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THIS WEEK”S SUMMARY
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LACK OF CONSULTATION UPSETS JAMAICA LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATION—12/29/07
The Jamaica Livestock Association is unhappy that it was not consulted before the government decided to import chicken meat and eggs for the Christmas holidays. Henry J. Rainford, chief executive officer of the Association, says it has been serving the livestock industry for over 65 years and should have been consulted about importing these items. Rainford says the organization did not know about the importation until members read about it in the newspapers.
DANVILLE WALKER ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTIONS DIRECTOR CHALLENGED—12/30/07
An election petition hearing in the Supreme Court questioned the eligibility of Danville Walker to be Director of Elections. Walker has acknowledged that he had dual citizenship with Jamaica and the United States. Attorneys raised questions about Walker’s eligibility on the basis of provisions in the Electoral Commission (Interim) Act of 2006. The law states that no person shall be qualified to receive the nomination of commissioner of the electoral commission or director of election if that person swears allegiance to a foreign power or state. Sources close to Walker say he believes that the Constitution of Jamaica gives him the right to work on the island, and does not make a reference to dual citizenship.
FLOATING LNG TERMINAL PLANS SUSPENDED—12/31/07
The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), which is operated by the government, has suspended its plans to create a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. The project involves reception, storage, and regasification in a terminal in the Port Esquivel area on the south coast of the island. Nine firms have submitted prequalification documents for the project.
JAMAICAN DEFENSE FORCE TRAINS IN ST. CATHERINE—12/31/07
The Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) advises the public to expect to see soldiers in Kingston and St. Catherine for about a week, as the force conducts internal security training. The training will occur in Constant Spring and Norbrook in Kingston and in Portmore, Fort Rocky, and the Caymanas Estate in St. Catherine. Residents should not become alarmed at the presence of soldiers or by hearing loud noises caused by pyrotechnics in the training drills, according to a JDF press release.
MANIFESTO OF JLP PROMISES PARLIAMENTARY PREFERENCE—01/01/08
The Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) will attempt to enact as many of its promised laws as possible before the end of the current legislative year on March 31, 2008. Derrick Smith, Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, confirmed the JLP’s activity, saying there are 11 bills selected for bringing to Parliament before the end of the year. These include the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Constitutional Amendment), the Special Prosecutor Act, and the Independent Investigative Commission to Investigate Security Forces Excesses and Abuses Act.
MONSIGNOR ALBERT CONDEMNS MURDER RATE OF 2007—01/02/08
Monsignor Richard Albert has issued a condemnation of the murders that occurred in 2007, saying that police and citizens must bond together to stop the violence. Criminal killed 231 more individuals in 2007 than in 2006. At least 1,571 people were murdered in 2007, compared to 1,340 in 2006. Many of the victims were killed between July and December. Twenty victims were members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and many were women, children, and infants.
GOVERNMENT TO PUT METAL DETECTORS IN SCHOOLS—01/03/08
In an effort to stop the violence in Jamaica’s public schools, the government plans to place metal detectors in over 100 schools on the Safe Schools Program, says Ruel Reid, special adviser to Andrew Holness, Minister of Education. The action has received the approval of the National Parent Teachers Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ). Reid says young people must understand that they cannot take weapons to schools or they will be in legal trouble.
HIGGINS WARNER SUDDENLY MOVES OUT OF JAMAICA—01/03/08
The Higgins Warner investment club has relocated its operations overnight to the club’s headquarters in Argentina. Several local investors are in a state of shock over the action. Many of the investors advanced between US$5000 and US$300,000 to the foreign exchange trading company went to its offices in Montego Bay only to find the doors locked and notices stating that the firm no longer has an office in Jamaica.
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JAMAICAN DIASPORA NEWS
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JAMAICAN JAILED FOR THREE YEARS IN GUYANA FOR DRUGS12/29/07
Zackre Montague, 26, stated that he had been offered 200,000 Jamaican dollars to get cocaine from Guyana. He agreed to do so because he desperately needed the money, he said. Montague pleaded guilty to trafficking in narcotics in front of the Georgetown Magistrate Court. He received a sentence of three years in prison and a fine of $10,000. He was apprehended at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Christmas Day carrying 250 grams of cocaine in his luggage.
MAHLUNG APPOINTED TO KYOTO PROTOCOL BOARD—12/30/07
Clifford Mahlung of Jamaica has received an appointment to the board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. His appointment is expected to give Jamaica and the Caribbean region a clearer understanding of the CDM process and elements required to get approval on projects.
JAMAICAN DIES IN COLORADO—12/31/07
Alicia White, a 29-year-old Jamaican woman who worked at the Two Elk Lodge in Vail, Colorado, died of heart failure at the ski resort. She suddenly collapsed while working at the Lodge, which is located at an altitude of 11,200 feet. According to Pearnel Charles, Minister of Labor and Social Security, White was not listed in the Ministry’s database of Jamaicans who have contracts to work in the U.S.
BLIND JAMAICAN RECEIVES SIGHT IN CANADA—01/02/08
Tamika Peart, 19, suffered from kerataconus, a condition of the cornea that causes serious vision defects and leads to blindness. Through the support of her family, eye doctors in Canada, and the kindness of Toronto’s Jamaican residents, Peart received two corneal transplants at the Toronto Eye Surgery Center.
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SPORTS
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SIX JAMAICANS ON COMBINED CAMPUSES SQUAD—12/29/07
Fast bowlers Jowayne Robinson and Nieve McNally of GC Foster College of Physical Education, all-rounder Crafton Clarke, batsman Simon Jackson, and wicketkeeper/batsman Chadwick Walton of the University of the West Indies, and fast bowler Boris Hutchinson of the University of Technology will form part of the 25-player Combined Campuses and Colleges squad. The squad is preparing for the four-day Carib Beer Series.
POWELL AND SAVIGNE RECEIVE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS—12/30/07
Asafa Powell, the Jamaican who holds the world record for the 100 meters has received the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Athlete of the Year award. Also honored was Yargelis Savigne, the Triple Jump world champion from Cuba. Powell received the award for the third straight year.
WEST INDIES STRUGGLES—01/03/08
Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini had a combined six wickets to get the advantage of South Africa on the first day of the second Test versus the Windies. While the Windies won the toss and chose to bat despite the cloudy weather, they were 240 for eight at the close.
13-MAN JAMAICAN SQUAD READY FOR DEBUT—01/04/08
The 13-man squad for Jamaica has been finalized and will face the Leeward Islands in the opening match of the 2008 Carib Beer Series at Sabina Park. Coach Junior Bennett spent time in the boardroom developing the best 13 players and was satisfied with the selection. He called the squad “fairly balanced.”
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DEVOTIONAL
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New Beginnings
When I awoke on January 1st, everything around me looked the same. Just another day, or so it seemed, but it really wasn't. It was the first day in the year 2008, and there would never ever be another of its kind. Well intentioned people once again make resolutions they would try to keep, though statistically, most resolutions would not make it past the first couple of weeks. We try anyways, because in looking back on the past year, most of us have probably felt that there are things we want to do differently, to be better at. Truth be known, we desire to be better persons, and so inherent in our resolutions is the desire to use the New Year to "start over".
In Christian theology, the number eight represents "new birth" or "new beginnings". Eight persons survived the Noahic Flood, which was a type of Salvation, New Birth (1 Peter 3:20), and according to Genesis 17:12, circumcision was performed on the 8th day after the completion of the first category of 7 days; similarly, salvation the beginning of a new life (Colossians 2:11, 13). While every day is a good start to "start over", in Biblical Numerology the year 2008 is an exciting time for the believer because from God's perspective, it represents something new. Not necessarily new things materially, though that is always possible, but even more importantly, a renewed awakening in the inner man that will see wonderful moves of God in our individual lives. In the same way that Noah and his family stepped out of the ark into a new beginning, the child of God also has that privilege. We can step out of worry, fear, doubt, lack, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sickness, and whatever else, simply because we serve a God of new beginnings.
As we commence this year, may we resolve to do as the Wisdom writer recommended: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding: In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5,6). It's all part and parcel of a new beginning; letting go and letting God. Afterall, He knows what He is doing.
To you and yours, God's very best for a year of abundant blessings.
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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.