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THIS WEEKS NEWS SUMMARY
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HIV/AIDS DEADLY MARITAL SECRET – 6/19/05
Fearing stigma, violence and economic abandonment, it is estimated that some 3,000 Jamaicans guard a deadly marital secret from their spouses — that they have been infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. The research of Dr. Yitades Gebre, executive director of the national HIV/STI/Control program, suggests that only 1,400 of 4,400 known HIV/AIDS patients in marital relationships have informed their spouses of the deadly disease. Dr. Gebre stated that HIV/AIDS testing can be done at most regional health facilities and that results can be known in less than an hour.
GCT TAX ON TOURISM APPROVED – 6/19/05
Aloun N’dombet Assamba, Minster of Industry and Tourism, announced approval of a 8.25 percent General Consumer Tax (GCT) on the tourism industry by Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, yesterday during the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) annual meeting Saturday in Ocho Rios. The 1.95 percent hike in GCT was to have taken effect on May 1, 2005, but was deferred to October 1, 2005 after the JHTA protested the potential dampening on tourism and a cap on gratuities to industry workers, a cap that was lifted as part of yesterday’s revised tax structure. Travel agents and tour operators will experience a 20 percent cap on commissions.
SUGAR INDUSTRY LOBBIES AGAINST PRICE CUT – 6/20/05
Derrick Heaven, executive director of the Sugar Industry Authority (SIA), is to address the Caribbean British Council and meet with representatives of the U.K. government and Oxfam, in anticipation of 39 percent price slashes to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar exports to be formally announced on June 22. Mr. Heaven stated that it was critical that the ACP respond to the price cuts with a unified voice and that he sought agreement with EU members through open dialogue.
UNITED WAY OF JAMAICA DONATES $290M TO LOCAL PROJECTS – 6/20/05
The United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) announced that $290 million in contributions were raised in 2004 from local and international donors to benefit development initiatives across the island, to include agricultural, environmental, educational, and health projects. UWJ chairman Alvaro Casserley highlighted the $2 million 'Hurricane Ivan Restoration Fund' created last September to aide the agricultural sector when speaking at the organization’s annual Nation Builder’s Awards Ceremony on May 25. The United Way of Jamaica is celebrating 20 years of supporting development and relief efforts in Jamaica.
DEPORTEES LINKED TO SURGE IN JA CRIME – 6/21/05
Increases in the levels of deportation of Caribbean-born immigrants illegally in the United States is having a direct impact on violence in Jamaica according to JA police officials. The island repatriated more than 4,200 Jamaicans in 2004 deported after completing prison sentences in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Assistant Commissioner of Police George Williams pointed to last month’s deportation of 40 convicted criminals via charter flight from Louisiana to Jamaica as troublesome. A reported 1,206 persons have been returned to the Jamaican island in 2005.
MAN DIES IN FATAL BEATING BY MOB – 6/22/05
A 22-year-old taxi driver known only as 'Diamond' was fatally beaten by vigilantes in rural St. Andrew on the watch for car thieves early Tuesday morning after a string of cars thefts in the area. Police report that the victim was among five persons surprised by a group of residents while stealing a car, resulting in his death and the hospitalization of second man. It was the second incident of mob killing in as many weeks: last week two men were killed by Westmoreland residents after attempting to rob a Super Plus supermarket. Twenty-one mob killings were recorded in 2004, 13 to date in 2005.
SUGAR ASSISTANCE FUND CALLED INADEQUATE – 6/23/05
Members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) reacted to the €40 million fund proposed by the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday as an inadequate response to the 39 percent slash in prices to ACP sugar exports to the European Union. The fund was announced as part of EC sugar reforms that will potentially result in a €400 million loss in annual income to ACP member countries and is expected to impact the employment of as many as 40,000 Jamaicans.
PROTECTION OF JA BRAND SOUGHT – 6/23/05
The illegal re-labeling of food and cultural products as Jamaican exports is costing the island billions of U.S. dollars and doing harm to the Jamaican brand according to a representative for the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA). The JEA, in partnership with the Jamaican Government and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is to initiate a campaign to fight such copyright infringements, seeking cessation of the practice and financial compensation for the infringement. Roger Clarke, Minister of Agriculture, added that bootleg products, such as drink mixes from Guatemala or sauces from Costa Rica that purport to be made in Jamaica, do harm to Jamaica’s reputation.
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SPORTS
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JAMAICA CRICKET 2007 ON TARGET - 6/20/05
Demolition at Sabina Park underway, and stadium construction at Greenfield in Trelawny soon to start, Chris Smith, project manager for Jamaica Cricket 2007, announced that construction and renovation of facilities were on target for completion for the 2007 International Cricket Council World Cup. The US$41.6 million renovation to Sabina Park and Greenfield stadium construction, where opening ceremonies for the international cricket competition are to be held, is scheduled for completion in May 2006.
PORTMORE AND TIVOLI ADVANCE TO FINALS – 6/20/05
Portmore United advances from the semi-finals to meet defending champions Tivoli Gardens in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League finals after defeating Waterhouse 3-2 over two days of play. Tivoli Gardens ended Harbour View’s championship hopes in a decisive second-half performance, scoring total points of 5-2 over Harbour View. It will be Portmore’s second final in three seasons of play.
JOHNSON LOSES LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE IN REMATCH – 6/20/05
Jamaican boxer Glen Johnson lost to the new International Boxing Organization (IBO) light heavyweight champion American Antonio Tarver in a unanimous decision Saturday night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. Johnson boxed his way to be named the 2004 World Fighter of the Year by defeating Tarver on December 18, but the quick combination of the 6'2'' Tarver proved too much for the much smaller Johnson in the rematch. Both fighters expressed interest in a third match.
POWELL DONATES UNIFORM TO UTECH – 6/21/05
World record holder Asafa Powell donated the running uniform and spikes that helped make him the fasted man on record to run the 100 meters to the University of Technology (UTech) on Monday. The donation was made at a UTech reception recognizing Powell’s achievement of having run the 100-m in 9.77 seconds for the world record at Athens Olympic Stadium last Tuesday. Powell, who will next compete at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix in July, described the donation as a token of gratitude to the school for their support.
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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.
