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THIS WEEK'S SUMMARY
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CISCO AND JAMAICAN TELECOM BECOME PARTNERS—06/20/09 
Cisco is partnering with the biggest wireless telecom operator in the Caribbean to provide communications products to companies in Trinidad and Tobago. Digicel Business, which has its headquarters in Kingston, announced the new partnership with Cisco to deliver VoIP and other services over its IP network.

AMERICAN GUNS CONTRIBUTE TO GANG WARS IN JAMAICA—06/21/09
Although the volume of rifles, handgun, and ammunition from the United States that come into Jamaica illegally is much lower than that going into Mexico from the U.S., these imports fuel the island’s murder rate, which is among the highest in the world. Jamaican authorities say that fewer than 1,000 firearms are recovered each year, but of those with traceable origins, 80 percent come from the U.S.

JAMAICANS AWARE OF NEED TO PROTECT THE OCEAN—06/21/09
Climate change has become an important issue for Jamaicans, who have become increasingly aware of the way the ocean influences their lives and the actions they must take to protect and sustain it. The Honorable Dr. Ronald Robinson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, made particular note of this change in attitude.

POLICE IN U.S. AND JAMAICA WORKING TO CATCH LOTTO CRIMINALS—06/22/09
The Jamaican police and federal agents in the United States are making an effort to catch lotto racketeers who have allegedly made death threats to residents of Minnesota. The racketeers also threatened residents with arson and the rape of grandchildren if demands for money go unmet.

PARISH IN JAMAICA CLOSES SCHOOLS DUE TO FEARS OF H1N1—06/23/09
Schools in Manchester parish in Jamaica have been closed following positive tests for the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, in two students. Jamaica’s Education Minister reported that epidemiologists confirmed the two new cases of the virus. The government says closing the schools is a precautionary measure. Graduation ceremonies in Manchester parish have also been postponed.

JAMAICAN SELLS TWO SUGAR ESTATES—06/24/09
Two debt-ridden sugar estates in Jamaica were sold for $2 million, and the government is still looking for buyers for another three, according to Christopher Tufton, Jamaican Minister of Agriculture. The St. Thomas Sugar Company was sold for $500,000, while the Trelawny Company was sold for $1.5 million.

TEAM JAMAICA WINDS MULTIPLE CULINARY MEDALS—06/25/09
The Jamaica National Culinary Team won ten medals and special awards at the Taste of the Caribbean contest sponsored by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association. The gold medal was given for the team’s “mystery basket,” consisting of 20 items. The team won prize for making the most innovative dish overall, while special awards were given for the best use of cheese and the most creative non-alcoholic drink.

GOLDING BELIEVES IN AGRICULTURE, NOT IMF, TO SAVE JAMAICA—06/26/09
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding insists that there should be more investment in agriculture rather than aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to solve the island’s economic problems. Golding says Jamaica must increase its agricultural exports to succeed.

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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICA’S TOURISM MINISTER OPPOSES NEW DUTY STRUCTURE—06/20/09
Edmund Bartlett, Tourism Minister for Jamaica, reports that the island could lose between 30 and 50 million pounds due to an increase in the Air Passenger Duty (APD) imposed by the British Government. The new duty will go into effect in November 2009. Barlett is in London trying to obtain a review of the classification criteria and met with the British Members of Parliament to lobby against the new APD.
 
MANNING WORRIES ABOUT LNG EXPORTS—06/24/09
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, is concerned about exporting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Jamaica. This concerns has become a top priority for Manning’s government because Jamaica faces serious challenges with its alumina industry. Trinidad and Tobago could not “allow” a further worsening of the economic condition in Jamaica, according to Manning, who favors sending LNG to the island.
 
JAMAICANS RECEIVE PRAISE FOR CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION—06/25/09
Jamaicans have received high praise for the contributions made to the social and economic development of Canada, but they are also encouraged to become more involved with Canada’s political affairs. Canadian politicians addressing conference members at the Jamaican Canadian Center in Toronto, including Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party, praised the influence of Jamaicans on Canadian society.

TRINIDADIAN DRUG DEALERS TRYING TO RECRUIT JAMAICANS—06/26/09
It seems that drug dealers from Trinidad are going to Jamaica to recruit helpers for their trade. Police have arrested one native of Trinidad and Tobago, Peter Hutton, who recently came to Jamaica to find people to help him with the export of 271 pounds of ganja. He was arrested when he tried to export the drug in water heaters.

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SPORTS
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BOLT IS READY FOR THE NATIONALS—06/20/09
Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s triple Olympic medal winner, says he is ready for the Jamaica National Track and Field Championship following his win at the Golden Spike IAAF Grand Prix in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Bolt won the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds at the Grand Prix.
 
REGGAE BOYZ EAGER TO MEET U.S.—06/23/09
Dane Richards of Jamaica is ready to begin the Gold Cup match and believes that the Reggae Boyz represent top competitors in the 2009 CONCACAF soccer tournament. Richards says the Boyz are the strongest team in the field because they have more players from the English Premier League and more European players.

POWELL AND BOLT TO FACE OFF IN JAMAICA—06/25/09
The athletic championships in Jamaica will feature both Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, the world’s two fastest men. Bolt won double sprint championships at the 2009 Olympics, while Asafa Powell is a former world record holder in the 100 meters. Observers question whether Powell is ready for the match, since he is still nursing an injury to his ankle.

GAYLE, DHONI BOTH CONFIDENT ABOUT MATCH IN SABINA PARK—06/26/09
West Indies cricket captain Christopher Gayle and his counterpart of the Indian team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, both feel very confident about their chances at the two one-day internationals of the 2009 Digicel Series at Sabina Park. The captains look forward to the match and have high. 

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DEVOTIONAL
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You Are Special!

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand…” (Psalm 139:17-18, KJV)

I believe that deep in the heart of most people is a desire to feel and know that we are special to someone, yet by ourselves we are just as special. Science tells us that no one else has our set of fingerprints. We can find someone who looks like us, walk like us, act like us, and have any number of characteristics just like us, yet if we pass away and a million babies are born into the world on that day, none of them can take our place. When David - while astonished at the admirable contrivance of his body, the composition of every part, and the harmony of all together - declared “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14), he could just as easily have added the word “uniquely” as well. Science also tells us that even the hairs on our head have our own unique DNA print. Gosh, we are special. I believe that every morning we can look into the mirror and say – with some modesty of course – “I am special, there is no one quite like me.” You are not being vain because it is true.

For the believer, we have even more reason to feel special: we have been chosen by God (John 15:16). Lest we think that by accepting Jesus as Lord we were the ones that did the choosing, Jesus reminds us: “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me” (John 6:44, Amp). That is not something we often think about, but consider the thousands of people who went to bed last night and did not live to see this morning, but died in their sins. Of course, it is not because of anything we did, or could have done, why we awoke saved, redeemed, and justified, but because of the grace of God that has been extended to us. Consider that if Jesus had not died we would not have been able to be partakers of His salvation, but as you look into the mirror, bear in mind that were you the only one on earth, He would have done it anyway. That is just how special we are, and a reflection of His thoughts towards us.

In our reference text, David got a glimpse of this when he declared: “How precious are your thoughts unto me, O God!” It is interesting to see how the Psalmist made it so personal considering his previous declaration in Psalm 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward.” It was as if he came to realize that God’s thoughts were not just universal, but very personal. So often we read that God so loved the world, but often not take the time to consider that God loves me, the individual. How great are his thoughts? They are more in number than the sand. I submit that under any numbering system, that is a whole lot of thoughts!

The next time you look in the mirror, be reminded not only of how wonderfully and fearfully made you are, but just as importantly, how special you are in the sight of God and that His thoughts towards you are numberless.  You are always on His mind.  Praise God!

CEW

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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.