Donald Lindo, 65, shows one of the many Ludo boards he has made and painted. - Ricardo Makyn

Donald Lindo has been painting his way into the hearts of his customers for 18 years along Ellis Street in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The 65-year-old Spanish Town-born Lindo, showed THE STAR a number of ludo boards, chalkboards, learner's signs, scrabble boards and a host of other items he makes and paints.

fastest selling items

''I usually paint houses and other such places but for sometime now these are the things that have been providing me with a living, although it hard sometimes,'' Lindo said.

He said the learner's signs are the fastest selling items, as people are always drawn to them by their affordable prices.

Lindo told THE STAR he gets a level of satisfaction from the paintings and that is why he continues to use his brush to make his customers satisfied.

positive energy

The father of 13 said he was born along Ellis Street, and while things are different from when he was growing up, it is still good he is able to contribute to the positive energy of the Old Capital. He said he has no plans to quit as long as he is able to stroke the paint brush.

''Yes, man, him can really paint as this is one of the ludo board that a buy from him. It look like a special gift him get and he will continue to get my support," said Stanley Chow as he purchased another board from Lindo.

He was one of many who expressed positive views on the artistic work of the senior citizen.

The four men who were implicated in the murder of security guard Gilbert Davis during a robbery incident at the Island Village Shopping Centre in June 2008, have been given lengthy prison sentences.

The men will spend a total of 85 years behind bars.

The reputed mastermind of the robbery, Michael Patterson, was sentenced to 25 years at hard labour whereas Paul Gayle, Jason Mills and Rowe Gentles, were each given 20 years at hard labour.

manslaughter

The sentences were handed down in the St Ann Circuit Court on Wednesday after the men were convicted of manslaughter by a 12-man jury.

Allegations against the men were that on the day of the incident Davis was one of three security guards employed to Atlas Security, who went to the Island Village Shopping Centre to collect lodgements.

He stayed behind in the motor car and was approached by two armed men who shot him several times. He died on the spot.

killers commandeered

One of the killers commandeered the vehicle with $50 million inside.

The police were alerted and a high speed chase ensued along the Dunn's River main road in the parish.

The car was intercepted in Steer Town after it crashed but the driver had already made his escape. Some of the cash was also reportedly taken.

Following investigations five suspects were picked up. One the them was freed in November, however, as the court accepted a no case submission.

Mavado

Deejay David 'Mavado' Brooks is calling for the end of the Gully/Gaza war by inviting musical rival Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer to make peace at his birthday bash on Saturday, December 5.

Mavado's manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, yesterday said he wanted to publicly invite Kartel to make peace once and for all. "Basically we want to invite him to the show at Temple Hall Estate as a show of unity for the nation," Jones-Griffith said.

Jones-Griffith and Mavado have been in discussions with Bishop Herro Blair and other prominent figures to come up with a solution for the Gully/Gaza issue, which people have insisted is dividing Jamaica. Vybz Kartel is supposed to be appearing on Bolt's SuperParty in St Ann on the same night as Mavado's bash.

Jones-Griffith said: "We just want to put it out there, Mavado has been coming under pressure for this Gully/Gaza thing and I'm sure he wants a better Jamaica. I'm sure Vybz Kartel, as a Jamaican, wants the same thing. For the sake of the Jamaican youths we're inviting him to come on stage to show the people it's all about the music and dat we can live good. We want him to come and participate, its something that needs to be done and we need a big stage to do it."

According to Jones-Griffith, Kartel or his representatives can contact them before the show, through the media or simply come to the show on the night. He says Mavado is 100 per cent behind the initiative. Efforts to speak to Kartel were futile up to press time.

This will not be the first time that the two have tried to make peace. In March 2007, the deejays met with DCP Mark Shields to call for an end to the feud, however, weeks later the two were at it again. Jones-Griffith says that will not be happening again: "We've been down dis road before and we don't feel good it ended up going back to the feuding. This is not a publicity stunt, we want to explore how we can do this - reach out to di youths in schools and make it permanent. The war is in no way beneficial to anybody's career and it's bringing a lot of negative energy to the country."

The two have been feuding since 2006 and last year faced off at Sting. Since then they have come under increasing pressure garnering nationwide attention due to the negative effects of the feud.

Deejay Bounty Killer, whose real name is Rodney Price, is to return before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on February 23 for the drug charges against him to be tried.

The deejay was arrested and charged in October after he was allegedly caught smoking ganja and was reportedly found with a small quantity of the substance. He was charged with smoking ganja and possession of ganja.

The allegations are that about 4:30 a.m. on October 4, the deejay was spotted along Grenada Way in New Kingston smoking a 'spliff'. He was accosted and searched and a small quantity of the drug was reportedly found in a plastic bag.

When the deejay appeared in court yesterday, a trial date was agreed. Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey told the accused, "February 23, the venue is court five, good luck! And don't write no song about me."

The accused woman, Diana Shaw, was charged with assault, however, a no order was made in the case.

The allegations are that on the day in question, the accused pushed her way on to the bus and was told by the conductor to wait. It is alleged that the accused squeezed the complainant's hand and throat.

The accused, however, said that was not how things happened. She told the court that she was trying to get into the bus after waiting patiently in the line, but there was a huge crowd. She said the complainant was bracing her back and she was about to fall, so she held on to the complainant to maintain her balance.

Shaw was told by Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey to apologise to the complainant and to shake her hand. She did so, but not before trying to sneak in her explanation again. She said, "I am sorry, but you know you saw me in the line." She was, however, told to give a proper apology and was then sent home.

An 18-year-old St Andrew man is now in police custody after he was accused of blackmailing at least five schoolgirls by threatening to post pictures of him and them engaging in sexual activities, if they did not pay him.

Sources from the St Andrew North police told THE WEEKEND STAR that the man has been stalking young female students around the Transport Centre in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.

"This man is very wicked. He has been preying on the little girls," an inspector at the Constant Spring Police Station told THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, noting that the youngest victim who has so far come forward is just 12 while the oldest is 15.

The police say their investigations have revealed that Andre Ramone Whyte of a Kingston 8 address was arrested two weeks ago after two girls contacted the police.

Crime Chief for the St Andrew North police, Deputy Superinten-dent Altermoth 'Parro' Campbell, said the accused man has been linked to at least five cases in which he was alleged to have had sex with the underage girls.

The police theorise that the accused man stayed close to the centre and befriended the girls, all from prominent high schools, while claiming to be good at cellphone repairs.

drink provided

He allegedly lured the girls to his house where they eventually performed sexual activities including oral sex. Photographs were said to have been taken of the acts. In some of the cases, the crime chief said that the girls were "given something to drink", suggesting that they may have been intoxicated.

Further allegations are that he later called back his victims, with threats of posting the pictures on the Internet if they failed to give him money. The police said that monetary demands of between $5,000 and $10,000 were made.

DSP Campbell said in some cases even a bank account was provided for the victims to make the payments.

The man was arrested during a sting operation set up after police received the two complaints.

Following investigations on Tuesday, Whyte was slapped with charges of rape, carnal abuse, indecent assault and obtaining money by menace. He is to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court today.

The police in the meanwhile are urging female students and their parents to be on the lookout for persons pretending to offer services.

"I want to warn the parents and the girls ... girls if you have a cellphone to repair let your parents deal with it, don't just follow any man who claims he can fix it," DSP Campbell said. "For the criminals, if you think you have the technology we have even better and more sophisticated technology, so we will catch you."

THE WEEKEND STAR was also told this is not the accused man's first run-in with the law.

Police said sometime last year, he and a 16-year-old girl were found at a house in the division after her mother reported her missing.

A 16-year-old girl of a Corporate Area high school has been left nursing serious injuries to her cheek, tongue and gum, after she was stabbed through the jaw with a scissors during a fight with another student about a boy.

The shocking incident between the students, who attend different schools, happened last Friday along Whitehall Avenue, St Andrew.

The victim's guardian told THE WEEKEND STAR that the child was unable to speak shortly after the attack but is now recovering and can speak again.

THE WEEKEND STAR was told that last Friday, the victim was walking along the road when she was trailed by her attacker who reportedly started an argument with her. It is alleged that the attacker was armed with a scissors and a fight developed between both girls.

The victim, it is alleged, also obtained a scissors from a friend, and during the fight she was stabbed in the cheek. A doctor who is aware of the case told THE WEEKEND STAR that the scissors made its way through the girl's cheek, pinched her tongue and cut her gums. She also lost a tooth.

The child's guardian told THE WEEKEND STAR that the girls have a long-standing feud which came to a head sometime ago when the alleged attacker came to the house and cursed the victim. She also said the child has been threatened numerous times.

Despite this, no report has been made to the police about this latest incident. She, however, told THE WEEKEND STAR that she would consider taking the matter to the police.

A passenger in a taxi was yesterday shot in the mouth after armed men invaded the car and opened fire.

Though details were not readily available at press time, THE WEEKEND STAR was told that the passenger turned up at the Admiral Town police station in Kingston yesterday, bleeding from the mouth from a gunshot wound.

He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was admitted in stable condition.

The Denham Town Police are investigating.

Residents from Harbour View, Kingston, recently beat a man from the community after rumours circulated that he raped and buggered a seven-year-old girl who was left in his care.

A police source told THE STAR, some residents summoned the police while the man was being beaten.

The child's mother, the police said, left her in the care of a woman who has a two-year-old daughter. The woman is said to reside at the home of the accused man and his wife.

Allegations are that on October 25, the child was left in the care of the man after the woman and his wife left the house.

offered money

The child is said to have been asked for sex but she refused. She was allegedly offered money but still refused. The allegations indicate that the child was then forced to have sexual intercourse.

It is claimed that the child later told her mother about the incident and was told that she would not be sent back to the house.

The next day, however, the child was again sent to the house and left in the care of the man. It is alleged that this time the child was buggered. It is alleged that the child reported the incident to her mother and the next day the man was beaten.

The Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) is investigating the matter. It will appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court in December.

Kimiko Robinson and her father Cecil Robinson. - Marlon Vickerman

Help can never come too soon for little Kimiko Robinson from St Mary who stands to lose a golden opportunity and her 12 years of life if kind-hearted Jamaicans fail to act swiftly and compassionately.

The child is badly in need of an open-heart surgery after rheumatic fever severely damaged the organ.

Cardiologist William Foster, who has been treating the ailing child, said a one in a million opportunity has been given to the youngster but help is needed. He said that Dr Omar Boston and the Le Bonheur Hospital of Memphis, United States of America (USA) have agreed to donate their services to the child, however, funding to get there is needed.

another selection

Foster continued that earlier this week the overseas specialists who are volunteering their services said that, should the wait to get Kimiko to the USA be drawn out any longer, then another child would be selected for the operation.

"The child should have been in the States months ago, so now we are in danger of losing the opportunity and the child herself," the cardiologist said. "The matter is beyond urgent."

The doctor has already written to the United States Embassy in Liguanea, St Andrew, asking that they consider granting visas for Kimiko and her mother Marlene Small and said some $28,000 is needed to offset the interviewing/-processing costs at the embassy.

In addition, he said that accommodation for the estimated four weeks they may be in the States could easily run over US$250. To top that off, the doctor said airfare expense for the child and her mother is approximately $55,000 each.

similar surgery

The mother said she underwent a similar open-heart surgery two years ago, after bouts with rheumatic fever had damaged the valves of her heart.

Sadly, her little girl is suffering the same experience.

Jamaica, let us pull together for the sake of this young child.

All those willing to help can make a donation to the Bank of Nova Scotia, account number 111-11 at Half-Way Tree. You may also contact her cardiologist, Dr Foster, at 430-4023.

Verona Samuels and Natalie Silks were part of the jury team in the trial of Rohan Johnson ,who is accused of being involved in the murder of Aston Ferguson.

According to police reports, the accused women approached the mother of the defendant, telling her that the evidence against her son was very strong.

A fee of $100,000 was said to be requested for swaying the verdict to not guilty.

Further reports are that, the mother accepted the offer but could only come up with half of the sum.

The police were then alerted and a sting operation set up in which the accused women met Johnson's mother at a popular fast food outlet in the parish.

The exchange was said to be made in the bathroom of the restaurant.

Two police men were inside the restaurant posing as family members of Johnson.

The women were held and subsequently charged for contempt and may face further corruption charges.

The are to appear in the Clarendon Resident Magistrate's Court on November 12.

A mother and her infant child had to be rushed to the hospital on Monday after a shocking encounter at a Maverley, St Andrew, cookshop.

The mom and child were electrocuted in the afternoon after rain fell in the area. A witness said the woman, who was known as 'Natalie' went to a cookshop along West Main Drive with her baby.

"Is an illegal connection still and the rain did just fall," said Shibby-Dibbya resident. "So she did have her baby inna her hand ah breast feed her and she go step inna a puddle a water wha de wire did run chu and it jus shock her."

The man continued: "Di mada foot burn up, like de skin did a strip off and de end a de baby hair look like it roast."

talked about

Another resident from the community also confirmed the incident when contacted. He noted that the incident has been on the lips of residents since it happened. Although the resident could not say how serious the injuries were to the mother and child, he said, he doubted it was life-threatening.

Attempts to get a comment from the Kingston Public Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital for Children, where the woman and her infant daughter have been hospitalised were unsuccessful.

Representatives from both institutions said it was against protocol for them to disclose information regarding any patient.

The Duhaney Park police said that no report was made to them about the incident.

Name changed upon request.

The Joint Police/Military Task Force say seven persons who were reportedly wanted across several divisions were arrested and charged last month.

The seven were in addition to 95 people arrested and charged during 476 operations carried out by the task force mainly in Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon and St James.

The police say the charges included possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of offensive weapons and marijuana.

In addition, nine firearms with a total of 60 rounds of assorted ammunition, $650,000 and approximately 2000 pounds of marijuana were seized during operations.

The police in St Ann had little trouble in arresting an alleged thief who yesterday fell asleep in the backyard of a house which he had just broken into.

Police reports are that a couple arrived at their Benbow district home in the parish around 6 p.m.

Upon entering the kitchen of their home, they realised that their back door was tampered with.

They then discovered that a number of food items and alcoholic beverages were missing from the kitchen.

After calling the police, the couple ventured into their backyard where they found the alleged culprit fast asleep under a mango tree. Two bags with the missing items were in his lap.

The couple reportedly used a piece of cord to tie the man's feet and hands together and waited for the police to arrive.

It was said that the man remained asleep until the police arrived and was subsequently taken into custody.

Former Matthews Lane strongman, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, who was convicted in 2006 of double murder, is to remain behind bars until his appeal has been heard.

Phipps had applied yesterday for bail pending the outcome of his appeal.

The application was heard in chambers at the Court of Appeal. Bail was denied on the grounds that his appeal against his murder convictions had been set for hearing on January 7 and therefore because of the short time in which his appeal was to be heard there was no reason for him to be granted bail.

Phipps had applied for bail last year on the grounds that he had a serious stomach ailment and the transcript of the trial was not ready. A Court of Appeal judge turned down the application and said that Phipps could get medical treatment in prison.

Phipps was convicted in May 2006 for the murder of Leroy Rodney Farquharson and Dayton Williams both of Bayshore Park, East Kingston. The burnt bodies with gunshot wounds were found in a open lot on Rose Lane, downtown Kingston, on April 15, 2005.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was ordered to serve 30 years before parole.

Phipps is appealing against his murder convictions on the grounds that his trial was unfair and amounted to an abuse of the process of the court.

A man accused of trespassing on the property of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and committing several offences there, was taken before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court again, to answer to charges of simple larceny and malicious destruction of property.

The accused man is 32-year-old Steve Clarke from Boise Content, St Catherine.

The allegations are that between May 3 and 4, the complainant parked his car on the compound. He returned to find the pivot window broken and his car radio, which values $14,000, missing. Clarke was later identified as the perpetrator and his fingerprints were reportedly found at the scene.

The court was told yesterday that the accused frequents the JDF compound and has been convicted four times before on charges stemming from incidents that took place there. The court was also told that the accused had received suspended sentences before.

The accused's lawyer, however, said the accused complains that everything that happens on the compound is blamed on him.

The matter returns to court on November 24.

Carolyn Bygrave, the 24-year-old woman charged with breaching the Child Care and Protection Act after she reportedly brought home a missing child, is to return to the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on December 7.

When the accused appeared before the court yesterday, she said that she had not yet been assigned a legal aid lawyer. After she was taken away, however, it was discovered that she had in fact, been assigned a lawyer. A new date was however still maintained in the matter.

Bygrave was arrested after she brought home a child who was reported missing from school on October 13. She took the child to the Cross Roads Police Station two days later.

It is alleged that Bygrave reported to the police that she found the little girl wandering along Hope Road, St Andrew, on October 13. She allegedly said that she took the child to her house in a Kingston 5 community where the girl spent two nights.

The St Elizabeth EarlyChildhood Resource Centre presented certificates to 21 early-childhood teachers and 14 parents, who participated in a one-year training programme at the institution, last Thursday.

In her report at the closing exercise, at the St Stephen's Anglican Church, manager of the centre, Rosetta Hanson, said the participants were now better equipped to take on diverse challenges and improve early childhood education in their respective areas.

new skills

"The participants in this parenting education programme are moving on with far more than they came with. They have acquired more knowledge on numerous topics, they have learnt new skills, and have improved on others," she said.

She added that the teachers and parents shared their experiences with each other, and are better equipped to assist others and themselves.

"I implore you not to close the doors on the knowledge and skills that you have garnered. Open the minds of others to be better parents, and assist their children to be more functional individuals in this global sphere," she said.

Speaking on behalf of the parents in the programme, Thashi Francis, said they gained valuable lessons and skills in child care, crochet, embroidery, the making of toys, and other skills.

"We are now better equipped with more ways to make a living, thus making us independent individuals. This, I am sure, will promote the creation of jobs, resulting in some of us becoming entrepreneurs, and our communities and families will benefit," Francis added.

Early-childhood teacher and participant, Erna Black-Neil, said the programme was motivational and eye-opening.

"We are at a launching point in our lives. We are equipped with hands-on knowledge to fully effect positive changes in our schools. We will face challenges boldly, learning to take risks, and never to be afraid of criticism," she said.

Guest speaker and regional literacy coordinator at the Ministry of Education, Ivoline Fletcher, stressed the importance of a firm start in early-childhood education and congratulated the early-childhood officers who conceived the partnership.

She said they, obviously, saw the need for the programme, and hoped that other parents would become engaged in the education of their children and other children in their communities.

"This partnership must continue. As you launch out with this concept of parenting, I have every confidence that you will make a breakthrough," she said.

A man who was accused of stealing money from a drawer belonging to his child's mother will have to appear in court again in December.

Donovan Morris who was accused of stealing $10,000 appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer the charge.

The investigating officer told the court that on September 5, Morris went to the home of the complainant and was seen by his daughter taking the money from the woman's underwear drawer.

"Did you take the money from the drawer sir?" Resident Magistrate Dunbar-Green asked.

" It's a long story, your Honour, but I don't know what they are talking about the panty thing," Morris replied.

After the allegations were outlined, the matter reached fever pitch when the witness was called. The court was told by the child that: "Yes mi see him taking the money from out of mommy's panty draw."

The court further learnt that as a result of the theft, the child has not gone to school since September, as the money was from the PATH programme.

As a result, the court told Morris he must return on December 15, with the $10,000.