Jamaican News & Announcements
JAMAICA NEWSWEEKLY For the week ending September 28th, 2012
Published Sep 28, 2012----------------------------------------
THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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NEW INVESTMENTS TO CREATE JOBS—09/22/12
Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica's Prime Minister, has announced that the government has obtained a number of investment opportunities that will create several new projects, which in turn, will create about 7,000 jobs. The projects have a value estimated at J$7.5 billion, the projects involve Dolphin Cove Group, West Kingston Power Partners, Hinduja Global Solutions, Vistaprint, and Sutherland Global. The companies will create ICT project, animal attractions, a large energy plant, and a call center.
SPECIAL RUM CREATED TO CELEBRATE NATION'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY—09/22/12
A special Appleton Rum edition, recently barreled at an event attended by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and several of her predecessors, will be opened in 2062 at the 100th anniversary celebration of Jamaican independence. The special blend includes the 2012 product and some of the 50-year-old Reserve barreled in 1962 for the 50th anniversary of independence held in 2012. There are nine barrels of the run, each of which is labeled with a plaque to identify the Prime Minister who filled it.
JAMAICA'S OLYMPIC ATHLETES TO BE REWARDED—09/23/12
The athletes who represented Jamaica in the 2012 Olympics will receive rewards for their efforts, says Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. She stated that a special committee has been established to handle the matter and that further action will be taken once the committee's report has been provided. Jamaica had its best Olympic performance in history at the 2012 Games, winning a record-setting 12 medals. Celebrations to honor the athletes will occur during the weekend of National Heroes' Day in October 2012.
JAMAICANS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR 2014 U.S. DIVERSITY VISA—09/24/12
The United States has announced that Jamaicans will not be eligible to apply for the 2014 Diversity Visa Program. According to the U.S. Department of State, individuals from nations that sent over 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. during the previous five-year period are ineligible to participate in the program. Other nations that cannot participate in the program include Haiti, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
GOLDING SAYS AVERAGE JAMAICANS WILL BENEFIT FROM CCJ—09/25/12
Mark Golding, Jamaica's Minister of Justice and Senator, says that average Jamaicans will benefit from accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The average Jamaican cannot afford to take a case to the Privy Council, Golding said, and in cases other than those involving the death penalty have difficulty taking a case beyond the local Court of Appeal. The CCJ will be more accessible and affordable to average people.
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT STUDIES DEPARTMENTS AT UWI TO MERGE—09/26/12
Professor Paul G. Simmonds will head the new Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) at the University of the West Indies. The school has been formed via a merger of the business school and the management studies department. The merger went into effect August 1, 2012. For the present, the two programs will operate from separate facilities. The new school is the first in the Caribbean region to provide both undergraduate and graduate courses, and it is the largest business school in the region as well.
PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS TO UNITED NATIONS—09/27/12
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, telling dignitaries from around the world about her hope that all peoples will one day work and live together in peace, security, and prosperity. Her 30-minute address covered food security, HIV/AIDS, the abuse of women, and children's poverty. Simpson Miller also called for ending the economic and trade embargo on Cuba.
MAJOR PROTEST SCHEDULED TO CONDEM VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN—09/28/12
Jamaicans are planning a protest demonstration to condemn violence against women following an incident in which five females, including an eight-year-old girl, were raped at their St. James home. Some 15 women's groups and citizen organizations will hold a nationwide protest against sexual abuse and other violence against women. They are calling for local citizens to wear black as a sign of solidarity. The initiative was developed after Sandra Falconer, Jamaica's Information Minister, held a meeting ordered following remarks in which Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller made public condemnation of the attacks.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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QUEEN JUBILEE TIME CAPSULE TO INCLUDE JAMAICAN MEMORIES—09/22/12
Images of Prince Harry's visit to Jamaica are now part of a time capsule project that is designed to become a Jubilee gift to Queen Elizabeth II. The images include the Prince receiving dance lessons from a Jamaican woman. Prince Harry will contribute a personal letter in which he expresses his thanks to the Jamaican government and a photo depicting him "winning" a race against Jamaican sprint champion Usain Bolt. The time capsule project calls for all people, including those in Commonwealth nations, to share their memories.
JAMAICAN MAN HELD IN DEATHS OF AMERICAN COUPLE IN ST. MAARTEN—09/24/12
Authorities in St. Maarten say that a Jamaican man has been charged in the killings of an American couple from South Carolina who were found in their beachfront condo. The man, 28, is the only suspect in the murders to date. Michael and Thelma King of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, both in their 50s, were found dead in their St. Maarten condo, apparently stabbed to death. The suspect resisted arrest, wounding a police officer during his capture.
SIMPSON MILLER TO ADDRESS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY—09/26/12
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller will deliver a policy statement to the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. She joined with other world leaders at the opening ceremonies, which included appearances by Barack Obama, President of the United States, and the heads of Serbia France, and Brazil. Simpson Miller also attended a luncheon hosted by Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General, where she received congratulations for Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence.
PLANNING BEGINS FOR 2013 DIASPORA CONFERENCE—09/27/12
The Preparatory Committee for the Fifth Biennial Jamaican Diaspora Conference held its first meeting to plan the 2013 event at the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Kingston. It was chaired by Arnaldo Brown, Minister of State with responsibility for Diaspora affairs. A new chairman of the committee, Richard Powel, president and CEO of the Victoria Mutual Building Society, was installed as well: The conference is scheduled for June 16-19, 2013.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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OVER 4,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE SEIZED OFF PUERTO RICO—09/22/12
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FESTIVAL SHOWS CARIBBEAN, INTERNATIONAL FILMS—09/23/12
SECURITY OFFICERS STOP ROBBERY ATTEMPT AT BAHAMAS RESORT—09/25/12
ARUBA, DOMINICANS TIED, WIN FOR BARBADOS IN QUALIFIERS—09/26/12
$2.79 BILLION IN PLEDGES TO HAITI RELEASED BY UNITED NATIONS—09/27/12
ST.LUCIA AVERTS UNION SHUT-DOWN IN HOTEL INDUSTRY—09/28/12
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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HYLTON CALLS FOR EXPORTERS TO MODERNIZE—09/22/12
Anthony Hylton, Jamaica's Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, wants exporters to use the loan facility provided by the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica Ltd. to modernize their plants. Hylton noted that business owners would be able to borrow up to US$500,000 to buy new equipment and improve their facilities through the EX-IM loan. Exporters have been slow to take advantage of the loans because companies must conduct audits to qualify, and many are still in the process of doing so, said Lisa Bell, managing director of the EX-IM Bank.
NESTLE MAKES NEW INVESTMENT IN JAMAICA—09/23/12
Nestle is investing in a new production line at the Jamaican facility that makes Supligen, a milk-based drink favored by consumers in the Caribbean region. The drink is marketed as a sustained energy-release drink and contains Actigen-E, a blend of vitamins and minerals created by Nestle to optimize energy performance. The investment totals US$8 million in the firm's Bybrook factory near Linstead. It will allow for increased production and provide a new aluminum can designed for better cooling.
JAMAICAN AIRPORTS TO COMPETE WITH HUBS IN MIAMI—09/26/12
Jamaica is attempting to position its two international airports as alternatives to Miami International Airport and is moving ahead with plans for privatization. Miami is a major transit hub for millions of travelers. Dr. Omar Davies, Transport Minister, has urged investors to consider Jamaican airports as an alternative hub to the already very busy Miami location. Jamaica could have a significant role in easing the movement of travelers throughout the Latin American, Caribbean, and South American areas.
FOREIGN COMPANY TAX EXEMPTION PASSED—09/27/12
The House of Representatives in Jamaica has passed legislation designed to provide a tax incentive to officers of international firms that establish head offices in Jamaica. The Income Tax (Amendment) Act was spearheaded by Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of Finance. It will provide an income tax exemption for non-residents performing head-office activities in the country. Companies may apply for certificates to obtain designations as situating their head offices in Jamaica, thus becoming eligible for the tax incentive.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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JAMAICANS TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY—09/22/12
JAMAICA'S SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCES STUDIED—09/23/12
PESTICIDES MUST BE HANDLED SAFELY, SAYS PCA—09/24/12
CUBAN CANCER DRUG TO BE SOLD IN JAMAICA—09/25/12
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ENTERTAINMENT
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JAMAICAN POET CLAUDE MCKAY ENTERS ENGLISH LITERATURECANON—09/23/12
Claude McKay, a Jamaican poet, has been received into the canon of great literature and poetry available in the English language. His poem "If We Must Die" was quoted by Sir Winston Churchill as h has e tried to inspire the British in World War II. Professor Winston James of Columbia University researched McKay for his book entitled "A Fierce Hatred of Injustice: Claude McKay's Jamaica and His Poetry of Rebellion." While writing the book, James discovered an unknown manuscript by McKay that was written in 1941. This manuscript "Amiable with Big Teeth: A Novel of the Love Affair between the Communists and the Poor Black Sheep of Harlem," will be published with the permission of McKay's estate. Although claimed by the United States as a black American, McKay was born and bred in Jamaica and served in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He died in 1948, after influencing many writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Hughes.
LOUIS SIMPSON DIES AT 89—09/24/12
The poet Louis Simpson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1964, died in Stony Brook, New York, at the age of 89. Simpson was a native Jamaican of Scottish and Russian heritage, and was described as similar to Walt Whitman for his ability to use poetry to tell stories. He was an assistant professor of English at the University of California in Berkeley when he won the Pulitzer. In the years before his death, he suffered from Alzheimer's disease, according to his daughter Anne B. Simpson.
JCDC TO CAPITLIZE ON SUCCESS OF ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS—09/25/12
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) wants to capitalize on the successful staging activities surrounding the celebrations of Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence. Marjorie Leyden-Vernon, JCDC director of field services, says the Commission plans to maintain the Jamaica 50 parish committees that had been formed to help design and implement celebrations in the parishes. The JCDC wants to keep the strong level of support for these activities after the 50th anniversary year is over.
VYBZ KARTEL SPEAKING LOUDLY FROM JAIL—09/27/12
Vybz Kartel, dancehall reggae artiste, is serving time in detention, but that has not stopped him from speaking his mind. An online forum and countdown to his incarceration will be held on September 29, 2012, and a message from Kartel will be released to the public every day until the 29th.The 29th marks one year since Adidja Palmer, known as Vybz Kartel, was detained in New Kingston. He has also written a book called "Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto," which he wrote together with Michael Dawson, a Garveyite. The book describes the plight of the poor in Jamaica.
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SPORTS
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SUNSHINE GIRLS BEAT ENGLAND—09/25/12
Jamaica's Sunshine Girls defeated their arch-rival England with a score of 49-44 in a three-Test series at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. The team was led to its victory by Jhaniele Fowler, who had 32 goals from 37 attempts. The Jamaicans led the match from the beginning and had a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, they were outscored 13-11 by England, but they came back to secure the win.
"OFFICE" PLAYING SURFACE OF CONCERN TO OFFICIALS—09/26/12
International football officials who were inspecting the field at National Stadium before the recent home World Cup Qualifier against the United States on September 7, 2012, were concerned about the field's playing surface. The stadium has been known as the "Office" since it seemed almost impossible for opponents to win against the primarily local squad of Jamaicans during the "Road to France" campaign. Horace Reid of the Jamaica Football Federation admitted the less-than -perfect surface could work against the Reggae Boyz as they attempt to gain a place in the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil
GAYLE CONFIDENT ABOUT WEST INDIES CHANCES—09/27/12
Chris Gayle, opening batsman for the West Indies cricket team, is optimistic about the ability of the Windies to make the finals of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament underway in Sri Lanka. The team's main concern was to make the Super Eight, so now it is confident that it will do well, Gayle said. The team members are more relaxed after playing the first two games.
WOLMER'S BOYS CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS—09/28/12
Wolmer's Boys are moving on by scoring goal after goal, defeating Jose Marti 5-0 in the Group F match at the ISSA/Digicel/Gatorade Manning Cup. Kamario Osbourne scored in the fifth, 40th and 54th minutes, while Jorginho James, who moved from Kingston College to Wolmer's, also scored his fourth goal of the season in the 68th minute. Coach Ludlow Bernard is more than satisfied with the team's performance. It is the top scoring team in the Corporate Area.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Showing Jesus to the World
Back when I was a undergraduate student and in a personal evangelism class, the professor talked about the importance of living our lives in such a way, i.e. as Jesus commanded, that invited questions from the unsaved. Of course everyone agreed. However, a classmate pointed out that some of the laziest people in his place of work were Christians. It got me thinking:
- Why is it that some of the most miserable and stressed out people are Christians?
- Why is it that some of the most sarcastic and rudest people are Christians?
- Why is it that some of the people who worry the most are Christians?
- Why is it that some Christians are some of the unfriendliest people?
- Why is it that some Christians are among those most insecure?
- Why is it that some Christians are among those most unforgiving?
- Why is it that some Christians are among the most arrogant?
- Why is it that some Christians have the worst work ethic?
- Why is it that some of the people most likely to make excuses for what they do are Christians?
Why?
Have you ever been cut-off on the roadways by someone with a "Smile, Jesus Loves U" bumper sticker on their car? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Just maybe that is a part of the reason the world seem so indifferent, and in some ways hostile, to those who say they are Christians? The professor at the time said that whenever someone asked him if he was a Christian, he replied, "I am a follower of Jesus Christ." Ouch! Yet his statement, as uncomfortable as it may make us feel, was consistent with the observations of Mahatma Gandhi who reportedly once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Inherent in that statement is the message that Christians are expected to be like Christ. He is the standard against which His followers are judged, and quite rightly so.
Jesus urged His disciples, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, KJV). Everything about the way we live and the attitudes we display should point to the Lord we serve. To do so effectively is to invite questions from those who do not know Him; it opens the door to sharing our faith.
As you live your life in your sphere of influence, how would those looking at you sum you up? Like my professor, I am not so much hung up on the word "christian" as that is, unfortunately, a relative term. "There goes a faithful follower of Christ!" Personally, I would be humbly satisfied with that.
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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.
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