Headlines:
| Spanish Hotels linked to missing sand? |
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| Thursday, 20 November 2008 | |
 Investigators piecing together evidence in the
high-profile missing sand probe, say they are getting ready to make multiple
arrests as they inch closer to a major breakthrough.The chief detective in the case, DCP Mark Shields told RJR news Thursday that police will be taking action before year end. But even as the police close in on suspects, the top Spanish diplomat in Jamaica is rushing to disavow any involvement of Spanish-owned Hotels to the disappearance of the sand. The police claim they are rapidly closing in on the master minds behind the removal of the 6 thousand cubic yards of high quality beach sand from an upscale property at Coral Spring, Trelawny. DCP Shields says while the police are anxiously awaiting at least three reports, there is an absolute certainty that investigators will be "taking action" before the end of the year.  "Certainly before the year there will be some further action," Mr. Shields said. DCP Shields says based on recent discussions, the police should shortly receive reports from the Mines and Geology Department and the forensic lab as well as an independent forensic report of tests carried out in Canada, after which the investigators will move to the next stage of the probe. Preliminary information is that these forensic tests, carried out on samples of sand taken from the hotel properties, show similarities to sand from the property in Trelawny. In the meantime, Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silva is rushing to the defence of the Spanish owned hotels named in a legal claim filed in the Supreme Court on Monday by developers Felicitas. Ambassador Silva Thursday flatly denied any criminal involvement of the hotels. "All the Spanish groups have been the most cooperative with the government and with the investigation. They have nothing to hide, they are not involved in any criminal activity," Mr. Silva said. Felicitas files lawsuit And, Property Developers Felicitas Limited is seeking damages totalling $US 8.1-million in connection with the disappearance of sand from its Coral Springs site in Trelawny. The massive claim was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday by the 15 member Felicitas consortium. Three hotels, Spanish-owned Riu Jamaicotel and Fiesta Jamaica Limited, along with Palmyra Resort and Spa and Bedrock Building and Aggregates Limited were named in the suit, filed by Former Solicitor General Michael Hylton on behalf of the consortium.  The property owners are contending that between June and July 2008, the servants or agents of the three hotels and the aggregate supplier named in the claim, unlawfully and without consent removed a large quantity of sand from the site and delivered it to the defendants. The claim says the defendants knew the sand was illegally obtained or should have been aware. Felicitas Managing Director Frederik Moe told RJR News Thursday that its own forensic investigations support its claim and the consortium isn't waiting for the police report to take action. "We sought to have a discussion with them and settle the matter in an amiable way but they were resisting that, so we had no choice but to take a law suit against them," he said. According to a release from Felicitas, the damages being sought are for trespass, conversion - in other words theft, delivery of sand taken from their property. They are also claiming costs, interest at commercial rates and any other damages the court may deem appropriate. The claim also contends that other persons may have been involved, but could not now be identified. Spanish Ambassador Silva responds to cancellation of Royal vist Meanwhile, the Spanish Ambassador is disputing assertions that the state visit of Spain's royal couple was delayed because of the lawsuits filed against two Spanish-owned hotels. There has been mounting speculation that the state visit which was scheduled for December 2 and 3, was postponed because the royal couple could be embarrassed if they came to Jamaica amid the legal fallout from court claims filed earlier this week. Jamaica House issued a press release this morning, stating that February 17 and 18 next year are the new dates that have been proposed for the visit of King Juan Carlos and the Queen Sophia of Spain. The Office of the Prime Minister said the visit was postponed in light of unforeseen official commitments of the royal couple in Madrid. However the Jamaican government was informed about the inability of the Spanish royal couple to come to Jamaica on November 17, the same day that the lawsuits were filed against the Spanish Hotels in the Supreme Court. Ambassador Silva says there is no connection between the lawsuit and the visit being postponed. ‘It has nothing at all to do, and this is only speculations which is very strange that speculations like that are carried on the front page of a newspaper," Mr. Silva said. |