NEWS BRIEFS

Colombian president to visit Jamaica

Colombian President Juan Mañuel Santos is expected to arrive in Jamaica later this month to continue discussions on bilateral cooperation on a number of areas, including security.

The discussions were started when Prime Minister Bruce Golding attended Santos' swearing-in ceremony in August.

No date has yet been set for the new Colombian president's trip to Jamaica.

Santos became the 59th president of Colombia on August 7, succeeding Alvaro Uribe.

Jamaica has long been considered a major drug trans-shipment port between Colombia and the United States.

Commish urgescops to be vigilant

Police Commissioner Owen Ellington has again called for police personnel to be on the alert in the wake of a wave of killings of lawmen this year.

Ellington's comments, issued in a press statement yesterday, came after the murder of Constable Dwayne Brown on Friday night. Fifteen cops have been killed this year.

"There is no doubt that criminals, especially those connected with gangs, are trying to regain lost ground," the police commissioner said. "The police will not allow this to happen, but in protecting the citizens of this country we must also protect ourselves."

Dubbing the murder of Brown "cold and evil", the top cop urged lawmen "to remain vigilant and to continue resolutely with the job at hand".

Police seektwo witnesses

The Jamaica Constabulary Force's Anti-Corruption Branch is seeking the public's assistance in the locating of two key witnesses.

The witnesses are Richard Anthony Brown and Tanish Powell, who have both told police they are from the March Pen Road community in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Attempts by the Anti-Corruption Branch at reaching Powell and Brown have proved futile. Warrants have been issued by the magistrate to secure the two. They are to report to the police by Wednesday.

They have asked that anyone knowing their whereabouts make contact with the nearest police station.