Hundreds of residents in Tredegar Park, a community on the outskirts of Spanish Town, St Catherine, yesterday fled their homes after receiving an ultimatum from gunmen to leave.

From as early as 11 a.m., residents from an enclave called Gravel Heights loaded furniture and other possessions on to trucks, ironically under the watchful eyes of police personnel who stood guard.

"We build our houses to live here after getting the land to buy from Operation PRIDE. Some pay off, others still owe. However, we did not expect gunmen to give us ultimatum to leave our investment," remarked Michael Glades, a resident.

Though tension has reigned in the area for months, the situation escalated after a police-military operation on Saturday night. Persons being sought by the police have allegedly accused residents of being informants.

BRIEFS

Stern warning on food safety

A top-ranking government official has urged a Jamaican food-quality watchdog agency to ensure that imported items meet safety guidelines.

Michael Stern, state minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, was speaking at the Food Storage and Prevention of Infestation Division 50th anniversary banquet at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel in St Andrew on Thursday night.

The division is mandated to ensure the safety and wholesomeness of all foods and feeds destined for commerce from post-harvesting to retailing. This mandate also includes monitoring the safe and effective use of pesticides.

A'Dale Robinson new ambassador to Cuba

A'Dale Robinson, a career foreign-service officer, has been appointed Jamaica's ambassador to Cuba.

Robinson is expected to take up office in January 2009. He succeeds Ambassador Elinor Sherlock, whose tour of duty will shortly come to an end.

It will be his second posting to Cuba for a second time, having served as chargé d'affaires in 2004.