Jamaican News & Announcements
JAMAICA NEWSWEEKLY For the week ending April 20th, 2012
Published Apr 20, 2012----------------------------------------
THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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SAMUELS WANTS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSES BUILT IN JAMAICA—04/14/12
Assistant General Manager of Jamaica National Building Society Earl Samuels is encouraging developers to construct more houses for middle-income earners. The nation's economy has not seen much growth in the past decade and is unlikely to see significant growth in the near future. Therefore, the affordability of houses becomes an increasingly important challenge. To stay in business, Samuels told developers they would have to build affordable units.
JAMAICA WINS THIRD PLACE IN CARIFTA CHESS TOURNAMENT—04/15/12
Two Jamaicans receive Carifta Chess Championships in Trinidad during the Inaugural Carifta Chess Tournament. Sheneal Gardner won in the girls' under-12 section, while Stuart James won the open Under-20 category. Jamaica's ten-member team received an overall third-place ranking at the competition and collected the most awards.
NEW GUILD TO HONOR CULTURAL AMBASSADORS—04/16/12
Ruel Reid, the Cultural Entertainment and Affairs Chairperson (CEAC) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, plans to host an event to honor those individuals who contribute to Jamaica's culture. The event will be entitled "Melting Pot," and several Jamaicans are expected to receive honors. They include Dr. Donna Hope, Dr. Carolyn Cooper, and Minister Damian Crawford. Reid believes it is time for members of the entertainment community to be honored. Ultimately, Reid wants the event to honor persons directly involved in the music industry beyond the university.
EDWARDS REFUTES CLAIMS AGAINST HIM IN SO-CALLED FLAG CONTROVERSY—04/17/12
Denton Edwards, decorator, is strongly refuting claims brought against him by Glendon Harris, mayor of Montego Bay, that he has accepted the responsibility for the "flag controversy," which involve an attempt to create an Jamaica flag without the green used as a backdrop in a ceremony to swear in Harris. Edwards denied that a shortage of green cloth was the reason the green was left out of the backdrop. Instead, he says he was prevented from completing the project and was instructed by an official in the Prime Minister's office to leave out the green in the interests of time. Harris claimed Edwards ran out of green cloth and that's why the color, which is the chief color of the Opposition Party, was left out.
HEAD OF CCJ WELCOMES SUPPORT OF JAMAICA—04/18/12
Sir Dennis Byron, the president of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), is glad to see support for the court rising among the main political parties of Jamaica. The development represents a tribute to the "coming of age" of the Caribbean as Jamaica celebrates 50 years of independence. He praised the government of Jamaica for its strong backing of the court.
JLP CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF MONTEGO BAY MAYOR—04/19/12
The Jamaica Labor Party in St. James Parish Council is calling for the mayor of Montego Bay, Glendon Harris, to resign as chairman of the council. They believe he mishandled the flag controversy, which arose from a recent swearing-in ceremony for new council members. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was also called upon to review the position of Senator Sandrea Falconer as the minister responsible for information. According to former mayor Charles Sinclair, Harris misrepresented facts of the incident from the start and has made conflicting statements in regard to the entire matter.
JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER MAKES LIST OF 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE—04/20/12
Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world in 2012. Simpson Miller, 66, was returned to head the government in national elections in held in December 2011. Yvette Clarke, New York congresswoman and daughter of Jamaican immigrants, said Simpson Miller is inspiring a new generation of women in the Diaspora to become involved with public service.
GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE FORMED TO COMBAT SCAMS—04/20/12
There will be a new government task force designed to battle the ongoing lottery scams that originate in Jamaica. The country has become a focal point of international telemarketing fraud, and the governments of Jamaica and the United States have been attempting to address the issue for some three years. According to Julian Robinson, official in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, noted that the scams are causing serious damage to the nation's reputation. At least 30,000 calls are made into the U.S. from Jamaica each day in attempts to defraud the American people.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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OTTAWA CELEBRATES JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE—04/14/12
Diplomatic efforts by Sheila Sealy Monteith, Jamaican High Commissioner, and the presence of Senator Don Meredith, who was born in Jamaica, in the Senate of Canada were key parts of a week dedicated to the launch of Jamaica's 50h anniversary celebrations in the Canadian capital city. About 12,000 Jamaican nationals live in Ottawa. The celebrations of previous years have included Jimmy Cliff, Byron Lee, and Bob Marley. This year's celebration featured a fashion show, Culture and Beres Hammond, and Prime Ministers Hugh Shearer, Michael Manley, and P.J. Patterson.
TWO JAMAICANS ARRESTED WITH OVER 800 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA—04/15/12
Louisiana State Police arrested two Jamaican men for the possession and intent to distribute 843 pounds of marijuana. The police stopped a tractor trailer in St. Martin Parish, and during the stop, became suspicious about what the trailer was carrying. The driver gave them permission to search the trailer, where they found the marijuana, which had a street value estimated at more than $2 million. Arrested were Anthony Senior, 33, and Damian Jarrett, 29, both of Kingston.
BOOKS ON AUTISM PUBLISHED BY JAMAICAN TEACHER—04/16/12
Lena McCalla Njee, a Jamaican teacher who taught in the United States for 19 years, was elected Teacher of the Year in 2011 for her school district in New Jersey. In 2012, Njee published two books on teaching children with autism, her special area of expertise. She has a master's degree in special education with a concentration on children with autism. The books are meant to help her students, but also to aid parents, teachers, caregivers and doctors who may be confused about autism and the behaviors of those with the condition.
RILEY HOPES TO BE ON JAMAICAN OLYMPIC TEAM—04/17/12
Andrew Riley of Illinois is hoping he will win a spot on Jamaica's Olympic team and compete in the 110-meter hurdles event in London in 2012. Riley, who is coached by Tonja Buford-Bailey, three-time Olympian, is known for his dedication to the sport and to his academic career as well. He is majoring in business finance at Illinois and says that the combination of training for the Olympics and studying is difficult, but he is committed to qualifying for the London games.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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GROWTH IN MONKEY POPULATION IN BARBADOS TO BE STUDIED—04/14/12
FIRST NATIONWIDE HARLEY-DAVIDSON RALLY HELD IN CUBA—04/15/12
FRENCH CARIBBEAN FILMMAKER FOCUSES ON FATHERLESS CHILDREN—04/16/12
VACCINATION CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN HAITI—04/17/12
BIN HAMMAN TO CHALLENGE FIFA BAN IN COURT—04/18/12
ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR CARIBBEAN EXPECTED TO TOTAL 3.7 PERCENT—04/19/12
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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NEW AIRLINE SERVICE BETWEEN FLORIDA AND JAMAICA WELCOMED—04/14/12
Jamaica will become more accessible to visitors traveling from South Florida once the services of JetBlue begin on April 30, 2012. There will be two nonstop flights each day from Fort Lauderdale to Kingston. According to John Lynch, director of tourism, the additional flights are welcomed, particularly during the nation's celebration of its 50 years of Independence. Many celebratory events are planned in Jamaica for the summer of 2012, and the new flights will make it easier for Jamaicans in the Diaspora to return home at that time.
PREPAID MOBILE INTERNET RATES REDUCED BY LIME—04/16/12
According to an announcement by LIME, the firm will provide prepaid mobile Internet services at lower costs. The prices of the service will be reduced by up to 66 percent as of May 1, 2012. LIME, the telecommunications company, says its action represents part of a continued effort to increase the rate of Internet penetration nationwide.
CARIB CEMENT, ERNST & YOUNG FIGHT OVER FUTURE SALES—04/18/12
Ernst & Young, auditors, has been critical of the way the Caribbean Cement Company Ltd. (CCCL) has included future sales under the PetroCaribe agreement in the firm's 2011 financial report. If these sales were excluded from the amount, the company's shareholder equity would be eliminated, and its loss position would total $3.3 billion. Additionally, CCCL's parent company, Trinidad Cement Ltd., had a US$62 million loss for the year ending December 2011, which was 405 percent higher than the loss recorded in 2010. The auditor believes that CCCL has been placed in a position of negative equity, but the company disagrees.
TO COMBAT THEFT, FISHFOLK ARE COUNSELED TO MARK THEIR POTS—04/19/12
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Oral Harrison, the second in command in the Jamaica Constabulary Force's marine division, praedial larceny at sea is difficult to detect and frequently goes unreported. While victims rarely make official reports of such thefts, there is much anecdotal evidence of the crimes. The police are making outreach efforts to encourage fisherfolk to reduce the number of thefts by taking simple actions, like marking their own traps and other equipment. This makes it easier to prove a theft once it has been reported.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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LACK OF RESOURCES FOR FIGHTING OIL SPILLS THREATENS CARIBBEAN—04/16/12
DIGITAL SWITCHOVER COMPLICATES TV SHOPPING—04/17/12
CURACAO TO RECEIVE FOUR HIGH-DENSITY DATA CENTERS—04/18/12
HONEYWELL, INMARSAT SIGN INTERNET DEAL—04/19/12
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ENTERTAINMENT
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SCOTTISH FILM DIRECTOR MAKES DOCUMENTARY TO "RESCUE" MARLEY—04/14/12
Bob Marley is legendary for his reggae music and for making reggae popular around the world. Over 30 years after his death, his estate continues to sell millions of CDs. Kevin Macdonald, Scottish filmmaker has made his documentary "Marley" to "rescue" the musician from becoming invisible, he says. According to Macdonald, because Marley's music and image is everywhere, he is no longer really seen. The documentary was made to understand Marley and his music and to listen to his contributions anew.
NEW YORK RADIO STATION TO HONOR HEAVY D AND JOEL CHIN—04/15/12
Irie Jam Radio, based in New York, plans to honor Heavy D, the Jamaican-born rap artiste, and Joel Chin, producer. The two legends will receive the Reggae Soldiers Award on April 25, 2012, for their contributions to Jamaican music. The awards ceremony is part of the celebration of Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence.
TAYLOR SAYS PAINTING IS HIS "GIFT"—04/16/12
Jamaican painter Jerome Taylor is self-taught and has a way of capturing his country's landscapes on canvas. Taylor, born in St. Ann, has been making his living from his art for over a decade, and now has his work displayed at the Serengeti Gallery in Washington. He says he has been an artist since he was a child, beginning with crayons, moving to acrylics in his teens, and seeking advice from other artists over the years until finally deciding to make it his profession. He says he studies nature itself to become a better artist.
POWELL WINS EPISODE THREE OF MISSION CATWALK—04/17/12
Jamaican fashion reality show star Crystal Powell was the winner of the third episode of the Caribbean series "Mission Catwalk." She ranked first among 14 designers who were tasked to create a piece of modern clothing modeled by the "flapper" era of the 1920s. Powell, 25, won tickets to see a concert featuring Shaggy, Eve, and Lauryn Hill with a floor-length cream cotton chiffon dress lined with cream silk satin with plum-colors and gold fringe accents.
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SPORTS
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BOLT TO RUN 4X100 METERS AT NATIONAL STADIUM IN KINGSTON—04/14/12
Glen Mills, who coaches Usain Bolt, Jamaica's current double sprint Olympic champion, confirmed that Bolt will begin his racing season for 2012 at Jamaican National Stadium in Kingston. Bolt will run as the anchor of the Racers team. Mills said Bolt would only run in the relay and in no individual events. The team includes Kimmari Roach, Yohan Blake, and Mario Forsythe.
MCBEAN TO LEAD NEW FENCING ORGANIZATION—04/15/12
James McBean has been elected the president of the newly organized Jamaican Fencing Federation (JFF) at a meeting at the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA). McBean is a Jamaican fencer who currently lives in Mexico. He will receive the support of Kevin Jackson, secretary of the JFF, and Winston Palmer, treasurer. McBean is a co-instructor in the history of fencing at the University of Maryland in the United States. He plans to built the JFF's administrative capacity, make the public more aware of fencing as a sport, and develop both local and foreign talent for participation in the 2012 London Olympics.
USAIN BOLT OPENS 2012 SEASON WITH RELAY ANCHOR ROLE—04/16/12
Usain Bolt, triple Olympic champion, participated with his Racers Track Club team as anchor in 4x100 meter relay in Kingston. The Club clocked 37.82 seconds for the event, a world-leading time. The race marked Bolt's 2012 debut. He had twice delayed his opening performance for the year in February and did not run in an individual event.
BLAKE TO PARTICIPATE IN CAYMAN INVITATIONAL—04/19/12
Jamaica's Yohan Blake, the world's 100-meter champion, will participate in the first Cayman Invitational Meet. The meet is scheduled for May 9, 2012, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in Grand Cayman. Blake is the favorite to qualify in representing Jamaica in the 100 meters and then to win a medal at the London Olympics. Blake, 22, says he is looking forward to competing in the Cayman event.
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DEVOTIONAL
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My One and Only
Ask anyone who is really in love and they will tell you that the most terrible feeling in the world, or so it seems, is being away from the one they love. Taken to the extreme, lovers always want to be in each other's company and if they are apart, constantly being in touch with each other becomes a priority. Of course, technology has made it possible to reduce distance. Webcams and the internet allow us to see and interact with loved ones regardless of where they are. Instant and text messaging services allow for easy communication. Most of us use them all to maintain our communication and intimacy with those we love. These loved ones are special and in some cases, we think of them as "all we have."
These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on the words of Asaph, the Psalmist: "Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee" (Psalm 73:25). While his context is one of severe trial from the infirmities of his own heart, his words nevertheless echoes an awareness that nothing in this world brings as great a satisfaction as being secure in one's most personal and intimate of relationships – the one with God. To the person who loves God supremely, nothing in this world with all its pomp and splendour can truly satisfy. Like the lover who longs for the object of his or her affection, all other relationships pale in significance. So it is in the natural, so it should be in the spiritual. The committed believer is moved with the realization that no one else in heaven or on earth is as precious as our heavenly Father. In other words, among all of heaven and earth, and even if there were other life forms in any of the far reaches of the vast universe, He alone is our true "one and only."
The love of the committed lover for his or her beloved influences their behaviour towards others. Faithfulness abounds in the heart of such a one. The value placed on the relationship is of such that we guard our hearts and minds from resting on another. We are careful in our interactions with others and conduct ourselves accordingly. We should bring this same mindset to our relationship with God through Christ Jesus – one of trust and fidelity. We dare not forsake the fountain of living waters for broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13). After all, He is one of a kind; there is no one in heaven or on earth who is like Him and He is not worth giving up for anyone or anything.
Sometimes the enemy would have us believe that in devoting ourselves to the One we love, we are “missing out” on the fun things in life. However, this is definitely not the case for as another Psalmist reminds us: "Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). Everything we need to satisfy us can be found in the Object of our affection, for in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). No matter how far we can stretch our imagination, nothing else begins to compare as favorably.
"Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." I echo those sentiments because I have found them to be true. How about you?
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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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