--------------------------------------------
THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------
“RAMBO” TO RETIRE—07/12/08
Reneto Adams, a police commander known as “Rambo” for his effective but ruthless style of an elite anti-crime unit in Jamaica, plans to retire from police work to pursue an acting career. Adams, 59, has been with the police department for 41 years and has reached the mandatory retirement age for Jamaican police. He made his television debut in 2008 in the soap operate “Royal Palm Estate.”
JAMAICANS IN BOSTON INVEST IN BEE FARMING—07/13/08
A group of Jamaican expatriates living in the Boston area has decided to invest in bee farming as their way to “give back” to their country. According to Dr. Kenneth Guscott, retired nuclear engineer of Jamaican heritage, Jamaican honey is in great demand in the UK, U.S., and throughout Europe. Guscott currently serves as Jamaican Honorary Consul for Massachusetts.
BAUXITE PLANT DISPUTE SETTLED—07/14/08
Over 2,000 employees at Jamaica’s largest bauxite and alumina plant agreed to end a long-time dispute with management, winning a new package of wage increases. Workers at the Alumina Partners (Alpart) complex are represented by the National Workers Union. Under the new three-year contract, workers will see a 41-percent pay raise over the duration of the contract.
BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS HEATS UP—07/15/08
The campaign to legalize abortion in Jamaica continues, with the second hearing on the issue occurring before the Joint Select Committee of the Jamaican Parliament. Proponents of abortion from the Ministry of Health presented their views. Pro-life groups and other concerned individuals are invited to make written submissions to Parliament in anticipation of the third hearing and continued debate.
FUGITIVE FROM JAMAICAN MAY ESCAPE U.S. DEATH PENALTY—07/16/08
Jamaican authorities are seeking assurance and commitment from the United States government that it will not impose the death penalty on Davion Parson, 19, who is charged with the shooting of three people in a bar in Florida in May 2008. A representative of the Director of Public Prosecutions office says the office is waiting for this assurance before proceeding with the request of extradition.
CHRISTIANS UNHAPPY WITH OLINT CORPORATION—07/17/08
Dr. Henley Morgan, management consultant and congregational leader at Praise City International church in Trench Town, says that Christians who invested in Olint Corporation Ltd. and other investment plans related to foreign currencies, were “naïve and foolish.” Many of the operators of these plans were not competent to engage in foreign exchange trading effectively, he said, making his comments in response to reports that Olint offices in The Turks and Caicos Islands had been raided.
SMITH OF OLINT PREPARES FOR LEGAL FIGHT—07/18/08
Olint Corporation Ltd. and its head, David Smith, have hired a team of top Jamaican and international attorneys to help prepare for the coming legal battle in Turks and Caicos. New of a commission inquiry into Olint’s business has been ordered by the British government. The company had been offering its investors up to 10 percent in monthly interest since 2002. In 2006, The Financial Services Commission ordered Olint to stop doing business, claiming that the firm did not have a license to practice.
SAMUDA UNHAPPY ABOUT SAND THEFT—07/18/08
Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, voiced his displeasure at the individuals responsible for taking about 500 truckloads of sand from property at Coral Spring, Trelawny. The Island Special Constabulary Force is looking into the matter. Samuda says those who removed the sand were “thieves.” The land removed was “prime real estate” and attracted local and foreign investors.
--------------------------------------------
JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
--------------------------------------------
JAMAICAN WOMAN’S DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO BLOOD CLOTS—07/12/08
Esmin Green, the Jamaican woman who died on the floor of the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, died from blood clots that formed in her legs and ultimately moved into her lungs. According to an autopsy, the clots formed during a long period of inactivity and resulted from deep vein thrombosis.
500 SUSPECTED JAMAICAN CRIMINALS OPERATE IN THE UK—07/13/08
Jamaican police estimate there are 500 suspected Jamaican criminals who currently operate a drug trade in Britain that moves approximately 200 pounds of cocaine from Jamaica to the UK every week. The flow of the drug has increased dramatically over the past year and a half due to stronger immigration controls imposed in the United States. It has become easier to bring drugs into Britain, where larger profits are also available. The street price of cocaine has dropped in the U.S.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA CALLS FOR NEW, YOUNGER POLITICIANS—07/14/08
Some of the members in the Jamaican Diaspora want to introduce a mandatory retirement age for politicians to ensure that younger individuals have a say in the political process. According to Philip Mascoll, 60, immediate past president of the Jamaican Diaspora, Canada, says that the current political leaders are “too damn old.” He favors a mandatory retirement age, but Alisha Fuller-Armah, 22, about to complete a Master’s degree at Cambridge University, says that competence and not age is the most relevant issue for a politician.
SOUTH FLORIDA TO CELEBRATE JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE—07/17/08
A number of activities are planned by Jamaicans in the Diaspora to celebrate the country’s 46th anniversary throughout Florida. Almost 400,000 Jamaican nationals and their friends in South Florida are expected to participate in church services, galas, and concerts on July 28, 2008.
--------------------------------------------
SPORTS
--------------------------------------------
ENNIS-LONDON TO COMPETE IN CHINA FOR JAMAICA—07/12/08
Delloreen Ennis-London is coached by an assistant track coach at McNeese State in Louisiana, but she is not a member of the school team. She is married to Lincoln London, the assistant track coach, and as a Jamaican, she will compete at the Beijing Olympics as a member of the island’s track and field team. She qualified taking a second-place finish in the high hurdles in Jamaica. She holds the world’s third-fastest time in this event and ran for Jamaica in the 2004 Olympics.
JAMAICAN SISTERS BATTLE FOR JUNIOR TENNIS TITLES—07/13/08
Simone Vranov-Brown, 15, and her sister, Lauren Vranov-Brown, 13, are battling to retain their titles at the 2008 Pan Caribbean All-Jamaica Junior Tennis Championships in Kingston. The sisters were ranked first in their categories and receive their inspiration from Venus and Serena Williams, who played each other at Wimbledon this year.
BOLT WINS 200-METERS IN ATHENS—07/14/08
Usain Bolt, 21, won the 200-meter competition at the Athens Grand Prix with a time of 19.67 seconds, the fastest time in this event to date. Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meters, setting the record in May 2008 with a time of 9.72 seconds. Bolt says he is satisfied with his performance and feels he will be “very strong” at the Olympic Games.
POWELL SUFFERS GROIN INJURY—07/15/08
Asafa Powell, former 100-meter world record holder, pulled out of the final race at the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy, because of a groin problem. After starting well, he pulled up to finish fifth with a time of 10.19 seconds, but still obtained a qualifying spot in the nine-man final. He decided against running, however, and his manager, Paul Doyle, says Powell will not take any chances during the Olympic year.
----------------------------------------------------------------
DEVOTIONAL
---------------------------------------------------------------
All Things In The Spirit
The importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer cannot be overemphasized. Among His many functions that Jesus promised was that He would guide us "into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:13b-15, KJV).
Space limitation do not allow for an exegesis of the Holy Spirit's work, but from the text above, we get a glimpse of His capabilities in the lives of the disciples. Jesus also referred to Him as "the Comforter" (V.7), signifying a personal relationship as well. When Jesus returned to His father, the Holy Spirit became God's representative on earth, continuing to be with His people and facilitating divine exchanges between us and God. It is no wonder that Paul reminded the Roman believers that upon conversion "ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). However as long as the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are exhorted to do everything in, or as guided by, that Spirit: "Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16); "Live in the Spirit" (5:25); "Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18); and "Love in the Spirit" (Colossians 1:8).
I quite like Paul's exhortation in his first letter to the Corinthians: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (2:9-12). What better way to live our lives, and carry out our spiritual duties, than to do so as guided by Him who knowest all the things and ways of God? He knows exactly what needs to be done, how we should do them, and how to make known to us what is ours in God. How are you doing in allowing Him to direct your every step?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CREDITS/SOURCES
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The weekly news is compilation of new articles from top Caribbean and Jamaican news sources.