Jamaican News & Announcements
JAMAICA NEWSWEEKLY For the week ending February 10th, 2012
Published Feb 10, 2012----------------------------------------
THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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SCHOOLS CELEBRATE JAMAICA DAY—02/04/12
Jamaican schools will celebrate Jamaica Day on February 17, 2012. The theme for this year's observation will be "Celebrating Jamaica: Goals for Gold." According to Reverend Ronald Thwaites, Minister of Education, Jamaica Day gives schools the opportunity to tell students about the accomplishments of the country over the past 50 years. Reverend Thwaites believes the celebration should be used to focus on the "goodness and grace" of Jamaicans.
GOVERNMENT TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL TRAFFICKERS—02/05/12
Karl Hamilton, director of the International Relations Co-ordinations Unit at the Ministry of National Security, announced that the government will spare no efforts when addressing drug and human traffickers who attempt to use Jamaica to facilitate their illegal operations. Hamilton noted that there was an increase in the number of murders in some Jamaican communities at the beginning of 2012, which prompted enhanced surveillance and curfews imposed by security forces to stem the upsurge. The success represents the beginning of efforts over the next eight years to reduce all major crimes.
NICHOLSON PLEADS FOR MORE CONCESSIONARY FINANCING—02/06/12
A.J. Nicholson, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, is urging more development assistance and the need for an increase in concessionary financing to ensure Jamaica can obtain the status of a middle-income country. The nation's current classification by the World Bank has meant reduce concessionary financing, which Jamaica needs. Nicholson is pleading for a reclassification so that Jamaica can access critical development funds. Jamaica is currently classified as "upper middle income."
2,000 GUNS DESTROYED BY JAMAICAN GOVERNMENT—02/07/12
About 2,000 guns were placed in a furnace and melted down as part of an effort by the Jamaican government to reduce the incidence of gun trafficking and corruption in the country. Officials from the United Nations and police and government representatives destroyed revolvers and pistols by throwing them into a kiln at a Kingston cement factory. Most of the guns had either been confiscated during police operations over the years or decommissioned. Peter Bushing, Jamaican National Security Minister, said the destruction of these guns eliminates the risk that they will find their way back into illegal hands.
PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR VISIT BY PRINCE HARRY—02/08/12
Prince Henry of Wales will visit Jamaica at the beginning of March 2012 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation as Queen of England. Prince Harry, a captain in the British army, plans to participate in military exercises with the Jamaica Defense Force, pay his respects at a memorial to William Knibb in Falmouth, tour Bustamante Hospital for Children, and watch Usain Bolt at a training session, among other activities.
UTECH UNVEILS SCULPTURE OF BOB MARLEY—02/08/12
The University of Technology (UTech) displayed a new sculpture honoring reggae icon Bob Marley at the Papine campus in St. Andrew. The sculpture was erected at the university's Caribbean Sculpture Park and was created by the Russian sculptor Gregory Pototsky. The sculpture is a gift to UTech and to the government and people of Jamaica. Its unveiling coincided with the 67th anniversary of Marley's birth.
WEAPONS AUDIT CONDUCTED BY SECURITY MINISTRY, FIREARMS AUTHORITY—02/09/12
Jamaica's Ministry of National Security and the Firearm Licensing Authority have joined to conduct an island-wide audit of weapons held in police custody in every parish. According to Peter Bunting, Minister of National Security, the audit has been completed in three parishes to date. The audit is being conducted, in part, in response to accusations of individuals "planting" weapons at crime scenes. If there are no stockpiles of weapons on hand, the temptation to participate in such activity would be reduced or eliminated, said Bunting. The goal is to centralize weapons storage to as few locations as possible with the greatest amount of supervision available.
JEEP PROGRAM TO BE "JUMPSTARTED"—02/10/12
The Jamaican government has found approximately $4 billion that can be placed toward the Jamaica Emergency Employment Program (JEEP). The source of the money has not been made clear, however, in spite an attempted explanation by Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of Finance. Phillips cited the "reorientation of expenditure" as a source of financing for JEEP. Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Transport and Works, is expected to provide Parliament with more details of the JEEP program and its implementation schedule in the near future. JEEP could start as early as the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2012.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN AMBASSADOR WANTS U.S. TO IMPROVE POLICIES TOWARD CARIBBEAN—02/04/12
Audrey Marks, Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States, is calling for the U.S. government to make improvements in its policies toward Jamaica and the Caribbean region to support development goals. Marks noted that actions taken by the U.S. often have unintended consequences for Caribbean nations and may undermine efforts to create more security in a region that has been characterized as a "third border" with the U.S. Marks believes that socio-economic development represents the most critical element in any anti-crime, anti-drug strategy.
JNBS UPGRADES JAMAICA VACATION ACCOUNT FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY FETES—02/05/12
The Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) has decided to give Jamaicans who live overseas the chance to return to their home island to celebrate its 50 years of independence. A special savings product is being offered to allow Jamaicans overseas to save money for their vacation. The Jamaica Vacation Account was introduced on February 1, 2012, and will provide a way to plan for a vacation to attend Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence.
JAMAICANS IN DIASPORA SHUN AIR JAMAICA—02/06/12
According to Dennis Lalor, the chairman of Air Jamaica, individuals in the Jamaican Diaspora have "snubbed" the airline ever since it was taken over by Caribbean Airlines. Lalor expressed his disappointment with this happening, since it has led to low load factors for the carrier. Some of the problems result from flight delays with the newly taken over airline, but overall, it appears that Jamaicans in the Diaspora feel that the airline is no longer really Jamaican.
ROOTS ROCK REGGAE IN CANADIAN CAPITAL CITY—02/07/12
Ottawa, Canada, will pay tribute to reggae icons Dennis Brown, Joseph Hill, and Bob Marley on February 11, 2012. The event scheduled for music lovers seeks to educate and entertain the audience. It will be held at Club Saw and may include some ska music as well.
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CARIBBEAN NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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PUERTO RICO TO EXPORT IGUANA MEAT—02/04/12
MIGRANT BOAT CAPSIZES NEAR DOMINICAN REPUBLIC—02/05/12
CARIBBEAN NATIONS SIDE WITH ARGENTINA OVER FALKLANDS BLOCKADE—02/06/12
CARIBBEAN CRIME HURTS NATIONS' ECONOMIES, SAY UNITED NATIONS—02/08/12
OFFICIALS IN CARIBBEAN WANT RIHANNA, OTHER PERFORMERS TO SHARE WEALTH—02/09/12
TASK FORCE ON SPORTS TOURISM TO BE CREATED IN CARIBBEAN—02/10/12
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BUSINESS NEWS SUMMARY
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NEW FORUM ESTABLISHED TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR—02/04/12
The Jamaica Agricultural Society has created a new forum designed to improve communications in this economic sector. Known as "The Chamber," the forum will emphasize the challenges faced by agriculture and offer workable solutions. According to Ian Hayles, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, farmers must be at the center of divestment and any other policy framework or strategy to improve the nation's economy. The Chamber plans to schedule regular meetings to examine a variety of topics, including current tax reform proposals, tariff barriers, and bilateral trade agreements.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS EXPECTED TO INCREASE—02/05/12
Local insurance industry officials believe that premiums for life insurance and general insurance products will rise as adjustments are imposed to protect profits. The total income earned as of November 2011 in both life and general markets combined was J$22.32 billion, or ten percent higher than the amount earned during the same period in 2010. Horace Johnson, assistant vice-president, actuary and risk officer at Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited, the largest insurance firm in Jamaica, said decreasing earnings on interest-linked products are expected to be offset by adjusting coverage costs. Rates for 2012 are likely to increase by at least five percent, depending on the kind of product and the age of those insured.
RATINGS AGENCY RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT JAMAICA'S HIGH DEBT RATIO—02/07/12
Fitch, the international ratings agency, has given Jamaica a B-grade rating again on the basis of its likelihood to pay its domestic and foreign debts, but the agency is concerned about the country's high debt ratio and its structural weakness, crime, and high energy costs. The report from Fitch highlights worries about the Jamaican economy and the need for immediate improvement.
DIGICEL PLANS TO RAISE MILLIONS FROM BOND PLACEMENT—02/08/12
Digicel Limited is planning to raise US$250 million from a private placement of an eight-year bond. The proceeds of the arrangement are slated to fund potential acquisitions, capital expenditures in the future, and debt servicing. The firm did not say when the placement of the senior notes scheduled to mature in 2020 would occur, however.
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CARIBBEAN TECHNOLOGY NEWS SUMMARY provided by Caribbeantopnews.com
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CARIBBEAN COUNTRY EXPERIMENTS WITH GEOTHERMAL POWER—02/06/12
PICKERSGILL SAYS IMPROVEMENTS IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT NECESSARY—02/08/12
ONYX BUILDS SOLAR POWER PROJECT AT CARIBBEAN RESORT—02/09/12
LOCAL TECHNOLOGY FIRM INTEGRATES TOURS TO RETAIL OFFERING—02/10/12
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ENTERTAINMENT
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YOSEF IMAGINATION REPRESENTS NEW TYPE OF VIDEOGRAPHER—02/04/12
Jamaica has had a major impact on global entertainment, mostly through its music industry and sports stars. However, a new kind of grassroots digital film and video makers are emerging as the next group to influence world markets. One of these videographers is Simon Thompson, 24, who goes by the name Yosef Imagination. He has made videos for many well-known Jamaican musicians and created many ads and short subjects. His work is doubly impressive because he has had no formal training. He represents the new energetic, young, and cosmopolitan Jamaica that remembers its cultural history but is ready to move into the future of music, technology, and style.
DANCEHALL DIVAS, POPCAAN TOP YOUTH VIEW AWARDS—02/06/12
The 2012 Youth View Awards offered a mix of performances and achievements from the Jamaican music scene. The event is dedicated to acknowledging youth's achievements. It was hosted by Kruddy and Tami Chynn and featured many of the top personalities from the island's music industry. Tifa, Dancehall deejay, garnered the most awards with five, including Favorite Female Dancehall artiste. Popcaan, won three awards, including Young, Hot and Hype Male and Song of the Year for "Ravin'".
NATIONAL DANCE THEATER CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY—02/07/12
Eighteen dancers from various dance schools were invited to form the Jamaica Dance Company by Norman Manley in 1961. In 1962, they performed at the celebration of Jamaica's Independence, and later established the National Dance Theater Company (NDTC). Fifty years later, the company has developed an extensive repertoire, traveled on many international tours, has a studio of its own, and a feeder school. The NDTC has managed to sustain interest and support for Jamaican dance theater for decades, said Barry Moncriefe, artistic director of the company. It has become a well-loved cultural treasure
ENTIRE WORLD RECOGNIZES MARLEYS ACHIEVEMENTS—02/09/12
The Grammy Awards have nominated two of the Marley family in the category of Best Reggae Album. Stephen and Ziggy Marley both hope to win the award, while their brother Damian is hoping for recognition for his singing on Bruno Mars's nominated Album of the Year "Doo-Wops and Hooligans." Damian sings on "Liquor Store Blues." Ziggy Marley is nominated for his album "Wild and Free," while Stephen Marley received a nomination for his "Revelation Pt.1: The Root of Life."
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SPORTS
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KOREANS LOOK FOR JAMAICAN TRACK COACH—02/06/12
Jamaican track and field coaches are in high demand around the world due to the island's significant athletic successes. The latest country to pursue local coaches is South Korea, which traveled to Jamaica in hopes of obtaining the services of a Jamaican coach. The three-member team from Korea is led by the Sports Promotion Section Chief from Gyeongsan-City, Ho-Won Jang. The Koreans have had a good relationship with Jamaica since the 2011 World Championship in Daegu and are eager to find the right coach.
JAMAICA ACHIEVES 81-RUN VICTORY OVER WINDWARD ISLANDS—02/07/12
Jamaica withstood a 103 from opener Devon Smith to obtain an 81-run win over the Windward Islands at the opening round of the West Indies Cricket Board four-day match at Sabina Park. Jamaica, looking for an unprecedented fifth straight regional title in the event, especially noted the fast bowling of all-rounder Andre Russell in the match. Tamar Lambert, Jamaica's captain, had praise for the Windwards batting, but believed his bowlers kept up the pressure throughout the event.
MAKWALA COULD MEET BOLT AT NATIONAL STADIUM—02/08/12
Usain Bolt, double Olympic spring champion, plans to participate in the meet at Kingston's National Stadium as his first for the 2012 season, but has not mentioned which event he will enter. Makwala says that Bolt will compete in the 400-meters, which is also Makwala's specialty, so the two athletes could run in competition. The sprint star from Botswana is excited about the possible entry of Bolt in the race. He moved to Jamaica in March 2011 and is being trained by Glenn Mills of the Racers Track Club. Mills is also Bolt's mentor.
HYATT AND COTTERELL CALLED TO JAMAICA'S SQUAD—02/09/12
Danza Hyatt, batsman, and Sheldon Cotterell, left-arm fast bowler, have both been called up to Jamaica's squad for their second-round meeting with Barbados in Sabina Park. The two athletes will replace Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, who have both left to play in the Bangladesh Premier League. Hyatt has played in nine one-day internationals. Cotterell, 21, has only played Twenty20 cricket to date.
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JAMAICAN JOBS
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RESEARCH ANALYST
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WATER TREATMENT APPLICATION SPECIALIST
Visit JAMAICAN JOBS.
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DEVOTIONAL
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When the Sky Falls In
There was no doubt in David's mind that Saul was trying to kill him. According to the narrative, "And David said in his heart, 'I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand'" (2 Samuel 27:1, RSV). This was quite the predicament for the one who, years earlier, was anointed by the prophet Samuel to one day be the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Isn't it interesting how sometimes the directions our lives take seem so far removed from what God promised?
Verse 7 tells us that David, his two wives, and his band of six hundred men with their households spent "a year and four months" in what was basically enemy territory, in a place called Ziklag. This was not some fanciful tourist resort, for one day while David and his men were away (see 1 Samuel 28), "the Amalekites had made a raid upon the Negeb and upon Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag, and burned it with fire, and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed no one, but carried them off, and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive." (1 Samuel 29:11-30:1-3, RSV). If he thought he had problems before, this only added exponentially to them. The city was destroyed and every single person taken captive. The narrative continues, "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. . . . And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" (30:4, 6).
In the midst of all the chaos, when it seemed like the proverbial sky had fallen in and everything was lost, with no one to encourage him and everyone wanting to kill him, that last clause speaks profoundly: "David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." David instinctively knew that when stripped of everything he held dear, the one thing he could rely on was the presence and comfort of his God. At this point in the story, he was too weak to cry anymore and even if he could, there were probably no more tears left. However, he did the one thing that he could do; he encouraged himself in the LORD his God. What do you do when you believe things could not get worse and they do? When everything in your life seem to go in the opposite direction of what God promised? For sure, we can murmur, complain, blame God, blame others, or even ourselves. But David knew that regardless of what was happening, and no matter how much he had lost and would ever lose, the one constant was that his God was still by his side and he comforted and encouraged, himself in the fact. No matter the evidence, his God, the God of the universe, is always in control.
What about you? To whom do you turn for comfort when the “sky has fallen in” in your world?
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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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