supermajority, marking what would be the first creation of a new parish in over 150 years. The debate in Parliament was highly contentious, culminating in a walkout by Opposition members before the final vote to move the bill out of the committee stage. The legislation was ultimately approved with one amendment. Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, who piloted the bill, emphasised that the move was not merely about increasing the number of parishes but rather a historic step in post-colonial Jamaica. Among the key provisions of the bill, it outlines the official designation of Portmore as a parish, including Hellshire Hills, Goat Island, and the City of Portmore as its parish capital. It also excludes specific areas such as Lakes Pen, Grange Lane, Lime Tree Grove, and Quarry Hill and provides for the creation of a new map of Portmore and a formal description of the city. Aerial view of sections of Portmore. IAN ALLEN/PHOTOGRAPHER Man City backs Shaw after striker receives ‘racist and misogynistic’ messages MANCHESTER CITY forward Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has been subjected to “racist and misogynistic” abuse on social media, the club has said. City said the Jamaica international was targeted after Sunday’s game (February 2) against Arsenal and that it would give her its full support “following the disgusting treatment she’s received”. Shaw is one of the top women’s football players in the world and was making her 100th appearance for City in the 3-4 loss to Arsenal. City did not expand on the content of the messages, but said they had been forwarded to authorities. “Discrimination of any kind, either in stadiums or online, will not be tolerated and has absolutely no place inside or outside the game,” City said in a statement. A LITTLE over a year after allegedly shooting two young children and killing their father before fleeing Jamaica and crossing the United States-Mexico border, a reputed gang leader was deported last Thursday. Just four days later, he was charged in connection with the crime. The deportee, 33-year-old Rasheim ‘Shem’ Brown, a resident of Regent Street, Kingston 14, was one of four individuals handed over to local authorities at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after his arrival and processing. On Monday, Brown was formally charged with the murder of 55-year-old Mark McKenzie. In addition to murder, he faces charges of two counts of wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to commit a felony. Deportee on murder rap IMMIGRATION AND human rights lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, a leading advocate for the Windrush generation, has called on the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to launch a statutory public inquiry into the 2017 Windrush Scandal. McKenzie’s demand was made in a formal letter addressed to the home secretary that outlined the urgent need for a fully independent and legally empowered investigation into the Windrush Scandal, arguing that previous reviews have failed to deliver justice for victims. McKenzie said: “The Home Office has had five years to resolve these issues, and yet there are still people who have not obtained their immigration status and or compensation, and amongst those who have, there are still those who suffer from trauma brought on by not fully understanding the causes of the scandal. “The time has come for a statutory public inquiry to establish the truth, identify accountability, and ensure this never happens again. There has been no effective investigation into the violations suffered by Windrush victims. Time is of the essence. A statutory inquiry is essential to uncover the full extent of what happened and prevent future injustices.” Lawyer calls for public inquiry into Windrush scandal Jacqueline McKenzie, human rights lawyer CONTRIBUTED
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