Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Tuesday; Firefighters' verdict; Coral Gardens Massacre; NWC; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Suspended firefighters to know fate today Five firefighters who were suspended by the Jamaica Fire Brigade in May last year for [taking part in an unsanctioned protest]( will know today what punishment will be meted out to them. The five have been suspended at half pay. Last week, firefighter, Sergeant Leo Bennett, who was also suspended, and who [gained notoriety when he climbed atop the Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre]( in March in a one-man protest against conditions in the fire brigade, was demoted to the rank of corporal. His suspension was lifted. Jamaica marks 60 years since Coral Gardens tragedy The events that came to be known as the [Coral Gardens tragedy]( when members of the Rastafarian community were attacked by agents of the State, leaving several of them dead, started to unfold 60 years ago on Holy Thursday, April 11, 1963. The events took place over three days, and April 12 (Good Friday) was dubbed "Bad Friday". This all stemmed from an incident which triggered widespread beating, humiliation, degradation and imprisonment on Good Friday of 1963. This was the response by the security forces after persons thought to be Rastafarians, attacked a service station with which they had an issue. Two of the attackers were shot and killed by the police. Drug trial of airport workers continues When the [drug trial of three employees of the Sangster International Airport]( today in the St James Parish Court, the remaining witness, a detective sergeant of police, is expected to continuing giving evidence in the case. The three - Indra Waite, Brelanie Reid, and Romaine Kerr - are accused of smuggling more than 11 kilograms of cocaine onto a flight destined for Canada. Advertisement NWC network affected by data logger thefts The continued theft of its specialised data loggers has hobbled the National Water Commission (NWC) in its efforts to properly monitor its network. Seven such data loggers have been stolen from NWC facilities across the Corporate Area in recent months. The water utility explained that these data loggers are connected to the water supply pipelines and provide important system information such as flow and pressure measurements, as well as remote electronic updates. Tuesday’s football gossip: Barcelona pursuing Messi Lionel Messi's father and agent Jorge met with Barcelona but no transfer proposal was offered for the Argentine forward, 35. [(Cadena Ser, via Mirror)]( Aston Villa have a strong interest in signing England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 27, from Manchester City. [(Football Insider)]( England left-back Ben Chilwell, 26, is set to sign a new four-year deal at Chelsea. [(Athletic)]( ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Manchester police investigating car stealing ring Police say they are following strong leads following the [discovery of a car stealing ring in deep-rural Manchester](. Cop succumbs to injuries from St Mary accident Thirty-year-old Adrian Pendley, the policeman assigned to the Port Maria traffic department who was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, [has succumbed to his injuries](. Illustrated Anne Frank book removed by Florida school A high school along Florida’s Atlantic Coast has [removed a graphic novel based on the diary of Anne Frank]( after a leader of a conservative advocacy group challenged it, claiming it minimised the Holocaust. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Civil Rights Act becomes law On this day in 1968, President Lyndon B Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act, which included the Fair Housing Act, a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.