Eariler this month, reality star Kim Kardashian visited Hait,i with her mommager Kris Jenner. The visit was in support of Maria Bello's charity "We Advance". The non-profit's mission is to be "a movement to advance the health, safety, and well being of women throughout Haiti" Kim wrote about her visit on her blog and described the trip as "life changing". Kim looks great here but she is being upstaged by these beautiful Haitian girls!!!!
"Our mission was to learn more about [actress Maria Bello's] charity, We Advance, meet the Haitian people who have made such amazing progress since the devastating earthquake in 2010, and celebrate the women of Haiti, who inspired me more than I ever could have anticipated," Kardashian wrote.
When Kardashian returned, she says she saw "malicious" reports that say she "spent a fortune" on herself in Haiti.
"While my experience was completely life-changing ... a very emotional and surprisingly positive journey that I will never forget, some media outlets have tried to tarnish the motive behind my visit and have written completely ridiculous and untrue things," she wrote. "The truth is that I was at the Haitian Artisan Fair, where the amazing men and women who make their jewelry and crafts sell them to visitors to make a living, and I bought some beautiful jewelry!"
"I have some really great stories and photos from my trip and I'm so excited to share them with you all," she wrote.
Kim Kardashian also talked about meeting a 16 year old Haitian entrepreneur Leanna Archer. "Leanna Archer is just 16 years old, and is CEO, owner and founder of Leanna’s Inc., and founder of the Leanna Archer Education Foundation for underprivileged children in Haiti. She came to speak at the Haitian Artisan Fair and I was honestly blown away by her story. She started making her own hair products at the age of eight and shortly after launched her own company! She would take her grandmother’s formula and package them in her baby brother’s baby food jars.
Her products were such a great success and in 2008 Leanna launched the Leanna Archer Education Foundation. Leanna uses the money she makes from the sales of her products to help kids in Tabar, Haiti, providing over 200 kids there with three meals every day. Her goal is to build a school and give individual attention to the kids in the town, based on their skills and needs."
Kudos to Kim for, at the very least, using her celebrity in such a way to bring attention to Haiti. Hopefully, some good will come of it!
Buju Banton.
According to media reports, Buju Banton could walk free from his conviction and subsequent ten year sentence on drug-related charges after the discovery that the U.S. government may have violated the Speedy Trial Act. The act states that any defendant involved in a case must be brought to trial by the government within a 70 day window; a right guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment in the American constitution. Additionally, said right is generally afforded to defendants so that they not subjected to unreasonably lengthy incarceration prior to a fair trial.
Buju Banton’s first trial took place in September 2010, nine months after his initial arrest by law enforcement officials in Florida and four months after Judge James Moody pushed back Buju’s initial court date without giving any specifics regarding why the case was postponed. His second trial, where he was later convicted, took place in February of this year, four months after he was granted bail in the case.
The U.S Supreme Court has developed a four part test considering length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and the prejudice to the defendant in judging speedy trial claims. Any violations of the Speedy Trial Act could spark the dismissal of a criminal case given the state’s inability to bring the case to trial within a reasonable amount of time.
Buju Banton’s legal team filed an appeal last week in a Georgia appeals court, citing violation of said act whilst intimating that the prominent Reggae singjay was not a willing participant in any drug conspiracy.
Buju Banton was sentenced to ten years in prison this past February on three drug-related charges stemming from a December 2009 incident where he allegedly conspired to organize a drug deal within a police controlled warehouse.
BY PAUL HENRY Crime/Court Desk co-ordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
THE murder case involving jailed entertainer 'Vybz Kartel' and his three co-accused was Monday transferred to the Home Circuit Court where the men are to be tried for the killing of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.The case was transferred from the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court after Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn entered a voluntary bill of indictment, effectively foregoing any preliminary enquiry.
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KARTEL… remanded until January 13
When the four — Kartel, Cairo Jones, Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, and Calvin Haye — appeared in the Home Circuit Court, they were remanded until January 13, 2012 after an order was made for the prosecution to disclose to the defence, by January 5, all the material in its possession relating to the case.
Two other men — Shane Williams and Andre St John, who are charged along with Kartel and the other men — were not transferred to the High Court because their names were not on the voluntary bill of indictment. They are expected to be transferred as well.
Both Williams and St John will return to the RM court on December 21.
Williams is alleged to have been murdered on August 16 over the disappearance of an illegal gun. His body is yet to be found but the prosecution said that it has video and other evidence to prove the murder.
Also appearing in court on Monday was Vanessa 'Gaza Slim' Saddler, the Portmore Empire member who is jointly charged with Kartel with conspiracy and attempting to pervert the course of justice. On this charge, it is being alleged that texts were sent to Saddler, causing her to make a report to the Constant Spring police that she had been robbed by Williams. The prosecution is contending that the report was made in order to give the impression that Williams was not dead.
In making his application for Saddler, attorney Pierre Rogers said, among other things, that the man who held up Saddler was masked and identified himself as Williams. Rogers, also said that his client was not a flight risk.
However, Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey refused the application, noting the seriousness of the allegations that she attempted to interfere with an investigation.
Saddler, Campbell and Kartel — were remanded on these charges until January 9.
On a different matter, Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer — is to return to the RM Court on February 13 next year when he will be tried on a ganja possession charge.
Kartel, along with other men, is also facing murder and other charges in relation to the shooting death of Gregory Park, St Catherine resident Barrington Bryan, alias 'Bossie', in July. He was offered bail in the sum of $3 million in relation to this murder and will next appear in the RM court on December 21 on that charge.