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THIS WEEKS NEW SUMMARY
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NATIONAL DEBT RISTRICTS BUDGET (04/04/03)
The country’s external/internal debt has served to restrict the 2003/4 budget allocation to all sectors of the various Ministries and social programmes for the country. Dr. Omar Davies has allocated a $261.4b budget of which 161.5b is allocated towards debt servicing. This means 2 of every 3 cents will go towards debt payment and whatever is left has to take care of the country’s social programmes. Many are predicting a FINSAC2 including economist Dr. Omri Evans…

HARD TIMES AHEAD FOR JAMAICANS
Sir Howard Cooke, Governor General of Jamaica, has warned the country that the government will have a difficult time providing or meeting their needs. Delivering his Throne Speech marking the opening session of Parliament, Sir Howard warned that the country was fast running out of options to get money to run the social programmes…

INCREASED SECURITY AT THE ISLAND PORTS OF ENTRY (03/04/03)
The Prime Minister has ordered the relevant authorities to increase security at all ports of entry to the country. This comes in the wake of the terrible day of 9/11 and in the wake of terrorist attack on Americans across the world due to the war in Iraq. The Prime Minister, addressing the National Security Council, warned that no one could predict what might happen as a result of the war in Iraq and that Jamaica should always present itself as a same destination for tourism…

AUDLY SHAW WARNS AGAINST A DISHONEST BUDGET (03/04/03)
Opposition spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw has warned the government against presenting the country with an illegitimate budget in the wake of the upcoming local government election. Mr. Shaw warned the public that the government would likely present a “fool up the people” budget until after the Parish Council elections then a supplementary budget would be presented….

LOBBY BY POLICE COMMISSIONER TO LEGITIMISE GANJA (02/04/03)
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes is urging the government to legitimise the use of ganja persons who smoke spliffs. He said this is a waste of the police time and resources which could be best spent on more heinous crimes, than to arrest a person for smoking a spliff. Mr. Forbes argued that the cost of processing one case involving a ganja spliff is disgraceful and a waste of police resources. He also illustrated that at least four persons have lost their lives over struggles with the police over a ganja spliff…

SARS NOT A THREAT TO JAMAICA AT THIS TIME
The new virus sweeping Asian and other countries is causing a scare among Jamaicans. However, the Ministry of Health has reassured the public that there is no need for panic and that measures are put in place to combat any sign of the virus. Dr. Deanna Ashley, head of the Health Ministry’s Health Promotion and Protection Division, told The Gleaner that all medical professionals have been advised on how to respond to a suspected case, how it is to be managed and how to protect health workers in such an event…

JPSCo. GETS RATE INCREASE (01/04/03)
The Jamaica Public Service has been granted a less than 2% rate increase by the Office of Utilities Regulations. The increase granted is actually 3.1% in its non-fuel rate but is balanced off by the devaluation and fuel charge already granted last year. Thus the actual increase to the public, effective immediately, is 1.8%…

GOVERNMENT MOVES TO DECREASE CORONERS BUILD-UP
The government is making an attempt at decreasing the log-jam being experienced by the coroner’s court across the island. An amendment to the Coroner’s Act is being contemplated and will see families getting a chance to use independent coroners to view post-mortems on family members who have died under questionable circumstances…

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SPORTS
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JAMAICA ADVANCES TO CONCACAF GOLD CUP FINAL ROUND March 30
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz secured a spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals by defeating Haiti 3-0 tonight at the National Stadium. Goals were scored by Jermaine Johnson, Omar Daley along with a defenders goal from Haiti. Jamaica leads the four-nation Zone A with seven points and advances to the July 12-27 Gold Cup finals. In the first game of the double header Martinique came from behind to defeated St Lucia 5-4. Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago advanced to a three-team playoff with Honduras for the final two spots in the regional championship

JAMAICA STOPS ST LUCIA IN GOLD CUP QUALIFER March 27
JAMAICA’S Reggae Boyz dominated St Lucia, 5-0, in a CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying game at the National Stadium in Jamaica last night. Goals were scored by midfielder, Andy Williams in the 10th minute, Fabian Taylor in the 11th, Cornel Chinsue in the 38th, Claude Davis in the 56th minute and Omar Daley in the 62nd minute. The Boyz totally dominated the game and never faced any serious threats from their opponents. The Reggae Boyz will next play Martinique in the feature match of another double header at the same venue tomorrow, starting at 7:00pm. Haiti will also tackle St Lucia in the curtain-raiser at 5:00. The Jamaican team was Donovan Ricketts, Claude Davis, Gerald Neil, Tyrone Marshall (Craig Ziadie, 20th), Shavar Thomas, Andew Williams, Omar daley (Jermaine Johnson, 6th), Cornel Chinsue, Theodore Whitmore, Kevin Lisbie, Fabian Taylor (Deon Burton, 76th).

SCHOOL BOY CRICKETERS URGED TO SHOW LOYALTY
School boy cricket competition between Primary and All Age schools sponsored by Jamaica National Building Society, got a pep talk today from the first vice-president Jamaica Cricket Association and the general manager of the JNBS. George Sterling and Earl Jarrett urged the boys to take pride in their game and display loyalty and discipline

LARA BACK AT THE HELM
Brian Lara has once again reinstalled as captain of the West Indies cricket team. Lara will lead the West Indies in the upcoming Cable & Wireless Series against Australia and Sri Lanka…