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THIS WEEK’S SUMMARY
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HEALTH MINISTER REPORTS PROGRESS IN THE CONTROL OF MALARIA—04/07/07
Health Minister Horace Dalley says the government expects to have Jamaica declared a “non-endemic” country for malaria soon. Dalley informed the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament that a team from the Centers for Disease Control in the United States would arrive in Jamaica within two weeks to examine the nation’s response to the recent outbreak of malaria.
FINANCE AND PLANNING MINISTER MUST FACE HIGH DEBT REPAYMENT—04/08/07
Dr. Omar Davies, Finance and Planning Minister, must address the fact that over half of the $383 billion marked to manage Jamaica’s business during 2007/2008, or $210 billion, must be spent to repay debt. Davies must apportion the remaining $173 billion among competing economic sectors, including health care, education, and national security.
HAITIANS USED AS CHEAP LABOR ON PORTLAND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS—04/09/07
Police in Portland are looking into reports that fugitive Haitians are exploited as cheap sources of labor on parish construction sites. Police have received reports from Portland residents that Haitians are working as common laborers on sites at Fairy Hill, Long Bay, and Anchovy Gardens. It was suggested that they were paid just $350 per day, much lower than the daily wages of a common laborer, who receives $1,000 to $1,200 per day.
DR. FORD BEATEN BY POLICE—04/10/07
Jephthah Ford, a prominent medical doctor known for giving free treatment to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was in the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) on 24-hour observation after allegedly being beaten by three policemen. Dr. Ford was described as being in serious but stable condition. According to reports, Dr. Ford had intervened between police and his sister, Andrea Ford, who manages his Fun Citi venue in Port Henderson, Portmore. The venue was hosting the “Wet, Wet” Party.
FORD TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST POLICE—04/11/07
Dr. Jephthah Ford plans to sue police officers who are alleged to have beaten him and his sister at his Fun Citi venue in Port Henderson, St. Catherine. Majorie Shaw-Currie, his attorney, stated that both criminal and civil actions will be brought against the police. Dr. Ford, 55, is in stable condition at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). Denver Henry, Deputy Superintendent of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Anti-Corruption Unit, says a fourth police officer has been implicated in the alleged beating, and more could be implicated in the future.
DELROY CHUCK CRITICIZES GAG ORDER ON COURT REPORTERS —04/12/07
Delroy Chuck, Opposition Spokesman, believes reporters and the press have a duty to inform and educate the public and that if gag orders are imposed on these parties, “it is wrong, tyrannical and unworthy” of the officials who impose the orders. A court official at the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s (Criminal) Court has introduced new measures that would, in effect, place gag orders on reporters who cover court proceedings.
MALATHAION INSECTICIDE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST MALARIA MOSQUITO—04/12/07
According to the Ministry of Health, the insecticide, malathaion, used to destroy the anopheles mosquito is ineffective. The mosquito, which transmits the disease of malaria, has shown resistance to the insecticide, and this has led to more malaria cases within the past month. Tests by local experts suggest the mosquito has grown significantly resistant to malathaion, which is the cause of some concern, according to Dr. Eva Lewis-Fuller, acting head of the Malaria Prevention and Control Program. However, there are other insecticides that can be used to eliminate the mosquito.
DR. FORD RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL—04/13/07
Dr. Jephthah Ford has been released from Kingston Public Hospital after allegedly being beaten by police officers at his Fun Citi venue in Port Henderson, Portmore, St. Catherine. A crowd of well-wishers and journalists waited for Ford outside the hospital, where he complained of feeling “dizzy” have had difficulty speaking because of breathing problems. Patrick Bailey, Ford’s attorney, stated his client could have long-term problems with his internal organs as a result of the beating. Dr. Ford will appear at Spanish Town Gun Court in response to charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and assault at common law.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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UK CHAPTER OF JAMAICA DIASPORA SEEKS YOUNGER MEMBERS—04/07/07
In London, the Jamaica Diaspora’s United Kingdom chapter wants to attract more youths to the movement. A statement issued jointly by Paulette Simpson and Travis Johnson, UK/Jamaica Diaspora Board executive members, stated that the group would like to involve more young people from across the UK in the process. They would like to find five young persons from different regions in the UK to attend a meeting on April 13, 2007, for the purposes of forming a UK/Jamaica Diaspora youth group.
UK POLICE ARREST JAMAICAN-BORN MUSLIM—04/12/07
Anti-terrorism police in London arrested Jamaican-born Abu Izzadeen, a controversial Muslim figure in the UK, on suspicion of encouraging terrorism. Izzadeen was watched by millions on television in 2006 when he heckled John Reid, the Home Secretary, at a public meeting. Izzadeen was born Trevor Brooks and was a leader in the banned radical Islamic group known as Al-Ghurabaa.
CARIB BEER AND CIN TARGET CARIBBEAN VIEWERS IN U.S.—04/09/07
The Caribbean International Network (CIN) and Carib Beer have partnered in announcing that Carib Beer will focus on the Caribbean-American community in New York and the Tri-State region with an ad campaign on the television network. Stephen Hill, chief executive officer of CIN, welcomed the initiative devised by Carla Furlonge-Walker, marketing directory at Carib Brewery, on the plan to target the more than 2 million Caribbean-Americans in the area. This community represents more than US$40 billion in yearly retail sales.
JAMAICAN DIASPORA INFORMATION PROVIDED IN NASHVILLE—04/13/07
A lecture and discussion was held at the Office of International Business Programs at Tennessee State University in Nashville to provide information about Jamaica and its Diaspora in regard to nation building. Jamaica’s Consul Generation to the Southern United States, Ricardo Allicock, and Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board Member to the Southern USA, Marlon Hill, were invited to give presentations and to participate in discussions. Both experts offered information about the development of the Diaspora movement in communities overseas.
NASHVILLE - Information on Jamaica and its Diaspora, as it relates to nation building was presented in a lecture/rap session recently held at the Office of International Business Programs of the Tennessee State University (TSU) in Nashville, Tennessee.
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SPORTS
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BLAKE AND CALVERT READY TO LEAD JAMAICA AT CARIFTA GAMES—04/07/07
World Junior bronze medal winners, Yohan Blake and Schillonie Calvert, are prepared to lead the Jamaican delegation to the XXXVI Carifta Games at Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. The team was given a musical welcome when they arrived at the airport, and hundreds of Jamaicans carrying flags sang the country’s National Anthem.
YOHAN BLAKE BREAKS RECORD AT CARIFTA GAMES—04/08/07
Yohan Blake of Jamaica broke the national junior 100m record at National Stadium. While he did not start well, he quickly recovered, and halfway through, he led the field. He ran the 100m in 10.18 seconds, obliterating the 23-year-old record of 10.19 set by Raymond Stewart.
BLAKE READY TO BREAK WORLD JUNIOR RECORD—04/09/07
Yohan Blake, a sensation in the sprint at the Carifta Games in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, is confident that he can break the World Junior Record at the Pan-American Games in Brazil later in 2007. He has already taken the National Junior Record in the 100m with a time of 10.18 seconds.
HEAD OF NATIONAL SWIMMING PROGRAM SATISFIED WITH PERFORMANCE—04/12/07
Jackie Walter, technical director of Jamaica’s national swimming program, says she is happy with the nation’s performance at the 2007 Carifta Championships. Jamaica had a fourth-place ranking with 47 medals. These included 11 gold medals, 19 silver, and 17 bronze. The Bahamas had the top spot with 42 gold medals, 17 silver, and 20 bronze. Walter said many of Jamaica’s swimmers recorded personal bests in the championships.
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DEVOTIONAL
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God's Net Worth
Once again, Bill Gates has been named the world's richest man. The ability to acquire just about any material thing imaginable is a great position be in, even if the average person cannot quite wrap their heads around that kind of financial net worth. In a world where values are often times skewed, we have come to determine richness as the possession of worldly wealth. Some would think, "If only I was a distant relative of Bill!" as they imagine how different their lives might have been.
Interestingly, the Christian is a relative of someone who is even richer than Mr. Gates. While there is a value to how much he is worth, how can one put a value on God's net worth? The Psalmist David reminds us "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (24:1). What is even more exciting is that the child of God not only hears about God, but do have a personal relationship with Him, being sons and daughters of the Most High. The true extent of our relationship is that we are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ! Just about everything the Father has is ours, and we have the assurance that "no good thing will he
withheld from them that walk uprightly" (84:11).
Ih his letter to the Church, James wrote, "...ye have not, because ye ask not" (4:2). Speaking from his personal experience, David wrote in another Psalm, "I have been young,and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (35:25). We serve a God who has more than enough to take care of His own. Not only that, but as heirs and joint-heirs, we have a right to the storehouses of our Heavenly Father. Whatever we need has already been provided. May He, Our Father, grant us the grace to reach out in faith, and claim all those things that are rightfully ours.
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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.