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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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RAMCHARAN AND WILLIAMS LOSE EXTRADITION APPEAL—03/17/07
Leebert Ramcharan, a Montego Bay businessman, and Donovan “Plucky” Williams, have been fighting extradition to the United States where they are to face drug charges, but now they have lost their appeal in court. The United States President, George W. Bush, had designated Ramcharan as a “drug kingpin.” Ramcharan contended that the designation would prevent him from receiving a fair trial in the U.S. The Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that the designation would not prevent a fair trial for Ramcharan in the U.S.
INMATES, MEDICAL PERSONNEL CLAIM ‘SITUATION OF ABUSE’ IN PRISON—03/18/07
Several inmates and some medical staff members in the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Center say abuse is occurring inside the prison. These individuals claim that a number of inmates, particularly the mentally ill, are targeted by other inmates and correctional officers for sex against their will. The complaints allege that several inmates and gang-raped and constantly suffer physical abuse.
BOB WOOLMER, PAKISTAN CRICKET COACH, DIES—03/19/07
The coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Bob Woolmer, 58, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) about half an hour after he was taken to the Accident and Emergency section of the facility. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) sent forensic and evidence-gathering teams to the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, to look for clues about his death. The Pakistan team is staying at the hotel. An autopsy to determine cause of death will be performed.
WEST INDIES QUALIFIES FOR SUPER EIGHT IN WORLD CUP—03/20/07
Although the day started on a somber note at Sabina Park, due to the death of Bob Woolmer, the coach of Pakistan, it ended on a high note for the West Indies as the team advanced to the Super Eight stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets.
JAMAICAN BANANA SHIPMENTS TO EU RISE 173 PERCENT—03/20/07
Countries in the European Union imported 4.185 million tons of bananas from Caribbean and other nations in 2006. This was an increase of 12.3 percent over the 2005 total, according to data from the European Commission. The largest increase in imports, at 18.6 percent was from the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) nation group, especially from Jamaica and Ghana. Imports from Jamaica rose 173 percent in 2006. Ecuador, the largest banana exporter in the world, was the largest single supplier to the EU, but the total shipped dropped by 3.6 percent in 2006.
NEW EVIDENCE IN WOOLMER CASE CAUSES SUSPICIONS—03/21/07
New evidence arising in the investigation of the death of Bob Woolmer, 58, coach of the Pakistan cricket team, has led police to label the cause “suspicious.” Mark Shields, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), met with journalists to report new evidence that caused investigators to alter earlier assessments of post-mortem results as “inconclusive.” Shields said he met with the pathologist and other medical staff and investigators to determine that there is enough information to continue a full investigation into the cause of Woolmer’s death. Woolmer was found
Unconscious in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, less than 24 hours after the Pakistan team lost its chance to advance in the Cricket World Cup tournament.
EVIDENCE SUGGESTS WOOLMER WAS STRANGLED—03/22/07
According to police sources, new evidence associated with the death of Bob Woolmer, coach of the Pakistan cricket team, suggests that he was strangled in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus in New Kingston. Police say Woolmer, 58, was found dead and half naked in his room, partially clad in a towel. Indications are that a bone in his neck was broken, which suggests that someone may have applied pressure to it. Owen Ellington, Assistant Commissioner of Police and the head of World Cup security, would not confirm the strangulation rumors.
PAKISTAN CRICKET COACH MURDERED—03/23/07
According to police, Bob Woolmer, the coach of the Pakistan cricket team, was strangled and died from asphyxiation in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Lucius Thomas, Commissioner of Police, confirmed earlier rumors that Woolmer had been strangled. The official post-mortem report from the government pathologist states that Woolmer died from asphyxia as a result of “manual strangulation.” The Jamaica police are therefore treating the death as a murder case. No suspects or motives have been found thus far in the investigation.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN MOTHER IN UK GETS DEPORTATION REPREIVE—03/17/07
Joy Bowman, 49, who was scheduled for deportation from the United Kingdom, obtained a reprieve pending review of her case. The reprieve came at the 11th hour as Bowman was preparing to leave London. Bowman and her daughter Chenna, 15, saw the plans to deport them frozen after David Clelland, Tynebridge Member of Parliament, convinced the Home Office to review the case. Bowman’s two sons served in the British Army, and while she has not been allowed to work because of her status as an asylum seeker, she had been a health care volunteer at the Jeff B. Rhodes Center for the past five years.
SARA LAWRENCE TO END REIGN AS MISS JAMAICA WORLD—03/18/07
Sara Lawrence, the Miss Jamaica World winner in 2006, placed 6th in the Miss World Pageant and received the title of Miss World Caribbean Queen of Beauty. She is well known for her work with children affected by and living with AIDS. Now, she will be the first Miss Jamaica World winner to face dethronement.
CARIBBEAN CONSUMERS TO BE CELEBRATED IN U.S.—03/22/07
About 25 million Caribbean consumers throughout the United States will be celebrated during Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM) in June. This is the second time CAHM has been celebrated in the U.S. The Caribbean Heritage Month Foundation has been called the “most aggressive lobbying group,” has partnered with Uplift Caribbean and the Caribbean World News Network to present a national campaign called “My Caribbean Story.” Individuals like Colin Powell and Sean “P Diddy” Combs will be honored. Stories of Caribbean greats will be told in a series of public service announcements on television, online and radio.
REGGAE LEGEND KEN BOOTHE TO CELEBRATE AT LAVISH BIRTHDAY PARTY—03/23/07
Ken Boothe plans to celebrate his 59th birthday at JFK Airport in Queens, New York. The party for the reggae legend is expected to draw many of his most loyal fans, some of whom will come from as far away as Florida to be part of the event. David “Fat Forward” Warren, event coordinator and CEO of Future Sounds Production, said it would be a special occasion for Boothe because it is the second year in a row that he will celebrate his birthday in New York.
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SPORTS
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DEATH OF BOB WOOLMER A GREAT LOSS FOR THE GAME—03/19/07
The death of Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer, at the age of 58, means a “great loss for cricket,” said Clive Lloyd, former West Indies and Lancashire captain. Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies. Woolmer was born in India and had been batsman for England and Kent before becoming a coach. His coaching skills transformed the game.
WEST INDIES IN SUPER EIGHTS AT ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP—03/20/07
The West Indies team is one of the favorites to win the World Cup title. The team is on its way by winning a place in the second round by defeating Zimbabwe. Brian Lara, team captain, hit a four then a six to win the match. Regardless of what happens in the remaining matches, the Windies are guaranteed a spot in the Super Eights.
PAKISTAN DEFEATS ZIMBABWE—03/22/07
With the help of Imran Nazir’s 160 runs of 121 deliveries, Pakistan ended its run for the 2007 Cricket World Cup at Sabina Park by trouncing Zimbabwe. Pakistan had lost the two matches before the final Group D match and had no hope of going on to the second round, but their resounding defeat of Zimbabwe allowed the team to exit in grand style.
WEST INDIES MEETS IRELAND IN LAST GROUP D MATCH—03/23/07
The Group D section of the Cricket World Cup ends with a match between the West Indies and Ireland. Both teams have qualified for the second round. West Indies has four points and will advance to the Super Eights, while Ireland, with three points, have already qualified for the second round. The match is particularly important to the Windies, the home team, who believe they are destined to win the 2007 Cup and become the first team to win on their home ground.
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DEVOTIONAL
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Joy In His Presence
I can still hear the song in my head. "Every day with Jesus, is sweeter than the day before / Every day with Jesus, I love Him more and more / Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for / Every day with Jesus, is sweeter than the day before". Gosh, I love that song! Ever since learning it as a child, it has remained one of my favourites, but one I hadn't thought of in quite a while, until just about every morning this week I woke with it seemingly on my lips. I am always amazed when some people say they could not become a Christian because the life is so boring. Can you imagine someone referring to the majestic and thundering Niagara Falls as "ugly"?
On the contrary, a functional relationship with God is the highest level of relational experience we could ever encounter. The Psalmist David tried to put it into words, and the best he could do was, "...in thy presence is fullness of joy" (16:11b). I use the word 'functional' because like every other relationship, the benefits are dependent on its state. In the natural, if we do not resolve to spend quality time with our loved ones, those relationships will suffer and we rob ourselves of the chance to experience all they have to offer. The same thing applies in the spiritual. If we do not commit to daily reading God's love-letter to us (the Word), talking to Him, listening to/hearing what He has to say, and spending time in His presence, then instead of rivers of living water flowing out of our bellies (John 7:38), we find either dry river beds or pools of stagnant water!
Every day with Jesus is supposed to be a highlight. Sure there will be challenges in our daily living, but even in them we can say as Paul did, having discovered that God's grace was sufficient to keep him regardless of circumstances, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). The joy of the Lord was his strength! There is nothing that can compare to being in the presence of God. The immeasurable joy can only be experienced by those who yearn for that level of intimacy, and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices for it. Not only will every day with Jesus be sweeter than the day before, but they will fall in love with Him over and over and over again. When was the last time you had that experience?
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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.