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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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AMBASSADOR SAYS PROGRESS MADE IN LOTTERY SCAM—11/10/12
Pamela Bridgewater, the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, is satisfied with the work being done by law enforcement officials in both countries to eliminate the long-running lottery scam. She noted that U.S. law enforcement is working closely with Jamaican authorities to fight the scam since its inception. According to data from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Jamaica-based scam has cost its American victims over US$42 million.
JAMAICAN LEGISLATURE APPROVES REGULATIONS FOR CASINOS—11/11/12
Both Houses of Jamaica’s Parliament have approved regulations applying to resort developers who want to apply for licenses to operate casinos in their establishment. The Casino Gaming (Prescribed Games) Regulations, 2012, and the Casino Gaming (Application for Declaration of Approved Integrated Resort Development) Regulations, 2012, send a signal to developers that Jamaica is ready to receive their applications. The Casino Gaming Act of 2010 facilitates the issuance of licenses for casino gaming.
HURRICANE MEANS FISHING BOOM IN EASTERN JAMAICA—11/12/12
Hurricane Sandy brought destruction to parts of eastern Jamaica, but it also provided an increase in the fish population near Whitehouse Fishing Village in Montego Bay. According to Troy Jumpp, president of the Whitehouse Fishermen’s Cooperative, disruptions in the climate like hurricanes typically disturb fish populations and drive large numbers of fish into areas where they are not usually found. However, the good fishing will not last forever, says Jumpp, and the community’s needs will return to normal levels.
COMPLEX DIVORCE PROCEDURES HARM JAMAICAN WOMEN—11/12/12
According to information in the Population and Housing Census, divorce in Jamaica has increased by as much as 60 percent from 2001 to 2011, and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) believes that the complicated procedures required in divorces are harming Jamaican women. The committee has expressed concerns about regulations that require parties to be married for at least two years before applying for a divorce and have lived separately for no less than one year. These rules harm women who may be in abusive relationships and/or who may not have the same resources as the men in the marriage.
PORT MARIA STRIVES TO RECOVER FROM FLOODING—11/13/12
Port Maria in St. Mary saw extensive flooding when heavy rains resulted in overflows by the Pagee and Outram Rivers, causing water to inundate the city from both ends. Hardest hit by the rains and floods were residents and businesses now trying to assess the damage. People were trapped for hours in buildings and bridges, and police officers were trapped in the city police station, unable to provide aid to residents.
FORMER PRIME MINISTER PATTERSON RECEIVES SOUTH AFRICAN HONOR—11/14/12
P.J. Patterson, Jamaica’s former Prime Minister, is slated to receive one of South Africa’s highest national honors, the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo. This award is given to citizens outside of South Africa in recognition of their contributions to the fight against racism and their support for equality, justice, and democracy. Patterson served as Jamaican Prime Minister between 1992 and 2006 before retiring. He is the second Jamaican to receive the honor, the first being Michael Manley who received the award posthumously in 2004.
PREACHING NO LONGER ALLOWED ON JAMAICA’S BUSES—11/15/12
The state-owned bus company in Jamaica has decided to stop the preaching activities of lay ministers who preach to commuters. Hardley Lewin, director of the transit company, has instructed drivers to ask religious people politely to stop evangelizing to bus riders. Lewin said he has received complaints from bus customers who feel harassed by the lay preachers, who are overwhelmingly of the Christian faith. Bishop Herro Blair, a prominent evangelical minister, said the preachers should have asked permission from the bus company in advance of their actions.
ENERGY PROJECT SEEKS TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION AND COSTS—11/16/12
Derrick Kellier, Jamaica’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, said that it is imperative for Jamaica to improve its energy efficiency if it wants to reap savings in energy costs. These cost have been estimated at totaling US$10.4 million each month. Kellier made his remarks at the official launching of a project funded jointly by the European Union (EU) and the Government of Jamaica. The Energy Services Company (ESCO) is designed to provide for developing a sustainable energy industry in Jamaica that will offer cost savings and reduce energy consumption. It is also expected to create new businesses, more jobs, and have a positive impact on climate change by lowering carbon emissions.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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50 YEARS OF MUSIC AT GRACE JAMAICAN JERK FESTIVAL—11/10/12
The 11th annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival held on November 11, 2012, will feature 50 years of music history in performance ranging from Ska to Rocksteady to Reggae and Dancehall. The event will be held at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida, and will also offer family-friendly activities and Jamaican food. Abdul Muhsin, director of the festival said that music will be the highlight of this year’s event with the participation of John Holt, one of the most prolific of Jamaican artistes as the headliner.
VASCIANNIE DELIVERS LECTURE ON LAW OF THE SEA—11/11/12
Stephen Vasciannie, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, delivered a keynote lecture at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., which was designed to answer the question of ownership of the Caribbean Sea. He described the main rules included in the Law of the Sea Convention that deals with ownership of living and non-living resources in the waters. He noted that nations own the parts of the sea closest to them; for example, Jamaica owns the parts of the sea that extend 12 miles from its baseline.
MCNEILL ELECTED FRIST VICE-CHAIR OF UN TOURISM COMMITTEE—11/12/12
Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, was appointed to the position of the country’s first vice-chair of the United Nations World Tourism executive council. McNeill called his appointment a “proud moment” for Jamaica and indicates the strong influence Jamaica has on other countries in the world. The council is in charge of tourism policy and decisions that have an impact on the global marketplace. It presents its findings to the UN General Assembly. Jamaica will represent the Americas on the council during all of 2013.
JAMAICAN DIPLOMATS TOUR NYC HURRICANE DAMAGE—11/14/12
Officials from the Jamaican consulate, along with those of other Caribbean nations including Haiti, visited areas of New York City damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The visit was prompted by the diplomats’ own experience representing nations that are familiar with the havoc wrought by natural disasters, especially hurricanes. Herman LaMont, consul general of Jamaica and chair of the Caribbean Counselor Corp, said the coalition wanted to help those expatriates needing assistance. These people cannot be expected to come to the consulate for help, LaMont noted, and many have lost important documents and identification forms.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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MUSIC “ROYALTY” TO HEAD TEMPO CELEBRATIONS—11/10/12
CARIBBEAN UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDING DOWN—11/11/12
NARROW VICTORY FOR PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL PARTY IN TURKS AND CAICOS—11/12/12
U.S. ENGAGES CARIBBEAN JURISDICTION TO STEM OFFSHORE TAX EVASION—11/13/12
POLICE IN BELIZE URGE MCAFEE TO APPEAR FOR QUESTIONING IN MURDER CASE—11/14/12
CARICOM WANTS END TO U.S. EMBARGO ON CUBA—11/15/12
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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JAMAICAN ENTREPRENEURS RELY ON HOME MARKET—11/10/12
Entrepreneurs in Jamaica depend heavily on the home market for their business, rarely having clients in foreign countries. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Caribbean Report for 2011 found that Jamaica has a low ranking in the area of “internationalization,” or the extent to which its business people make sales to clients beyond the home borders. Most survey respondents in Jamaica depended solely on domestic patronage, citing the cost of entering foreign markets as the chief reason for their domestic dependence.
HURRICANE SANDY COSTS COFFEE INDUSTRY AN ESTIMATED $200 MILLION—11/11/12
According to Christopher Gentles, the director general of the Coffee Industry Board, it is difficult to place a dollar amount on the damage imposed on the market by Hurricane Sandy. He says it is too early to have an accurate assessment of the hurricane’s financial impact, but he estimates that, according to feedback from farmers, about 15 to 20 percent of the national coffee crop experienced damage. Some individual farmers had damages totaling between 30 and 40 percent of their crop, however. More accurate estimates are expected later in November 2012.
JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT BANK LED BY BRICS—11/12/12
Arnold Joseph Nicholson, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, told Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, that a BRICS bank was beneficial to Jamaica and that the nation supported it. In March 2013, South Africa will host the fifth BRICS Summit where one of the key decisions will be the creation of a BRICS Development Bank. BRICS is the acronym signifying a group of emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The two ministers were in agreement that such a bank should have a role in mobilizing infrastructure and sustainable development project resources in emerging economies and developing nations.
JAMAICA MAY EXPAND TRANS-SHIPMENT PORT IN KINGSTON—11/13/12
Jamaica is considering the expansion of the trans-shipment port in Kingston in order to accommodate the mega-ships that are slated to travel through the Panama Canal by 2015. China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), the firm considering the expansion, reported that the necessary investment for the expansion of the port and the construction of a highway had been allocated. The project is designed to exploit the expected increase in trans-shipment opportunities following the expansion of the Panama Canal to allow the largest ships in the world to cross from Pacific to Atlantic oceans.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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JAMAICA RANKS FOURTH IN CARIBBEAN FOR INTERNET USE—11/10/12
INTERNET CREATES LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR JOB, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES—11/11/12
CARIBBEAN REGION GETS ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL—11/12/12
ICT FEST 2012 BEGINS IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA—11/14/12
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ENTERTAINMENT
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FORBES RECOMMENDS TELLING CHILDREN ABOUT ISLAND ACHIEVERS—11/10/12
Leonie Forbes, actress and broadcaster, believes that more should be done to document the achievements and life stories of outstanding Jamaicans in order to educate the nation’s youth about these individuals. Forbes made her remarks at the King Street branch of Sangster’s Bookstore in Montego Bay. She was signing copies of her autobiography “Leonie: Her Autobiography.” According to Forbes, there are so many Jamaicans who have had critical roles in developing one area or another of the culture. Documenting their achievements is a good way to create a “culture of knowing that we are a nation of achievers,” Forbes said.
SEAN PAUL PERFORMS IN UGANDA—11/11/12
Thousands of people joined to watch Jamaican Sean Paul perform at the cricket oval in Kamapala in Uganda. Other performers participating in the event included Peter Miles, Navio, Mith, Toniks, Brenda of HB Toxic, Radio and Weasel. Sean Paul sang with two female singers, a DJ and his band the Gat. The crowd kept on singing and dancing throughout the performance, which lasted until midnight. Paul performed a mix of old and new tunes. Paul first performed in Uganda in 2004. This was his second appearance in the country.
KARTEL, KONSHENS ON PROVISIONAL GRAMMY AWARD LIST—11/12/12
Vybz Kartel, Jamaican dancehall star who is serving a prison sentence, has received a nomination for a Grammy award for his 2011 compilation “Pon Di Gaza Mi Sey.” It was one of 50 projects on the provisional short list for the Best Reggae Album award. Konshens, another Jamaica reggae star whose debut album “Mental Maintenance” has been doing well, was also included on the short list.
LATE REGGAE SINGER RECEIVES POSTHUMOUS FAME WITH DEBUT ALBUM—11/13/12
J.O.E., the late Jamaican reggae singer, is receiving considerable fame posthumously for his debut album “Man from Judah.” J.O.E (Jah Ova Evil), who was from Vineyard Town, died of a brain aneurysm in 2010 at the age of 25. The singer, who real name was Alty Nunes, is featured in original recordings on the album, along with several top reggae stars, including Konshens, Chino and One Night. The album is gaining in popularity around the world.
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SPORTS
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NZ STEEL SIGN FOWLER—11/12/12
Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler has been signed to play for the Southern Steel in New Zealand. Fowler, who stands at 1.98 meters, is expected to provide an intimidating presence to opposition teams. Obtaining a championship contract has been Fowler’s goal for some time. She says she is eager to gain the knowledge associated with playing with the best netballers in the world and wants the experience of playing with top athletes in the field.
JAMAICA READY FOR BIG-TIME BOXING—11/13/12
Jamaicans are excited at the possibility of seeing big-time boxing return to the island after years of being nearly dormant. The National Indoor Sports Center in Kingston will be the site of the WBA’s “KO to Drugs” boxing event. Three WBA world championships will be on the line at the event, which is scheduled for December 8, 2012. The top contender is Nicholas “The Axeman” Walters who will fight fifth-ranked Daulis Prescott of Colombia at the match.
YOUNG BOYZ EARN TOP SEED AT CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIPS—11/14/12
Jamaica’s Young Boyz cricket team has received the No. 1 seed at the CONCACAF Under-20 championships after drawing with Cuba at the Caribbean Football Union championship. The Young Boyz team kept the game scoreless after overcoming problems in the 58th minute of the match. They enhanced their defense and fended off the Cuban challenge, finishing the tournament as the top team with a goal difference of seven points after three games.
JAMAICA FOOTBALL FEDERATION DEBT CLEARED—11/15/12
The English FA has written off a debt of about $22 million owed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Horace Burrell, head of the JFF, said that the FA chairman David Bernstein had decided to cancel the debt incurred during a tour of England in 2006. Burrell called Bernstein’s action “noble” and noted that it will go a long way in helping the JFF deal with its overall debt levels. The action was taken after a “fruitful meeting” between the English FA and the JFF.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Following Jesus
It is difficult for Christians in western countries to really appreciate the level of self-denial required of true disciples of Christ. We live in societies where emphasis is on the self and individual rights, a message so ingrained in our psyche that though we sing "All to Jesus I Surrender," some of us really have no intention of surrendering control of our lives, and all that pertains to us, to Him. We admire those who take charge of their lives, make the decisive decisions that needs to be made, and who are successful because of their efforts.
Yet in the kingdom of God things work in the opposite way. Jesus told His disciples, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?" (Matthew 16:24-26, The Message). In other words, the me-first principles that work in our society have no place in God's scheme of things because once we accept Jesus as Lord, our lives are no longer our own (1 Corinthians 6:19); we are subject to a different set of principles. In commenting on this portion of text, Bible Commentator Adam Clarke noted the principles of the Christian life Jesus put forth: 1) Having a sincere desire to belong to Him; 2) A renouncing of self-dependence and selfish pursuits; 3) To embrace conditions (troubles and difficulties) God has appointed for us to meet in walking the Christian road; and 4) To imitate Christ and do and suffer all in His Spirit.
No one could accuse Jesus of sugarcoating the cost of discipleship, but the disciples were not to be denied; they stood their ground. It was the same conviction with which Paul wrote, "Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant--dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ--God's righteousness. I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself" (Philippians 3:8-10).
As it was with the first century believers, so it is with us today. We are called to surrender our lives, our goals, our aspirations and all that we hold dear, for the cause of Christ. He has to lead and He has to be in control for our union with Him to be effective. So, you really want to follow Jesus? How much of you, and everything to do with you, do you still control?
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CREDITS/SOURCES
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The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.