‘I want a hype funeral for my daughter’
Mom of 13-year-old victim, others express anger and grief after Denham Town shootings
BY COREY ROBINSON Sunday Observer staff reporter [email protected]
Sunday, March 11, 2012

BEVERLY Kennedy is convinced that her daughter, Nickeita Cameron, was killed by a police bullet.
Thirteen-year-old Nickeita was one of six persons shot dead last Monday in Denham Town, West Kingston, in what the police said was a firefight with gunmen.
Beverly Kennedy cries as she reminisces on the death of her daughter Nickeita Cameron, one of six persons killed during an alleged gun battle between thugs and the police in Denham Town, West Kingston, last Monday. In her arms is her two-year-old grandson, Jermaine Kennedy. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)
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The grieving mother is so convinced that the police are to blame for her daughter’s death, that she has already compiled a list of demands from the State.
“I want them to bury my daughter decent and nice; no poor people funeral. I want a hype funeral. I want her to get a nice sepulchre. I want there to be a (marching) band, and I want there to be video light,” demanded the 41-year-old mother, tears welling up in her eyes.
“I want her body to be driven in a chariot, because that’s what she was planning to carry me in when I die. And I want some help with her ‘nine night’ because I don’t have anything. I am a mother of six and I also take care of my mother and my grandson,” lamented the woman.
“I know all that won’t bring her back, but that is what I want for my daughter right now,” she continued, grimacing as she reflected on the loss of her fourth child.
Kennedy said the past week has been hell, adding that she has not eaten because she simply has no appetite; nor slept, because “as me close me eyes is Nickeita me a see”.
The ordeal, she said, is driving her insane, and remaining in the depressed ill-fated tenement yard at 88 Charles Street is only making matters worse, she said.
“I would like them to build me somewhere so I can move the rest of my children so that they (Government) don’t send them Government man come kill them. I can’t stay in this yard because there is just pure memories,” she moaned.
The memories of last Monday’s shootings were equally distressing for Craig Simpson.
Up to yesterday afternoon, he was still grappling with the reality that he would no longer see his father — 88-year-old Wesley Simpson — sitting on his small chair inside a passage in the dilapidated house.
Wesley Simpson, who had retired from years of making a living with his handcart at Coronation Market, was shot multiple times as he sat eating on his favourite chair. Yesterday, not even the bloody chair remained — it was taken for processing by investigators.
“Is just justice I want; that alone. I just want the police to stop acting like people are dogs; it wasn’t a shooting range that they were at,” said the younger Simpson. “Is a whole heap of children live in the yard, suppose they were shot, what would they say?” he asked.
“My father don’t have a trouble in the world. I work, cook, and make sure him eat food. From he stopped pushing cart is there him sit down; him eat there, sleep there, him don’t get up. And now them shoot him and kill him,” Simpson fumed, pointing to the spot from which he dragged his father’s lifeless body while ducking bullets during the incident.
Yesterday, anger consumed the more than 30 occupants of the dwelling, who on Monday wept openly as three of their own lay dead inside the narrow passage connecting their rooms. Next door, on Bond Street — outside 74-year-old George Edmonson’s house, where he and two youngsters were killed — the mood was similar.
Edmonson’s daughter, Ann Marie Clarke, has been pouring out her grief in tears.
“I really could not believe when I heard that my father was killed,” she said. “Although he was 74, my father has never been sick. So to hear that he is dead is really hard. My father was a very quiet person, he was very nice, gentle, and loving; everybody had him as a father. I am so angry I cry every 30 minutes.”
According to the police, the six were killed during a 40-minute running gun battle between them and armed thugs. The gunbattle, the cops said, started at the Charles Street premises and continued when they chased the marauding gunmen into an adjoining yard.
Three of the men — Romaine Stern, 20, also called ‘Tete Ras’; Shawn Tyrell, 25, also known as ‘Chinnie Man’; and Karlton Alvaranga; all of addresses within the community — were later identified by the cops as being wanted for murder, shooting with intent, and robbery, among other crimes. Four weapons were taken from the scene, police said.
But yesterday, while the residents did not dispute that the three men may have been wanted, they challenged the police’s allegation that there was a shootout.
The residents said the three, whom they claimed grew up at the Charles Street address, were among a group drinking liquor at the front of the premises when the police turned up. The residents said the cops immediately opened fire and the men ran into the passage where Simpson was having breakfast, and where Cameron and other teenagers were sitting.
Stern was shot in the back and died at the rear of the passage.
Tyrell and Alvaranga managed to climb into Edmonson’s house nearby, but after realising that they were surrounded, surrendered to the cops, the residents claimed as they insisted that both men were shot in cold blood.
Samantha Braker, 18, was shot in the ankle during that incident, while another resident, Errol Tracey, lifted his shirt to reveal wounds which he claimed he received when a policeman discharged his weapon during a curfew imposed in the area Monday night.
“There was no shootout; they (police) didn’t even come into the yard at first. They just stayed outside and started firing shots at the youths in the yard. They murdered them in cold blood,” protested Tanisha Stewart, Cameron’s aunt. “Everything that they came out and say about shootout is pure lies. They kill the people them and are now trying to cover it up.”
The incident has sparked much controversy between the Office of the Public Defender, human rights group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ), and the Jamaica Police Federation.
Executive director for JFJ Carolyn Gomes has described the incident as very unfortunate, and said that proper investigations must be done to determine whether or not the policemen unnecessarily used deadly force during the operation.
In the meantime, Public Defender Earl Witter on Friday defended statements he made which questioned why no police officer was injured during the shootout.
After coming under heavy criticism from Inspector David White, general secretary of the Jamaica Police Federation, Witter, in a release, countered:
“The CCN’s (Constabulary Communication Network’s) version of events is that the killings took place in the course of an “intense and sustained running gun battle between policemen and gunmen lasting more than 40 minutes,” Witter said.
“This version is vehemently disputed by every member of that community interviewed by this office. The two old men were each killed inside their humble abode. Like the 13-year-old, none of them was ever accused or suspected of any criminal activity,” he continued.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/I-want-a-hype-funeral-for-my-daughter_11004403#ixzz1opaAWjsv

Hello Africa from UZI FILM on Vimeo.

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  4 people like this.
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    Neeve Palmer nice pic….. cute couple ….

    5 hours ago ·  4
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    Shauna Sweetness Thnx mi fren lol

    5 hours ago ·  1
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    Kalia Reid Mi glad seh mi run dis nasty ol man have him I care none! all wah unna a try mi nah look pon unnu nasty like nasty a so di ting set

    4 hours ago ·  3
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    Shauna Sweetness Him never want u fr day one cause if him did want yuh when u tell him seh u a breed him wouldn’t go do DNA cause him know seh unnu known fi give man Jacket …dwl

    4 hours ago ·  3
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    Neeve Palmer dun file kalia it bun u eeh go kill uself.stop worry bout man dat ís not urs… u name bibby? who nasty like u, u should a run him before him buss off inna u throat nastiness..

    4 hours ago ·  3
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    Kelly Stars LOL, DLWL!!!!!!!Woie mi friend a suh yah beat bad, as the picture dem go up doh…..

    2 hours ago ·  1
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    Shauna Sweetness A MI FI TELL YUH

    2 hours ago ·  1
    • 

      Neeve Palmer show who rule it sweet neil eeh……..

      11 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·  1
    • 

      Shauna Sweetness DWL

      9 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • 

      Kalia Reid who rule? since week mi mek him call Gabby n tek done pic talk bout how him get run yesterday

      8 hours ago · LikeUnlike
    • 

      Shauna Sweetness Good pussssssssy speak fi it selffffffffffff …. I never put gun a @ his head 2 take any pic right now mi know u need 2 excedrin extra strength lol

      7 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·  3

NIGERIA/SOUTH AFRICA: Two brothers at daggers drawn
on MARCH 11, 2012 · in PERISCOPE
1:03 am
Email0
By Jimoh Babatunde, with agency reports

With the refusal of the Federal Government of Nigeria to allow 84 South Africans come into the country between Sunday and Tuesday in retaliation for the deportation of 125 Nigerians penultimate week, the stage is now set for the fight of two Africa giants.

It is reported that the Nigerian government may also review the status of all South Africans living in the country to ascertain the validity of their visas and work permit.

The decision of the government is informed by the lack of response from the South African government over the uproar that the deportations of the 125 Nigerians have generated. Nigeria has given five conditions to South Africa to restore normal diplomatic and bilateral relationship with it as it believes the action of South Africa was deliberately targeted at Nigerians.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, said “no nation should take Nigeria’s brotherliness, maturity and friendly business environment “whereby companies, including South African companies, are making more profits from Nigeria than in South Africa for granted.”

The Minister said the government was determined to maintain the dignity of Nigerians everywhere, adding: “When a Nigerian is deported on flimsy excuses, there will be appropriate reaction. It may not be retaliation but it will be reciprocal, one way or the other.

“Let it be known that South African officials do not have monopoly of deportation of travellers. Henceforth, any deportation of Nigerians will be met with equal measure or reciprocal measure; we will not let it go unreciprocated.

“It will be measure for measure; we will not let it go unreciprocated. The signal must go out not just to South Africa but to the rest of the world that when you treat Nigerians with disrespect, we also will find a way of treating your nationals with disrespect. No country has a monopoly of treating Nigerians with disrespect; we too can hit back”.

This issue that might degenerate into a big diplomatic row between both countries would have been avoidable if the125 Nigerian passengers aboard Arik Air and South Africa Airways flights had been allowed into South Africa penultimate Friday.

The South Africa Port Health Authority and the Immigration Service refused them entry on the ground that they had invalid yellow fever vaccination cards bringing to fore the maltreatment of Nigerians in that country.

The Nigerian Government swung into action immediately as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, condemned the actions of South Africa’s immigration authorities as not being in tune with international best practices.

He maintained that Nigeria has no yellow fever epidemic, which is why most countries do not require yellow fever vaccination certificates from travellers coming from Nigeria before allowing them entry.

“Yellow fever is an issue mostly with countries in the Southern Hemisphere,” Ashiru noted.
Foreign Relations analysts have already condemned South Africa’s action.

But findings shows that Nigeria is one of the countries listed as being at risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

So, South African Government requires a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate from all passengers over one year of age who arrive or are transiting through South Africa, from a country or region listed by the World Health Organization as infected by yellow fever.

From the October 1, 2011, South African authorities required all travellers arriving from the listed countries to show proof of yellow fever vaccination. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required from all visitors, including travellers who are transiting through South Africa.

Travellers unable to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate issued at least 10 days before arrival in South Africa may be refused entry or placed in quarantine. There is no discretion for travelers without a vaccination certificate to be vaccinated on arrival.

Many of the passengers described the excuse given by the South African Authorities for the entry denial as embarrassing to Nigeria and Nigerians. One of the passengers, Olaminde Olaofe, told NAN that they obtained their cards from government authorised health agencies in Nigeria and added: “This is very embarrassing and dehumanising.
“It is an embarrassment not to us as passengers alone but to the Federal Government of Nigeria that another country will say the document we, as Nigerians, obtained in our country is fake.

“We had arrived there about 5.30 a.m. and until now we are still kept at the airport by the immigration officer under the claim that our yellow fever cards are not recognised.

“Some of us are not first time travelers to South Africa and we had used the same yellow card before to enter the country.

“I obtained my card from Eti-Osa Local Government along with my brother. While I am allowed entry, my brother is held by the immigration people.”

Olaofe said 33 school children on excursion were also affected.

Ashiru said the process of deportation was against international conventions. “It was a shock and I find it difficult to accept that the deportation was on the basis of yellow fever card. Normally, the visa would not have been issued without the yellow fever card.

Many Nigerians have joined in condemning the action of the South African Government. Hon. Abike Dabiri_Erewa, described the act as “continuous unwarranted hostilities against Nigerians by the South Africa government”.

But a Nigerian tour operator said the blame should be placed at the door steps of the Nigerian authority.

The tour operator who pleaded anonymity said the South African Health Authorities could have discovered the hidden truth that most yellow fever cards carried by Nigerians were secured at the airports from touts.

He said “I challenge you to go to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport now, there are touts who will get you a yellow card for less than N1000.”

The tour operator said the argument that the Nigerians have yellow cards should not be taken serious as the genuineness of such cards cannot be trusted.

He said Nigerian authorities should do the right thing at the airports so as to put an end to the harassment of the country. “It is evident that our port health systems in Nigeria are not as robust as they ought to be. Putting in place effective travel vaccination processes that satisfy international standards are not rocket science, given the relatively small numbers of people that need them.”

He added “I concur with the South Africa Immigration and Port Health that they don’t recognise the yellow cards and that signature on the cards were irregular.”

But other observers have slammed the South African government officials as a people without conscience because of the vast resources – both human and material – that Nigeria expended in the process of fighting apartheid South Africa,

We all recognize some of these differences, but others often hide in plain sight. Shaunti Feldhahn, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, author and speaker recently wrote a fantastic book, For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men. In it, she recounts the surprising truths she learned about men after interviewing more than one thousand of them.

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to interview Shaunti for our radio broadcast, HomeWord with Jim Burns. In our discussion, we spoke about ten things guys wish women knew about men. I think you’ll find these ten things fascinating! Even more, I believe that in understanding these issues, you’ll be equipped to lead your marriage to a better place!

Men would rather feel unloved than inadequate and disrespected. Husbands need to know that their wives respect them both privately and publicly. Men thrive when they know that their wives trust them, admire them and believe in them. Shaunti Feldhahn’s research indicated that men would rather sense the loss of loving feelings from their wives than to be disrespected by them.
A man’s anger is often a response to feeling disrespected by his wife. When a husband becomes angry with his wife, he may not come out and say, “You’re disrespecting me!” But, there is a good likelihood that he is feeling stung by something his wife has done which he considers disrespectful and humiliating.
Men are insecure. Men are afraid that they aren’t cutting it in life — not just at work, but at home, in their role as a husband. They may never vocalize this, but inwardly, they are secretly vulnerable. The antidote? Affirmation. To men, affirmation from their wives is everything! If they don’t receive this affirmation from their wives, they’ll seek it elsewhere. When they receive regular and genuine affirmation from their wives (not flattery, by the way), they become much more secure and confident in all areas of their lives.
Men feel the burden of being the provider for their family. Intellectually, it doesn’t matter how much or little a man makes, or whether or not his wife makes more or less money in her career. Men simply bear the emotional burden of providing for their family. It’s not a burden they’ve chosen to bear. Men are simply wired with this burden. As such, it is never far from their minds and can result in the feeling of being trapped. While wives cannot release their husbands from this burden, they can relieve it through a healthy dose of appreciation, encouragement and support.
Men want more sex. Everyone’s natural response to this is probably, “Duh!” But, that response is probably for the wrong reason. We primarily assume that men want more sex with their wives due to their physical wiring (their “needs”). But, surprisingly, Shaunti Feldhahn’s research showed that the reason men want more sex is because of their strong need to be desired by their wives. Men simply need to be wanted. Regular, fulfilling sex is critical to a man’s sense of feeling loved and desired.
Sex means more than sex. When men feel their wives desire them sexually, it has a profound effect on the rest of their lives. It gives them an increasing sense of confidence and well-being that carries over into every other area of his life. The flipside of this coin also carries a profoundly negative affect. When a husband feels rejected sexually, he not only feels his wife is rejecting him physically, but that she is somehow rejecting his life as a husband, provider and man. This is why making sex a priority in marriage is so incredibly important!
Men struggle with visual temptation. This means the vast majority of men respond to visual images when it comes to women. And, this doesn’t just mean the guys with wandering eyes. Even the most godly husband cannot avoid noticing a woman who dresses in a way that draws attention to her body. Even if it is just a glance, these visual images are stored away in the male brain as a sort of “visual rolodex” that will reappear without any warning. Men can choose whether to dwell on these images and memories or dismiss them, but they can’t control when these images appear.
Men enjoy romance, but doubt their skills to be romantic. True, many men appear to be unromantic clods, but it doesn’t mean that they want to be that way! Men want to be romantic, but they just doubt their ability to pull it off. They are plagued by internal hesitations, perceiving the risk of humiliation and failure as too high. Wives can do a great deal to increase their husbands’ confidence in their romantic skills through encouragement and redefining what romance looks like. For example, a wife may balk when her husband asks her to go along to the hardware store, but it’s likely that he’s asking because he sees it as a time they can get away as a couple and hang out together. What’s not romantic about that?
Men care about their wife’s appearance. This isn’t saying that all men want their wives to look like the latest supermodel. What men really want is to know that their wives are making an effort to take care of themselves (and not letting themselves go) because it matters to them (the husbands). Husbands appreciate the efforts their wives make to maintain their attractiveness.
Men want their wives to know how much they love them. This was the number one response of men. Men aren’t confident in their ability to express this, but they love their wives dearly. Men want to show how much they love their wives and long for them to understand this fact.